Why & When Did I Leave Teaching?

I was a class teacher and Assistant Head for thirteen years and I know that I will always be a teacher at heart. The decision to leave the classroom was an extremely difficult and emotionally fraught one.  I like many others, reached a point of burn-out. The impact of sleepless nights and the realisation that I couldn’t carry on the way that I had been, pushed me to hand in my notice by the October deadline to leave at Christmas 2023.

Why Did I Decide To Be A Virtual Assistant?

Around two years ago I first discovered the term Virtual Assistant. Scrolling through social media, several offers of online training and mentoring groups popped up and so I clicked on one for an information pack. I parked the idea; the time wasn’t right, but between October and December 2023 I went down a rabbit hole of finding out as much as I possibly could about how a virtual assistant business worked and how I could make it work for me. 

What Is A Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is a remote professional who supports small business owners with administrative tasks that they don’t have the time to do, can’t do or simply don’t want to do. These tasks can be varied and will match the virtual assistant’s skillset. They include the more traditional P.A. services like inbox and diary management, or more technical support with IT, marketing, or social media. You can choose the services that you want to offer that align with your knowledge and skills. Some virtual assistants have experience with the legal or medical sectors and they niche their services towards working with these clients.

Do Teachers Make Good Virtual Assistants?

As teachers, we massively undervalue our skills and underestimate our abilities. We are super organised folk who can juggle all the plates and keep the wheels turning with our backs turned and our hands covered in paint. We possess great communication skills and can build relationships with people from all backgrounds and all sectors. We can problem solve on the move and find solutions in incredibly stressful situations. Planning is our bread and butter and we always have contingency strategies A, B, and C waiting in the wings just in case the bus breaks down or we are a helper short. So yes. We make excellent virtual assistants. 

How Did I Begin My Self-Employed Business Journey?

The idea of starting from scratch and building my own business filled me with abject fear. I didn’t have the first clue about business, but I recognised that I had so many valuable transferable skills from my career as a teacher and leader. I sat down with a pen and a piece of paper and sketched out my plan. I signed up for one of the many training courses I had seen promoted and from there I built my own website, set up my bank account and bookkeeping software, learned about marketing and social media, got my insurance and ICO registration and finally, with trepidation but huge excitement and pride, went live on the 7th January 2024. 

What Do My Days Look Like?

My day usually starts about 9:30 after a coffee and a dog walk. In the few months I have been in business, I have signed five main clients from various sectors and industries. I offer inbox and diary management, content creation and scheduling for blogs and social media, document creation and project management support. Each day is different and I love the freedom of being my own boss. 

What Have I Found Difficult Transitioning From The Classroom Into The Business World?

Moving towards a business mindset has been incredibly challenging. As teachers, we are used to having to explain our every move and account for every minute, sticking to rigid timetables, and being constantly observed and judged. Sitting at my desk, supping a brew and planning my day has been very interesting. I have found not moving at 100 miles an hour incredibly discombobulating, but now I am starting to adjust to the periods of stillness in the day. I am so used to clamour, chatter and constant questions from children, I find myself needing the low hum of the radio or TV for company, as silence is still so jarring. 

So, to finish what advice can I offer to any teachers thinking of making the jump into becoming a virtual assistant:

1. Be kind to yourself. This is a massive learning curve and adjustment. You will amaze yourself with the business skills you will learn and the things that you can do. 
2. Not everyone shows up. You will meet potential clients who will talk the talk but often they don’t come through. I am learning to let it go, move on and reflect on the experience to find better ways of marketing and communicating. 
3. Some clients are not a good fit for you. It’s ok to say no.
4. Be yourself and don’t compare what you offer to what others offer. Your ideal client will want what you bring to the table. Be good at the stuff you do well and enjoy doing.
5. Be open to constructive criticism and self-reflection. It is always helpful and drives positive change. 
6. Be grateful. Remind yourself of all the good things in your life and remember that this is a journey.
7. Take a walk. Get out of the house every day. Working from home can be lonely and it can hit you when you least expect it and if left to fester, can lead to a pretty rapid downward mental and emotional spiral.
8. Some days will be cr*p. That is all. Just wait for the day to be over and tomorrow is a new one. 
9. Talk to someone who gets you. Don’t bottle stuff up. The people who love you will be there to listen. Imposter syndrome is real. it is easy to feel ashamed that maybe you feel out of control, don’t know why you started this, not sure it’s going to work out or you can’t go on. Most people would say they have been there. I know I have but the mood shifts, and you find your groove again. If you want it, and you really want it to work, you dig deep and you keep chipping away.
10. Give it time. Rome wasn’t built in a day as my old Grandma used to say. 

I can be found at www.lisaozmelekva.co.uk.

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Thank you so much Lisa for sharing your journey from teaching to creating your own business.

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