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From Travel Fund to Full-Time Success: A Virtual Assistant Business

How Emily Transformed a Wanderlust Dream into a Thriving Career

Happy Sunday. This week we are chatting with Emily, the owner of Some Associates, a virtual assistant business. Emily’s business started as a remote side hustle built to help her fund her travelling. After establishing her business, she decided to take it full-time, and her business growth has been non-stop since then.

In the interview she will cover:

  • What success looks like for a virtual assistant business.

  • Why any business can benefit from hiring a virtual assistant.

  • Things to do if you’re starting out in a similar field.

Now, over to Emily!

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Some Associates

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your business?

My partner and I run a company called Some Associates. We provide remote creative, and operational support to a range of businesses and startups. Our goal is to offer flexible, high-quality services that meet the unique needs of each client. We provide creative services such as content creation, website development, branding, and podcast editing, as well as comprehensive administrative and operational support which ensures our clients can focus on their core business activities without worrying about day-to-day operational tasks.

What was your main inspiration for getting into this line of work?

We sort of fell into it if I am completely honest. Initially it was a way to make money on the road whilst we travelled, but as we took on more work, we quickly realised the potential in our business model. We saw how valuable our services were to clients and how much we enjoyed the work. 
Our inspiration then shifted to building a business that not only allowed us to work for ourselves but also provided a lifestyle we loved.

We were motivated by the idea of creating a company that could deliver high-quality, flexible support to other businesses while allowing us to maintain our independence. This combination of professional satisfaction, and personal freedom became the motivation to growing Some Associates.


How do you define success in your business?


Success for us means creating work and providing services that we are genuinely proud of. It's about delivering high-quality results that exceed our clients' expectations and making a meaningful impact on their businesses. Also, I suppose success to us also means maintaining a work-life balance that allows us to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that motivated us to start this journey in the first place.


Why would someone benefit from using your services? And how do you showcase your value to prospective clients?


The main benefit of using our services is the flexibility and expertise we bring by working remotely and collaboratively with our clients. We provide project work and services on an as-needed basis, meaning businesses can access top-quality support without the commitment and cost of hiring full-time or part-time employees. This setup allows clients to scale their support up or down based on their current needs, offering maximum flexibility.

Also, by not having to worry about benefits, holiday time, or other employee-related expenses, our clients can significantly reduce their operational costs. By building strong, trusting relationships with our clients, we try to become their go-to partner for creative and operational support, helping them achieve their business goals efficiently and effectively.


What advice would you give to someone just starting out in a similar field?

I’d say start by building a solid foundation in a few key areas that interest you and align with your best skills. It took us a while to narrow down the services we wanted to provide and how we wanted to position ourselves. Another key piece of advice is to stay organised and manage your time effectively. Working remotely and for yourself requires a high level of self-discipline!

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback to continuously improve your services. Listen to your clients and adjust as needed. This willingness to adapt and grow will set you apart from other service providers!

Where can people find you?

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If you’d like to read last week’s newsletter, an interview with Jay, a musician who has a side hustle as a dog walker. Check it out here.

Thank you all,

See you next week! 👋