Business is cutthroat. It’s a dog-eat-dog world.
Have you ever stopped being an entrepreneurial badass for a minute and thought about being vulnerable?
In our world today, vulnerable is almost a dirty word. If you’re vulnerable someone can swoop in and ruin everything. If you’re vulnerable, it opens you up for pain and disappointment. If you can’t even think of it in business terms, think of it in personal terms. Are you able to open yourself up and be vulnerable with your partner? Your loved ones? Your friends?
If the answer is no, let’s chat.
Vulnerability is terrifying. I’m not denying that. I spent years shut up behind walls meant to protect myself from getting hurt. But it gets lonely behind those walls.
Think of your business. Your baby. That idea that you’ve been cultivating and working on for years of your life. It’s almost a part of you. How would it feel to take a week off and hand the reins over to someone else?
Crippling terror? Hair pulling insanity?
It’s hard to be vulnerable. No one has ever said it wasn’t. If you know someone who has they are either the most well-adjusted person ever or a damn liar.
We all know what the worst things to possibly happen are. You see them in your nightmares, I’m not here to remind you.
But let’s think about what the best things that could happen to you. If you were to hand over a small part of your business to a VA, what’s the best thing that could happen?
Without having to check and respond to customer e-mails, you could work on that new product launch.
If you aren’t responsible for moderating your Facebook group, you have the time to write a blog post.
Instead of fighting the backend of your website to accept Pinterest rich pins and get them shared, you can go to your kid’s concert or sporting event.
A virtual assistant can do any of those things and far more. But in order to allow yourself to let go of a little control and have a VA do something for you, you have to make yourself -and your business- vulnerable.You have to allow someone in. Let someone in to your walls.
So find someone you can trust. Talk with them. IM, Skype, have a phone call. Feel them out and trust your instincts. See if you mesh. You’re looking for someone you can work with. Someone you can trust. It’s important to do that. No one wants you to throw your e-mail at someone you just found on the internet. Do the leg work. But when you find that right person. Let them in. Show them your business. Be a little vulnerable.
It’s a fine balance, and one you have to practice very carefully, but start slowly. Let someone in on your dream. Share some details. Ask them for a little assistance with one task. Grow it to two if you like how you work together. If it continues to do well, then share a little more. If you see red flags or aren’t meshing well, part ways. Find someone else. It’s your business, you can be picky.
Your idea, your business, your work; it’s your baby. But with a little vulnerability, you could grow your business into an empire. Turn your side hustle into a business. Or find that free hour to attend your daughter’s dance recital.
If you are interested in learning more about Virtual Assisting services, do not hesitate to e-mail me at natalie@tobrighteststars.com. No pressure to hire me, I’d love to just chat! If you’re interested in becoming a Virtual Assistant, check out this list of services a VA can offer.