14: Awards Season
Today we're talking to Ellie Hartley, founder of Virtuellie, a multi-award winning Australian virtual assistant agency. Ellie shares her journey of balancing work and family life after transitioning from the traditional 9-5. Big topics include the importance of community support, leveraging awards for business growth, and advice if you're new to starting your business. Ellie's super generous with her advice about the challenges and victories of running a business, networking strategies, and the power of personal connections.
Number of fucks given in this episode: 6
Mentioned in this episode:
Ellie Hartley's Virtuellie
The Awards Portal by Jemimah Ashleigh
You can also listen on your favourite podcast apps, including Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Episode transcript
Rah: Welcome to the Fuck Around and Find Out Podcast. We're your hosts, Rah, Emily and Christine we're three women who have built and run our own businesses. And we're who and we are. We are three women who have built and run our own businesses and are here to shoot the shit on everything about women in business and running your own business.
Hi Em. Hey Chris. How you doing? Hey Rah. We're doing really well. I'm doing
Christine: really well today. Excellent.
Emily: So tell us who you are. Yeah, yeah, so do you want to take the reins and explain who you and Em are?
Absolutely, well, my name is Christine and I'm a Capricorn and I am one half of the absolutely awesome Juniper Roach along with my Gemini friend.
Emily. Um, we do operational and shared services support for small to medium businesses. Um, and when we talk about operational and shared support services, we kind of like mean the real, you know, the everything you need, the tool, the backend, the tools to, to do your business. So whether it's It's going to be your social media strategy to your scheduling, to your website, to your inbox management, diary, data, documents, a plethora of, uh, services is what we do.
I love a good plethora. I love big words, they
Emily: really are awesome. And then Em, what, what have you got to add to the plethora?
Christine: Nothing. What she said. Yeah, you know, I was laughing that she just pulled out One Stop Shop.
Ellie: I was like, about to be like, I'm a Gemini.
Christine: Yeah, I've had a habit of like, every single episode we ever record being like, We're at One Stop Shop!
Emily: Um, honestly, she's acting like we're the N R M A, or like, you guys are the N R M A.
Christine: Yeah, I know. That's why I'm not the one that should be introducing, uh,
Emily: let's just do
Christine: that.
Emily: Yeah. Okay. We'll defer to Chris ongoing. Yeah. Great. And then, so let's take it back to me. Who are you? Who am I? She says flicking the hair that she put back out of the way.
So I am Rah and I am my own business name and I do digital marketing and systems for women in business. So that includes social media, podcasts, websites, CRM and email marketing, um, management, and yeah, streamlining the shit out of things because life's too short to make the pixels do the work for you. I
Christine: love
Emily: that.
I just call you the
Christine: wizard. She is the wizard. The wizard,
Emily: the wonderful wizard of Rah. Oh, I don't know if that's a really good word. No, we might have to workshop that one. Okay. We'll work on that. Yeah. Okay. Yes, absolutely. And today we have a special guest and we have Ellie. So Ellie Hartley is, hi Ellie. So Ellie, we're going to read out a bio about you.
So just look humble. It's just, yeah, cool. Don't be, it's not awkward at all. So Ellie Hartley is the founder of Virtuelli, an Australian virtual assistant agency. She created the business in 2019 to find a better work life balance equation after having her second son. Last year in 2023, Ellie won bronze at the Oz Mumpreneur Awards.
And this year Ellie's been nominated for three Oz Mumpreneur Awards, two Seed VA Awards, and a new one that we found out about today, which is the Community Award. Is that right, Ellie?
Ellie: Yeah. Community Spirit. Yeah, there we go. Okay. So we'll just
Emily: add that into the list. And she's also a member of the Australian Virtual Industry Professionals and Virtual Network Australia.
She has a dual diploma in events and business management, and she's worked for 20 plus years in executive level, assistant support, business, business admin, and event management. And she's worked in industries, including hospitality, retail, and entertainment. Deep breath, because I'm still going. When she's not working towards the business success of her clients and filling her team of virtual assistants diaries with work, Ellie can be found volunteering for her kids, school, PNF, Wow.
Yep. That's a lot. Um, and being the team manager of her eldest son's soccer team. Oh, I adore your free time. All your free time. Oh my goodness me. Welcome Ellie. Yeah. Hi. Welcome. Thanks. Thanks for having me ladies. Very excited to have you. Excellent.
Ellie: Yeah. I'm feeling a bit tired listening to all those hats that I wear.
Emily: Hey, we got most of it from your website, so at least we know it's all true. Yes, that's
Christine: true. Important. It also
Emily: means, yeah,
Christine: clearly marketing yourself perfectly.
Emily: And is there anything in the intro that you think like we need to beef up more or, you know, tell us anything a bit different about what you're doing?
Ellie: No. So, yeah, you're right. Uh, 2023, I got to take home a little pink lady from Osmum, which was fabulous. Um, so that was a nice little addition. Um, that was really exciting because my auntie actually won the big Osmum award many moons before me.
So it was nice to sort of share that moment with her, which was really lovely. But, um, yeah, no, nothing much else. I do have, I guess, I don't know if I'm allowed to say it on here, but I'm stepping into a board member role to add another hat into my plethora Can Ahora on own. Yeah. So I will be stepping into support Aiv as a board member this, uh, this year.
