Welcome to another episode of the podcast that teaches you how to be a ridiculously good virtual assistant.
Today I want to talk about your mindset. Thinking like a CEO or a business owner to be precise.
Today’s Quote: “The moment you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Click the play button above to tune in, or choose your favourite podcast player below:
Connect with Tracey D’Aviero, VA Coach and Trainer
Episode Notes:
Today’s episode kicks off a brand-new series all about growth.
This is not beginner basics, but the real mindset, systems, and boundaries that help you go from simply working as a VA to running a business that works for you.
And to start things off, we’re tackling one of the most important shifts you’ll ever make in your business – the shift to being a CEO.
This is all about thinking like a business owner, not a task taker.
It’s the difference between just doing the work and leading your business.
Why Successful VAs Stop Seeing Themselves as Helpers
When most VAs start out, we naturally fall into the “helper” role. We want to make people’s lives easier, and we take pride in that.
But over time, something starts to feel off. You might notice that clients start treating you more like an extra pair of hands than a valued business partner.
And here’s the truth: as long as you see yourself as “the helper,” your clients will too.
If you act like a helper, or an assistant, you will get treated like one.
I tell you all the time, you teach people how to treat you. And it is true.
To grow, you need to start seeing yourself differently. You need to see yourself as a partner in your client’s business, not just a support person. An expert in what you do.
That means recognizing that your work has impact. Value. It is essential to the success of their business.
When you handle their inbox, you’re not just organizing messages, you’re improving their communication systems.
When you build their processes, you aren’t saving them time, you’re increasing their capacity to scale.
You bring value, expertise, and strategy, and when you start showing up that way, clients start treating you that way.
I started off as a task taker too. A lot of us do. It’s what we do best. We never played the role of boss in our jobs. It feels out of place.
How did I break out of that mindset? My coach helped me.
It is hard to see ourselves objectively. It often takes someone else to look at us from the outside to be objective about what we are doing.
My accountability partner and I can see very clearly when the other needs to change course, but sometimes we can’t see it for ourselves.
So here is me telling you. You need to make that change. I can work with you to do it, but the first step is realizing how you are showing up.
Making that shift doesn’t just change your income. It changes your confidence, your communication, and the quality of the clients you attract.
What the CEO Mindset Looks Like Day to Day
So what does it actually look like to think like a CEO?
It’s not about working 24/7 or managing a team of people, absolutely not. It’s about how you make decisions, handle money, and manage your time and energy.
Let’s break this down:
1. Decision-Making
CEOs make decisions based on strategy, not emotion. Instead of asking, “Do I feel like doing this?” they ask, “Will this move my business forward?”
That might mean saying no to a client who isn’t aligned, or choosing to spend your marketing time where you’ll see results instead of where it’s comfortable.
One of the best pieces of advice I got from one of my business coaches was this. Is what I am doing right now leading me to my main goal? If not, why am I doing it? Or, how can I change what I am doing so that it does lead me there? 100% amazing advice. Thank you Lisa Larter!
2. Money Boundaries
A CEO doesn’t apologize for their rates. They set prices based on the value of outcomes, not the number of hours something takes.
You are not selling your time, you are selling your expertise, your insight, and your ability to solve problems.
When you shift to delivering an outcome, or a result, it uplevels everything for you and your clients.
How do you really help your clients? What can they do as a result of getting your help? How essential is what you do for their business?
Setting or raising rates is about understanding that your clients need you and will pay to keep you or get you.
I doubled my rates overnight and was almost immediately on a waiting list for my VA business, because I valued myself and because I could confidently tell yhe people I was connecting with why they should work with me over another VA.
You can too! I can help you do it because I did it myself. And it was awesome!
3. Strategic Marketing
A CEO knows that clients don’t just “show up.” They come because of consistent visibility, connection, and communication.
When you take ownership of your marketing, even just 15 minutes a day,you build momentum. CEOs create opportunities; they don’t wait for them.
Understanding that you have to get in front of your people, and that it doesn’t take that much time every day to do it, automatically increases your visibility.
Marketing is not hard when you figure out what you are bringing to your clients. Then all you have to do is talk about it.
And yes, if you weren’t sure, I can help you with this too!
Simple Mindset Shifts That Change Everything
Sometimes the smallest mindset shifts make the biggest difference.
Here are a few that I’ve seen transform not just businesses, but the way VAs feel about themselves and their work:
“I charge for results or outcomes, not hours.”
This one is huge. It helps you stop undervaluing your expertise. When you’re focused on the result, and the value your clients get, you’re no longer tied to the clock, you’re tied to the transformation.
“I run a business, not a side hustle.”
You are not just taking on client tasks. You’re running a professional business that deserves structure, systems, and respect.
“I choose my clients.”
You get to decide who you work with. That’s part of being the CEO. When you lead with confidence and clarity, the right clients will recognize your value, and the wrong ones will naturally move on.
When you choose the clients you want to work with, you also get to say no to the ones you don’t. This is super empowering.
A lot of us get stuck in the missing out mindset, but I promise you, the first time you turn a bad client down, or fire one you are already working with to make space for someone better, you will feel SO much better!
You are making that decision for YOU. And that’ one of the most empowering things you can do.
Each of these small shifts builds your confidence and your authority. And that’s where growth really starts.
Thinking like a CEO is not about suddenly changing everything you do.
It’s about approaching what you already do with purpose, confidence, and leadership.
You stop waiting for direction and start giving it.
You stop asking for permission and start making decisions.
You stop trading hours for dollars and start creating value-based relationships.
When you step into the CEO mindset, you’re not just building a business, you’re building your future.
Do You Need Help?
And if this episode is hitting home, and you’re ready to really step into that next level, the one where you’re not just getting clients but choosing the best ones, charging what you’re worth and what you want, and running your business like a successful business woman … then I’d love to invite you to work with me to get there.
I offer private and group coaching for VAs who are ready to stop thinking small, who want to get confident about their value, and who want to grow their business strategically.
You’ll get coaching, structure, and accountability to start leading your business instead of just managing it.
Message me to chat about it.
I’m here to help. It’s the onky reason I’m here at all, is to help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant.
Next week, we’ll be talking about systems that make you scalable. How to set up your business so you can grow without burning out.
Until then, remember: you are not just a VA.
You are the CEO of your business.
Act like it, believe it, and build from there.
That’s all I’ve got for you this week. I’ll see you next time!