What is your biggest problem in your VA business?
I recently had a conversation with a VA who was just getting her business started.
I had offered her a complimentary consultation to answer some of her questions about getting started.
Her question list was very, very long.
That’s not a bad thing, but when you have lots of questions, guess what happens quickly? … OVERWHELM.
She was overwhelmed by the things she thought she needed to do.
She was overwhelmed by the things she wanted to do.
She was overwhelmed by the things that she didn’t even realize she should be doing.
She was kind of a mess. She felt overwhelmed, and confused, and really lost.
The first thing I tell people when they share their huge list of things they have on their mind is to slow down. Like stop, completely.
And then I ask them … what is your biggest problem right now?
I don’t mean the big thing they need to do … I mean their biggest problem.
Here are some of the answers I have received to that question lately:
‘I need clients’.
‘I don’t know what to do first.’
‘I don’t have enough money.’
‘I know I need help but I can’t afford it.’
‘I’m not inspired.’
‘I don’t know if I want to do this anymore.’
‘I don’t like what I am doing all day.’
These are real answers from real people.
Maybe your answer is the same as one of these statements.
Or maybe it’s completely different.
Ask yourself that very question. What is your biggest problem right now?
I would love to hear what it is.
Be honest with yourself. Be honest with me. It’s the best way I can help you.
Now that you know that ONE thing that is your biggest problem, let’s look at it and see what you can do to fix it.
‘I need clients’
How many clients do you need? When do you need to have them start? Where are you going to go to find them? Leaving this an open ended comment doesn’t help you at all. Answer the questions, take control of what you need to do, and get it done.
‘I don’t know what to do first.’
Make a list of the things you need to do. What can you start with? What is most important? If you can’t prioritize the list, who can help you do that? What’s the biggest thing? The smallest? Prioritizing is scary and overwhelming but writing it down and tackling it one bit at a time is the best solution. The only way to move forward is one step at a time.
‘I don’t have enough money.’
What is the return you will get by spending? Is the timing right? Where is your money going? Can you cut expenses or do you just need more revenue? Where can you find what you need? Weigh your options, make a decision – be bold. If something is important enough to you, you will find the money. It’s not always the right time, but sometimes … it is.
‘I know I need help but I can’t afford it.’
What level of support or help do you need? Is there a way to automate or delegate? Are you just scared to take the step? Have you spent and failed before? Have you spent and succeeded before? Analyze why you are not willing to spend if you really think you need it. And if you spend, then make sure to IMPLEMENT what you invest in.
‘I’m not inspired.’
What do you need to feel inspired? What do you dislike? Who do you dislike? How can you change either of those things? Inspiration sometimes takes work. Sometimes you need support. If you can’t inspire yourself, seek out someone to help. Working alone means you have to find ways to keep yourself inspired and motivated.
‘I don’t know if I want to do this anymore.’
How does your day/week look? What makes you frustrated? If you can identify specific things that you don’t want to do, why are you still doing those? What disheartens you more than anything? Can you get help to move through that? Remember why you started your business. Remember what you loved about it. What is that? Where did it go? Get it back.
‘I don’t like what I am doing all day.’
Stop doing it. You are in charge of your own business. You make the decisions. If you are doing something you don’t like, it’s your own fault, no one else’s. Change. Fire clients. Get new ones. Or change what you are doing for them. You must be in charge of your own decisions, and stand by them.
So … what’s YOUR biggest problem?
Being a business owner means looking inward, at yourself and at your business.
It means analyzing the things that make up your business and making decisions to make changes where necessary to be better. To do better.
If you are not quite sure how to fix what is wrong, I invite you to schedule a complimentary Cut to the Chase session with me. I’d love to hear what your biggest problem is. Especially if you don’t see a way to make it better. We can get to the root of your issue and plan your next step to move forward. Schedule yours here: www.YourVAMentor.com/15-min