Yeah. Well done. That's fantastic. Fantastic. Yeah.
Christine: Did you say, was that really cool? Was that of a v?
Ellie: Yeah. Yep.
Christine: Awesome.
Ellie: Yeah. VA role. Nice. Add-on. Yeah. .
Yeah. Well, it's, it's good because. AVIP's a good, um, resource, um, for, uh, virtual assistants in Australia, so, you know, you can certainly bring your experience and expertise and, and just your on the ground running knowledge of building a business and you can take it to that, um, platform.
So I think that's, you're a fantastic addition to the board.
Ellie: Aw, thank you. Great. Yes, I'm looking forward to it. Yeah. Yeah. You're
Christine: also a strong advocate for the industry, so it's a good place for you to be. To be sitting as well. You've got the right intentions behind you, which is what is always a good thing.
Huge.
Ellie: Huge. Yeah, but yeah, spot on, Ra, spot on.
Christine: We should also throw out there that the lovely Ellie is also based in the lovely Victoria. Oh, yeah. And like our Sydney siders currently sitting there. Yes. You're probably freezing more than we are right now.
Ellie: Yeah, I may have got, I'll be honest, I'm in bed tonight.
I've got, uh, three layers on. It's called work life balance. Yeah, 100%. It's
Emily: alright, I am, I have my couch blanket over my lap at the moment because it is so cold. Yes. And I'm too cheap to put the heater on. So, yeah.
Yeah, we've put
Christine: the heat in, that's why I'm still in sleeveless, but I'm like definitely not comfortable.
I wish I was in pajamas right now, to be honest.
Yes, yes. I, um, I came home from a thing last night and, you know, it's like, oh quick, I'll run and take the dog around the, um, the, the block. And of course I was just in my t shirt with a cardigan over it because I'd been indoors and in a car. So I was protected from the wind and I was really, you know, desiring.
a beanie, a scarf, but I kept going, no, I'll keep, just keep going. It won't be long. Come on, Hurley. Let's run. I mean, not run cause I don't run, but you know, like I almost felt like I needed to run to get home. It was so cold.
Ellie: That's us in Melbourne, that's us in Melbourne, but about 8. 45 15 AM and 2 and 3. uh, 3.
45 right on school people. It's not cold, it's not wet, nothing during the day.
Yes. Yeah, just
Ellie: those two points. It's always the way.
Yep. So, so Ellie, what inspired you to start Virtual Ellie? Like what, what about, um, your personal experiences kind of like shaped your vision for your business and got it off the ground?
I
Ellie: guess, I guess it all sort of came to fruition after Bup number two. Um, but I think Virtual Ellie or just running, I've always wanted to run my own business. I'm, I'm talking. All the way back to like prep grade one, I remember having like little clubs at school and one of them was like a stationary club and we used to cut out colored paper and put them in little folders and we thought we were so cool.
Um, and then as I grew up, I always thought I would have my own business, not doing what I'm doing now. I actually studied fashion straight out of high school, um, clothing industry studies and thought, I would possibly have my own design house and label. I even had a name for it. It was L dot E dot. It's like Ellie, but just with the letters, um, and then when he did, my course came out and was so overwhelmed.
I was like, actually, I have no fucking idea what I want to do. There's so much in the industry that I, I love about it. So I kind of put it to the side and then, um, yeah, we sent first child off to school and, you know, for those out there with kids, they know that juggle and that struggle of you look at how much you earn.
You look at the times of school, you look at the times of work, and it just doesn't balance. Like it just doesn't work out. So it looks at how many hours I was doing and what I was getting paid. And yeah, I'd still come home with money at the end of the day, but I was like, for what?
Rah: Yeah.
Ellie: So ended up, my son started school 2017 and, um, I ended up getting a work from home job.
Just not, I've always been in a leadership or a management role or, you know, huge responsibility. I just want, I'm so done with that. So done doing the extra hours, I guess. You hear a lot of stories in the virtual assistant and OBM world, online business manager, for those that don't know what that is, about that they were bullied or toxic workplaces.
It was nothing like that for me. It was just more around my family. I wanted to be there for those moments and be involved at school and sports and I had a single mom for about seven years. So, yes, she was a single mom. She did a lot of night duty, and she still could be around, but she wasn't, you know, Always around if that made sense.
And um, yeah, so I took a job, um, working from home. It was flexible, not as flexible as working for yourself. Um, and did that for a little while, but I didn't love it. Then I had bubby number two. And, um, went back for a little while and while I was on that leave, did, did a course to help get myself set up, uh, with the VA Institute and they helped me dot some I's and cross my T's just to, you know, I'm really particular about the legal and the financial things, making sure, you know, those obligations are met, other bits and pieces, it was just, I guess, a benefit.
But, um, yeah, 2019 just went bugger it and started my business and I love it and, and
Emily: I got in just before the whole world started to move to it.
Ellie: I did. Yeah. So I do like to, to make a point when I'm having discovery calls that I was prior, uh, you know, pre COVID. Yes, you were doing this. Just lording it over the rest of us.
Emily: Okay, great. Yeah.
Ellie: No, I think that sometimes it's important to let the clients know that because it's such a huge industry now. It booms with COVID. Yeah. So I think it's such a huge industry that, um, I feel sometimes, depending on the client, I actually think it puts a little comfort into them when they're having that conversation because they know where your intentions are.
