Ep. 99: How Niching Down Helped Steph Gobraiel Take Her Business From Scrambling To Solid
Interviews, strategy and advice for building your online business with your host Trudy Rankin.
Summary
When I first met Steph Gobraiel, from Virtual Associate Services, I was looking for someone who could do a small project for me. It was my first experience with a VA and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Spoiler alert, it turned out great. What I didn’t know at the time, though, was that I was Steph’s first client. And over the ensuing months, I had the privilege of watching as Steph’s business took off.
I’ve talked with Steph on this podcast before (see Episode 29 – How to Reduce Overwhelm and Get More Done by Hiring your First Virtual Assistant). And for today’s episode, I talk with Steph again about where her business is now, how she has found her niche and what she's discovered along the way.
We talked about:
- There is a time and place for niching down and it's NOT at the start of your business – [00:06:20]
- Who her ideal client is and why she choose them – [00:07:56]
- What an OBM is – [00:11:12]
- The difference between an office manager and an OBM – [00:12:52]
- Steph’s light bulb moment when defining her niche and business focus – [00:16:30]
- Key values and making time for family – [00:21:14]
- The myth of the superwoman who can do everything – [00:26:30]
- Plans for future growth and how to make that happen – [00:27:16]
- Why business owners don't get the most out of their tech tools – [00:30:37]
- A second lightbulb moment when the answer to the Superwoman problem became clear for Steph…and how it could become clear for you, too – [00:31:57]
- Working out how to pay for outsourcing help – [00:33:15]
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Trudy Rankin is the host of the Online Business Launchpad Podcast, Director of West Island Digital and the founder of the Online Business Lift-Off program.
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Today's Guests
Steph Gobraiel
Like a lot of female-led businesses, I started VAS because I loved my work, but not the hours away from home.
Over 15+ years in the corporate world, I’d worked alongside leaders in a range of industries – accounting, education, finance and retail. And I was a *darn* good Executive Assistant. I loved helping Directors and business owners to succeed – and I loved the rush of being the secret agent getting things done behind the scenes.
When I started a family, I knew it was time. I started Virtual Associate Services to help business owners who make a difference to others.
And I absolutely love it!
Your Host
Trudy Rankin
Guest Contacts
Steph Gobraiel