I turn frazzled women into kick-ass Virtual Assistants so they can have flexible working lives that fit around their families (and shoe shopping).
💣 Tyre-kickers, titles, and truth bombs
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​ As I write this, my little dog Monty is curled up under my desk, the rain is pattering on the window, and I'm wearing a cosy cashmere jumper. You would not know it was nearly June one bit! Okay, it's time to get comfy and settle down to this week's Coffee Break newsletter. ​ Here are three things I wish I'd known when I first started out. a. People will contact you, then disappear off the radar. They are called tyre-kickers and you will encounter a lot of them. b. Your business is more important than your clients'. If you don’t prioritise it, you soon won’t have one. c. You will need a strategy for everything, especially your marketing. Here are 98 more things I wish I'd known when I set up my VA business in 2009. 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: What's in a name? Since VAs work across so many different areas, I started a discussion on LinkedIn last week asking whether Virtual Assistant is still the right job title. Let’s just say... it kicked off. From Business Support Partner and Chaos Coordinator to Freelance Executive PA, it turns out that many VAs have been rethinking their professional title. Feel free to add your thoughts to the conversation. Oh, and maybe follow me while you're there! 💥 Bonus Tip For Everyone: Don't get sued or screwed You may have seen that I recently added an AI clause to my Freelancer Agreement and emailed the updated versions to previous buyers. You don’t need to reissue the entire contract as it gives your client more work to do, and your job is to do the opposite. Instead, just email them the new clause explaining how you’re using AI in your work, and ask whether they’d prefer to sign a new contract or are happy with your current process. Quick reminder that the legal contracts go up in price next Tuesday. This is the first price increase since they launched in 2018, so if you need a Freelancer Agreement, DPA, website policies, or associate contracts, now’s a good time to grab them. You can get 20% off when buying more than one (use the multi-buy discount code listed on the sales page), and you’ll always receive updated versions if the law changes. ​View the Virtual Assistant contracts.​ Oh, and #22 of the 101 things I wish I'd known when starting out? Never work without a contract! ​ This quote was a very appropriate and timely reminder for me, so I thought you might appreciate it too. "Worrying about the future is like watching a leaf fall and trying to predict where it will land. Stop trying to guess where the wind will blow and get to work." Enjoy the rest of your week. ​ ​ PS: Just signed up and missed an issue? Read previous Coffee Break newsletters here.​ |
The VA Handbook
I turn frazzled women into kick-ass Virtual Assistants so they can have flexible working lives that fit around their families (and shoe shopping).
Good morning Reader, This will be your last Coffee Break newsletter until September, as I'm making the most of the August lull to take a rare three-week break. I'll still be sending out Espresso AI, but otherwise, I’m sneaking off to chill out for a bit! This week's newsletter is a little different. Instead of my usual "three things for you" format, I’m sharing some ideas on how to use the next six weeks to get ahead in your business. You may just want to relax with your kiddywinks, but quiet...
Quick heads-up that all of my legal contracts (including the DPA and website policies) are in the process of being updated to reference the new Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA), which recently came into force. The Act introduces significant changes to the UK's data protection framework, including amendments to the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). NOTES As usual, any previous buyers will be sent a link to access the...
Good morning Reader, I hope you're having a lovely week. I’ve just emerged from the fog of a horrendous stomach bug that wiped out three days of work and five pounds of body weight. To add to the fun, during a call, I mentioned that I still felt queasy, and my Mum thought it was the perfect time to tell me that my brother had come round the night before with chips and a kebab. Apparently, 'the smell really turned her stomach.' Thanks for that, Mum. 🤢 And on that note, it's time to settle down...