It's not that they just looked for It's not saying that that's always the case, but they know that, you know, my intentions are always there to support the clients and to do something that I love and to help them outsource and get time back. Whereas, you know, there's some VAs that just jumped at it because it was that easy option, work from home, make some money, and, and it's not a great thing.
greatly regulated industry. So I guess that's why being on a bit's quite important to me, but it's not regulated. So everyone's sort of, there's a lot of people that have just jumped in and just gone, Hey, cool, I can do this too. And it can be a little bit, um, you know, damaging to the rest of us that are really, you know, going helpful leather out there and really doing a super duper duper awesome job.
Um, and I've had clients that have been burnt in the past and they were scared to use it. So you just have to put that confidence back in them, and I think that's kind of helped a little bit.
Christine: Very much so. I think there's been a massive trend of, Oh, I can't leave the house. Let me come up with this. Let's do this kind of thing.
I think the regulation part is also so important too. We've all had fun with people who have either, you know, not done the right thing by the team or their clients. And it's something that's so infuriating and hard for those, like you said, those are trying to do the right thing and trying to grow a business and trying to create a lifestyle for themselves.
Ellie: Yeah, but essentially my two boys are my why that's why I started the business That's why I look for flexible work. I drop them off. I pick them up I've had a little one sick home since Thursday, you know, I'm able to be there for him I'm sure they're sick of looking at my face when they see me at school.
So, you know sports canteen whatever it is So yeah, they're the reason
Yeah, and look, you know as someone with you know, mr. 17 I think it's, um, it's lovely when you can be heavily involved in primary school. It's a, it's a different animal in high school and it really stops. So you know, and I was, I was grateful that it stopped because I was tired after seven years of volunteering, um, but I felt really great that I had done that and been available and my son had seen me.
Doing going the extra mile and and participating in his world. And so it's really good for your boys to do that, and I think it's wonderful when you can create a Future you can create a business that enables you to do that and to really uphold that Um, you know, and it is really hard when you get really, really busy and I'm sure there are moments where, you know, potentially it's like, Oh, you know, kid, soccer, work, it's a juggle.
PNF. Yeah. That's right. You know?
Emily: Kind of thing. And the parent WhatsApp chat. So like my mates who have those. Oh my God. I don't know how you guys keep up.
Ellie: Oh, I've got a few channels on me. Don't worry about it. Yeah.
Emily: Okay. Thank you. Yeah.
Ellie: Just schedule in a reminder once a week and you'll just check and see what you missed out on.
Oh my gosh, yes,
absolutely. So what's um, what's been the biggest woohoo moment in your business so far?
Ellie: God, there's been, there's been a few, I guess. I think for me, one of the biggest woohoo moments, like, Was so back in 2019. I started it was just me and I've known some some of you guys For quite a while now, so you guys know my journey, but I think you know, it was just me in 2019 and then Having a community around just so important and helping And having those cheerleaders and working from home by yourself, like you just, it's such a different kettle of fish to working in an office with people.
But I think, I think 21, I kind of, I had people, VAs coming to me going, you know, how are you, because I was working a dual strategy and I pretty much, I handed in my notice at my employee job within three months. I got one client, got a second client. Filled my same income as to my part time job that I was working, um, from home.
And so, and then deletes just kept coming. Um, but you know, I only had so much time. So I guess I had a lot of people coming to me going, how are you? I can't find clients. How are you finding clients? Um, and then I also had the other end of the stick where I've got all these leads coming through, which is fabulous.
Well, I can't do this. I can't juggle as much as I'd love to say yes to everybody. So I think for me, The Woohoo moment was like, oh my goodness, there's an opportunity here. And I also realized that, uh, as, as a, as most of you know, I am so far from an introvert, um, and need people around me, and I, I, I, like, I, it's just so important to me and I've led so many teams and I kind of missed that, um, interaction whilst we have a community in our team online and we chat every day.
And you guys can attest to that. Yeah. 'cause you've been there, um, which I love. I didn't have that before, before I had a team. It was just me, myself and I, and you guys would know that. So, for me, it was like, oh my goodness, there's an opportunity here. Um, and there was a few agencies and team VAs around, but I just went, no, I can do this.
And just, you know, worked on a plan, and I think my woo hoo moment was going, I can, I can put these two worlds, these two opportunities together and create this amazing, um, Australian owned and operated virtual assistant agency or virtual business support agency. And yeah, and that was a vision in 2021.
And in 2022, it came to reality and we're still here. So I think for me, that's probably my biggest Wahoo because I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that.
Emily: I have a side question for you then, or a sub question. Where did those original leads come from?
Ellie: It's so funny because
Emily: is there a cookie cutter that we can just borrow and everyone can just use that.
That'd be great.
Ellie: So my first lead, I'll be honest, I feel like it came from possibly a Facebook page, but I mean, sorry for another day perhaps, but interesting story there. Um, we separated ways. I was prepared and ready to do it. He made the call and he called me and that's a interesting story, but I wasn't upset by it.
I didn't take it personally, but that happened about two weeks after I got my second client. So I'd handed him my notice and then I have a client who left me and, um, yeah. So then obviously I just have one client, but so that first client was an interesting one. Um, but then the second one found me on LinkedIn and he actually found me on LinkedIn a week after my mother passed away.
