Episode 219: Scaling Your Virtual Assistant Business – Hear from 3 of My Students in the Scaling Virtual Assistant Mastermind

Full Episode Transcription:

[00:00:00] Arianna Vernier: Y’all, I have a super special episode for you today. You are going to hear from three of the students from the Scaling Virtual Assistant Mastermind and just hear about their takeaways, what they learned, how it’s allowed their business to grow, and all of the things. So I’m really, really excited for you guys to hear this, and I just want you to know that the Scaling Virtual Assistant Mastermind is open for enrollment right now. We are taking applications. With this Mastermind, you are going to be able to create your signature offer and packages that excite you. It’ll help you land those larger clients that adore you, that see you as the expert and not just an employee, that they don’t have to pay very much. It’ll help you sell your services without the hustle or without sending awkward DMs.

[00:00:50] It’ll help you know what to work on in your business without being confused on what’s actually going to make you a profit. It’ll help you get unstuck and grow your virtual assistant business. And in this program, you’re gonna get live one-on-one coaching with me. You’re gonna get feedback strategy all designed specifically for your business model. So if you are ready for this, you can go check out the Mastermind and all that is included over at ariannavernier.com/mastermind or find the link in the show notes. But I’m just really excited for you guys to see what it’s like to be a part of this program, to hear from these three amazing women that have already graduated from the Scaling Virtual Assistant Mastermind, you will hear us reference in the recording the abbreviation FFF. This program did use to have a different name. We’ve revamped it into the Scaling Virtual Assistant Mastermind, but it’s the same amazing content these ladies got and I’m so excited for you to just hear their key takeaways.

[00:01:55] Amber, what were your big takeaways or like big wins from fff?

[00:02:02] Amber Pasillas: I think it really gave me a lot of clarity. As far as like what I wanted to do and what I wanted to really focus on and kind of what I was good at and how to say, no, that is probably like my biggest takeaway. I’m actually firing a client at the end of the month because she’s not paying me what I deserve. And so like it’s scary to fire a client. But, I know that better things are coming so that I would never have done that. I would’ve just kept like pushing through and like struggling. I have more like confidence in myself, I guess.

[00:02:37] Arianna Vernier: Yeah. And I know that better things are going to come, so I’m so proud of you for doing that. That is a scary step. But I think like when you hit that point, you know you’ve made it.

[00:02:50] Amber Pasillas: Yeah. It’s terrifying. And then just realizing that being a business owner is hard and stressful, but it’s totally worth it. It’s so much better than being at school. It’s a different stress, but like I could, like this morning I did nothing. I just hung out with my girls and we just played and watched movies and we just relaxed. And I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I was still working at school.

[00:03:17] Arianna Vernier: Awesome. Well, I’m so proud of you. Yeah. Anna Marie, what are your kind of key takeaways? Big wins and everything from FFF.

[00:03:28] I think the big one is just the accountability.

[00:03:31] Anna Marie Burish: Having this group. And knowing that we’re going to meet on a weekly basis, and they’re like, were assignments that we had to do for our business, for ourself, for our own, like spiritual mental health. I think that was really helpful to know that like, okay, this week I have to have my automation set, and that was like a big one for me because I didn’t have them set up yet, which I should have. And it’s like, okay, now I have to get these done. And having that accountability, knowing that the group was going to. Be there looking at how our automations worked and how everything about our business was run was like it was, it was a good push for me to get that stuff done. Like Amber said, just having that confidence in my business, knowing that I am the expert. I run my business. I know what I’m doing and what I’m talking about, and I need to have that come across. And not only in my systems, but in the way I talk to people, the way I present myself, and the way I promote myself on social media. That it is, you know, I am the one that runs this show. And if I’m not there to show up and if I don’t show that I am the expert and I know that I’m the authority of my business, then no one’s gonna hire me. And it’s helped to kind of have that community to build each other up in that sense too.

[00:04:54] Arianna Vernier: Yeah. I think that’s an important thing to remember is that. You’re not the employee as a virtual assistant, you are the expert. You’re the one providing a service to better your client’s business. So we have to stop looking at, at it as the employee boss relationship because that’s when we start undercharging, overworking all of those things. So setting yourself up as an expert and having systems to run your business like a business and efficiently so that you don’t have to pour 10 million hours into it each week and you can focus on what actually really matters in your life. I think that’s the most crucial thing.

