The Visionary VA Podcast

Holly Copsey
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated weekly

The Visionary VA Podcast is for ambitious Virtual Assistants who want to build a business that works for them. Hosted by The VA Handbook's Holly Copsey, founder of award-winning agency Virtually Priceless, you'll hear practical advice, honest conversations and real-world lessons on clients, pricing, marketing, systems, confidence, leadership and growth. Whether you're starting out, growing a successful VA business or building a team, you'll find actionable strategies to help you create a business - and life - on your terms. No fluff. No Hype. Just what actually works.

  1. 1 day ago

    Introducing All Stars: Your Secret VA Business Growth Tool

    Why did you start your virtual assistant business? No, I mean the real reason. What was the life you were trying to create? Was it more freedom, flexibility, financial independence, or more time with your children? Eight years in business has taught me those dreams can become a reality and the obstacle isn’t a lack of information, but not having the right support around you. "Sometimes you don't need another training course, you simply need a conversation. Because I don't think the problem is a lack of information, I think the problem is often a lack of support and a lack of confidence." In this episode of The Visionary VA Podcast, we’ll explore what’s really missing for established VAs trying to grow a successful business. It’s not another course, PDF template or more information, but genuine support and a real community of people who understand the journey. I built my business through determination, trial and error, and by making plenty of mistakes. All without a support system around me, which is something I desperately needed. During conversations with other aspiring virtual assistants, the same themes kept coming up: "I know what I should be doing, but I'm not doing it," or "I feel like everybody else has got it figured out except me." These conversations and my own experience inspired me to launch All Stars, a brand-new membership community for established VAs. Built around four pillars: access, accountability, community and momentum, it’s designed to be the go-to place for support. Whether you have a question, need accountability, want to celebrate a win, or to simply remember why you started in the first place. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Information isn't the problem, support is. We've never had more access to information, yet so many VAs still feel stuck. The real gap isn't knowledge, it's having people around you who understand the journey and can offer honest, real-time support. 2️⃣ Success looks different for everyone: more freedom, more flexibility, financial independence, more time with your children, or simply a business that feels sustainable rather than overwhelming. 3️⃣ You don't have to build your business alone. Whether it's a quick sense-check on a client conversation, accountability to follow through on your plans, or simply somewhere to celebrate a win, having the right people in your corner can completely change the trajectory of your business. Join the All Stars waitlist now. Doors open Monday 7th September for one week only and won't reopen again until 2027. Joining the waitlist gets you early access before doors officially open, plus entry into a prize draw to win three months of free membership. Join the waitlist Please note the free prize draw closes at 8pm UK time on 6 September 2026. Open internationally to eligible entrants aged 18+. No purchase necessary. [Full terms apply.] Timestamps: (00:00) What's the real reason you started your business? (01:19) The loneliness of running a business (03:15) Building a business through trial and error (03:56) Information isn't the same as support (05:09) Common themes from talking to VAs (05:58) Introducing All Stars (06:36) The four pillars: access, accountability, community, momentum (10:07) What is All Stars? (12:39) How to join the All Stars waitlist (13:29) You don't have to build a VA business alone 🔗 Resources: Join VA Handbookers Facebook group: Subscribe to The VA Handbook

  2. 13 Aug

    How to be Successful? Aim to Build a Sustainable and Boring VA Business

    Would you be upset and offended if someone described your business as boring? I've spent eight years running my business, and have come to a very different conclusion: one of the biggest signs of a healthy business is that it's a little bit boring. "Most successful businesses aren't built through huge breakthroughs. They're built through hundreds of ordinary days done well." In this episode of The Visionary VA Podcast, I push back on the idea that success has to always be exciting. Social media sells us six-figure launches, sold-out-in-24-hours offers and endless "big announcements". However, the reality of running a business is replying to emails, reviewing your finances, updating your systems and delivering consistently, week after week, month after month, year after year. Consistency isn't sexy, it's powerful, and that consistency almost always beats intensity. There's value in predictability: predictable income, predictable systems, a predictable client experience. This creates confidence rather than exhaustion and chaos. As businesses mature, the highs get less dramatic not because you're less successful, but because you're more stable. That's not boring, that's resilience. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Consistency beats intensity. You don't need to reinvent your business every six months, or chase every trend. You need to keep showing up, again and again and again. 2️⃣ Aim for simplicity. If everything feels urgent and every week feels different, ask whether you've accidentally created unnecessary complexity. Sustainable growth comes from repeating what already works. 3️⃣ Predictability builds confidence. Predictable income, systems and client experience aren't exciting to talk about, but they're what stop you constantly firefighting and let you plan with confidence. This week, ask yourself, what one action can I do to make my business more consistent? Where can you create more structure, predictability or simplicity? These are all the foundations of sustainable growth.If this makes you boring, lean into it, because boring businesses often turn out to be incredibly successful ones. Timestamps: (00:00) Is your business boring (and why that's a good thing)? (01:29) What building a sustainable business really looks like (02:22) The power of predictability in business (03:36) Stop chasing shiny objects that will take you off course (05:29) Why I don't want the fastest, loudest and busiest business --- 🔗 Resources ⁠⁠⁠Join VA Handbookers Facebook group⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The VA Handbook

