Mastering Chaos Coordination - A Virtual Assistant Success Story

 Melissa Zimmermann's journey to becoming a business owner is a testament to the twists and turns life can take. With a career spanning several industries, she now runs her own successful virtual assistant company. The many hats she’s worn these past 20 years have shaped her into a master of chaos coordination.                       

From legal assistant to virtual assistant

“I began my adult professional life as a legal assistant to a sole practitioner specialising in real estate, corporate, and estate law.”

“I worked in law for almost 4 years before my first son was born then I took some time "off" to raise children. It wasn't long before I started my own photography business although I just can't shy away from a packed schedule! Soon, we welcomed our second child and, while photography filled my creative soul, it didn't fill the financial gaps.”

A diverse career path

The call of her previous legal career beckoned once more, and she returned as a legal assistant, this time in a bustling office with multiple lawyers and fellow assistants. Her journey was far from linear and had many surprises.

In 2014, she was presented with a unique opportunity. Melissa joined the non-profit sector, working with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). “For 3 years, I raised critical funds for type 1 diabetes research. I was the sole coordinator responsible for these events and campaigns for the entire Central Alberta area.”

This role allowed her to combine her professional skills with a personal passion, as both of her children live with Type 1 Diabetes. Melissa soon added another personal venture, one that would pave the way for her business today.
“During my time with JDRF, I began a side-business as an online health and fitness coach. It was during my time as a coach that I began supporting other online coaches with their administrative business tasks, remotely as a virtual assistant, first supporting high level health coaches, and then expanding my client base to include many other types of business owners.”

The birth of a virtual assistant company

Melissa’s journey as a virtual assistant was just beginning. She recognized the potential in this role and decided to make it her primary focus.

“Now, I support corporate professionals, travel advisors, business coaches, writers, campground owners, oil and gas businesses, podcasters, and more.” 

Her work is varied and ever changing, giving her true freedom to create her own schedule and work from anywhere. “In the summer, I work from my RV in the mountains. In the fall and winter, I'm home in the prairies in my office filled with plants and sunshine.”

A day in the life of a virtual assistant

“I get down to my office around 8 am most days and start the day with a great playlist.” Today’s pick is Hozier radio on Spotify.

“I start by looking at my calendar and task list for the day; checking for appointments or meetings. I manage multiple clients so I use Asana to track and assign all of the necessary tasks in advance.  Every day when I sit down, I know exactly what I'm going to be doing.”

The work in each hour of her day varies. “Today includes a newsletter and inbox management for my first client, social media scheduling for client two, client scheduling and management for client three, website design for client four, and podcast management for client five.” No two days are alike in her world - just how she likes it.

“Throughout the day, I take "brain breaks" to move away from my computer screen and get some movement in. Because I work from home, this often looks like tidying up or doing laundry.”

“I finish my workday around 4 pm, when my kids return from school, and very rarely work in the evenings or weekends.” These personal policies come from time and experience.

Successes and obstacles

Melissa’s journey as a virtual assistant has seen significant success, with 2023 being her best year yet. “I made the decision to go all-in on this "side hustle" and have added 7 new clients and a team member since January.” Most importantly, she’s found self-confidence as a business owner and gained recognition as an expert in her field.

However, like any business owner, Melissa has faced obstacles. Marketing herself being one. “Social media is a primary marketing platform these days and when your business is yourself it can be awkward to promote yourself online.”

She connects with her peer network for help. “Luckily, there are other virtual assistants who specialise in social media marketing and that makes it easy to outsource.”

Celebrating milestones

Melissa takes it one step at a time by simply recognizing the growth that her business has seen in the past year alone. Melissa credits this growth to consistency and a refusal to quit. “I found new solutions, new networks, new paths to try. When an idea failed, I used that as research and continued forward.

Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

“Start messy. Too often, when we want to start a new business, or many new endeavours, we think we need to have every duck aligned before we can even start.”

“I find, with myself at least, this is often a procrastination tactic born from fear of failure. Everything doesn’t need to be perfect to get started and momentum breeds success. Just get started!”

Melissa Zimmermann’s journey from legal assistant to business owner is a testament to adaptability, resilience, and the power of pursuing one’s passions. Chaos coordinator, genie in a bottle, organisation ninja - whichever name fits best, she’s found her true calling in bringing order to the diverse and often hectic lives of her clientele.

Keep up with Melissa by visiting her website: https://www.melissazimmermannva.com/