I left you hanging in the last post.……..
I’m heading into 2019 as a single mom on a single income…..and that is my Virtual Professional business.
What? Yes it’s a bit nerve wracking on one hand. But soooooo empowering on the other.
(Here’s where I get vulnerable. Really vulnerable.)
For all of 2017 and 2018 I operated my business in the midst of major life turmoil. Lost my father to cancer. Separated from my husband. Walking my daughter through significant treatment for anorexia. And graduating my oldest and moving him across the country for college.
Here’s the good news (for me and for everyone out there running a VA / Virtual Professional business.)
I made it. And so can you.
I didn’t just make it, I once again hit six figures.
(in revenue, not profit, not salary…..there was a lot that I outsourced just to keep myself physically well and mentally healing.)
It wasn’t until the kids went back to school in August that I was able to put my focus 100% back into my business. And in 4 short months, I was back to my “normal” levels of Virtual Professional revenue.
My divorce was final on Dec. 26th and I entered 2019 100% financially responsible for myself and my 4 kids.
There is no fall back income. No space to take a season off.
All benefits of working from home that had been agreed upon in our marriage and were so helpful for the care of our 4 kids, are now gone and it’s all me.
What would you do differently in your business if your family was 100% relying on your income?
That’s quite a question. And while I’ve always been a serious business builder, there are some things I’ve approached differently as a result of this change.
Cash flow is more important. Delayed client payments can really throw a wrench into things. Having more cash reserves also helps us work from a place of strength instead of a place of desperation and worry.
Selecting clients who respect your boundaries and time constraints is also essential. While there are some days I can work later and longer, there are days that it’s all on me to get the kids somewhere and I can’t have emergency client work cropping up at those times. (Hint: clients 3 time zones away can have the best intentions but in all practicality, just isn’t right.)
Thinking about the longer term picture has also allowed me to select clients and projects that lead towards longer term, more sustainable business.
These are more “advanced” topics in the virtual professional space for sure. Even if you are just getting started, I like to be transparent with what’s ahead.
I am still 100% a believer in this client-services business model.
I still see more work available than there are VA’s to take on.
It’s still the business model I am pursuing even as a single mom.
Share with me…..what’s the biggest thing holding you back from starting or growing your VA / Virtual Professional business?
(It could be the topic of my next email!)
If you’re ready to rock-n-roll, my best fast track trainings from 2018 are available in this training bundle at a special price only thru Tuesday. It’s the lowest priced training package I’ve ever offered.
Because…….Our email list has been LIT UP since the holidays. Hundreds of new people signing up since then. It’s clearly time for a change.
These are the videos you want to watch if you are just beginning your VA business…… or if you are stalled and discouraged and want to reset with a fresh mentality (and be inspired knowing it can be done even if you are the sole breadwinner.)