There’s a myth floating around the online business world, and it’s surprisingly persistent:
If you’re serious about your business, you’ll outsource. Specifically? You’ll get a VA.
It’s thrown around like a rite of passage. Like getting a VA is your badge of honour for finally being “in it for real.”
But if we can be open for a moment:
Hiring a VA isn’t a rite of passage.
It’s a strategic decision.
And for some folks? It could actually be the wrong one.
Let’s be honest…
I’ve seen too many solo business owners – clever, capable, purpose-led humans – get swept up in the pressure to outsource before they’re ready.
✨ They didn’t know what they actually needed support with.
✨ They hadn’t built out systems yet.
✨ They were still changing their offers every few months.
✨ Or they were hoping that someone else could bring order to chaos they hadn’t made space to understand.
And what happens next is usually one of two things:
- The business owner ends up overcommitted, overwhelmed, and wondering why this “support” feels more stressful than helpful.
- The VA gets put in a role they were never meant to carry, forced to fix instead of support.
Neither outcome feels good. For anyone.
Support should be strategic – not performative.
This is why my work around VA readiness exists.
Sometimes the best support doesn’t look like bringing in another human at all. Sometimes the first step is:
- Cleaning up your workflows
- Setting realistic expectations around your capacity
- Streamlining your offers
- Building in automation
- Even removing tasks that don’t need doing in the first place
I’ve worked with clients who, after some deep digging, realised what they really needed wasn’t a VA – it was better structure. Or a template. Or even just permission to let something go.
There’s no prize for hiring fast.
There’s no shame in going slow.
And there’s no rule that says your business has to include a team to be legitimate, successful, or sustainable.
What if we normalised asking these questions first?
- Do I know what I actually want to hand over?
- Do I have the budget, time, and systems in place to support someone else’s role?
- Am I hoping someone will fix the chaos – or am I clear on the kind of support that will genuinely help?
- Do I want to be a business with a team – or do I thrive as a solo operator?
You’re allowed to build a business that honours your energy, your working style, and your vision. That might mean outsourcing. It might not.
Hiring a VA should feel like a calm, conscious choice, not a frantic grab for air when you’re already drowning.
If you’re unsure whether you’re ready for a VA or even want one, it doesn’t mean that you’re behind. That’s thoughtful leadership in action.
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