  3. 30 Jul

    8 Biggest Lessons from 8 Years Running (and Growing) a VA Business

    Eight years ago, I was sitting at my shiny new desk with a laptop, a huge amount of determination, and a VA business called Virtually Priceless - and if I'm honest, I had no idea if it would work.I started without any clients, a team or roadmap, and I was dealing with major challenges in my personal life. Fast forward eight years and so much has changed. We've worked with incredible clients, built an amazing team, won awards and supported dozens of fantastic businesses. "You don't become a confident business owner and then make big decisions. You make big decisions, and that's how confidence is built." To celebrate eight years of Virtually Priceless, I am going to do something a little different this week. Instead of talking systems, marketing or pricing, I’m sharing eight of the biggest lessons I’d give myself back in 2018. Some things I’d do differently, some I’d do sooner, and one I am incredibly grateful I did from the very beginning. This episode is about reflecting on how building a business has changed me personally, just as much as it has affected my bank balance, my confidence and my skills. Whether you've been in business for eight weeks, eight months or eight years, there's a lesson in here that could save you a little time, stress or heartache. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Build financial resilience while times are good. Only take what you need and leave the rest in the business to build an emergency fund. When tough periods happen, having this buffer allows you to make strategic decisions rather than emotional ones. 2️⃣ Build systems before you think you need them. Every process that only exists inside your head is a risk. Document things early, create templates, write SOPs. This way you’re ready when it's time to take on an associate, hire, or take time off. 3️⃣ Build the business around your life, not the other way round. There’s no such thing as a perfect, elusive work-life balance. Focus on building a business that supports the life you actually want to live, prioritising health, family and time to breathe alongside the work. You don't need eight years of experience to make better decisions, you just have to keep learning. Every client, every challenge, every mistake and every success has something to teach you. So take the lesson that landed hardest for you today and put it into action this week, whatever the scary, audacious thing is that you're putting off, just do it. Timestamps: (0:00) Podcast episode starts (01:48) Lesson one: Stop waiting until you're ready (02:32) Lesson two:  Build a business, not a self-employed job (03:23) Lesson three: Protect your boundaries (03:54) Lesson four: Build financial resilience (06:02) Lesson five: Stop taking setbacks personally (06:40) Lesson six: Build processes before you need them (07:09) Lesson seven:  Build the business around your life (08:28) Lesson eight: Trust in yourself more --- 🔗 Resources ⁠⁠Join VA Handbookers Facebook group⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Subscribe to The VA Handbook

  4. 16 Jul

    7 Steps for Excellent Client Experience (Making Them Never Want to Leave)

    What if the easiest way to grow your business isn't finding more clients, it's keeping and developing the ones you've already got? "Clients don't stay with us simply because we're good at the work. They stay because working with us is easy, professional, reliable, consistent and they feel looked after." In this episode of The Visionary VA Podcast, I’m walking you through the 7-step client experience audit. This audit allows you to put yourself in your client's shoes and look at every single touchpoint they have with your business. From the very first impression someone gets of you, through the enquiry process, the discovery call, onboarding, day-to-day delivery, reviews and feedback, right through to how (and if) a relationship ends. Clients who have an exceptional experience stay longer, spend more, refer more and speak positively about your business when you're not in the room. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ From first impression to initial enquiry, ask yourself: is it obvious, is it professional, and does it build confidence? Don’t leave potential clients confused. 2️⃣ A discovery call is about understanding, not selling. It's about listening and building trust. Ask yourself honestly: does the prospect leave the call feeling clearer than when they joined? 3️⃣ Confidence, not just competence. Be proactive rather than waiting to be chased, communicate regularly, update clients before they ask, and flag potential issues early. Write down every stage of your own client journey, from finding you right through to finishing the relationship, and score yourself out of 10 for each stage. Ask where clients experience friction, where things are inconsistent, and where you could make life easier. Remember: businesses that grow sustainably aren't always the ones shouting the loudest. They're the ones people genuinely enjoy working with. Timestamps: (00:00) Podcast episode starts (01:21) Step 1: Are you making a good first impression? (02:10) Step 2: How easy is the enquiry process? (02:43) Step 3: Improving your discovery calls (03:35) Step 4: What is your onboarding process like? (04:15) Step 5: Review your day-to-day client experience (04:53) Step 6: Have a look at your review and feedback process (05:27) Step 7: What happens when clients leave? --- 🔗 Resources ⁠Join VA Handbookers Facebook group⁠ Download 'Hiring Associates with Ease' guide ⁠Subscribe to The VA Handbook

