The Accidental Entrepreneur

Katie Santoro - River City Virtual Assistants

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Summary: Katie Santoro, founder of River City Virtual Assistants, shares her journey from burnout to starting her own business. She started as a paralegal and claims examiner in the insurance industry but eventually burned out and decided to open a yoga studio. After experiencing burnout again, she transitioned to freelancing as a virtual assistant and eventually founded River City Virtual Assistants. The company focuses on providing reliable and consistent virtual assistance to keep parents and caretakers in the workforce. They prioritize work-life balance and set boundaries for their team members. Katie Santoro, CEO of River City Virtual Assistants, discusses the importance of letting go of perfectionism and working smarter, not harder, as an entrepreneur. She emphasizes the need to prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities to virtual assistants to avoid burnout and bring the best version of oneself to the business. Katie also highlights the significance of finding the right fit when hiring a virtual assistant and recommends conducting a time tracking exercise to identify areas where assistance is needed. She shares insights on managing a virtual team and creating a supportive and empowering work environment.

Keywords: burnout, starting a business, virtual assistant, work-life balance, boundaries, perfectionism, delegation, virtual assistants, prioritization, burnout, work-life balance, productivity, business growth

Takeaways

  • Burnout can happen in any industry, and it's important to recognize the signs and take steps to address it.
  • Having a background in processes and systems can be valuable when starting and running a business.
  • Virtual assistants can provide valuable support to entrepreneurs and business owners, allowing them to focus on their core tasks.
  • Work-life balance and setting boundaries are crucial for avoiding burnout and maintaining overall well-being.
  • Flexibility in working hours and arrangements can help parents and caretakers stay in the workforce. Letting go of perfectionism and working smarter, not harder, is crucial for entrepreneurs to avoid burnout and bring their best selves to their businesses.
  • Finding the right fit when hiring a virtual assistant is essential, and conducting a time tracking exercise can help identify areas where assistance is needed.
  • Delegating tasks and responsibilities to virtual assistants allows entrepreneurs to focus on high-value activities and prioritize their time effectively.
  • Creating a supportive and empowering work environment for virtual teams is key to their success and productivity.
  • Working with virtual assistants not only benefits entrepreneurs but also provides employment opportunities and contributes to the economy.

    • Titles

    • From Burnout to Business: Katie Santoro's Journey
  • Work-Life Balance and Boundaries: The Key to Avoiding Burnout The Importance of Delegating and Prioritizing Tasks
  • Letting Go of Perfectionism and Working Smarter as an Entrepreneur

    • Sound Bites

    • "I quit my job and opened a yoga studio."
  • "Processes and systems are crucial for business growth and avoiding problems."
  • "You can have it all, but you can't do it all."
  • "We were always terrified of making an error."
  • "You don't want to be everything to everyone. That's not productive."
  • "You wanna work smarter, you know?"

    • Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    04:51 Starting a Yoga Studio and Experiencing Burnout

    09:51 Transitioning to Virtual Assistance

    14:51 Importance of Processes and Systems

    19:51 Balancing Perfectionism and Boundaries

    25:51 Flexibility and Niche Focus

    30:51 Running a Virtual Business

    32:24 Challenges of Leaving the House

    33:01 Managing People Virtually

    34:30 Empowering Team Members

    35:18 Delegating and Letting Go of Control

    36:09 Supporting Team Members in Toxic Environments

    37:03 Choosing Ideal Clients

    38:25 Working with a Virtual Assistant

    39:31 Evaluating and Selecting an Agency

    41:04 Identifying Areas Needing Assistance

    43:24 Assessing Problem-Solving Skills

    44:51 Discovery Process for Determining Needs

    46:39 Supporting and Mentoring Virtual Assistants

    48:17 Learning from Competitors' Reviews

    49:15 Company Structure and Systems

    50:09 Implementing EOS Traction

    52:38 Using Asana for Documentation and Prioritization

    54:17 Efficiently Digesting Business Books

    55:49 Habits and Qualities of Success

    56:54 Closing Credits (MtoM redo).wav

     

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