We want you to meet Hannah Joy from Chichester, England. She owns a Virtual Assistant and VA coaching business and has been an entrepreneur for 3 years.
What does your dream life look like? Are you currently living your dream or still working on it?
I am living my dream life! Although I definitely still have goals, I always try to remind myself that I am living the dreams I used to have. E.g. I dreamt of having kids, living in a house big enough for us, having my own VA business, coaching aspiring VAs…and these are all dreams that I’m now living!
That’s wonderful! Tell us about what you do.
I own a Virtual Assistant and VA coaching business. I specialise in supporting Mums and those who lack confidence, to set up their own, flexible Virtual Assistant business using skills they already have.
What inspired you to start this business?
I’ve always wanted to run my own business. I decided to set up as a VA when I realised that returning to teaching after having my kids wasn’t going to work for us.
It went super well, and people started asking me how I did it – then the VA coaching was born!
It was a natural progression for me because although I was no longer drawn to teaching as a career, I definitely missed the coaching and mentoring aspect of it.
What support do you currently offer to people wanting to set up their own Virtual Assistant business?
My signature 1-1 coaching programme, Virtual Assistant: Amplified, will take you from zero to VA hero in just 6 sessions. Using a personalised approach and a carefully crafted roadmap, you’ll avoid the overwhelm and common hurdles and skip right to the top!
You’ve been in business for 3 years. What’s a challenge you’ve faced along your entrepreneurial journey?
I was recently diagnosed with low self-esteem, having struggled with confidence since childhood. It impacted my friendships, my parenting and my work.
Thankfully I was eventually able to recognise the problem and get appropriate support.
I still face Imposter Syndrome and moments of self-doubt, and I don’t believe they can be ‘cured’, but I’ve learned how to show up in a way that is authentic to me – and even how to turn it to my advantage!
How has being an introvert affected your business?
Being an introvert has actually had a positive impact on my business – I’m a strong believer that introverts and those who lack confidence can make the strongest business owners.
We don’t fight for the limelight. We take the time to hone our skills and crafts behind the scenes – and you can bet your bottom dollar that once we do present them to the work, they are bloody good!
We are able to take constructive criticism on board and use it to improve our practice. We aren’t intimidating, we are relatable, and we show up in our own, gentle way.
What methods do you use to bring in new clients?
I talk about my own struggles openly. I also use humour and show my personality and hope that people relate to me.
I use mindset-shifting quotes in my social media to get people to challenge their misconceptions about themselves, and move them towards a position where they are starting to believe in themselves and want to take action.
How do you define success for yourself and your business?
NOT by how many clients or how much money I get!
Every new goal achieved is a success. Every failure overcome, every mistake learned from, every ‘I can’t’ turned into an ‘I can’.
There are successes and failures in every day.
What advice would you give to other introverted women who are just starting their own businesses?
Show up as your authentic self and you will shine in your own, gentle way.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Where can our readers find more information about you?
