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Good morning Reader,

I've just returned from a ten-day break and am now neck-deep in setting up Kajabi so I can offer trainees and my VA Growth Hub members the chance to become affiliates for my DIY VA course.

Kajabi is great, but a steep learning curve would be an understatement, and I will be very glad when it's all set up!

Okay, it's time to grab a drink and settle down to read this week's Coffee Break newsletter.

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🌱 For Aspiring And New VAs: Sort your insurance.

It's Insurance Awareness Day on Saturday, so here's some high-octane insurance advice for you.

Can you bear the excitement?

Okay, insurance is not the most thrilling subject, but VAs have access to a ton of personal data, many businesses won't hire uninsured freelancers, and lead VAs insist their associates have adequate cover.

So, because you need insurance, I need to tell you about it. Soz.

Here is a post that covers the main types of insurance policies, where I provide a 10% discount to the company I (and most VAs) use.

Whatever policy you go for, just make sure your arse is covered.

PS: If you want to be a VA but are still procrastinating, you know I have a course that will get you set up quickly and painlessly, right? You could actually ​start today​ if you wanted to.

🌳 For Established VAs: Are you a good boss?

I recently asked my VA Growth Hub membership group the question:

Are you a good boss?

I asked because when you run a business, you're an employee of yourself as well as the head cheese.

To find out how you're doing, here are some questions you'd ask if you were an employee.

1. Am I happy with the hours I work, or am I often required to work overtime?
2. Do I know what my salary is, and am I happy with it?
3. When was the last time I got a pay rise?
4. Am I given regular appraisals?
5. Do I have a good pension?
6. Do I enjoy the tasks I’m given?
7. Does my position feel secure?
8. Are my skills being used to their best advantage?
9. Am I given opportunities to develop and grow?
10. Am I happy working here, or would I leave if something better came along?

As a fun exercise, ask yourself these questions to find out if you'd be happy with your job if you were doing it for someone else.

💥 Bonus Tip For Everyone: Assess your social media.

Monday is Social Media Awareness Day, and I have to admit to being very conflicted about social media nowadays.

It was fun and easy to manage back when we only had Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to focus on, but now it feels far more overwhelming

Endless, silent noise on constantly changing platforms that gatekeep your own audience and make you jump through undignified algorithm hoops to feed an ever-hungry content slot machine.

For VAs, social media is also far less effective at landing clients than networking, attending industry-specific events or directly contacting people you want to work with.

I know this because I regularly ask you in your VA Handbookers Facebook group.

My advice is to have a solid marketing strategy, look at where your clients actually come from, then double down on what works and ditch what doesn't.

Because you can't be everywhere, and trying to be on every platform will damage your mental health as well as your business.

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💖 My Favourite Thing This Week: Cooler weather.

I'm probably flying in the face of public opinion here, but summer is not my season.

I used to like the heat when I was younger, but the older I get, the less I seem to enjoy it.

Summer does not look good on me, and if I were Queen of the Universe, I would live in autumn forever. I am a very happy bunny in cashmere!

That's all from me; have a lovely week.

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PS: Just signed up and missed an issue? Read previous Coffee Break newsletters here.​