  5. 2 Jul

    Importance of Boundaries as a VA: Hidden Cost of Being Too Helpful

    Ever said yes to something and then immediately regretted it? Maybe you squeezed in one more five-minute task, worked later than planned, or took something on that was actually out of scope, because you genuinely wanted to help. If that resonates with you, this episode is for you. "Clients don't usually value you because you answered emails at 9pm or because you squeezed in another task on a Friday afternoon. They value you because you're reliable, you're organised, you're proactive, you solve problems, and you make their lives easier." In this episode, I'm exploring something I've come across time and time again, not just in mentoring sessions but in myself too: the hidden cost of being too helpful.Being helpful isn't a bad thing, it's one of the reasons so many of us become VAs in the first place, but there comes a point where being helpful quietly turns into over-responsibility, and that's where the problems begin.I explore how it's rarely one big thing that tips the balance, it's usually tiny things. Five minutes here, ten minutes there, one extra task, one favour, one exception, and before you know it, you've accidentally trained your clients to expect more than they're paying for. Not because they're bad clients, because you've shown them that's how you work. Your clients won't know where your boundaries are unless you consistently demonstrate and reinforce them. Also, if your whole business model depends on you (and your associates) constantly being helpful, you can't scale it. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Notice the "it's only five minutes" moments. These tiny exceptions are usually how scope creep starts. Ask yourself honestly: am I doing this just because I'm worried about disappointing someone? 2️⃣ If constantly over-delivering becomes the benchmark, simply delivering what's been agreed starts to feel like you've done less, and the benchmark keeps moving. 3️⃣ Swap "how can I be more helpful?" for "what outcome is my client actually paying me to achieve?" Try responses like "I'd love to help with that, shall I quote for the additional work?" or "that's outside the current scope, but here's how we could support you."From today, start paying attention to every time you say "it's only five minutes," because it probably isn't. Healthy boundaries don't damage relationships, they protect them. When you say yes intentionally instead of saying yes to everything, you become more sustainable, and that's exactly the kind of business you want to build. Start protecting yourself and your time. When you protect your time, your energy, and your expertise, you're not becoming less helpful, you're becoming more sustainable. Timestamps: (00:00) Podcast episode starts (00:26) Why we're exploring the cost of being "too helpful" (01:13) When helpfulness turns into over-responsibility (02:48) What overdelivering really costs you (03:15) What clients actually value (04:50) Healthy boundaries protect relationships (05:23) Two different reasons for saying yes 🔗 Resources Join VA Handbookers Facebook group Subscribe to The VA Handbook

  6. 18 Jun

    Building a VA Business That Survives School Holidays (Without the Guilt)

    School holidays are just around the corner and if you're already feeling the dread, this episode is for you. There’s an alternative to six weeks of juggling client work, childcare and guilt. "A sustainable business isn't one that only works when life is quiet. A sustainable business works alongside real life and real life includes school holidays, sick children, family commitments, and unexpected disruptions." In this episode of The Visionary VA Podcast, I discuss one of the things nobody really talks about when they tell you to start a business for more flexibility: school holidays. Drawing on eight years of experience as a parent building a business, I share why the goal isn't just to survive school holidays, but to build a business that can withstand them. From shifting your mindset and communicating with clients early, to building margin into your business model and letting go of perfection, this episode contains practical, realistic strategies for business owners with children. Because school holidays aren't an unexpected emergency, they happen every year, and if we know they're coming, we can build accordingly. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ School holidays are part of your operating model, not a disruption to it. Stop treating them as a surprise and start planning your business around the reality of your life. 2️⃣ Build margin in time, finances and capacity. If your business only works when you're working flat out, that's not a problem you'll solve with better time management, it's usually a business model problem. 3️⃣ Not every season is about growth. During the holidays, success might simply mean maintaining excellent service, keeping things moving, being present with your family and protecting your energy. Before the next school holiday, don't ask "how am I going to survive this?", ask: "how can I design my business to support me through it?" Think about what you need to do, write a list of actions and implement with plenty of notice. That's where real sustainability comes from, not working harder, but building smarter. Timestamps: (00:00) Podcast episode starts (02:22) Holidays are part of your business, not a disruption (03:06) Questions to ask before the holidays start (04:20) Building margin into your business (05:32) Redefining success during school holidays (05:51) Building support around you (07:03) Asking for help (08:30) What a truly sustainable business looks like 🔗 Resources Business mentoring for virtual assistants Subscribe to The VA Handbook

