As a soulful wellness entrepreneur, speaker, counselor, kinesiologist, energy healer, reiki master and senior kundalini yoga teacher, Patty Kikos has her hands full - to say the least! That's why she went seeking the help of a virtual assistant. And four years later, they still have an amazing working relationship! Read more from Patty on how she delegates to her virtual assistant, and why she says he's been vital to growing her businesses.
What inspired you to start working with a virtual assistant?
It started with me needing assistance with graphics for my upcoming yoga workshops, and then the occasional website update. It then extended to the revamping and creation of several (5 in fact!) different sites so I needed someone that was proficient in coding as well as graphics. As my business grew and I started to launch online products, my virtual assistant has been instrumental in helping me reach the next professional level.
Tell us a little about what you have delegated and how you work together?
My virtual assistant is in charge of all the back end and upkeep of 4 sites. We work together for 3 hours a day at the same time every day, and we try to make the most of the ‘real time’ opportunity to interact back and forth. If this isn’t possible because I have a client meeting, I schedule tasks ahead of time for him to complete. In an ideal world, I set weekly tasks and we have daily check ins, but this doesn’t always go to plan either because I have other face to face commitments or a task has taken longer than expected to complete.
How has working with a virtual assistant supported your business, and you personally?
It has been instrumental in taking my business to the next level as my services have expanded globally into the online world and allowed me the opportunity to earn passive income. If I didn’t have my virtual assistant, there’s no way my website(s) would look as polished and professional like they do, nor would I have been able to build a membership portal for my e-courses.
Did you experience any challenges? How did you overcome them?
Yes! Sometimes there are cultural differences (he’s based in the Philippines), and there have been a few instances where he has not been available due to illness, family issues and the 2 occasions where the Philippines were struck with a cyclone and a typhoon.
I have a wonderful synergy with my virtual assistant (I’m the godmother to his youngest child) and on the few occasions when we’ve had a miscommunication, it’s been resolved very quickly and has deepened our relationship.
What advice would you give to aspiring virtual assistants looking for new clients?
Be honest about the hours that you’re able to work. Don’t take it personally if you’re not the right fit for one client – there are plenty of other people that will work well with you! Be clear about your qualifications and be just as clear about the areas that you are not proficient in, that way it’s easier to manage expectations.
Patty Kikos is renowned for inspiring visionaries and entrepreneurs to make incredible internal transformations that magnify their effectiveness and impact on the world and has taught and presented at many yoga and wellness festivals over the years. When Patty isn’t moonlighting as a sought after wedding celebrant, she’s usually watching a sunset, walking her dog or trawling for vintage. You can stay up to date by visiting her website, Facebook page, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter!
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