We had the good fortune of connecting with Caroline Murray and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Caroline, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own business honestly really happened on a whim! I had the idea of becoming a virtual assistant, but I was teaching full time. I loved the idea of being able to work from anywhere, and I knew one day I wouldn’t want to be teaching when I had kids. So, I started picking up some virtual assistant jobs as my “side hustle.” Well, long story short, the “side hustle” blossomed very quickly, and within six months, put me in a position where I felt comfortable quitting my job. Six months after that, I expanded into an agency model, where I hired virtual assistants to work for me to expand the business even more. Fast forward to two years later, and I am able to raise my daughter at home while also managing the agency. I am so blessed to be able to do both!
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I own a Virtual Assistant Agency, in which we provide top-notch, highly qualified, US-based Virtual Assistants (VA’s) to support business owners in a variety of ways. We offer services that range from general administration (i.e. inbox management, scheduling, client communication, etc.) to boutique services such as website design, Pinterest management, social media management, bookkeeping, OBM services, and much more! We stand out from our competitors because we offer all CUSTOM plans based on the needs of our clients! I learned in teaching that no two children are alike, so we need to teach them with their unique skills in mind. In the same logic, all businesses have different needs, so we cannot simply have one or two “packages” to choose from! We make a plan catered to the client’s specific needs in terms of skillset needed, type of VA, and even budget. We want it to be a match-made in Heaven, and we keep our clients around for a long time because of this! I want the world to know that our brand is all about relationships. Our clients matter to us, and we plan on taking any extra step necessary to make sure they are happy. We often have our clients tell us that we are not just their VA, but we are their “business therapists,” their friends, or even their “lifesavers!” We take a lot of pride in this!
It has not been easy to get where I am today. I have learned 2 main things in business. 1 – You have to invest time, and often money, to your business if you want it to succeed. Investing in a business coach and outsourcing in areas I need help with, were some of the best decisions I ever made. 2 — This is also a lesson in life I am continuing to work on, but you cannot control the actions of others. Owning a business often means depending on other people and collaborating with others. Unfortunately, nobody is perfect, and those people are likely to let you down at some point. You can only control yourself, your decisions, and your actions. You cannot get too stressed about the actions of others, because there is not much you can do to change that. This is something I still need to work on every day!
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Charleston is the most beautiful city and we love showing people around! We love a beach day Sullivan’s Island, with dinner at Home Team BBQ or Poe’s. A day downtown is also a blast; you can’t go wrong with strolling the stunning streets South of Broad, taking a walk at the battery, or having a cocktail at the Hotel Bennett rooftop, with the best views of the city! And I have to pay homage to my local neighborhood, Park Circle, where there is live music and great food at Commonhouse Aleworks. Catching the sunset before a gorgeous dinner on the water at MOMO is also an amazing choice. I truly love where I live!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest shoutout I can give is to the one and only, Jesus Christ! He has made this entire journey possible for me. I could go on and on about all of the ways He has blessed my business and made it possible for me and my family, but that would take all day. Ultimately, He deserves all the praise and credit. In Ephesians 3:20 it says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.” I truly believe He can provide us with much more than we could ever imagine!
Website: https://www.vpossible.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtuallypossibleagency
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-murray-virtuallypossible/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virtuallypossibleagency
Image Credits
Stephanie Selby Headshots