Leading the next chapter of The VA Handbook - supporting VAs to build professional, sustainable businesses. Bringing my experience of running a multi-award-winning VA agency and building a team to help VAs not just get started, but grow with structure, confidence and long-term success.
🧐 A very posh bloke and Wispr Flow
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Good morning! It seems that spring has finally sprung. The daffodils are out, the days are getting longer, and the weather is getting slightly warmer. However, I'm still being cautious because:
I have another couple of recommendations for you this week. Wispr Flow I'm writing this week's newsletter using Wispr, which is a free voice-to-text app that came recommended by a friend. As someone who doesn't touch type and is trying to mitigate RSI, it's been an absolute godsend. It even edits mistakes as you write. For example, if you say, "Let's meet tomorrow at 3, sorry, 4", it will remove the reference to 3 and just write 4. It works on all devices and in all apps. It's blimmin' great. The Luxury Academy YouTube Channel I recently watched this 3-minute video on YouTube about value and justifying your prices. I definitely don't live in the same world as this very posh YouTuber, so it must have come up as a suggested video. However, when I watched it, I knew I should share it with you. The point in the video is that people don't judge your value and then decide if your price is fair. They see your price first and then build up the value in their head to justify it. It sounds backwards, but research shows that a higher price tag actually changes how the brain experiences quality. "The moment you justify price, you admit it needs defending." It's explained really well in the video, and I recommend you give it a quick watch if you have a tendency to over-explain your rates. Although the channel is aimed at people who work with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), I think you'll find many of the videos useful. ☕ Espresso Shot Clients take their cue from you, so be confident when you talk about your rates. You definitely don't want to come across as apologetic or sound like you're defending them. As I've said on multiple occasions, if you're speaking to somebody face-to-face, just state your rate, then zip it. You will desperately want to fill the silence. But do not say another word. If the conversation is happening by email, try this prompt: THE PROMPT “Please write a short, confident reply to a client who says my rate is higher than they expected. Keep the tone warm and professional, explain the value and results of my service without justifying or defending the price, and offer a clear next step without discounting.” This helps you sound calm, clear, and sure of your value. It also shows that your rates are based on the service you provide, not magicked out of thin air. Modern but busy AF VA? Then sign up for my monthly Espresso AI newsletter for more handy VA-centric prompts like this. 🪄 Other useful VA resources
That's it from me. The clocks go forward this weekend here in the UK, and I am 100% ready for it! PS: Just signed up and missed an issue? Read previous Coffee Break newsletters here. |
The VA Handbook
Leading the next chapter of The VA Handbook - supporting VAs to build professional, sustainable businesses. Bringing my experience of running a multi-award-winning VA agency and building a team to help VAs not just get started, but grow with structure, confidence and long-term success.
Hello Reader, The next edition of the Espresso AI newsletter goes out on Thursday, and I wanted to give you a little preview of what paid subscribers will receive. The May issue will include: 1. A simple prompt for making big business decisions If you’ve ever gone round in circles over a serious business decision, this provides a structured way to use AI to help risk assess and stress-test the implications without it hijacking the outcome or telling you to just go for it.2. A thoughtful task...
Hello - and happy Thursday!I’m just back from a great couple of days up north where I spoke at the first Manchester VA Conference.My session was all about confidence and how it doesn’t usually appear before growth - it tends to come because of it.I’ve actually really struggled with confidence over the years, and still regularly do.Most of us are waiting to feel fully ready before we put ourselves out there, raise our prices, pitch ourselves or take the next step… but growth rarely works like...
Hi Reader, After a hectic couple of weeks of travel and events (and more lined up for next week!), this week has been all about getting my head down and cracking on. As much as I love getting out and about, meeting people and learning new things, there’s nothing quite like time working ON my own business and moving things forward.This weekend is a Bank Holiday in the UK (hurrah!) so we get an extra day to spend as we please. My children are away with their dad, so I’ll mostly be playing...