Welcome to another episode of the podcast that teaches you how to be a ridiculously good virtual assistant.
Today I want to talk about 5 ways you can grow your VA business – every month!
Today’s Quote: Growth and comfort do not coexist. – Ginni Rometty
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Connect with Tracey D’Aviero, VA Coach and Trainer
Episode Notes:
Let’s talk about growth!
Because let’s be real, running a business isn’t just about getting clients and completing tasks. If you want a sustainable, thriving VA business, you need to be growing every single month.
The good news is that growth doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t have to change everything overnight.
Today I’ll share five simple ways you can grow as a business owner every month.
They are strategies you can implement right away, and act on consistently – and you will begin to see results in your confidence, in your skills, and ultimately in your success.
I’d love to see you implement at least one after this episode,
1. Take Short Trainings
One of the easiest and most effective ways to grow as a business owner and VA is to book time into your calendar to take short, focused trainings. We work in a fast changing industry, the online world – and there are so many new tools, strategies and things that our clients need. Staying ahead of the trends and the curve is a really good plan.
You don’t even need to invest hours each day or spend thousands on courses. They key to this one is SHORT trainings, even 15 to 30 minutes at a time, a couple of times a week, can be very effective.
Look for bite-sized workshops, how-to videos, or industry webinars that cover topics like automation, client management, or social media trends.
I recently took a marketing course to help me with AI. I watched a video every couple of days, and made some notes, made a few changes to my content (you may have noticed), and voila, I am already seeing a difference in how people are interacting with me.
But more than that, I feel like I am investing in myself too. I FEEL more successful because I am making it a point to log in to my training portal a few times a week.
That’s for ME, not for my clients. ME time rocks!
The key here is to actually implement what you learn. Take action right away, even if it’s just testing a new feature or adjusting your workflow. Learning is great, but applying what you learn is where the real growth happens.
2. Read Business Books
I know, I know … Tracey, I don’t have time to read, I’m too busy!
I’m going to tell you – make the time.
A lot of people I know spend hours reading. I can’t do that. Fall asleep. But I can read a chapter. So that’s what I do.
Reading business books is one of the best habits you can develop as a business owner or entrepreneur.
The right books can help you change your mindset, teach you new strategies, or inspire you to act on your dreams or your goals.
Whether you prefer physical books, e-books, or audiobooks, aim to read at least one business or personal development book each month – or two if that seems too much.
Plan to read a chapter at a time, and then make some notes, indicating what you can implement when the book is done (or right away).
Some great categories to explore include time management, marketing, client communication, pricing strategies, and confidence-building.
I belonged to a Business Book Club for a couple of years called Thought Reads with Lisa Larter and it was great. I was a terrible reader of books before then, and Lisa taught me how to read to understand and read to learn, and then take action on that one thing (or more things) that came from the books we read.
Even if you only have 10 minutes a day, that adds up over time. Keep a notebook handy (or use your notes app on your phone) – or read with a highlighter, like I do. Jot down your takeaways and ways you can take action to apply what you are reading/learning to your VA business.
3. Attend Open-Door Sessions or Q&A Calls
If you’re part of a VA coaching program, membership, or mastermind, take advantage of open-door sessions and Q&A calls. These are gold mines for learning and networking!
It’s wild, because over the years I have hosted many, many, MANY free calls like these – office hours, Q&A calls, networking calls, info sessions. And guess what … not that many people show up! And sometimes the ones that do don’t ask any questions anyway. They say they are there ‘to listen’.
This, to me, is a HUGE fail.
Not only do you get direct access to experienced business owners, but you also hear what challenges other VAs are facing and how they’re solving them. Listening to others can also remind you of questions that you have.
ASK questions of those who are way ahead of you (like me!)
Find at least one group event like this every month. These connections can make your VA business take off – fast!!
4. Participate in Facebook Groups & Communities
Social media isn’t just for scrolling – in fact, that’s the bad thing about it that everyone seems to get stuck in.
Social media is a powerful tool for learning and networking. If you’re not already active in Facebook groups for VAs and online business owners, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity to grow.
Engaging in groups is about more than just checking out the posts and trying to find something interesting.
Be active! Be a part of the community, for real.
Ask questions, share your expertise and knowledge. Support and inspire others. The more you put into a group, the more you will get out of it.
Here’s how you can make the most of it:
- Join 2-3 active groups where your clients (or colleagues) are hanging out
- Set a reminder to engage for 15 minutes a day. Create a habit, and then do it every day.
- Participate in discussions, answer questions, and be helpful.
The very first mastermind group I joined was where I learned to network with business owners. There weren’t any other VAs in the group, just me, so although it was very much a support group for me, it was with people who were charging more than me, working with different people than me.
I participated (we had no choice, our coaches were awesome) – and it helped me to find my community of clients that I drew on for many years after that.
By staying visible in the right circles, you’ll naturally attract potential clients, partnerships, and new learning opportunities.
5. Evaluate & Plan for Growth Every Month
Finally, one of the most overlooked but crucial ways to grow is to actually assess your progress and plan ahead.
At the end of each month, set aside time to reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and where you can improve. Ask yourself:
- What did I learn this month?
- What challenges did I overcome?
- Where did I feel stuck or uncertain?
- What do I want to focus on next month?
Then, create a simple action plan for the next month. Whether it’s learning a new skill, raising your rates, or improving your client onboarding process, setting clear goals will keep you on track.
When you look at your previous month and you really identify what didn’t go the right way for you, you can make simple changes to what you are doing – and reach your goals faster.
Identifying where you feel stuck is the most important part – remember the plan is to grow. Whether that means you get a new client, or you get better at networking, or you produce content that people interact with = any of those things will move you forward from where you are right now.
Baby steps – one step at a time!
Growth doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By taking small, intentional steps every month, you’ll see incredible progress in your skills, confidence, and business success.
And like I always tell you just 15 or 20 minutes a day of doing something for YOU and YOUR business, can make a really big impact in a month, or two.
I’d love to hear from you! Which of these strategies are you already using, and which one will you commit to this month? Email me or drop me a DM.
Are we connected on social media yet? I’m everywhere, so you can connect with me wherever YOU are – I’d love to chat about this.
I’m going to leave it here for today, but let’s circle back to today’s quote: Growth and comfort do not coexist.
You need to do things you have never done before to get where you have never been before.
That might mean stretching your level of comfort. I promise I am here to help you every step of the way.
Do You Need Help?
If you need support in building your confidence and finding the right clients, I would love to help. I am here for one reason only, to help you become a ridiculously good VA. Send me an email or DM me to chat about what you are struggling with, and talk about what your next step needs to be to move forward.
Thanks for tuning in, I’m Tracey D’Aviero, Confidence Coach for VAs and I’ll see you next time!
If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review. And if you’re looking for more strategies to build your VA business with confidence, check out my coaching programs and resources at YourVAMentor.com.