Julie Mathews
Virtual Assistant
Apr 13, 2026
Issue No. 1
Greetings!
I hope you’re having a fantastic day! I know I don’t have to toot the horn about how much time administration tasks can take out of your work week. According to my recent research, these tasks on the average are scraping up to 16 hours of your time out of the week. That’s two full days of work.
According to my finding over several resources, of course we all know email and calendar management wins first place as a nefarious time robber. Following that comes: Correspondence / Customer Support Employee On/Offboarding Payroll, Invoicing and Bookkeeping Document Prep, Data Entry, Filing Scheduling: Appointments and Social Media Engagement Are these things worth 2 full days away from your business focus? Today’s newsletter is all about how you can become more comfortable with delegation, and Tools or Toys.
All the best,
You Can’t Do It All…Seriously!
I hear you – trying to do it all usually means nothing gets done well. Your business is your baby, but controlling every move leads to burnout and a “work-life balance” on life support. If you’re ready to stop the “I’ll just do it myself” cycle, here is a plan to delegating like a pro: Then there is the big one we all think about, trust. Trust is the question that overrides all, no matter which direction you turn, either to a Virtual Assistant, or AI / Automation, or a combo.
Here’s A 5-Step Plan When Looking For A Virtual
Assistant
Research First: Get to know each other. Match skills to your specific needs. Is the VA willing to learn new technology? I am a believer in trusting the gut feeling.
Plan Ahead: Give your help breathing room. Set a consistent schedule for drafts and reviews; last-minute requests only create more stress.
Be Specific: Your assistant isn’t a mind reader. Clearly define your branding, tone, and deadlines so they can replicate your voice.
Keep Talking: Establish a consistent communication channel (chat, voice, or email) to catch small mistakes before they become disasters. The communication needs to be excellent from both sides.
Start Small: Build trust with low-risk tasks first. Let them prove themselves before you hand over the “keys to the kingdom.”
Remember: Delegation isn’t losing control—it’s gaining the time and energy to focus on what actually moves the needle.
Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Let us help you.
Tools Or Toys
This section will be reserved for tools I use, or try, and most are under free plans, but I’ll give you all the details when I go over one. But first a little introduction. I’ll just say it, For me, a new tool is like a new toy.
Since this is my first newsletter I will explain myself on that statement. I like things to be simple, or fairly simple. I’ve got the curiosity of cat, always did. Took a transistor radio apart when I was a kid, I think in second grade. I was curious to see what was inside and how it seemed like there were people inside. I remember it like yesterday. All those pretty “beans” and pieces were fascinating. Note, I did not get in trouble. I did get in trouble when I was found playing with mercury from a broken thermometer, plus a doctor visit. I’m telling you this because that is my nature.
I have to approach new tools in the same manner, or I am easily overwhelmed. I jump in, start playing, I’ll watch instructional videos, and pray I don’t delete my digital world (Yes, I do take precautions!).
A few times I’ve been overwhelmed right out of the gate, even with my mindset, and close the back door pretty quickly. But I always try again at a different time, usually with positive outcomes.
Would you like to be kept in the loop about how you can be helped in the fast paced changing world of administration? I Invite you to subscribe