Listen Now

Does it feel like you're putting in the work - and checking all the boxes - but you're STILL not seeing the results in terms of clients knocking at your door? Or maybe leads aren’t the problem, but converting those leads to actual paying clients is? It sounds like you’re missing a vital piece from your own personal Finding Clients Puzzle. But don’t despair! In this episode we share with you the questions you need to ask yourself in order to find out where that pesky missing puzzle piece is hiding. The questions for you need to answer HONESTLY to figure out where you’re going wrong. In this episode you’ll learn: How to figure why clients aren’t lining up to work with you. Why marketing your business can’t just be a tick box exercise. How to measure data in order to figure out the missing piece of your Finding Clients Puzzle. Just starting out on your VA journey? Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with The VA Foundry Framework! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client. Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Did you know that pulling cards has become an integral part of our morning routine? Not only does it fill our woo-woo cup, it provides us with direction for the day ahead, and ensures we’re taking a moment to pause, breath and reset in order to work with intention and purpose. So, if you’re in need of some direction, if you’re feeling unmotivated or if you're in a bit of a sticky situation, let us pull a moonology manifestation oracle card for you! In this episode you’ll learn: The message and guidance you’re seeking RIGHT NOW. Where we get our woo-woo goodies from. Just starting out on your VA journey? Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with The VA Foundry Framework! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client. Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

If you’re an aspiring virtual assistant who feels like you need to have some sort of certification pronouncing you to be an officially trained VA you need to listen to this episode before you start handing over money left right and centre! We’re here to remind you that it’s VERY likely the skills and experience you already have under your belt are MORE than enough to go out and find yourself clients. We’re also going to share with you why potential clients really don’t give two hoots about your lack of certification. In this episode you’ll learn: Why we decided NOT to become certified virtual assistants. The experience you do and don’t need to enter the VA space. Which one of us is the high school drop-out. Just starting out on your VA journey? Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with The VA Foundry Framework! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client. Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Guess what virtual assistants! Contrary to popular belief, our clients are NOT always right (shock horror!). If you’re always putting your clients’ work, financial needs, goals and success before your own, your misplaced loyalty means you’ll never truly feel fulfilled. So let’s create businesses that we love, which are financially healthy, with healthy boundaries in place, where there’s always time for our own admin, and our clients are just as happy as they were when you were always putting them first! In this episode you’ll learn: Why we call BS on “the customer is always right”. The reason why your loyalty may be misplaced. Why you can’t afford to be putting your client’s financial needs before your own. Just starting out on your VA journey? Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with The VA Foundry Framework! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client. Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

In this highly anticipated episode, we chat all things ‘legal’ with Senior Lawyer Simmi Singh from iCLAW. Get set to throw everything you’ve ever heard about stuffy lawyers and their confusing lawyer speak out the window after listening to this episode on how to navigate the legal bits of your VA business. There’s was nothing left off the table …. even Sam’s infamous trademark enforcement ‘saga’ which Simmi successfully handled with both professionalism and dogged determination. In this episode you’ll learn: The contracts you need in your VA business. What to do when you get push back on your contract/service agreement. The dos and don’ts of going into business with another virtual assistant. How to sell your VA business. What ©, ® and ™ really mean. When to get a Trademark for your business. Connect with the Simmi and the iCLAW team for a no obligation chat about your business and personal legal needs here: Website Facebook LinkedIn Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

The great thing about having a coach or mentor is learning from their mistakes so you don’t make the same ones! And boy do we have some doozies to share. So, listen carefully, take notes and get prepped to build a BETTER VA business FASTER – without making the same expensive mistakes we did. In this episode you’ll learn: The biggest mistakes we’ve made in business. The pricing strategy we wish we’d known about and implemented. Sam’s biggest energy waste she regrets. Jo’s big debt that landed her in trouble. Our #1 piece of advice for VAs thinking about a business partnership. Just starting out on your VA journey?  The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo 

Are you an aspiring virtual assistant who is right this minute feeling overwhelmed, stressed out and unsure as to what you should be focusing on first in order to launch your biz and land your first client? Kick start your VA dreams by learning the very simple, specific and practical steps that we would take if starting our own VA businesses from scratch today. All without the need for a website, social following or client reviews! In this episode you’ll learn: The most underestimated social media platform that would be our main focus. Our brand design choices that might shock you. The services we would choose today if starting from scratch. The lead generation strategy we would use to find clients. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

