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Greetings from bonnie Scotland Reader,

I'm currently taking a much-needed break in the Scottish Borders with my little dog Monty.

My cosy little apartment is in an old stable block and overlooks a beautiful little loch teeming with wildlife.

As I write this, the sun is streaming through the open window, and all I can hear is the sound of birdsong.

Actually, I don't need to tell you, this is my exact view right now.

Nice huh?

I've been reading, going for walks, sleeping in, journalling, reading some more and generally relaxing as much as I can.

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🌱 For Aspiring And New VAs: What is a VA anyway?

While I have a whole website on how to set up and run a successful VA business, I recently realised I hadn't written a post explaining what a VA actually is and what they do, as I kinda assumed you already knew!

So, if you were wondering what a Virtual Assistant does all day, here’s a simple breakdown.​

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 really wanted to.

🌳 For Established VAs: Be proactive

I recently listened to a podcast on how YouTubers should contact brands to request sponsorships and collaborations, and I was delighted to hear that the method the guy described was EXACTLY the same as in my guide on how to get new clients.

It wasn't emailing prospects saying, "Hey, I'm a VA and I can help you with [insert a list of generic tasks as long as your arm]."

It was:

"I know you [insert specific things you know they usually do, are about to do, or have going on right now], and I can help you [insert ultra-specific ways you can help them achieve those things]. Here are examples of how I've done that/am currently doing that for others."

This method involves doing your research to find out exactly what your prospect is looking to achieve, and then stepping in with a ready-made, tailored solution.

This makes hiring you a total no-brainer.

A few years ago, I was watching replay videos from a global marketing conference and saw another guy also describe the exact same method that I had figured out myself.

He demonstrated how to use LinkedIn's Sales Navigator to find, qualify and contact your ideal client, whereas my method takes a little longer but doesn't cost anything.

I have perfected this method over many years, and my guide takes you through the entire process via a series of short videos where I explain every step.

Find out more about my Guide on How to Get New Clients.

💥 Bonus Tip For Everyone:

I read this post on LinkedIn recently, and I'm still shaking my head.

Stop sabotaging your success. Just state your rate and then zip it!

☕ Espresso AI

In case you missed it, I recently launched Espresso AI: a new monthly newsletter on AI for Virtual Assistants.

The second edition is coming shortly, but you'll receive the first issue as soon as you subscribe.

As you're all at different stages in your AI journey, I'll include a survey in issue #3 to gauge whether the content hits the mark so I can find a sweet spot of content that works for most subscribers.

I'll also be sharing some rather nifty GPTs in the next issue, so be sure to sign up if you haven't already done so!

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💖 My Favourite Thing This Week: Emily on Netflix

Emily is a beautifully imagined fictional drama on the relationships and events that may have led Emily Brontë to write Wuthering Heights.

When I first read Wuthering Heights at school, I actually hadn't appreciated how the sheltered daughter of a small parish rector could write such a shocking and brutal story.

I've read several books about the Brontë siblings, and I'm always impressed by how much they achieved in their short lives, and saddened by how their father, Patrick, outlived his entire family.

Have a great week.

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