Emily: Wow.
Ellie: Um, so we had, I'll call it an interview. We don't have interviews, but I just remember the day when he reached out to me and I was getting my hair done and, um, I said, look, I'm really sorry I'm at the, I'm at an appointment at the moment. Um, can we lock in a time? And I locked in a time with him and we had a chat and, um, I said, look, I'm really sorry if I'm not myself.
I'll be completely transparent. My mum passed away last week and da da da, like, you know, so, um, and so he came from LinkedIn, but our biggest clients have come from LinkedIn. Um, but I'm not as active on LinkedIn as I should be. Um, so we're very fortunate that our biggest clients have come from LinkedIn.
So I can only imagine. So for all of those people out there that are wondering where to get clients, LinkedIn is a great platform for it. Um, and if you know how to use it right and use it enough, Opportunities are there. Um, so yeah, I
Christine: just think it also depends on your own network though. Cause I think like for someone like me, who's been working in like, I worked for big W and I worked in like some weird obscure company in the private sector.
Like they're not, They're too big for people that would need our services. So I find that I struggle with that, or I have too many other VA's as networks. Like, cause I've thought about LinkedIn a lot and it's like, I can't, um, like I'm a bit, it's like, I've got the wrong audience behind me to be able to get out the right way.
So you clearly have got really good connection.
Ellie: Oh yeah. Like I don't seek out leads on LinkedIn. I I'll be honest. I do not seek them out. They've obviously found us, um, which is fabulous. So obviously we're doing something right on our pages that we don't. heavily, actively promote. Um, but I'm with you Em, like a lot of, a lot of our clients have come from contacts, community, referrals, networking groups and things like that.
So, yeah. Or opportunities, like just random opportunities. Um, if you, I know we're sort of digressing here, but, um, like, right, you're asking about how we find them. So we've got, I'm sure you guys do where you are as well, you know, the local newspapers or the local little, like, colored brochures. It's about 10 pages long with some stories about the volunteer of the month and it's got a picture of all the counsellors and all of that.
And there was a woman in there, and she's a current client at the moment. Um, and, yeah. She's a, you know, woman in business and the article is there and I ripped it out and I thought I'm going to reach out to her on, uh, ironically, LinkedIn. And I reached out to her on LinkedIn, um, and just said, I read your article in the Nox, uh, Um, news and I just wanted to connect with you because I resonated with the article and then a couple of weeks later, guess what?
She booked in for a discovery call and now she's a client. So for those out there that are seeking the idea or looking at the idea of a VA or is a VA and are struggling to find leads, every opportunity out there or every conversation you have is an opportunity for a client. Yeah. It sure is.
Emily: And you don't have to, yeah, and you don't have to comment in Facebook groups to get, get the attention.
You can do it in other ways.
Ellie: Yep.
Emily: Yep.
Ellie: Yeah. So there you go. That's the two leads. One was a Facebook page. Um, yeah. And then the other one was on LinkedIn.
Christine: And you never know who knows someone else who needs, like, you never know who knows, you know, the power of, of networking is, is quite strong. Someone might not be needing of your services, but they might talk to someone the next day that has.
That exact meeting that, oh, I met someone, you know, who could do this and you never know.
Ellie: Yep. Yeah.
Christine: So true. So, Eld, I, uh, question I want to kind of deteriorate, deter our conversation slightly, um, is you're part of AusMOM this year, um, after coming the lovely third place last year, and this year, uh, you're even judging.
Which I don't know if I'm allowed to say out loud.
Ellie: Yeah, no, we've already done the judging and it's been advertised on socials. Yeah, all good.
Emily: Do we have to curtsy now if you're a judge? Like, what's the Can we all rise? Like We know
Christine: who's in the house. Yes.
Emily: I don't have a sonographer with me.
Christine: I could type.
Um, tell us how you found your mum, old mum's, and just general, general award experience. on what kind of benefit you think it takes for your business or has had on your business?
Ellie: Yeah, sure. Well, so the first time I was nominated for award was 2021, as we all know what year that was, one of those years that was.
Um, so I was nominated, um, along with some other amazing, um, candidates in the VA business category. Um, And that was online. So, um, the experience there was very, very different to what I experienced last year. Um, and ironically, I nominated someone in 2021 and she came first, um, in the category that I was in.
So, um, very worthy of it. I know it was funny, it was funny. Um, but yeah, she deserved it. And I think she actually ended up winning the next year after 2022 as well. So, which was fantastic. So yeah, but last year, I guess I was probably more involved and as you ladies would know, um, Was nominated, um, and was in, so I then, um, was in the VA business award category and also the People's Choice Leadership Award.
Um, so there's a difference between the two. Um, the VA business award is a judge category, and then the leadership one was a People's Choice Award. So the people's choice is you get a link and you advertise and you promote yourself and so on and so forth. Um, and, and yeah. So, um. finalists in both of them, um, up against some, uh, you know, great candidates again, um, didn't place at all in the People's choice one.
That's okay. It's a good experience. Um, but yes, came third. Took home a little pink lady. Um, as much as it was lovely, uh, would have been nice to be in first, I actually wanted a pink trophy rather than a gold one. So I was quite happy with that. I love
Christine: that. It's got to go with the desk aesthetic, yeah. Yeah, and Ellie's branding is beautiful, hot pink.
