Different people may have different answers on what the absolute FIRST thing is you need to do when starting a Virtual Assistant business – and all of them can be right.

In my opinion however, the absolute first thing you MUST do before you start your business is to really understand YOU.

We all like to think we know ourselves really well but I sometimes wonder if that is true. It’s like in the analogy from the movie Shrek, where Shrek talked to Donkey and said

Shrek: For your information, there’s a lot more to ogres than people think.
Donkey: Example?
Shrek: Example… uh… ogres are like onions!
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes… No!
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry?
Shrek: NO! Layers! Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.

Like ogres, there’s a lot more to you than meets the eye.  You have layers!

How well do you know your layers? How well do you know:

  • What you are really passionate about.
  • What motivates you?
  • What your values are?
  • What your fears are?

Research has consistently shown that people, who truly understand these basic things about themselves, tend to be stronger performers and better leaders in their industries. It’s not just about knowing your strengths and weaknesses; it is also about understanding your personality and knowing what is important to you because that knowledge drives your behavior and the decisions you make.

It helps you make better decisions in terms of:

  • The services you offer
  • How you perform your work
  • The type of clients you work with
  • How you interact with clients
  • How you manage your business and resources to progress faster

The truth is: Success in life starts with CLARITY.

So for me, knowing and understanding who you are, what you are willing to do, what you want in life and why you want it, is the STARTING POINT of creating a successful virtual assistant business, because only then you can direct your thoughts, plans and actions to achieve all the things you want.

Read more:

Become a Virtual Assistant in South Africa

How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business