Podcast #13 - Rebecca Newenham on the Life of a Virtual Assistant

Comeback Girl Podcasts

Welcome to the Comeback Girl podcast This week, I am talking to entrepreneur Rebecca Newenham, founder of Get Ahead Virtual Assistant agency. How would you like to do what you love working from home, around all of your other priorities your smartphone as your office? Or finally run your own franchise with a proven toolkit and a ready made blueprint for success? Notes: (2.20) Left retail buying in London for 8 year career break – strategic decision. It wasn’t until Robin, youngest started school that she thought “I’d love to be doing something but I don’t quite know what”. She had been chair for the local pre-school and was loving being a mum. "It was part of my career but just not working in a professional sense". (2.5) “Inspiration to run something for myself came from my mum who had run a tutorial agency when I was young, I benefited from her flexibility” (3.09) Rebecca researched lots of jobs, she wanted to have her own thing. She also didn’t want to sacrifice travelling. (3.3) Had heard of VA concept, strong in US. Did day’s training course and set up business. (4.00) The excitement was that it opened up lots of doors. My fourth child! Didn’t feel panicked (she gave herself time )….found course really interesting. On Networking (5.00) She was good at telling people what she was doing in her existing world of mums. Advice: be open in talking to people and you suddenly realise who you know, ask: “What do you think”? Networking is “a more grown up version of a playgroup where you have to talk to people you don’t know”. (6.47) What did Mum pass on? E.g. really defined space if working from home…Be very disciplined. Methods of self-care (7.53) Self-care: breakfast with girlfriends, it’s looking at you as an individual and how best you work… “I love a list”. For mental health: podcasts. Running as an escape. Finding Purpose (9.41) Mum said “ you will find your thing”…I was looking at people appearing to have found “the job”. I didn’t want to be controlled by some big hairy boss …this let me play to my strengths (10.5) On having a professional family… can have thousands of connections but Instagram perfect life is not real. Integrating Family and Work Life (12.2) Big on planning her week…goals to work towards, family goals, big planner everyone fills in…"I need visuals". Advice in taking step back into work: (12.5) Ask “what are you wanting to achieve?” e.g. money, not thinking about it outside work hours…. understanding our motivations. Look at Talented Ladies Club website… (13.44)I have seen a lot of people in 8 years who are not around anymore, they didn’t know what they wanted to achieve and waste energy in wrong directions. (14.36) Networking is listening to needs… whether you can provide it yourself or refer it on. Your elevator pitch (15.3)About having a confidence, never apologising for your story, bringing something alive (about yourself). What brought you to where you are Limiting beliefs about Returning to Work (17.00)One limiting belief: “Why would they want me” – it should be totally the other way around! What does a VA do? (17.50)VA is a freelancer, they manage their own tax and insurance, beauty of us is that we provide our team with clients that they find interesting. Often all you need is access to a PC and a printer for remote working. Overriding benefit is interesting work and can manage own diary. They help a business owner to focus. Life of a Getahead VA Franchise Owner (25.00) e.g Fiona, Leeds franchisee wanted a move from corporate life….2 children….. she has something she could run, Getahead VA has the toolbox. She does the business development and there' s a core team that can support. Fiona like that we researched everything ,e.g. providing website. “Professional family”. Men as well. Won’t it be great when legislation supports men taking long career breaks! (26.00)Say to anyone, your purpose is out there! https://www.getaheadva.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-ahead-va