So it was like so on brand for her to have
Emily: the pink trophy. You manifested in third place, mate. That's just I
Ellie: did, I did. I should have changed my branding this year to like gold or something. Um, anyway, it doesn't matter. Um, but it was a great experience. And I feel like. The growth and the support aside from obviously, um, all those people out there in the VA industry that know who they are, including you guys, um, have been amazing cheerleaders.
But I feel like the momentum and some of the growth that I've had this year. is in recognition and thanks to the Osmo community in the wards and receiving that, um, from, you know, the opportunities and the prize packs and all of that that came with placing the conference was amazing, like, absolutely like nothing else I've ever been before.
Again, the awards night was a long night, a bit tired. Oh, I heard it was a long night.
Christine: Yeah. Oh yeah, it was. Chris and I are in the category with Ellie. Yes. Ellie's very proud of us. Hanging out on the table together, having a few beverages. But it was a very, uh, Lovely experience for us to watch Ellie place as well.
Very, very well deserved. Better for Huckley because it was alphabetised. I
Ellie: think we all had a laugh. Yeah, virtual assistants was right at the end, right? It was a long night and um, My husband Yeah, I was, I was, I behaved myself, yeah, I think we were exhausted, weren't we, really? Yeah. And, um, it's live stream.
So it was great. So for people that can't be there, like partners and things, cause it was in Sydney last year. Um, my husband was watching the live stream and obviously, Oh God, who knows what time it was that last year ladies by the time I made it, it was, it was,
Oh no, it was after, it was, um, it was after 11 o'clock at night.
I think we started making the mad dash for the car park about, um, a quarter to midnight. It'd been done. Did you say some car parks close at 12? Well, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's
Ellie: right. Cause you're shut. Yeah. So. Um, but it was, it was long, but husband was not watching. He was just listening. And he's like, and then he heard when I came 30, it's like, I think that might've been Ellie's category.
And he looked at it was our table made such a raw, which was so beautiful and so lovely, but he goes, it was like all like loud. And then all of a sudden there was this, this intense scream and volume, um, which was so beautiful. But, um, yeah. It was a great experience and I can't thank the community and the people that I've connected with since.
Um, it's been great for marketing and, and branding and, and I guess I was saying this to someone the other day, um, I think it puts a lot of confidence and makes our clients and our team feel comfortable that they know that they're part of an award winning team, like a business, um, that, you know, they know, yeah, I think that puts a little comfort in them as well.
So, um, but it's been a great experience. Um, the judging was a whole new thing to me this year, um, which was amazing. Um, I got to judge some pretty, pretty cool categories, um, which had nothing to do with the virtual assistant industry. So this year, The business is in, um, the VA category again, B to B. So business to business category and then customer service people's choice.
So, um, we're in a couple of new categories this year. Um, so crossing the fingers, but yeah, the judging was a great experience and it was nice to see, be on the other side of it this year. Um, and, and I was like, Oh my goodness, that was me so nervous last year doing my, cause you get eight minutes to talk, answer some questions.
So it's quite intense. So, um, I guess this year I was a little bit more relaxed because I knew what to expect when I was going into my eight minutes. Um, but yeah, it's, it's, it's given me some great connections, which has helped me elevate and, and start putting things in place for my business to help it grow and scale and, and just, yeah.
Yeah, well, that's, that's
good to know because I mean, there's. I mean, it's not just the virtual in, um, you know, because the Osmanpreneurs is across business and then there would be some awards, um, that are industry specific, you know, say for the hairdressing industry or, um, you know, that kind of thing. So, um, and you talk about how it's, It's good for your, your, your team to, um, feel the good, the good feeling about being part of an award winning team.
But you know, that thing about your connections and, um, you know, leveraging your business. Um, what other, um, what other areas is it, is it good for? You know, saying, you know, you're having a, you've got a certificate to say you're a winner, like, you know, where else is it a useful thing to go, Hey, look at me, we're an award winning business.
Um, yeah.
Ellie: So last year, um, I, myself and a couple of other girls in Victoria, um, ended up in the, uh, online newspaper, local newspaper, um, and the Herald Sun paper. So that was really good, um, exposure. Um, so I guess that's another point of leverage too, with your socials and your websites and your articles, um, to, to get out there.
And again, met some of them and, um, that was a fantastic opportunity, but yeah. So I think just, I think you have to be. You know, you have to know that if you're going to win, you need to spend a bit of time on understanding how to leverage it. I think 2021, I play like, you know, I was a finalist, didn't really know much about it.
Didn't, because yes, you have to, you know, you do have to pay an entry fee once you're nominated. So to, to invest that into your business, you need to make sure that you're going to follow through with what opportunities come with it. Otherwise it's just a waste of money in my opinion. So, um, yes, the same thing again, this year was nominated and paid my entry fee.
Um, but I made a point to make sure that, okay, I've planned and prepared before in the lead up. You know, make sure you leverage that and, and, and explain to your clients and your team and your mailing list. So today we had an email blast go out saying there's one week, one week left to vote for the
people's choice.
Yes, you did. I got
Christine: the email, I got your email and I clicked on it and I immediately went and voted because I hadn't done it yet.
Ellie: So it worked. Exactly. Um, so yeah, so it's, it's, it's a good platform and a good leverage. And again, it's the connections for me, I've now got, you know, a business mentor. Um, and I'm part of a community with her.
