
← The Life-First Solopreneur6 days ago · 34 min
The Solopreneur's Guide to Hiring Your First VA Without the Panic
Think being a solopreneur means doing everything yourself? Think again. In this episode, we sit down with Rachael Davila, a virtual assistant since 2005 and founder of Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance, to break down everything you need to know before hiring your first VA.
Rachael has seen both sides of the desk. She spent 16 years as a VA before hiring her own in 2021, and that experience gave her a fast education in why delegation feels so scary. We get into the real difference between "doers" and "collaborators," how to know which one your business actually needs, and why the cheapest VA is rarely the most affordable choice.
You will also hear when to bring on support (spoiler, before you are drowning), how to document your processes even if your brain does not work that way, and why a human VA still beats AI for relationship-driven businesses.
Whether you are curious, overwhelmed, or somewhere in between, this conversation will help you delegate with confidence.
What you will learn
The difference between a doer VA and a collaborator VAThe signals that tell you it is time to hireWhy cheaper VAs can cost you moreHow to find and vet the right-fit VA at any budgetWhen a human VA beats AI (and when it does not)Rachael's life-first advice: start small and build trustLearn more about Rachael at extrahandsva.com and check out her podcast Hey! Do I Need a VA?
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