She's Alright When You Get To Know Her - UK Podcast for Virtual Assistants (Catherine Gladwyn - UK Virtual Assistant Trainer)

What is a Virtual Assistant? What do they do? Listen, subscribe, implement.

I refer to my free download, 90+ services you can offer as a Virtual Assistant, which you can download here: www.catherinegladwyn.co.uk/va-services

I know it'd feel much safer if it cost nothing to become a Virtual Assistant, but it's legally impossible.

I'll explain all in the episode. Plus I mention a limited edition £10 coupon code in this episode!

This podcast reflects costs in 2025.

Other things I mention are two affiliate links:

KoffeeKlatch: Use code CATH10 for 10% off your contracts

PolicyBee: Mention my name and get up to 10% off your insurance

Since publishing this episode the bloody ICO have increased their fees to £52* per annum, or £47 per annum if you set up a direct debit.

*Please note this fee amount might change at any time without my knowledge. When doing your budgeting you can confirm the ICO charges here: ico.org.uk/fee-checker

You hate your 9-5, right? You just want freedom, flexibility. You don't want to be constantly catching your breath wondering if it's exhaustion, anxiety or stress. I was the same.

Let me tell you how I changed EVERYTHING for a happier, healthier, wealthier working life in my podcast 'She's alright when you get to know her'.

Have you heard of the feast or famine cycle? Basically, it's a common thing for freelancers / small business owners to have some good months financially and some bad months. 'It's just the way it is' was what I was told early on in my business. After my first time in the famine part I decided I was never going to be in it again and I came up with many ways to ensure that didn't happen. Some of which I am only too happy to share with you in this episode.

As always, I can't thank you enough for listening and... guess what? You got my podcast into the top ten on Apple Podcasts in the Careers category! Go team!

A chronic health condition can often mean a 9-5 is no longer a viable option. But it doesn't have to mean the end of your career, the end of having a purpose or a decline into financial poverty.

In this episode I am joined by Kayleigh Hunter-Law and Mel Friday, both of which bravely share their chronic health struggles, how it impacted their ability to work a 'normal' job and how they've created a working life - as Virtual Assistants - that works around their chronic health problems, how it's actually improved so much of their lives, their health and their wealth.

Whether you too have a chronic health condition, or you care for a loved one, or you simply fed up with the life a 9-5 takes away from you, then listen to be inspired.

In this episode we do mention feelings of helplessness. If you're ever feeling like life is getting a bit too much it can sometimes help to share it. The Samaritans are there to listen and not judge. It's like having a mate you can share things with, but you don't have to listen to their stuff in return. There's more info here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Are you surprised by the cost of becoming a Virtual Assistant in the UK? Did you think it'd be more?

I mention KoffeeKlatch in this episode, for which I am an affiliate. You can benefit, as well as me, by using code: CATH10 for 10% off your Virtual Assistant contracts.

Is ChatGPT going to put Virtual Assistants out of business? Will free downloads help you become a VA? Plus we'll fit two chickens and a cow in a case. Take that Ryan Air!

Amid light-hearted banter, deeper insights into the VA world are shared by me, Catherine Gladwyn, as I'm interviewed* by my best mate and fellow business owner, Jo Francis.

*All questions were submitted by members of Catherine's Virtual Assistant Facebook Group.

In this episode Jo briefly mentions the domestic abuse charity she supports. You can find out more about their great work here: https://www.davss.org.uk/

I can't believe I've not covered this subject already because it's such a common question. Of course, I've answered it for you in this episode but I've also shared why you might not be getting associate work and how you can turn that around.

I enjoyed doing this one because I really think it's going to help. As always, there's no gatekeeping. This is all I have in my brain about how to get associate work as a Virtual Assistant.

If you're wondering how you can get started as a Virtual Assistant alongside a 9-5, and all the others things going on in your life, then let me share with you how in this episode of She's alright when you get to know her.

I also share what not to do from my own first hand experience!

When you decide you're going to be a Virtual Assistant your whole body is filled with excitement, then fear, then excitement, then fear, and then... comparisonitis (not a UTI).

I'd like to say 'we all get it' and most of us do at some point in business, or maybe even in life. In this episode I share a couple of ways you can look at and stop comparisonitis as a Virtual Assistant.

Let me know if there are any instances that make you think 'everyone's better than me' and I'll address them in a future episode for you.

You are not failing.

You do deserve this.

Have you seen a piece of software that you've never heard of and convinced yourself that you need to know it in order to get clients as a Virtual Assistant. It's a common misconception and you've totally made it all up. Let me help.

This episode explains what software you might want to learn and also what you don't need to be wasting your time on!

I asked my Facebook group of almost 8k people (at time of writing) to pop some questions into the group for me to answer on a podcast.

There are questions for your VA journey, like: 'What one characteristic is important to becoming a successful Virtual Assistant?' to some personal ones so you can get to know me, Catherine Gladwyn, Virtual Assistant Trainer.

I am joined on this podcast by my dearest friend, Jo Francis. We've got two very different accents, so you might be the transcript!

All questions were provided by members of Catherine's Facebook Group which you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catherinegladwyn/

Many people have the preconceived idea that they need experience in admin or PA roles to be a successful Virtual Assistant. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it... STOP MAKING STUFF UP!

Tania Pryer joins me for this episode to prove to you that you don't need to have had admin experience to start your own Virtual Assistant business.

But, there are some things you DO need. But you'll have to listen to find out what they are.

In this episode I refer to the following:

90+ Services FREE Download: www.catherinegladwyn.co.uk/va-services

Katya's Social Media Templates (affiliate link): https://shop.viralmarketingstars.com/a/20636/pvmy92sk

Email and diary management course: www.catherinegladwyn.co.uk/email

What if I told you, you don't need a niche? Now, that's put a cat amongst the pigeons, hasn't it?

Don't worry, I am not going to overwhelm you, or make this niching malarkey even more confusing. I'm going to make it easy. In fact, you'll have your niche sorted by the end of this episode.

I refer to this link on my website, to download the 90+ services you can offer as a Virtual Assistant: www.catherinegladwyn.co.uk/va-services

This is one crucial part that aspiring Virtual Assistants miss out. Not doing it means you could be stuck in your 9-5 for longer. Listen to hear what it is.

In this episode I refer to these links: www.catherinegladwyn.co.uk/calculator

And Voxi affiliate link here: https://join.voxi.co.uk/YQLqCD

The answer's no. The VA world is not over-saturated. But how and why am I so sure?

Let me explain in this episode.

Kirmada might just be the best thing to help Virtual Assistants manage their time, multiple clients and stop losing billable hours.

Sign up for Kirmada using my link, https://kirmada.com/?red=cather for free, and when you fall in love with it, use my affiliate code GLADWYN10 for 10% off.

Setting boundaries in your Virtual Assistant business helps to ensure it never feels like work, that you never dread a task, or feel burnt out, or guilty about anything. You are an equal to those you work with, you are in charge of your own working day now, so I'd like to share a few things you may, or may not - we're all different - wish to have in place to ensure no day feels like employment.

In this episode I refer to KoffeeKlatch's VA contracts and my affiliate discount code: CATH10 for 10% off.

I also mention my Facebook group, which you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catherinegladwyn/

Thank you to Lily Attwell-Rowan for suggesting this as episode 17's subject.

It's one of the biggest stumbling blocks for many new Virtual Assistants, choosing a business name.

Let me help you through that wall of stress so we can move on to the next stage of your journey to quit your 9-5 and become a Virtual Assistant.