Um, Emma McQueen, go check her out if you haven't already heard of Emma McQueen. Oh, yes. She's awesome. We shall link her
Christine: in our show notes. Yeah,
Ellie: please do. Um, but she, I met her, I fangirled over her for a long time, up until Ausmum. And then, um, I, I came up to her at the, at the, at the awards. Maybe the conference and I said, Oh my God, I just had to come.
And I don't usually fangirl over people, I'll be honest, even celebrities. I'm like, Oh, and it's, um, and I saw her and I just had to chat to her and I told her, and then found out that we don't live far from each other. Now she's helping, you know, mentor with business staff and the community that she has through her Thriving Women program is amazing.
Like, I've made some amazing connections and we all support each other. And again, it's just having those right people in your corner, I think. Yeah. But that wouldn't have happened without the AusMUM community.
Gotcha.
Ellie: So, yeah.
Yeah, community is so key, isn't it? It's massive.
Ellie: It's massive. Yeah, you just, it's just got to be yourself.
You're not going to click with everyone.
No. But you just
Ellie: got to be yourself and you'll, you'll magnetise to the people that are right for you. So that's, that's what I'm, I think. Yeah. Yeah.
Emily: Yes. 100%. Oh my God. So yeah,
Ellie: everyone should experience an awards I think at least once in their life. It's a great experience.
Again, seed, seed awards, which you were saying Christine before. Industry, not so much business specific. Um, but, yeah. Mummy business, business owner, solopreneur, whatever. Yeah. I own a business and I deliver and my team delivers and it's just learning how to balance.
Christine: Do you guys have local business awards down
Ellie: in Victoria?
Ah, funny that you ask. Um. We've just, we've actually got a local business award that started up this year. Um, so I've been nominated in that too. The Knox, um, inaugural Knox business awards. It's in conjunction with the Rotary Club. And so, yeah, so that's, um, was nominated in that. And, um, yeah, so it's the first time obviously.
So don't. Have a lot to give you on that one. But yeah, local ones are so important. Cause I know you guys have local ones near you and I used to always be envious. I was like, look at them.
Christine: Like they're quite big. I mean, I I'm assuming it's across all of Sydney, but they're quite big. Um, yeah, the Hills one was really big that we were in this year, but, um, that one is, it's nice because you just create a profile and submit and you get votes and then, you know, it goes that way.
But that one was quite nice because we've, there's also like other ones like the Telstra Business Awards, which is, I quite like because it's a fairly rigorous process and it goes through a lot of different levels of judging and things like that too. Um, that are less industry, like I know we're talking about seed being very industry specific, but for those, like these ones are at least very broad.
You can
Rah: jump
Christine: into a cat, like similar to osmums, just jump into a category that, Suits your business and you can have a go
Ellie: and there's another one down here called Melbourne business network And I think they've got awards coming up soon. And that's actually free You can't there are awards that are very great that are great and they're free to enter As well, you just got to know where to look if you know, some people nominate themselves, but uh, I'm not one to nominate myself I'll be honest.
Um, so, you know if I wasn't nominated this year for I was mum I wouldn't have gone in it, I would have just judged. Um, but yeah, the Melbourne Business Network, there's, there's plenty around, you just need to, to know, know where to look. Yeah. Yeah. And I think, and
if it's part of your strategy, so, you know, like if it's really going to help you grow your reach, your community, your, your customers, um, then it's a, it's a good strategy.
To do. Um, it's a smart branch of your marketing strategy really. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Ellie: Yep. That is my marketing strategy that my social media manager, Hey, .
Emily: Yep. Um, I was gonna say as well, um, one of my clients is Jemima Ashley. She has a. Membership called the visibility lab. And one of the things that she's big about in terms of growing your personal brand, but also your business brand is entering awards.
And so she's got a huge database that she's updating constantly. Um, and I'll put the link in the show notes. To the awards portal is what it's called. Um, and you just sign up and you get a full list. She's done the research in terms of what the previous year's questions were, um, and things like that. Um, and the thing she always recommends is that you, even if you don't intend to enter some competitions or, or awards.
Look at the questions. Cause then you can start to think ahead about where, where you can improve to, to give honest answers in the future about different parts of your business. Well, I copy
Ellie: yeah. You're right. The questions I looked at my application from last year for this year's awards and I went, well, I came third, so I must've done something right.
What do I change without making myself go backwards to make it sound better? So, yeah, you're right, if you But if you don't prepare, you're not going to like, yeah, I rewrote my application like five times and practiced it and I highlighted and the questions. Big printouts, stack them on my big screens. I highlighted the keywords and then have my laptop to the side.
You got to be prepared. You got to be prepared to put in the effort though.
Emily: Yeah. Yeah. It's not just effort you put into your day to day business, right? Like it's, it just shows.
Christine: And it's also budgetary as well. Cause it's not like, Ausmums is a paid thing. So you have to actually pay to accept a nomination, which I think sometimes people forget and some others are not, but you got to work out what's like, within the range of what you're wanting to do as well.
Like, I know we made the decision this year to not go into AusMAMs because we did our thing, we did it last year, we had a go with it last year, and we've just, a lot of, obviously this podcast is one, a lot of other things on our plates right now. So that, we decided to not do it. go too heavily down. It's got to be the right time too.
