There has to be more than this... and guess what - there is!

There’s a quiet shift happening.

Women and men… brilliant, capable, deeply thoughtful individuals… are waking up to a truth that they’ve ignored for far too long:

The traditional 9 to 5 model wasn’t built for us.

It wasn’t designed to accommodate the school drop-off or pickup. It certainly wasn’t built to honour those creative bursts we get at 6am… or those brain-fog days some of us experience midweek. And it most definitely wasn’t designed for individuals juggling… well… LIFE... you know; ageing parents, teenage kids, or that gnawing sense that you were made for more than this.

But here’s what no one tells you: there IS another way. One that doesn’t require you to be the loudest in the room or to fake confidence you don’t feel.

I’ve been a VA for a long time (well over 15 years in fact), and one thing is for sure; I didn’t start my own business with all the answers. In fact, like many of you, I started with nagging self-doubt, imposter syndrome and a deep fear of being “found out”. I was (and still am) introverted, and I was definitely uncertain about what was possible for me... but deep down I knew something had to change.

And here’s what I’ve discovered on the other side:

• I can structure my days around when I work best – not when I’m told to clock in.

• I no longer have the dilemma of needing to choose between family and work… instead I choose both – on my terms.

• I can (and do) work from wherever I want; a beachside campsite, a hotel on the other side of the world, a café, home… ultimately, I get to decide.

• I can change direction in my business whenever I see an opportunity... There’s no red tape, and definitely no permission required.

• I get to work with people I respect and enjoy. No more toxic workplaces or energy-drainers.

• I am finally free to say YES to life, and to design a business that fits around it (not the other way around).

But do you know what the biggest surprise of all was?

I found my people… my tribe.

People just like me. Quietly brave. Building businesses that matter. Backing themselves,  even when they don’t have it all figured out.

And that’s the part that changes everything.

If you’re reading this and feeling that internal nudge – the “maybe I could…” whisper, don’t ignore it.

You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to start.

At VA Institute, we’ve helped thousands of individuals just like you build sustainable, flexible businesses with real support borne out of real-world experience that you can count on, delivered with zero hype, giving you a clear roadmap.

If you’re ready to explore what life could look like beyond the 9 to 5, take the first step here:

https://portal.www.vainstitute.com/va-startup-program – this is where your journey begins.

You already have what it takes. Let us show you how.