As I look back at 2019 it’s been a fantastic year for my business. I began the year with two ad hoc clients and wasn’t earning very much.
Compared to now, December. I’m nearing capacity and wondering whether I might need to hire an associate in the New Year.
There have been some key highlights this year which, when I look back now, have been huge for me and Kellie Simpson Virtual Assistant.
JANUARY: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
My husband broke the news late in 2018 that he was being sent on secondment to Melbourne, Australia for 3 months.
I’d been busily networking and wasn’t keen on leaving the UK whilst trying to establish my business but agreed and we left a snowy 1 degree Heathrow for a 38 degree Melbourne!
We had a great time in Australia, we travelled the Great Ocean Road, spent a weekend wine tasting in the Yarra Valley and I picked up a new UK client through a recommendation.
However, we decided not to stay in Australia (we’d only just moved back from Asia and wanted to be at home). So, after a 10 day road trip around New Zealand, we flew back to the UK.
Melbourne Skyline in the background Franz Josef glacier in New Zealand
APRIL: TIME TO GET SERIOUS WITH LINKEDIN
Being back in the UK meant it was time to get focused on growing my business. I wanted to find some new clients.
I started Helen Pritchard’s 3 month mastermind course to learn more about LinkedIn and had a huge win after posting a video. I GOT A NEW CLIENT 😃
The CEO watched my video, saw that my skills matched what they needed and a couple weeks later I’m in the office having an induction!
Inspire Biz has been a huge part of my journey so far and finally, I began to earn some decent money.
MAY: TILLY THE DOBERMAN ARRIVES 🐾
May 25th was a HUGE day for us when we finally brought home our beautiful doberman puppy Tilly. We’ve wanted a dog for years and it was one of the reasons I set up my business so that I could be from home.
Tilly has been the most amazing dog. She’s loyal, protective, playful, fun and she LOVES her cuddles. She keeps me company during the day and gets me away from my desk and out for walks.
AUGUST: BRANDING SHOOT
The summer whizzed by with me getting myself prepared for my branding shoot with Sophie Carefull. I decided, in order to ensure I came away with the best photos, I would invest in a colour consultation.
If it wasn’t for Anna Jackson of Always a Fashion Parade advising me to inject some colour, my photos would not have turned out half as good. I was so so pleased with the results.
A huge thanks to Leanna Biggs for my natural hair and make up. We’ve since met at a networking and hope to meet again soon, we clicked straight away (I love it when that happens).
And not forgetting Harvey Specter aka James from Buzzin Digital for modelling as my lawyer client.
SEPTEMBER: BUSINESS COACHING
Moving into September, armed with my beautiful branding photos and work feeling comfortable, I still wanted to invest in myself and become better known in my field as a Virtual Assistant.
Cue the amazingly talented Holly Bray from A Branch of Holly. I started following Holly from day one and tune into her podcast every week.
Holly has been teaching me how to create content, blogs, newsletters and advised me on areas of improvement for my website, services and onboarding process.
I look forward to our calls every week and I feel we have become friends and do hope we’ll get to meet one day.
SPEAKING EVENT – NASH & CO
When Dave Briggs of Nash & Co asked me to speak at their upcoming event in January 2020 I did a little jump up and down with excitement and said YES straight away!
Forget that I hate speaking in front of people, it’s such an honour to be asked.
When I say speaking in front of people, it’s not on a stage. I’ll be sat at a table, as the expert VA, answering questions from local business ladies who might want to hire a Virtual Assistant for their business.
I’m super excited (and nervous) for this and I’ve already booked a shopping trip with Anna as I want to look my absolute best (plus an excuse to go shopping 😁)
OCTOBER: VIRTUAL ASSISTANT MEMBERSHIP GROUP
I often get asked whether I get lonely working from home and the answer is NO WAY – I love it! Tilly keeps me company and I’m in a few different Facebook groups too.
One group that has been awesome is Catherine Gladwyn’s VA membership group. I read Catherine’s book in the early days and knew I wanted to join her group when it was announced.
Catherine invests so much time in the group, its supportive and I love that I can post when I need help or moan if I’m having a bad day. There is no judgement just love and support. ❤️
NOVEMBER: JANET MURRAY’S #2020SORTED EVENT
With 2020 looming closer, one of my goals for next year is to be more organised with my social media content.
Janet Murray’s #2020sorted event in Northampton was just the ticket. I travelled up with my friend and we had a blast!
We got our new social media 2020 diaries and learnt how to repurpose content, use national holidays and break the content down into quarters, months, weeks and days.
I love my diary and Q1 is nearly planned out, I just need to get the blogs written (I’ve made a start). I guess that’s what the Christmas holidays are for.
DECEMBER: MY FIRST CLIENT WIN VIA A LINKEDIN POST RECOMMENDATION
You know when you see those posts when someone is looking for what you do and there are 60+ comments and you think “I’m not even going to bother?”
I was tagged twice on a post like this. A guy on LinkedIn was looking for a Virtual Assistant. Normally I don’t bother if there are hundreds of comments but on this occasion I was tagged quite early so sent the guy a message.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, a message pops into my DM, I didn’t recognise the name at first and thought it was a sales message!
Oh no, it’s the guy who is looking for a Virtual Assistant and he’s shortlisted me and wants a call!!
Anyway, cutting a long story short, we had a call, got on like a house on fire and I’ve already started working with him. My first male client.
FINALLY…..
As I tie things up in my office and get ready to brave the xmas eve food shop tomorrow I can’t believe how wonderful 2019 has been.
So many highlights and turning points for my business. I’ve met so many awesome and talented business owners and love being a part of so many engaging and supportive communities.
If you said to me this time last year I would be nearing capacity, well, I probably would have wished that to be true but never have imagined it turn into a reality.
To everyone mentioned in my post, you have been such an integral part of my journey and I can’t thank you enough.
Here’s to a successful, positive and empowering 2020.
Kellie x