Yeah.
Ellie: Yeah. Yeah. And there's always things going on. You've got to pick what without overdoing it and over committing, because if you can't deliver, then you're not going to do it properly. No,
very true. Absolutely. So if we move away a little bit from the award sort of stuff, if, um, I don't know, you you're doing some awesome stuff there, Ellie.
So, um, what would be some advice you would give to someone in someone wanting to start? in business doesn't necessarily have to be the same industry. It doesn't have to be somebody wanting to start a VA business, but what, but it can be obviously, but you know, what is some advice that you might, you know, give to someone wanting to start business or into the VA industry?
Ellie: Well, first and foremost, it's fucking hard work. Yeah. It doesn't just happen and it doesn't just happen overnight. But I think there's a few things really, I guess, um, I understand why, why you're doing it first, because you need to, you're going to have some really shitty days, and you're going to have some awesome days, and you've got to celebrate your wins and your milestones, but you've also got to learn from the shit days where there's challenges and you fuck up.
Because, in my opinion, You have to make mistakes and you have to mess up because otherwise you're not going to learn from it, right? It's not a mistake unless you learn from it Well, absolutely
got to do a little bit of fucking around till you find out that kind of thing. Yeah, that's right
Emily: Yeah
Ellie: But um Every time you have that milestone all that fuck up you you it goes back to your why like You know, you've got to remember that why so for me my kids are my why You You know, if I'm having a shitty day, like today, I walked out and I went, because I had a terrible day today, and I was like, you know what, I walked out to make my little ones some toast, and I went, no, that's, that's my why.
So, spent a few minutes with him, went back to my couch, uh, my desk, and, you know, it's alright, I had a reset. So, I guess that, but making sure that you don't just, nothing has to be perfect, you don't have to have everything set up. Like, you can slowly, all those little one percenters are like, I didn't start exactly straight away.
You know, I was, I was fortunate that I was working part time. in the evening and weekend. So I had a lot of downtime during the week when Cooper was at school, but even if it's just starting off with a logo and then starting off with your email address and starting off with like, you don't have to have it all at once before you go bang and launch.
You don't have to have, and what's going on with saying is, you don't have to have all your social set up straight away. Just, you know, slowly one little bit at a time. And eventually you'll be like, all right, cool. I think I'm ready to go out and. Maybe start selling the business, selling myself. So, and having those people in your corner, having the right people to help support you set up for success.
So for me, whilst I've got a lot of business and admin background, I was comfortable with that stuff, but I did the course purely to help me set up all the legal and the financial things, because that's not my zone of genius. And I wanted to make sure that those I's were done and those T's were crossed.
Yeah. So, and talk to people that, you know, or talk even to people in the same industry. I know that some people be like, Oh, why? But they competition. No, but if they're a solo business owner or they have a small team and that's what you're doing, they're going to come across the same challenges as you. I mean, I've got a few agency people.
We've all had the same challenges and we talk about it very openly with each other because we want all of, we want each other to succeed because we all have different whys behind why we started our business.
Christine: Love that. I've seen so many people come to Ellie for advice on things in general. I've seen people seek her out at conferences.
For advice at things because Ellie's just I also think you're very approachable Ellen But people feel comfortable and obviously like to emulate what you're doing because I think you're doing a fabulous job And they do say that's the highest form of flattery, right? So I think like people seek you out and you do have virtual network Victoria as well.
Yes, which is your community So
Ellie: that was co founded with Claire Dalton from Impact VA. And, um, I guess when we both, we've had a very, very similar journey, both as solo business owners, um, and then turned to agency pretty much all at the same time. Um, and we just were like, cause there's a lot of. networks that you guys have got, um, Sydney, Newcastle.
Um, and there's actually a lot of us down here in Victoria, but there hasn't been really, there was a couple, but they didn't look like they were really running much or doing much a little bit stagnant. I know there was COVID and things like that, but Claire and I live at that time, 15 minutes away from each other and went, there's nothing out there.
Let's, let's get something up and running. Um, so we created a virtual network, Victoria, and very excited about it. Um, Yeah, co founded that together and we have Christmas parties and we have International VA Day to celebrate. We have lunch and we've actually got a face to face this coming Friday. I think we've got about 12 girls coming, so, um, which will be lovely.
Um, and so, yeah, and I love it. It's, um, obviously just something we do on the side and it's not our main focus, but having that community, like we were saying before, It's so important. So, um, we decided why have it like to a small region? Let's just do Victoria, baby. And now we're like, whoa. Um, yeah, it comes with its challenges.
I'll be honest. Um, and Claire will agree. Cause obviously we're not, if it was like just local to us, it'd be easy to find like say a location for coffee, catch ups and things like that. Um, but because we're doing all of Victoria. We have to accommodate like a whole state of people. So we always have to look, you know, but I've worked in events.
So I know, you know, let's look near a train station. It's a car park, like all those little things that come with making it easy travel and, you know, it needs to be in school hours. So it needs to be around that 10 30 coffee time, drop the kids off, catch the train or drive in whatever it is. Um, so yeah, so that's, that's what we, um, created and now, um, we've got a little hub within that Victoria hub and so that's the Geelong hub because there's a huge bunch of girls down in Geelong.
