You’ve attended the Planning Workshops, bought a pretty planner, reviewed your year, celebrated your wins, and now ready to grow your business in 2017. Awesome!

You’ve also decided to hire a virtual assistant to support your business growth – but you’re scared/ anxious/‘deer-stuck-in-the-lights’ about what to do. That’s OK. It’s a huge change to get your head around.

Where do I start? So many questions!

If it’s the first official outsourcing you’re planning, it’s normal to be apprehensive and not know where to start.

Like learning WordPress all over again, there’s a whole new process you need to take the time to get to know. Don’t worry – I can help you!

As an Online Organisation Coach – I talk to many women in business who are overwhelmed by everything they do, and spent most of their time on tasks that do not generate income, don’t light them up, and they struggle with work life balance. These are three of the main reasons why they started businesses in the first place, and three aspects of being an entrepreneur that they value, so to be caught in this cycle is frustrating, to say the least.

I understand that you might not be ready to let go of control, pay money to someone else when you’re barely making any, or pay money to someone and have it not work out.

This is where I think outsourcing can really break this cycle. It can be incredibly liberating (and addictive!), and create space for growth and momentum. So often when you let go of something, it clears the space for something new. Now there’s a great place to start in January 2017!

So, before you start backing up and wondering if you really could achieve your business plan on your own again, I want to share 8 reasons why hiring a virtual assistant is an awesome idea.

8 Reasons Why Hiring a Virtual Assistant is good for you and your Business

Hello time!

Even if you have one hour a week outsourced, or one regular task outsourced, the freedom is exhilarating!
Finally you can spend some time on your Passion Project that has been on the back burner for too long.
Finally you can step away GUILT-FREE from the screen to spend time with your family.
Outsourcing allows you to spend your time doing the important work – whether it be focusing on income or playing in the back yard.
Hello energy!

It’s a chance to handover those tasks that suck your energy. The jobs that are continually moved from one day to the next because you haven’t prioritised them, and are unlikely to ever get them done. This is when distraction and procrastination seem to take over.
Hiring a VA will give you a productivity boost and create some gorgeous momentum. In my experience, the jobs I keep putting off end up biting me on the bum, so handing them over to a VA can definitely give you some pep in your step!
Hello growth!

You’ve probably had a tough year. It’s been hard to make progress when your time is spent on mind numbing admin and tech issues, but you’ve reached that point where your business can’t grow unless you are able to make greater impact doing what you do best (i.e. not admin & tech).

Realising this, and getting out of your own way can open doors that would never have opened with your 2016 mindset.
Hello zone of genius!

You’ve been missed. Solo entrepreneurship is a hard slog, and the time available for you to spend in your zone of genius has been minimal. Letting go of some tasks – into someone else’s zone of genius actually means that your business can tap into two genius zones: your’s and your VA’s. Perfect!
Hello money!

Yes – the old adage that you have to spend money to make money is relevant here. Outsourcing is a cost-effective way to grow your business. You can measure and manage how much or how little is outsourced through your budget – but it will be more cost effective long term than you taking longer to do the task, over and over again.
Hello stronger business systems!

Outsourcing does force you to take time to get really clear on your systems.
There’s no point handing over your disorganised project to a VA, for them to spend their time sorting before they can do the work.
Creating the systems will strengthen your business processes, and provide better consistency for your clients too. Finally you can hand over repetitive tasks to someone else that can confidently take charge of them.
Bonus: you don’t need to keep everything in your head, so extracting these systems will create more space for ideas.
Hello imperfection!

This is the start of letting go of being perfect. Perfectionism is holding you back, making tasks take longer and keeping you away from the work that you do best.
You can still communicate your expectations to a VA, you can still check in on their work, and you can outsource without being a control freak. It will be OK.
Hello work life balance!

Outsourcing is a great self care strategy – because you can’t do it all at the same time. All entrepreneurs need help. Spreading the load and reducing overwhelm is an important part of staying well. If you’re stressed and burnt out, there’s not much of a business – especially if you work on your own.
This is why I think it’s awesome that you’re contemplating outsourcing in 2017, because you will have more time for self care (and that’s my #1 productivity strategy!)

Your Next Step

If you want some support to help fast track this process, or help you transition to Dubsado, then can book a free systems audit with me so we can determine where to start, and what you need to get up and running with your workflows and systems.

Aerlie Wildy is a business designer. business coach and mother based in the Adelaide Hills. I specialise in designing and systemising business for growth. You can connect with me on Facebook, join my Chief Executive Entrepreneurs Facebook Group, check out my Youtube Channel or Pin with me on Pinterest.