In this episode we’re busting all the myths out there about VAs, what it’s like being one and what it’s like working with us! ‘Cos we don’t know about you, but we’re mightily sick of all the assumptions and misinformation out there about the wonderful world of virtual assistants ... some of which are even coming from those inside the industry (sigh). Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

So many of us enter the VA space not knowing the importance of focusing on the fundamentals of running a business - the business basics that are imperative to get right in order to create a healthy, profitable business. We’re unaware of just how important these fundamentals are because more often than not we’ve come from corporate roles where it’s been someone else’s responsibility to worry about them. If you’re struggling to find clients and if you’re not reaching your financial targets it’s time to STOP getting distracted by the latest shiny new thing that’s going to (supposedly) save the day, and instead get back to basics. In this episode you’ll learn: The 7 business fundamentals that you must focus on to succeed. Why shiny object syndrome happens to the best of us and how to avoid it. How to know whether something new is a good opportunity or one that will just waste your time, energy and money. Why 'more' isn't always better and just holds you back from achieving your goals in business. Just starting out on your VA journey?  The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Are you a freelance/solo virtual assistant who’s doubting your chosen path? Do you compare yourself to VA business owners with teams … only to find yourself lacking? Does it feel like you’re never going to be successful/credible/earn enough by keeping your freelance status and NOT growing a team? Then boy-oh-boy, THIS episode is for you! Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

We love a good quote .. whether it’s being shared to motivate, inspire or teach. But unfortunately there are quite a few well-known ones doing the rounds that can do more harm than good. In this episode we share the top 10 quotes we love to hate, and why they could be causing damage to your VA business. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Have you lost your motivation to get shit done in (or on) your business? Do you wish you could bring back those feelings of enthusiasm and excitement when thinking about the day, week, month or year ahead? Sounds like you’ve lost your mojo … so let’s get it back! There are oodles of reasons you’re currently feeling unmotivated. It could be anything from having taken time off for sickness or leave, to having your confidence knocked by a lead or client. The difference between a high achieving virtual assistant and the rest is their ability to self motivate, so in this episode we’re sharing out top ways to find your mojo (and motivation!) again. You’ll learn: The main causes of unmotivated VAs. Why a lack of motivation doesn’t just happen overnight. Our unconventional way of enthusiastically returning to client work after taking time away from the office. Why your mind is more powerful than you think and that you can trick yourself into feeling motivated. Why you don’t have to feel unmotivated due to feelings of isolation in the VA space. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Recently at the school gates Sam was approached by a lovely woman who said “Excuse me, are you the VA lady?” She had been following us for a while, had come across the podcast, recognised Sam and wanted to share just how much value and knowledge she’d received from listening in. Now as surreal as these moments are for both of us, and without trying to sound like we’ve got big heads, we actually get this a lot. Which is amazing because the purpose for starting the podcast in the first place was because it would be the best way to share all our tips, tricks and industry knowledge with as many people as we could. But guess what? We had no idea when recording episode #1 (almost 3 years ago) that WE would learn so much from it. We’ve had some great AHA moments of our own that have come from sitting down every week and chatting about the incredible VA space, and they are far too good not to share. It just goes to show, you CAN teach an old dog (or two) new tricks! In this episode you’ll learn: Our most surprising AHA moments from the past 134 episodes. Just starting out on your VA journey?  The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client!  Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo 