[00:05:33] Anna Marie Burish: Yes, yes. I have changed a lot of my vocabulary in like my, my discovery call scripts, in my contracts because a lot of that stuff is Midwest nice. And I needed to get rid of that. Such as, I kept saying like, “if you hire me”, and now I say, “when you hire me”. Yeah. And then it’s just goes from there. So it’s just changing that mindset, that mentality, that like, I am the authority figure. I’m the expert in my field. This is why you called me. This is why you need my help. So it’s, it’s just that whole changing of things and, and I know that having this group meeting, all of you women have just been such a blessing at the right time in my life and knowing that you guys are there, like every time that we haven’t met like this, we would like talk as a small group saying like, Hey, could we talk about like our website this week? Because. It has not gone well for me. And knowing that people are gonna make the time to meet with you is just huge because not having that support system is probably the downfall for a lot of business owners. Yeah, because. 90% of the time on our own. So it’s nice to have each other and knowing like we have this time every week available, could we meet and just chat and just talk.

[00:06:56] Arianna Vernier: Now, I know you raised your prices a lot throughout the mastermind. Can you talk a little bit about that?

[00:07:04] Anna Marie Burish: Before, when I had just my virtual assistant rates, because I didn’t change ’em since I started my business, I needed about 8, 9, 10 clients to be booked out, and now at my new social media manager, I need maybe four or five people to be booked out.

[00:07:19] Arianna Vernier: That’s amazing.

[00:07:20] Anna Marie Burish: It does make a difference. Anything else you wanted to share or mention? I just love this group and I wish it would never stop.

[00:07:30] Arianna Vernier: Well, we love you. All right. Sarah, what are your big key takeaways or wins or what have you from FFF?

[00:07:41] Sarah Hutchison: Probably my major takeaway was, learning how to prioritize different tasks appropriately so I’m not, you know, spending my time on something that I shouldn’t be spending a ton of time on, you know. And, along with that, the automations, because before I’m kind of hopping back and forth between a bunch of different programs, trying to figure out, you know, once somebody books and then sending them, a link or whatever, and now it’s just kind of all in one. And just really, really prioritizing everything. So I’m not doing a million different tasks and it actually, you know, gives me more time to do stuff outside of doing podcast management. Let’s say just time prioritizing and like Anna Marie was saying, the community also just being able to text somebody that is, you have a question and you’re like, “Hey, I don’t know how to word this”, or “I’m trying to set this up and I don’t know what to do”. And like the website thing. It’s just nice having a community of people that are in the same thing that you’re going through and you’re kind of bounce ideas off of each other and just have that support in the group. And the accountability of having homework and things we need to get done also helps with the time management also, which I really love that so.

[00:08:57] Arianna Vernier: Yeah. I think a lot of times when when you start as a virtual assistant, you’re so focused on getting your clients, and then once you have those clients, you tend to focus so much on growing their business and you just set your business to the side. And I think, yeah, if you wanna keep growing to the point where you can be more of that expert role. Then you have to give your business the dedication and the time. And I think the homework helps with that cuz it like forces you to actually do it and not just keep Yeah. Oh, I’ll do it next week. I’ll do it next week. Well, you guys have shared some awesome just takeaways and experiences and wins from FFF and I just appreciate you guys for going all in on your businesses and making them a priority, and in turn, making yourselves a priority so that you can make this the thing that allows you to be home with your kiddos to pursue new hobbies and travel whenever you want. Do whatever makes you happy. So I’m really, really proud of all three of you guys.

[00:10:04] All right, y’all. I hope this episode gave you a sneak peek, special glimpse into what it’s like to be a part of the Scaling Virtual Assistant Mastermind. Again, this is just a really tight-knit community where I’m gonna be walking hand in hand with you. Going super in depth into your virtual assistant business, figuring out how you can scale it, make that passive income, be seen as the expert, and just continue to grow this to the point where you can be able to pay off your debt. Take those vacations, do whatever you want because the income is there. I know this is possible for you, and I would love to help you in that journey. So go check out the Mastermind and apply over at ariannavernier.com/mastermind and you can also find that link in the show notes. I love y’all so, so much, and we will see you in the next episode.