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Laura Nicole: 0:02

Welcome to Your Virtual Assistant Coach, the podcast for moms who want to make money from home on their own terms. I'm your host, Laura Nicole, a successful six-figure earning VA and coach who replaced my college professor's salary in just five months back in 2020 after my daughter was born, and I have never looked back. I'm here to help you build a profitable, flexible VA business that fits into your family's lives so you no longer feel like you're living just to work. Let's dive in.

Laura Nicole: 0:32

I got to volunteer twice in my daughter's classroom in the last two weeks, and having that opportunity really just reminded me of exactly why I chose this life and working as a virtual assistant. I got to volunteer for two different things. One was like the first 30 minutes of school after I dropped her off, but then the other one, a week later, was chaperoning a four-hour field trip. And the best part of that, right? Obviously doing the actual volunteering just fills my freaking cup. With the best part is that I didn't have to ask anyone permission to be able to do that. I didn't have to look at PTO. I didn't have to let my boss know I was going to be in an hour late. I didn't have to rearrange meetings or be on that four-hour field trip and checking Slack on my phone and worrying about what I was getting behind on at the office. I was just able to go, to go and enjoy it. And these are the moments now that I'm so thankful for when she was.

Laura Nicole: 1:34

I mean, she was so small when I started this, right? She was five months old. And so over the years in different seasons, there have been different aspects of daily life that I'm just so grateful to be able to always be present for. And in this season, as she's getting a little bigger and she's in school more often, being able to pop in and be in her classroom with her is just such a cool thing to be able to do. I mean, watching the pure joy on her face having me in class with her, like as they're doing actual school things. We weren't even sitting at the same table. Like usually they have the moms work with other kids, right? So that there's less distraction. But I would just catch her like glancing over at me. And then she gave me this huge hug before I left. And when I pick her up, it's like, oh my gosh, mom, I can't believe you were in my classroom today. There's just that feeling of connection. And I mean, even to me, like it was fun. It wasn't like the most fun thing I've ever done, but it was fun because she was having fun and she was excited about it. And she felt connected and supported by me being able to be there. And that that's what I wanted. That is why I do this. This is what I have worked for. And that feeling and that ability to show up in that way, I know is something that so many moms really, really strive for. And the reason that VA work makes these moments and these times together possible is because of the fact that I have control over when I work.

Laura Nicole: 3:05

I do not have any set schedule. I don't have certain times of the day that clients are expecting me to be available or checking in with them. And so I'm able to adjust my day every single day, depending on what priorities I have. I get to shift tasks around my real life. I always say that like I remember so vividly, especially when I worked in restaurant management, I remember so vividly feeling like I lived just to work. I mean, that schedule was a grind. If anyone listening has or does work in restaurants, you know it is a freaking grind. And I so often just felt like my whole life revolved around work in order to make money. And now, ever since becoming a VA and having that be my main income, it's like I actually get to live my life first and then fit my work in around my life where I want it to fit. It truly is just such an empowering feeling. And I don't know. There was just a moment in the car after the field trip the other day that I kind of just sat there and like took a deep breath. And I was like, you know, this is like this is it. This is why I do what I do. I felt very proud in that moment that I've been able to build a career and an income that allows me the ability, right? That gives me the ability to live my life first.

Laura Nicole: 4:31

Seeing her little face light up and the excitement in her voice is something that I truly will never forget. And it might sound like a really small thing, but I feel like those little moments in life, right? Like those are what make life really good. And if you feel like your heart is pulling you toward this kind of flexibility and you're just really tired of feeling boxed in and restrained by traditional work hours, I want you to pop down in the show notes and download my free career switch cheat sheet. It's gonna help you see and identify how you can take the skills that you already have from your work experience and actually see how those skills will transfer into virtual assistant services. It'll help you kind of see the big picture of how you can also create a career as a VA that lets you show up for the moments that matter and lets you live your life first. Hop down to the show notes and check out the cheat sheet.

Laura Nicole: 5:27

Thanks for hanging out with me today on your virtual assistant coach. If you love this episode, be sure to share it with your best friend, your sister, or even your favorite coworker who you know wants to start making a flexible income. I'll see you all next time.