A decade in, here’s what I know for sure about what this work actually requires.
I started this business in 2016 with very little experience and a lot of determination. I didn’t have a playbook. I didn’t have a mentor. I had a client who trusted me, a commitment to figure it out, and a genuine belief that showing up wholeheartedly was the most important thing I could bring to the table.
Ten years later, that belief hasn’t changed. But I’ve learned a lot about what it actually takes to be truly great at this work, not just competent, not just reliable, but the kind of support that makes a founder feel like they can finally breathe again.
Here’s what a decade in the trenches has taught me.
Lesson 01
Great VAs don’t just complete tasks. They think ahead.
There’s a big difference between a VA who does what you ask and one who notices what you haven’t asked yet. After ten years across fifteen plus industries, I’ve learned that the most valuable thing I can do for a client isn’t just checking boxes. It’s anticipating what’s coming, flagging what they might have missed, and handling things before they become problems.
Lesson 02
Trust is built in the small moments, not the big ones.
Clients don’t remember the day everything went perfectly. They remember the day something went sideways and you handled it with grace. Trust gets built through consistent follow through, honest communication when something goes wrong, and the quiet dependability of knowing someone actually has your back. That’s not something you can fake and it’s not something that happens overnight.
Lesson 03
Confidentiality isn’t a feature. It’s a foundation.
I’ve been trusted with financials, sensitive client communications, and the kind of behind the scenes details that keep businesses running. None of that ever leaves the room. After ten years and zero negative reviews, I can say with complete confidence that discretion isn’t something I offer as a selling point. It’s just how I operate, every single day.
Lesson 04
Every client’s chaos looks a little different. You have to be fluent in all of it.
I’ve supported storage unit businesses, publishing companies, SEO agencies, real estate professionals, nonprofits, and everything in between. What I’ve learned is that the tools change, the industries change, the workflows change, but the core of what founders need never really does. They need someone who can step into their world, learn it fast, and make it run smoother. That takes genuine adaptability, not just a list of software you know how to use.
Lesson 05
The best VA relationships feel like a partnership, not a transaction.
Ninety percent of my clients stay two or more years. Every single one of them has expanded their scope with me at some point. That doesn’t happen because I complete tasks efficiently. It happens because I show up like I genuinely care, because I do. When your business wins, I feel that. When something is stressful for you, I take that seriously too. The founders I work best with aren’t looking for someone to hand off a to do list. They’re looking for someone to actually be in it with them.
Ron said in two sentences what I’ve spent ten years trying to live out. That’s the standard I hold myself to every single day. Not just getting things done, but thinking alongside the people I work with, owning the details that matter, and making it possible for them to focus on the things only they can do.
What this means if you’re looking for support
If you’re searching for a virtual assistant, I’d encourage you to look beyond the task list. Ask how long their clients stay. Ask if they have any negative reviews. Ask whether they’ve worked in your industry before, and if they haven’t, ask how they handle learning something new.
The answers will tell you a lot about whether you’re hiring someone who will execute your to do list or someone who will actually grow with your business.
After ten years, I know which one I am. And I’d love to show you.
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Danielle LeBaron | Virtual Assistant | Operations Manager | United States 