Um, so we've got Jess and Katie, Jess and me and Katie, who run that underneath the VNV banner. Um, and who knows, maybe we'll have a few different regional hubs by, you know, the end of the year. In a little while.
I think that's good. And I think, you know, if you've got people doing a hub, then that's honing their leadership skills, aren't they, in the community and helping them grow, you know, within themselves.
And that of course translates to helping grow in business.
Ellie: So they still, yeah, and they, and they love it, you know, and they do their own little catch ups as well. And the Geelong girls come up to Melbourne and, um, I've been down, Claire's been down a couple of times to Geelong. Um, so, you know, it's, it's nice.
So it'd be nice to be able to spread those little hubs out around Victoria. It might make Claire and my, my job a little bit easier if the girls can do their own hubs. Um, so. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. It's called distributive leadership. Yeah. Oh, I like that. Distributive leadership. I'm going to write that one down.
I worked with plenty of
Emily: people in one particular job where all, I was an EA to four directors and yeah, they were very big on the distributive leadership so that they didn't have to do as much work. Love it. I love that. That's awesome. Yep. Yep. Oh God. That's
brilliant. Yes. Yes.
Christine: Oh, gosh. Well, I think we have, um, one last question in the form of a
quiz.
Time for yours, Chris.
Emily: Oh, my curly
question. Yes. Bring it. So, Ms Ellie, if I had a Pandora's box of all the things that you had lost in your life up to this stage. Is there something that you would hope to find and take out of that box?
Ellie: It's a hard, it is a hard question.
Rah: Yeah.
Ellie: Um,
I don't, everything that I've done and been through in life has got me where I am today. I don't know if I, I don't know, aside from winning a lotto ticket out of that box, I don't think I'd actually take anything out of the box. Um, I don't think I would, because there's nothing I feel like I've lost, even if it was shitty.
Like, I've been through some really shitty things, and yes, I'd love to get better. You say, Oh God, I wish that never happened or that can just go get lost. But I don't think deep down inside on reflection, I don't think because all these things make you who you are and get you to where you've got to today.
I've worked in lots of industries. I've had lots of different jobs. I've had lots of different personal challenges. They've all made me who I am today. Love
that. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.
Ellie: Yeah. I think, nah, I don't think I take anything out except for that giant tassel on a ticket. Yeah, no, that's. I
mean, I might have taken that one out already.
So, you know, No, good, good answer. But it's so true, isn't it? I think, you know, sometimes you can think, Oh, well, I was meant to be here all along. This is where I was meant to be today. And sometimes we just took a long time to get there. And some other people take a short time and it depends whether you take left or right at the fork in the road, uh, kind of thing.
Ellie: Flooding doors moment. Oh my God.
Yes, absolutely. So yeah, no, love that. Thank you. Thank you for that.
Emily: And for anyone who wants to find out more about you or Virtue Early, how do they do that? How do they find you?
Ellie: Well, so they can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, but it might take a little longer for me.
Yeah, but nah, it might take me a little longer to reply. Now I've got pressure to make sure I check it every day. Yeah, that's right. Um, but yeah, our website. So, you know. www. virtualle. com. au and we've got to contact us and you can join the mailing list and, you know, keep up to date with all the things that are happening.
Um, but yeah, that's probably the best way. All my details are on the website too, so there's all those ways to get in touch. Awesome.
Emily: You have been so much fun to have on Ellie. You are already knew this, but you're amazing and so it's very, very exciting that we can put you on recorded form so we can get more people to realize how amazing you are.
Ellie: Exactly. Oh, thanks. I love you ladies. Thanks. We love you. Thanks for giving up your evening
for us. Yes, yes, but
Ellie: pleasure.
Stay in your bedroom. Don't go out again tonight.
Ellie: No, I won't be. I just wish that you guys lived in Melbourne or I lived up there. It just means I get to see you in person more often. I know.
Well, we'll just have to take the podcast or ourselves on the road. We could snuggle.
Christine: Oh my god, yes. Oh my god, a tour. We, uh, we do need a tour and we also, because we have our biz conference. coming as well. We will eventually try and make that. I'm saying this without having confirmed it. This is the first time we've talked about it.
It's fine. Yeah. We'll take it into state at some point. Is it going to be a national
Ellie: conference? Oh my god. I am so so down for that because I must say I am so I'm so slightly jealous that you're doing it because I can't come up to, I can't come up. So I'm like, of course they're going to do that. We're going to have to bring it down to
Emily: you, aren't we?
Oh well. Yeah. We'll put that on the BHAG for 2024. Yeah. Or no, 2025. Oh my God. Where are we now? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's August at
Ellie: the end of the week. Right. It's August in a couple of days. I still
Emily: struggle to type 2024. Like. Yeah.
Christine: Yeah. No. Almost at the end of it. Yeah.
Emily: Good Lord. All right. I'm going to read the outro.
So is everyone cool if I read the outro? Yes. Go for your life. Lovely. Excellent. So that's it for today's episode. Thank you, Ellie. Amazing legend. Thank you for joining us in the virtual podcast. And thanks to everyone for listening and if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or like us if you're using the Spotify app and be sure to share it with your friends as well.
And be sure to check out the show notes for any references from today's episode and all the links to follow Ellie and Chris and me online as well. And we'll talk to you guys soon.
Fabulous. Yeah.
