The Danger of Chasing Freedom

I hear people repeatedly say they want to start a business as a Virtual Assistant because they want “time freedom.” This concerns me.

For most people, time freedom means having the ability to choose when and how you want to work, without being restricted by a schedule.

In my 14 successful years as a Virtual Assistant, I have never experienced time freedom. I have deadlines to meet and meetings to attend. I must also schedule time at my desk to bill the necessary hours to hit my revenue goals.

What I have, instead is time flexibility. I can work only in the mornings or just in the afternoons. I can work only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I can work just 30 hours a week.

But here’s the deal: To navigate time flexibility, you need to plan and you need to prioritize how you spend your time. If you don’t have all the billable client hours you want, you need to make sure you’re at your desk working on that.

This is not a build it and they will come situation.

When I started RocketGirl Solutions in 2010, I worked full-time even before I had clients. I spent my time networking, building my website, writing email newsletters, and practicing talking about my work with others so I would get referrals.

I wrote down my goal to reach $100,000 of billable time a year and created a written plan to achieve it. I reviewed my plan daily and made sure I was investing my time in activities aligned with my goal. I set deadlines and kept my word to myself to meet them.

You can do the same.

1. Your calendar is your friend. Schedule what’s important first: time to eat, time with family and friends, time for exercise. Then, schedule time for work. Be sure to include enough hours to reach your goals. When you’re deliberate with your time, you can make the most of time flexibility.
    
2. Put yourself first. It's easy to move yourself to the back of the line and prioritize everyone else in your life. Don’t do that; you’ll spin your wheels and get frustrated. You can’t truly help anyone until you’re taking care of yourself. When your business is thriving, you’ll have the luxury of being generous to others by providing for your family, treating your friends to lunch, and contributing to the charities you believe in.

Time flexibility is incredible when you understand how it works. Stay grounded in the benefits of being a Virtual Assistant to make the most of this amazing lifestyle.