Last Updated on June 4, 2019 by Paula
I have worked in retail for 17 years. It was my first real job and the only one I’ve ever known. For the most part, I love my job in retail. I started as a cashier and worked my way up to an assistant manager. Retail taught me a lot and it enabled me to work lots of different jobs all with the same company. But the time has come to move on.
I’ve been looking into freelancing work for a while now because I love the idea of working for myself. Knowing that my success depends entirely on my own efforts doesn’t sound scary to me. After years of managing other people, it sounds amazing!
There are all kinds of freelance opportunities out there but the one that I keep coming back to is virtual assistance. And here are three reasons why.
The hours
Retail taught me excellent customer service skills. It also taught me how to have a sense of urgency when completing tasks. I learned how to manage my time by being able to recognize exactly how long it takes to complete certain tasks. And by working closely with my store manager, I learned to anticipate his needs and expectations so that I could run the store just how he wanted me to.
And while I love that I have been able to work in so many different areas of the store and that I have had the opportunity to learn so much, I hate the hours! In the past five years of being an assistant manager, the schedule has changed three times. And when I was an hourly associate, I definitely never had a normal schedule. Work/life balance doesn’t exist in retail. And that balance is something that is very important to me.
Becoming a virtual assistant would allow me to have control over my own schedule. I would no longer be at the mercy of a major corporation! And after 17 years, that is very appealing!
It’s work I enjoy
Another thing that appeals to me about VA work, is that it plays into skills that I already possess. I built my first website in 1999! And I have been blogging over at The Geeky Shopaholic since 2010. And this work that I’ve always considered just a hobby is something that I truly love doing!
So why not help others who don’t have the time or skills to do the things that I love? Which brings me to the third reason I chose VA work…
Helping others
The best part about my job in retail is getting to help others. I have mentored so many young people. I love watching them grow in their skills and become successful in their careers. And knowing that I contributed to that success is an amazing feeling!
Working as a virtual assistant I will still have the opportunity to help others! I can work behind the scenes so entrepreneurs and influencers can focus on growing their businesses. And when they are successful I will know that I had a small role in helping them succeed. And it will be an amazing feeling!
These three reasons are why I signed up for Gina Horkey’s 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success. I am determined to make my dream come true!
Now, what about you? Have you ever considered leaving your 9-5 and becoming a freelancer? Any advice for the newbie? Let me know in the comments!
