“I went into that call thinking, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing here, I don’t know what having a VA means.’ So instead of trying to prove myself as a client, I focused on finding out who Laura was, not just what she could do for me. That’s what made it feel like a connection rather than an interview. It was joyous. Calm. Fun. A meeting of hearts and minds. I thought: this person can help me”

We are delighted to announce that The Virtual Colleagues (TVC) has been shortlisted as a finalist in two prestigious categories at this year’s Small Business Awards (SBA) — Best Home-Based Business and Female Entrepreneur of the Year.

If you’ve ever been stuck in a “what’s the best system for X?” rabbit hole, you’ll know there’s no shortage of options - and no shortage of people telling you their favourite is the best. The trouble is, the “best” system depends entirely on your business, your team, and your way of working.

On a recent TVC team call, we stripped away the hype and talked through what actually works for us and our clients.

Let’s talk holidays.

They’re supposed to be relaxing - a break, a recharge, a chance to ignore your inbox while sipping something cold. But when you run a business or support someone who does, taking time off often feels like a logistical nightmare.

In one of our recent team calls, we dove head-first into the messy, brilliant, slightly chaotic reality of managing holidays in the VA world.

This week’s team call focused on a practical (and refreshingly honest) exercise: each person brought one real-life work struggle to the table, and together, we brainstormed three possible solutions. Here’s what came up:

Let’s talk about something not often said out loud - when a client is overwhelmed, emotionally unavailable, or quietly drowning in burnout… it impacts us too.

As Virtual Assistants, we pride ourselves on being dependable, flexible, and damn good at adapting. But what happens when the thing they’re throwing is radio silence, cancelled meetings, and a big helping of emotional withdrawal?

Are Business Owners Really Psychos – Or Just Misunderstood?
We’re diving into the unfiltered truth behind the labels that get thrown at business owners: “narcissist,” “reckless,” “control freak” - sound familiar? In this blog, we unpack where those traits actually come from (spoiler: it’s usually survival, not madness), why authenticity feels impossible, and how the pressures of running a business can warp how we’re seen.

Desert Island game TVC style! 🌴 What would you choose??

This week we decided to take a break from our usual in depth topics and discussions on our team call and instead have some fun! Because why not?! We all need a reminder to connect with the people we work with, share stories, and have some silliness. After all, knowing the people we work with makes a huge difference!

At The Virtual Colleagues, we don’t just work through a to-do list - we work with the way you think. Whether you're a list-making machine, an ideas tornado, or someone who needs a voice note to make sense of it all, we meet you where you're at.

This blog dives into how we tailor our VA support to match different learning styles, operating preferences, and neurodiverse needs.

Overwhelm: we’ve all felt it, but that doesn’t mean it should be your norm.

In this blog, our VA team share what overwhelm really looks like - from the subtle red flags to the spirals we see all too often. We dive into how it shows up differently for different people and how to spot it early.

In this blog, the team at The Virtual Colleagues shares exactly what makes a VA–Client relationship work: from trust and communication to clear deadlines and mutual respect. Real quotes, real examples, and real talk from the VAs who’ve seen it all.

Will AI Replace VAs? We Don’t Think So.

In this blog, we explore a big question: what’s the real difference between AI, automation, and the role of a VA?
We break down which tasks are best left to tech, which need a human touch - and why clients still crave connection, not just efficiency.

Let’s be honest - delegation sounds great in theory, but in practice, it’s often clouded by a nagging fear: “If I hand this over, will I lose control?”

We’re pulling back the curtain to share our conversations about YOU. This is a blog written about the key takeaways from our conversation on how to delegate without losing control.

When we lose a day from the working week, expectations don’t shrink – if anything, they grow. Business owners still have to deliver everything they normally would. That means cramming five days into four, without the breathing space.

But it’s more than just time. It’s mental load.