  7. 4 Jun

    6 Essential Foundations Every Successful VA Business Needs

    If your virtual assistant business isn't growing, the problem probably isn't what you think. It's not your marketing, fierce competition, or AI making you redundant. The issue is that you don’t have strong enough foundations. “ Most struggling VA businesses don't have a marketing problem at all. They have a foundations problem.”  Successful businesses aren't built on hacks, trends or luck. They're built on solid principles and strategy. Get those right and everything else becomes a whole lot easier. This week we’ll explore the six essential foundations you need in place to be successful, explaining in detail what they are and the impact that they have. Main takeaways: 1️⃣ The six essential foundations behind every successful business are having a clear offer, sustainable pricing, effective systems, consistent marketing, financial tracking, and an exceptional client experience.  2️⃣ Your next big breakthrough doesn't usually come from doing more. It comes from strengthening what already exists within your business. 3️⃣ Whether you're just starting out or running an established VA business, the challenges may look different but the businesses that thrive all share the same core pillars.This week, find time in your calendar to review the foundations explored today within your own business.Ask yourself which ones are currently weakest and create a strategy to strengthen them. Timestamps: (00:00) Podcast episode starts (02:14])  Foundation 1: Clear offer (03:29) Foundation 2: Sustainable pricing (04:47) Foundation 3: Effective systems (05:45) Foundation 4: Consistent marketing (06:53) Foundation 5: Financial tracking (08:05) Foundation 6: Client experience 🔗 Resources Hiring Associates with Ease Guide Subscribe to The VA Handbook

  8. 21 May

    You’re Not “Just” a Virtual Assistant: Having Confidence in your Ability and Worth

    You are not “just” a VA. The sooner more people in the industry start believing that, the faster their business (and confidence) will grow. “ I hear it all the time, ‘I'm “just” a VA. I “only” do admin. It's “nothing special”.’ And every single time, I want to stop people mid-sentence, because there is nothing “just” about what we do." This week we tackle one of the most damaging (and common) habits in the virtual assistant industry: minimising what we do and the real impact we have on businesses. To take your VA business to the next level, you may not need to complete another course or qualification, but work on your self-belief and knowing how to show up for yourself.Confidence doesn't come before the action, it comes because you actually did the scary thing. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ VAs wear many different hats, they are the organiser, the problem solver, the communicator, the project manager, the person holding things together behind the scenes while everyone else gets to shine out front. They create capacity, reduce stress, improve productivity andhelp businesses function better. 2️⃣ Stop comparing yourself to others, you’re on your own journey. You’re not behind, because someone is established and at a different stage to you, especially if it’s early days.  3️⃣ The people who grow aren't necessarily the people with the most confidence. They're often the people willing to act before they have confidence. And at some point, if you want to build something bigger, you have to stop waiting for permission. This week, do one thing you've been waiting to feel confident enough to do first, whether that’s sending that pitch, raising your rates, or finally posting that content. Don't wait for permission. Timestamps: (00:00) Start of the podcast episode (01:22) The myth about confidence (01:47) The comparison trap (03:43) Ego versus confidence (05:18) Final message: stop calling yourself "just" a VA Resources 👇 👉 Check out 'Reflect, Recharge and Build a Growth Mindset' episode 👉 Join the VA Handbookers Facebook group

    You’re Not “Just” a Virtual Assistant: Having Confidence in your Ability and Worth
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About

The Visionary VA Podcast is for ambitious Virtual Assistants who want to build a business that works for them. Hosted by The VA Handbook's Holly Copsey, founder of award-winning agency Virtually Priceless, you'll hear practical advice, honest conversations and real-world lessons on clients, pricing, marketing, systems, confidence, leadership and growth. Whether you're starting out, growing a successful VA business or building a team, you'll find actionable strategies to help you create a business - and life - on your terms. No fluff. No Hype. Just what actually works.

Information

  • Creator
    Holly Copsey
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Holly Copsey
  • Show Website
    The Visionary VA Podcast

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