HERE’S A SYNOPSIS OF MY STORY

I started my business in 2012 while continuing to work full-time. I had spent many years working as an Executive Assistant to C-Suite Executives. But once my daughter started school, I wanted a more flexible schedule that would allow me to be spend more quality time with her before and after school.

So while enjoying a cup of coffee with a good friend, she suggested I use my skills and experience to start a virtual assistant business. I took the suggestion to heart and after some extensive online research. After taking on a few clients, I realized I was in over my head.

I was a “Jill of All Trades” and a master of none. I was chasing money, I had downloaded too many ebooks, invested in too many DIY courses and webinars and was in way too many Facebook groups.

Not to mention, the love I once had for my business had faded;my business had taken over our lives; I wasn’t happy with the clients I had, with the work I was doing or with my home life and my husband wasn’t happy with how the business was affecting us either.

So I took a step back to reevaluate my priorities and decide what to do to get my life back in balance.

So I took a summer off and just enjoyed time with my daughter and worked with just two clients on retainer. I also invested in private coaching with one of my mentors which helped me identify my mission, vision and purpose.

SO WHAT DID I DO NEXT?

I did something drastic…I burned the boat and ended all of my contracts and went back to work part-time to reduce the financial pressure we had started to feel. I had to decide if I was going to keep the business open and try a new approach or shut it down and move on.

After some soul searching, I had determined the path forward because I had identified some key pieces my business was missing. This is what I figured out: