She's Alright When You Get To Know Her - UK Podcast for Virtual Assistants

No one ever really fails as a Virtual Assistant if they avoid these 12 things.

The word fail is very harsh, isn't it? No one is a failure for trying. We weren't born knowing how to do all the things required to run a business.

I’m hoping this episode either reassures you that you’re already on the right track and just need more time - or shows you that the tweaks you do need to make aren’t biggies.

I reference my popular guide: 'How to get clients using LinkedIn' which can be found here: https://catherinegladwyn.co.uk/how-to-find-potential-clients-on-linkedin/

How do you spot a red flag? Do we just trust what our gut is telling us? Maybe, depends how well your gut can sense things. If you're anything like me, my gut can go into a panic just trying to work out what time I need to leave for an appointment that is at 4pm, and takes 1 hour to drive to.

I've covered about 11 client red flags in this episode, but have been mindful that some may just be aligned to boundaries.

Let me know if I've missed any glaringly obvious ones.

I mention my Enquiry to Onboarding training in this episode, which you can find here: https://catherinegladwyn.co.uk/how-to-onboard-clients-as-a-virtual-assistant/

'How quickly will I get clients as a Virtual Assistant?'

This is a question I Googled time and time again before I started my VA business. Sadly, there is one firm answer because it depends on many factors. I know many new / aspiring VAs get frustrated when they feel like they've been doing all the right things (for 2 whole days), yet they haven't got any clients! Lois was the same. But things soon turned around! By gosh did they turn around. 

Listen to how Lois went from 'I'LL NEVER GET CLIENTS' to running an agency in less than 3 years! Or in other words, listen to hear how Lois went from £7 an hour to £96k a year!

Yeah, you read that right!

Lois Bates-Stubbs is the owner of LBS Virtual Services, a thriving VA agency with a powerhouse team of seven. She started the business from a desk in the corner of her council flat bedroom and in less than three years, it’s grown into a multi-faceted agency supporting brilliant women to create businesses that feel clear, supported, and sustainable. These days, Lois blends high-level VA support with coaching and consultancy, helping established female business owners step into their CEO role with more ease and confidence. She’s also a home educator, Disney lover, and a firm believer that you can build the life you want, wherever you start from.

In this episode I'm tackling something a bit personal, but oh-so-common: what to do when your family just doesn’t get it - or worse, they’re downright negative about your Virtual Assistant journey. If you’ve ever felt unsupported or doubted by the people closest to you, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about how to protect your energy, stay focused, and succeed anyway.

Kellie shares her magnificent journey to become one of the massive success stories of my mentoring.

We talk niching, we talk growth, we talk money! Which is why this episode is titled: Is it possible to earn £10k or even £20k a month as a Virtual Assistant?

You'll have to listen to find out - and if it is, how?

Kellie Simpson Legal Ltd was established in 2018 to offer virtual assistant services specially tailored to the legal sector. Having worked in the legal sector for over 23 years, Kellie has an incredible in-depth knowledge of the workings of law firms and the support legal professionals need. During her career she has worked in small, medium and large sized firms both in the UK and Asia, supporting busy legal professionals at all levels and across a variety of practice areas.

Kellie has helped to organise and implement gold standard processes and procedures within a large number of law firms. Due to her deep expertise and knowledge of law firm operations, terminology and processes, Kellie is able to provide a level of VA support that legal clients find invaluable.

In this inspiring and down-to-earth episode, I'm joined by viral social media professional Rebecca Shipton. We chat all things LinkedIn – from showing up authentically, to building real engagement, and handling the negativity that sometimes comes with putting yourself out there.

Rebecca also bravely shares her personal journey with PMDD and mental health struggles, reminding us all that success online (and offline) doesn’t mean being perfect.

If you’re a new or aspiring VA wanting to grow your presence on LinkedIn and keep it real, this one’s for you.

'Rebecca Shipton is a social media professional with over 8-years worth of industry experience. Specialising in organic social, she has applied her skillset to iconic brands such as Gymshark, Flo Health and Lounge. Outside of her day-to-day, she is one of the first seven writers for the Pretty Little Marketer blog (a marketing community of over 600k people) covering platform updates, is a mentor for Fashion Retail Academy and has spoken at brand events for the likes of Adobe.'

I loved chatting with Rebecca and I hope you enjoy the episode.

Rebecca shares her experiences of managing PMDD, how it affects her MH and how to navigate running your life alongside all of that. Rebecca is one of nearly a million women in the UK who live with this (stat taken from the first PMDD UK Charity, here April 2025 - https://thepmddproject.org/)

In this episode we feelings of helplessness. If you're ever feeling like life is getting a bit too much it can sometimes help to share it. The Samaritans are there to listen and not judge. It's like having a mate you can share things with, but you don't have to listen to their stuff in return. There's more info here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Chisola Chitambala is an Essex-based entrepreneur who reached the final five and finished fourth on this years edition of The Apprentice UK. She is the co-founder of CB Virtual Assistant, a successful virtual assistant business that she has run with her business partner for nearly three years. With a background as a paediatric nurse and an MBA to support her transition into entrepreneurship, Chisola brings a wealth of experience to her work. She is also a passionate advocate for migraine awareness, a children’s storyteller, and a keen netball player.

To thank Chisola for her time I made a donation to her charity of choice, The Migraine Trust. You can find out more about their work here: https://migrainetrust.org/

Setting boundaries in your Virtual Assistant business helps to ensure it never feels like work, that you never dread a task, or feel burnt out, or guilty about anything. You are an equal to those you work with, you are in charge of your own working day now, so I'd like to share a few things you may, or may not - we're all different - wish to have in place to ensure no day feels like employment.

In this episode I refer to KoffeeKlatch's VA contracts and my affiliate discount code: CATH10 for 10% off.

I also mention my Facebook group, which you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catherinegladwyn/

Thank you to Lily Attwell-Rowan for suggesting this as episode 17's subject.

I can't believe I've not covered this subject already because it's such a common question. Of course, I've answered it for you in this episode but I've also shared why you might not be getting associate work and how you can turn that around.

I enjoyed doing this one because I really think it's going to help. As always, there's no gatekeeping. This is all I have in my brain about how to get associate work as a Virtual Assistant.

Have you heard of the feast or famine cycle? Basically, it's a common thing for freelancers / small business owners to have some good months financially and some bad months. 'It's just the way it is' was what I was told early on in my business. After my first time in the famine part I decided I was never going to be in it again and I came up with many ways to ensure that didn't happen. Some of which I am only too happy to share with you in this episode.

As always, I can't thank you enough for listening and... guess what? You got my podcast into the top ten on Apple Podcasts in the Careers category! Go team!