Making Life Simpler - Savvy Assistant Co.

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Raush Salhi, Founder of Savvy Assistant Co., located in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Savvy Assistant is a virtual assistant service born to empower executives, visionaries, and small business owners to own their work narratives with a little bit of help. I'm here to lighten the load by tackling those growing to-do lists, but more importantly, design and implement practical efficiencies and custom optimization techniques along the way so they can continue to focus on leading and scaling their businesses. Success means my clients are no longer asking where their time went; they are telling their time where to go.

My industry expertise is in the marketing and communications space, which has afforded me the opportunity to work with a unique range of clients, from international broadcast journalists and creative brand directors to lifestyle content producers and media agency leaders.

Tell us about yourself

My big dreamer mindset, passion for exploring culture, and "do you have to lose" attitude have sent me all over the world from a humble start in South Dakota. I've accumulated an international career spanning 15 years of dos and don'ts (so many don'ts) within the tech, investment, media, advertising, and consumer brand spaces where I've supported CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, board members, and visionaries at every level. These high-paced, high-demand experiences working for and alongside leaders have taught me that to own your day, week, month truly, and above all, career means working smarter, not harder. What continues to light my fire to this day is being the one-woman show operating behind the scenes to support others, be the brand, hit targets, ease bottlenecks, communicate effectively, and manage large projects.

The launch of my solo venture, the Savvy Assistant, was sparked by being paid not to go to work. Thank you maternity leave - an incredibly unique pause in my life that solidified my entrepreneurial spirit and passion for supporting others, as well as tested my knack for strategy, organization, and productivity. Let me just say if you want a true warrior in your corner of business, you'll find no one stronger than a strategic and motivated mom who is dancing on the tightrope of work and life.

I am a best friend to data, a self-proclaimed master organizer (of everything), a detail-obsessed queen, storyteller, unrelenting perfectionist, coffee with donut enthusiast, and a blunt human that always leads with grace. Outside of the office, you can find me binging true crime documentaries, scouting the newest coffee bar, enjoying incredible local wineries, exploring nature with my mini-me daughter and husband, and planning my next organizational project with a trip to the container store - yes for fun.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The biggest accomplishment of any business owner, which has been true to my own experience, is just starting. The fear of failure can hold so many of us back from taking a leap into entrepreneurship. In reality, what we should be telling ourselves is that if I'm amazing at what I do when employed by others, I can deliver even greater outcomes on my own. Within only two months of the official launch, I had more clients than I could handle and more referrals than I ever expected from a network I'd built over the years. Today, it's not a matter of if I'll bring in enough work; it's about having the power to choose who I collaborate with based on what I am passionate about and the impact I know I can make.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Setting boundaries. Before children, I was a workaholic by choice. I loved delivering on lofty goals and seeing progress. Now, I don't have the same luxury of working through the night or full weekends. I have to know when it's time to switch off and get fuel from other aspects of my life.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Marketing will be key to gaining clients, but that doesn't mean you need big agency budgets. One of the best things you can do to get your name out there is to establish backlinks to your site by joining directories that will host your profile.
2. Know your value and that you are not for everyone. It's okay to turn down work that doesn't feel right or that you're being undercut on. As a new entrepreneur, it's important to set your standard - be it pricing, service offerings, or work hours - and not deviate too far from that to ensure you're achieving your definition of success.
3. Invest whatever resources you have into automation and smart systems. You are going to reach a wall (we all have) where you are desperate for some relief. You are one person running an entire business and cannot do everything forever. Know what your time is worth and find ways to offset it.
4. And I'm going to break the rules (that's who I am) by giving you an extra tip. Have fun. You are determining your own future, and it's hard work, but the end result of being in control of what that looks like makes it all worth it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.savvyassistant.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savvy.assistant.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/savvy-assistant-co/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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