Has anyone else ever started something that felt impossible… and then surprised yourself by actually loving it?
Same.
I’m officially a finalist for Best Newcomer VA at the UK VA Awards 2025.
Arrrrgh!
When I opened the email, I genuinely had a “Wait, is this real?” moment. Like someone had just tapped me on the shoulder and said: “You’re not imagining it. You are a VA now.”
The wobbly start of it all
Setting up this business stretched me in ways I didn’t see coming.
There were late nights. Ugly cries. Moments where I doubted myself so hard I forgot my own name. Still Lily. Lilster. Lil’. MUMMMMM.
And yet.
For someone who used to hate writing, I now post feral things on social media that sound like me, make people smile, and gently shout “Hey! I’m a VA!”
For someone whose confidence was flattened like a pancake… I’m showing up. Working with brilliant clients. Loving it.
Turns out? You never stop learning. (Luckily, I love that bit.)
It’s not just me doing this
It’s never just one person, is it?
I have the loveliest village of women who’ve cheered me on, taught me things, sent me memes at 11pm. And my amazing husband, the poor sod’s seen my website 7,238,728 times and still asks how my day went. Keeper.
From sobbing to semi-finalist
Honestly, I didn’t expect to be here.
I’m the biggest introvert EVER… unless there’s a dog around, in which case I will introduce myself. I spent way too long talking myself out of this career. And now I’m pulling my big girl knickers up so high they might cover my head… …because I’m off to an actual awards ceremony. With real life people. And hors d’oeuvres. Probably.
Katie Needle may just get a photo of me in the wild, in my all black dress, pretending to be chill.
So what do I actually do?
Here’s what I bring to the table (besides crisps and nervous energy):
I treat your business like it’s mine. I bring warmth to everyone I meet, even if we never work together. I champion high standards in the VA industry, because we are bloody mighty.
What this means (and what it doesn’t)
Being a finalist doesn’t mean I’ve “made it.” It means I kept going when it would’ve been easier not to.
It means I showed up, wobbly, scrappy, introverted, and did the thing.
So if you’re reading this while doubting yourself, wondering if you’re good enough or if this whole business thing was a terrible idea… take this as your sign. Because you never know what email could land in your inbox next.
Thank you to Amanda Johnson for hosting the conference and awards, and for shining a spotlight on the VA industry.
We see you. We appreciate you. We’ll see you at the bar.
Wish me luck?
And if you’re curious about working with a VA who shows up wobbly, scrappy, and genuinely invested in your business — have a look at how I work.