Happy Birthday!!
Happy 3rd Business Birthday To Purple Violet Business Support.
What a journey it’s been!!!
Having being unexpectedly thrown into redundancy after 15 years in my Corporate role I started my virtual assistant business in 2018. I could never have imagined the rocky road my business was going to take along the way.
Business Support - Starting Out
My business support services launched the day after my long term relationship broke down! The Father of my children left our family home and emotionally I was a wreck!! I didn’t have a clue how I was going to run a business and be a single Mum!
It took a while to get my first client. This was only to be expected as I had to get used to the networking circuit. I’d never done it before. My first client was a bit of a nightmare. He kept moving the goal posts on our agreed work and then didn’t pay up for 6 months!! So, when I secured my second client who was desperate for help with his admin I was elated. I couldn’t wait to get started, however after about 3 months he disappeared into the ether without a goodbye!! This was unbelievable. I wondered if I’d made the right decision about running my virtual assistant business!! I was beginning to get a complex!
After a short while I began to realise that this self employment malarkey was a very big learning curve and that business is full of ups and downs!! Oh and flaky people….
Things just started to get on an even keel in January 2020 and then yes, lockdown hit in March and suddenly not only was I providing business support to my clients, I also had just landed myself a new role as teacher to my 5 and 8 year old kids!!!!
Well something had to give as I couldn’t mentally cope with both so I put my business on hold. My children had to come first.
Getting Through The Tough Times
I thought I’d been through some tough times, but living with the fear of Covid was VERY different. We rode the storm emotionally as well as struggling financially with everyone else and I revigorated my business support services again in September when I gained some new clients and old ones returned. Phew!! What a relief.
Now living with the new normal, and trying to stay positive whilst trying to keep my family safe no matter what I did, following the guidance from Boris and the Government we still ended up with the virus. Both my children and my Mum caught it. Knowing the virus was brought into the house by my step children, it was a stressful and extremely worrying time. I had to move my Mum in with us to look after her, praying everyday that she’d come through it. Thankfully she pulled through. It brought to us all the realisation just how serious this virus is and the heartache that many people had gone through and are still going through. It also put life into perspective and made us realise what is important in life and that it is very precious and short.
Looking to the future, positive things are happening for many people and we look to the day, hopefully soon when we will be released back fully to our freedom.
So, on my 3rd business Birthday I want to give massive thanks and gratitude for all the support you have given me. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you. To all of my family, wonderful clients and friends and the new friends I’ve made along the way you are all amazing.
THANK YOU!!!⠀
Birthdays are always a time for reflection, aren’t they? So here are a few things I’ve learnt in the last 3 years:
1. Life will never be straightforward. There will always be ups and downs and you have to just keep going, keep you eye on your why and make it happen!!!
2. Family come first no matter what!!
3. Life is short. Make the most of the time you have
4. Always do the things that make you happy and that you love doing
5. Invest in yourself and your business
6. Know your worth⠀
If you need support through tough and overwhelming times please get in touch. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and feel you might need some business support, whether it’s help with your admin or social media or anything else please get in touch. We are only here once so let me give you back the time to do the things you love and enjoy.
Get in touch today Email me jules@purplevioletva.com
