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I am an American expat living in Israel. I moved there during COVID and was trying to think about what I could do as a business that would earn me an American salary. My husband suggested that since I had been in the catering business for 20 years and my main work in catering was the admin part, I should create a virtual admin agency, serving lots of businesses.
I decided to try it out and 5 years later, we have grown from 2 clients to over 20 and I have 16 contractors working for me! It’s been a roller coaster ride of growth and learning how to manage a team and lots of clients.
I am an empty nester with a large family who mostly lives in America still, so I am back and forth from Israel to America a few times per year to visit my kids and grandkids. I love what I do because I can take it with me wherever I go!
We provide native English-speaking virtual assistants specialising in executive assistance for small to medium-sized businesses, including synagogues and Jewish organisations. Leveraging decades of admin experience, I launched these businesses to maintain an American salary remotely from Israel.
Transitioning my longstanding administrative skills into a full-fledged business felt natural. Initially, I relied on friends and family as clients, gradually expanding through various advertising methods like newspaper ads, social media, and responding to secretary job postings.
A significant turning point occurred three years ago when deciding whether to stay small or scale significantly. Taking the leap to scale transformed our trajectory. The journey hasn't been without challenges—firing clients and contractors, managing unreliable contractors, and making tough decisions taught me invaluable lessons about growth and resilience.
Our revenue has doubled twice over the past two years, a testament to our constant drive for professional improvement. Effective marketing strategies include leveraging LinkedIn, Facebook, word-of-mouth, and a recent partnership with a marketing agency.
What distinguishes us is our white-glove service delivered by native English-speaking virtual assistants who bring extensive administrative experience. We price accordingly, emphasising quality and professionalism.
A critical lesson learned is to trust your instincts regarding potential clients or contractors—if there are red flags, heed them to avoid future regrets. If starting again, I would approach hiring and client relationships with less fear, prioritising strong leadership over people-pleasing tendencies.
I strongly advise entrepreneurs to invest in coaching and mentoring. Continuous support from mentors and coaches has been instrumental in my growth. Recommended resources include podcasts by Robin and Debbie Sasson and books such as "Smarter, Not Harder" by David Asprey and "Rocket Fuel" by Gino Wickman.
My vision is to grow the business into a $10 million enterprise before eventually selling it. We continuously adapt to trends like AI integration, ensuring our team remains well-trained and our services stay cutting-edge.
To learn more or connect, visit our website or find me on LinkedIn.