Warning! F-bombs ahead! The topic of holidays never used to be a subject worthy of our rants. Oh, how things have changed! 3 years ago, when we first started coaching virtual assistants, we had NO clue as to the mind blowing number of VAs NOT taking regular time off. But nowadays every week we’re hearing stories of VAs who are burnt out and falling out of love with their clients and businesses. More often than not these same VAs have not taken a proper holiday (let along a long weekend off!) in years! YEARS!!!!!!!!!!! This is absolutely unacceptable. Stop putting your clients’ business growth and personal wellbeing before your own! There's a very good reason that most countries have laws ensuring they are giving their employees regular time off. You did not come into the VA space to have LESS freedom and flexibility than you did as an employee. NO. MORE. EXCUSES! In this episode you’ll learn: Why there is no excuses for not taking regular time off. How you can regularly take holidays without losing income or neglecting your clients. What will happen if you continue to put your client’s health and wellbeing before your own. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Are they really a shitty client? Or are they simply the wrong-fit for you? It’s easy to blame our shitty clients when things aren’t going smoothly. When clients don’t pay us on time, value our knowledge, respect our boundaries or are poor communicators it’s frustrating … we get it! But 95% of the time there are things you could be doing to foster a healthy relationship where both you AND your client are left feeling respected, understood and appreciated. Are you sacrificing your own wellbeing and business growth by staying silent? Are you hesitant to bring up your unhappiness with a client for fear of rocking the boat? Sounds like it’s time to pull up your big VA pants and make some changes, because it’s absolutely possible to transform a shitty client into a great one! In this episode you’ll learn: When labelling a client ‘shitty’ is unwarranted. How to turn a shitty client into a great one. Why every single problem in your business is caused by …. you. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Compromising doesn’t always mean broken boundaries! Get ready to listen to THE most difficult episode we’ve recorded to date. This one may have physically made us squirm, but it’s important for all virtual assistants to know that business can be grey and murky and that SOMETIMES (but not often and definitely not always!) the best thing for YOU is to compromise on your contract terms, the hours you work, the services you provide … and yes – EVEN your pricing and payment terms. In this episode you’ll learn: Why there is no black and white in business. When red flags can turn green. Real life examples of when Sam + Jo have compromised. Why compromising doesn’t always mean broken boundaries. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

If you’re a fan of Parks and Recreation, you’ll be familiar with the phrase “Treat Yo Self!”. Tom and Donna’s magical Treat Yo Self Days are without a doubt one of the best types of self-care practices. Yes, they may have taken it to the extreme … but there’s actual science backed evidence that shows rewarding yourself and making upgrades in your business boosts your wellbeing, encourages productive working habits and promotes an abundant and successful environment ... and mindset. In this episode you’ll learn: How to trick your brain into performing well in business. How to boost your happiness and wellbeing with scientifically backed methods! How to upgrade your environment for the business you WANT, not the business you HAVE. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

It’s 5 times more expensive to find and onboard a new client than it is to keep a current client happy. Fact! So why is it so many virtual assistants are more focused on impressing the shiny new leads than they are on knocking the socks off clients who already want to work with us? Client satisfaction needs to go to the top of the priority list, because happy, loyal clients mean more referrals, more money and more chance of longer-term relationships. Seems like a no-brainer to us! In this episode you’ll learn: How you’re underestimating the cost of bringing on new clients. The #1 reason clients leave. The strategies we use to keep clients coming back for more. What you need to do more than just once a month. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

Just like there’s more than one way to skin a cat (Gross. Do NOT recommend). There’s different ways you can niche down your service offerings in order to get more clients and make more money. But don’t just take our word for it ... Long-standing member of the NZ VA community Debbie Mills-Robertson joins us in this episode to share her story of going from being a disheartened generalist virtual assistant, days away from throwing in the towel, to becoming a fully booked, in demand specialist virtual assistant with a wait list! In this episode you’ll learn: How Debbie chose her specialist service What made Debbie decide to finally go all in and niche The massive impact becoming the ‘go-to VA’ had on Debbie’s VA business. Debbie's biggest business lessons Connect with Debbie Mills-Robertson from Task Diva here: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Website Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo

We’re no stranger to business woo-woo. Not only do we love it, we embrace it, are empowered by it and we're proud of it! There’s no doubt in our minds that our lives and businesses are all the more successful for it. As crazy as using divine intervention, mystical ideas, visualisation and energy transmissions to grow your business may sound to some, we know not everyone reacts with a stinky side eye or eye roll. But let’s make one thing clear, we don’t rely on the woo-woo to succeed. We have learnt to incorporate the magic into our businesses. And you can too - if you’re open to it. In this episode you’ll learn: The modern business woo-woo practices we love. Our go-to gurus for all things woo-woo. How the Universe put a stop to Jo’s drug fuelled 20s. Why hypnotherapy worked for Sam, but why it won’t work for everyone. Real-life examples of how woo-woo has impacted other virtual assistant’s lives. Just starting out on your VA journey? The 7 Step Start Up Formula to Setting Up Your Virtual Assistant Business is the mini-course that’s helped thousands of aspiring VAs launch and land their first client! Are you an established VA looking to scale? Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today! Sam + Jo xo