Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Melissa Smith, Founder and CEO of The PVA, located in Comer, GA, USA.

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

I match clients to the right virtual assistant based on communication strategy and ideal client fit. My clients are those who want highly qualified, experienced VAs but don't have the time to get it right and can't afford to get it wrong.

Tell us about yourself

My mom was an executive assistant for over 30 years. Growing up and visiting her at work, everyone was always saying how great she was and how the office couldn't run without her. I wanted to grow up and be like my mom - an assistant.

I went to secretary school (back when that's what we were called) and was an executive assistant for over 15 years. Then in 2012, my husband committed suicide, and that changed everything. I moved back to my home state of California to be near family and had a job I loved. The problem was my 16-year-old daughter was not doing as well with the adjustment. She wanted to move back to her home state of Georgia, and I knew I had to give her that.

One morning, I went to my boss to give my two weeks' notice, and he said, "We don't want to lose you. How do we keep you?" I told him I didn't have to be in the office. I could do what I do virtually. He said, "Okay. Let's do that." I became their very first remote employee. This was in 2014.

A few months later, new contracts were sent out for the year. Having experienced freedom and flexibility in a way that I never had before, I wanted it all. I sent the contract back unsigned, finished out my current contract, and started my own business with the full support of my employer. Having that kind of support was awesome. Not to mention, they told me I would always have a job with them whenever I wanted.

When I first started my business, I was doing a lot of networking and meeting a lot of people. I was educating them on virtual assistants, what we do, and how we can assist. At the end of the conversation, they would always say, "Great! Can I hire you?" I would tell them no, and they would look at me like I was crazy. I would tell them I'm just not that type of VA. They would ask where to find such a VA and I told them I knew tons of VAs and began making introductions. After about a year of making introductions, I had a lightbulb moment. I thought, "I wonder if someone would pay me to make the introductions." I tried it, and they did. I quickly changed my business model and wrote a bestseller on the subject.

Everything about matching clients and VAs motivates me. It's truly a win-win-win situation. Clients finally get the type of assistance they have dreamed of. VAs get to work with their ideal clients doing the work they love. I get to facilitate the entire process, and it is so rewarding.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Outwardly, people might think it's been my ability to travel the world in 2017 (16 countries in 12 months), the awards, or the books I've written. It's not.

I started my own business because life was hard at the time, and I needed my family, and they needed me. The problem was we were all spread out throughout the country. I wanted and needed the freedom and flexibility to be with them whenever I wanted or needed to. Personally, being able to achieve this level of freedom and flexibility is more than I ever dreamed of.

Professionally, it's being able to assist others in their own desired freedom and flexibility. Whether it's the clients who often simply want more time to sleep and spend with their families or the VAs who want to be successful and provide for their families while working from home, I have the privilege of helping others reach their dreams and goals. It's not only an accomplishment but a legacy.

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

Wow, where do I even begin? It's a hard question because once you master one thing, something else changes, and you have to figure it out. Plus, everyone starts from a different place, to begin with. If I had to say just one thing, I would say it's future-proofing your business which is different from scaling but extremely relevant.

In the early stages of your business, future-proofing could mean ensuring that your business exists next week or next month. Later, it could mean that you have plenty of runway for the next few years. Later still, it could mean you're looking out over the horizon to see how your business will be relevant in the next 5 or 10 years. Every business is required to future-proof its business. However, too many get stuck in the challenges of today. Solving only the immediate problems will not future-proof your business.

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

Starting, running, and growing a business today is one of the hardest yet most rewarding things you could ever do if you're willing to stick it out. Everyone's challenges with running their own business differ. It's the personal development most people don't talk about. You'll grow personally in a way that you can't imagine.

  1. Hire a coach. It could be a business coach, mindset, product/service, strategy, or even a life coach. For every issue you might be facing, there is a coach who specializes in working with someone like yourself. Their insight, thoughtful questions, and accountability will allow you to make leaps in your business. Most importantly, they make the journey better, helping you to find joy along the way.
  2. Get real with your time and sacrifices. You can always make more money. You can't make more time. There are sacrifices to be made for now, not forever. If you know this going in, you'll be better able in advance to know and let others know what sacrifices you'll be making and what you are not willing to sacrifice. If you have a family, it's important to make this a family conversation. They can also keep you accountable. For instance, I was willing to sacrifice a lot of my personal time to work longer hours in order to lay the foundation of my business. I was not willing to sacrifice time with my family. I always stopped and took a break to be with them when they needed me, even for birthdays, holidays, and celebrations. I also did my best to make working long hours more fun by incorporating travel.
  3. Find and network with your people. It's easy to feel lonely and misunderstood when you start a business and then isolate yourself in the process. Isolation can easily cause burnout as a business owner. When you find your people, networking is fun and something you'll look forward to. It will also keep you from feeling isolated. A benefit that most people don't think about or realize is having a network to celebrate your "small" wins with. In the beginning, those small wins mean everything, and not celebrating them can also lead to burnout.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thepva.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepersonalvirtualassistant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissasmithva/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepva
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissasmiththepva/

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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