After launching My Virtual Assistant in March 2009, in the middle of a recession, I spent the first 12 months doing bits of work for a few supportive friends and ex-bosses, but with no ‘real’ clients to speak of.
 
I worked incredibly hard in that first year, doing research, commenting on VA industry blogs, writing media releases, attending networking events and promoting my business wherever I could.
 
But still no clients.

Frustration took hold and I seriously considered hiring a Wonder Woman costume with the plan of marching into offices, shouting ‘YOU NEED ME!’

Of course, that didn’t happen.  But can you imagine the looks on unsuspecting faces if I had done that?!
 
Almost one year on, my partner and I admitted things weren’t happening how we’d envisaged, and agreed it was time for me to start looking for a job.
 
Two weeks later, one Friday afternoon, I received four phone calls.  Three of those are still my clients to this day.  Crazily, the work started coming in that day and it hasn’t stopped.
 
Turns out all the hard work I did to get 'noticed' in that first year actually paid off.

Initially I tried to be 'all things to all people', which was a bad move and a trap many new business owners fall into.

Eventually my business evolved and I re-focussed on building websites. I relish this kind of work because it utilises my instinctive creativity and love of design.

Fourteen years ago, if you'd told me my primary focus would become creating websites for businesses, I would have spat out my coffee!