In the spotlight - Anne Marie Mittleman of A Virtual Angel. She tells us how she got started with her Virtual Assistant business while juggling family and a full time job...

What motivated you to start your own business?
Simply to be a ‘schoolgate mum’ and have a better work/life balance. My parents in effect brought up my son whilst I worked full-time and missed out on school plays, sports days etc. I set myself a goal to become a full-time VA (Virtual Assistant) by September 2010 when he was due to go to school full-time.

How did you find the time/money to get started/keep going?
It wasn’t easy and I have worked hard and at any available time, juggling corporate work and client work with family time, to build my business. Upon the advice of another VA, I saved a ‘nest egg’ to keep me going for 4 months following my ‘leap of faith’ from corporate life.

What made you decide on your particular business idea/business model?
I owned a balloon decorating business for 4 years and during that time one of my clients discovered I was a Personal Assistant and asked if I could help them arrange their first conference, they had the venue and they had the database but no idea what to do next. I organised the day and at the end of the successful event, one of the Trustees thanked me for being “an angel”. I went on to help them with the charity’s administration but it was my husband who pointed out that if I was helping one company with administration then there must be others out there needing similar help. I researched being a Virtual Assistant and A Virtual Angel was officially born.

How have you progressed?
I have worked for 4 years juggling corporate life with my business and building it to reach my goal of September 2010. I hit a small hiccup last year when I ell pregnant with my second child but to honest that made me only more determined to watch her grow up and making A Virtual Angel successful would allow me to do that. June 2011 was a bit of a catalyst for my business as not only was I brave and left my corporate job but whilst attending the VA Conference and Awards, I received the “Best 5-9er VA” award in recognition of working 9-5 in my corporate job whilst building my own business from 5-9. It was all worth it and I am now a self-employed Virtual Assistant.

What have you learned about your self/business/life from being a business owner? The main lesson I have learned is not to give up, yes building your own business is hard, especially when you are working full-time and have a young family but it is truly worth it when you are able to be the ‘schoolgate mum’. On my vision board I have the following quote: “all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”, Walt Disney.

What is your best advice for other mums wanting to go into business? Feel the fear but do it anyway! Easy to say but hard practice, I honestly appreciate that but I am testimony tha

t it can work with hard work and determination. I would also advise other mums to build a support network around you, my main ‘champion’ is my husband, he’s been self-employed for several years and has often had to learn the hard way about running your own business so happily gives me advice whether I like it or not! My parents have also been fantastic and help hugely with childcare.

What else would you like to mention? I am also one of three co-founders of the VASG (Virtual Assistant Support Group) which was also created whilst working full-time and at the VA Conference and Awards 2010 we were jointly awarded the “Spirit of the VA Industry” in recognition of creating the support network for new and existing VAs alike.

I hope my story will give VAs and new business start ups the confidence to know a successful business can be created whilst working full-time.