What I’m Learning in My Second Year of Business as a Virtual Assistant

What a whirlwind the first year of setting up as a Virtual Assistant was. I actually can’t quite believe I made it work and got my first client. I suppose that’s limiting beliefs for you, and it’s hard to picture something if you don’t actually know what it’s like.

There was stress, panic, temp jobs (redundancy doesn’t pay the bills for very long at all), endless networking events that fried my brain… and finally, a shift in mindset. That was when things started to click. I realised I had to trust: trust the systems I’d built, trust that the consistent steps I was taking would pay off, and trust my intuition; especially when it came to letting go of potential clients who didn’t feel like the right fit.

From the very beginning I was clear that I only wanted to work with people who shared my values: open communication, collaboration, transparency, and kindness. I’ve learned that saying no to the wrong client is just as important as saying yes to the right one.

Year two brought a different kind of anxiety. Now that I’d “made it,” I had to keep it going. I worried constantly: what if a client left? How would I find the next one? How could I juggle marketing, networking, my own admin, and still give clients the heart-centred VA support I’d promised?

The alternative; going back to a 9–5? Not a chance. I love the life I’ve built, the freedom and flexibility. But I could feel myself heading for burnout if I didn’t make some changes.

When one of my big clients ended, it was a shock to the bank balance, but also a strange kind of relief. Suddenly I had space to slow down, rest, and figure out what I really needed. I realised I’d been piling on pressure by rushing through tasks without clear deadlines or priorities, which only led to mistakes. I was still replying to clients on my supposed “day off,” and I wasn’t being honest with myself about red flags in clients who weren’t aligned.

So I put better systems in place.