Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect
Here’s an interesting fact – entrepreneurs are literally changing the face of business in Africa and the way that things are done.
Now more than ever we’re looking to entrepreneurs to come up with better and faster business solutions. The really exciting part is how these young forward thinking entrepreneurs are using resources at their disposal to get things done.
No longer do you need millions to start a business. In fact, your basic requirements are business savvy, a laptop, and access to as much support as you can get. Add to this the right kind of assistance, combined with a positive mindset and the right amount of ambition, and you’re good to go.
"There is a diverse culture of entrepreneurs in Africa, yet they all have one thing in common - getting the right support at the right time is critical for their success and ultimately their growth."
There is a diverse culture of entrepreneurs in Africa, yet they all have one thing in common - getting the right support at the right time is critical for their success and ultimately their growth. So how do you go about starting a business without a huge amount of funds, and yet grow it successfully over time?
There is an old saying that goes: “Behind every man is a successful woman”. However, not to fall into the trap of stereotyping, what we’re actually saying here is, “Every successful business person needs their support team.” And here’s the clincher: by hiring your own virtual support team, no matter how remote or where they may be placed in the world, they can help you get all those critical admin tasks done that are essential in any successful business. So, with that in mind, welcome to the beautiful world of virtual assistance.
"With the rise of the Africa-based entrepreneur, we have also seen an increase in the demand for virtual assistants."
With the advent of ever more advanced technology, and more and more entrepreneurs and businesses leaning towards outsourcing, getting the right team in place with the right mindset has never been easier. Imagine how at a click of a button you are able to delegate designated tasks to your virtual team and receive regular feedback on progress.
Having access to these kinds of resources only strengthens the success rate of these entrepreneurs and business startups, leaving no room for unwarranted excuses like “I’m only a small startup” or “I’m based in a remote town.”
Just know, help is out there from virtual assistants who are just waiting for you! Now all you have to do is identify the right team members and focus your efforts on scaling your startup for success!
Karen Wessels is the co-founder and COO of VA Connect, a South African virtual assistant platform that provides outsourced administrative support. Prior to establishing VA Connect, Karen spent over 10 years in different sales, marketing & admin support roles. Having worked with MDs, SMEs and professionals, she is very familiar with managing different workloads within tight deadlines. This has equipped her with the invaluable skills required to run a successful VA business. Follow Karen on Twitter | Facebook | Google+