5 Myths About Becoming A Health VA (That Shouldn’t Hold You Back!)
If you’ve come across the idea of working as a health virtual assistant, there might be a few thoughts that hold you back. In that case, you’re far from alone!
Many new VAs will come up against commonly held beliefs and feelings around this form of work. And while some might be valid for you, there are quite a few that are based on false information or simply the unknown.
That’s why I felt inspired to share these common 5 myths I hear from prospective health VAs when it comes to creating your own business.
5 Myths About Becoming A Health VA (That Shouldn’t Hold You Back!)
I’m a student – I can’t work as a health VA yet
This is for anyone studying a health qualification – whether you’ve just started, are in the depths, or are wading through your final clinics!
So many students ask me about this. And frankly, the fact that you are studying health makes you a far more attractive option to other practitioners. Even if you’ve just signed up for a course or degree in health, you already have an advantage over general VAs.
Why is this the case? You likely:
Have some understanding of health regulations e.g. you can’t claim to cure conditions
Get that practitioners want to help people, not press on their pain points to push them into a sale
Have your own (or seen loved ones struggle with) health concerns that give you a deeper understanding of how critical health is
Will continue to educate yourself in the field of health - just like practitioners do, because a good percentage of us are total learning nerds!
All of this adds up to why health professionals are BEGGING for more VAs with a similar health background!
Working as a health VA would be a waste of my studies/degree
This is one that is close to my heart, due to my own experience. In fact, it’s why I resisted embracing putting all of my eggs in the VA basket for a solid 3-4 years. But then I realised I was shooting myself in the foot and burning myself out because of a belief with no truth to it!
And it’s not just me, either. When I work with virtual assistants who have a health background, this is often one of the first mindset battles that pop up!
And while some might believe it? I now have to argue the opposite - and here is why:
If you studied health with the goal of helping others with their own wellbeing, you still achieve that through VA work. It might be less direct - but no less impactful. In fact, thanks to the clients I've worked with, the content I've created has reached over 1 million people over the past 7 years!
For those who studied in order to deepen their knowledge of wellbeing? Working with amazing practitioners & companies allows you to continue to learn and grow.
Wanted a career that came with flexibility and being your own boss? There isn't another position out there quite as flexxy as VA work! You get to choose what you do, with who you want, and when it happens.
Came through your degree and didn't want to do clinical work? VA work is a great option to keep your toes in the water while you figure out what you DO want!
Want to run a business as a clinician or some other slow-burn option? You can do that while working as a VA, so you can still pay the bills while you build that dream biz.
Last but not least? Your degree makes you FAR more valuable to those of us in the industry! The studies you have done saves countless hours of training, reviewing and correcting that many experience when hiring outside of the health world.
Honestly? In many cases, it would be a bigger waste if you shied away from VA work and struggled with something that was less of a good fit!
I need a background, qualifications or experience to start working as a health VA
This is another one that I hear from almost every single prospective VA. And while I get it – it makes sense that having a background would be a leg up – it doesn’t make or break you.
Wanna know a secret? When I started working as a health VA, I didn’t have any formal qualifications, training, anything like that related to the services I offered.
And guess what? I still booked those services out!
To be honest, I still have no formal qualifications. But what I have done is spent a good chunk of time over the past 8 years growing my skills. I’ve done courses, I’ve researched, I’ve read blogs and listened to podcasts… basically, I continue to become more of an expert in my area of service!
But if I’d waited until I did all of those things before I started my business, I wouldn’t have started it. Not to mention, I would have lost a few hundred thousand $$ in income over those years thanks to my hesitation!
The best way to get experience as a VA is to work as a VA. Of course, there are some areas that require at least some training such as paid ads or TGA compliance. But for the vast majority of offers, you can simply start by putting it out there and giving it a go with a willing client.
I’ve missed the boat – there’s no way there would be enough demand for my services!
Feel like you’re the last to know about VA services as a side hustle or business? I assure you that you are far from too late.
Every single week so far this year, I have seen at least half a dozen requests between the practitioner Facebook groups and my own inbox. And that doesn't even count those who aren't putting their hands up and asking for help (even though they know they need it!)
In fact, let’s look at the data. There are over 150,000 allied and complementary health practitioners in Australia alone – and that number grows yearly. Physiotherapists, chiropractors, nutritionists, naturopaths, massage therapists and acupuncturists are just some of the clients you could be working with.
With a little extra research and training, you could also branch out into medical VA on top of that. Or you can also work alongside other health-related companies including supplement companies, health food companies and even other businesses that support the health world (like yours truly!)
The question isn't whether there is enough work to sustain you as a health VA. The question is how do you become the go-to VA for the services you provide.
Making money straight away is just not possible… right?
This one requires a little more nuance, so bear with me.
I don’t advocate for using VA work as a quick cash injection. You won't be able to charge your worth if you pick it up and drop it as you feel like it (with no level of consistency). You won't build a reputation for what you do. And most importantly, you won't be able to build up trust.
And of course, any kind of business is not truly quick. There are levels you work through, there are steps you take to progress. So it's not like selling your second-hand goodies on Marketplace or working a farmers market stall - you don't just get money for a quick stint out of the blue.
So if you're looking for a cash influx, but are looking to commit less than 3 months of your time and energy? Then maybe VA work isn't for you right now. And that's absolutely fine!
But at the same time, you can start making money within days or weeks of becoming a VA. You don't have to hustle for years to make a good income as a VA. And in my experience (and that of my mentees), it can be much quicker than building a health clinic.
When you have the right support and structure in place, you can make big jumps such as:
Taking the leap from pottering along to making your first $1k fortnight in just a few weeks of focused strategy
Putting together a social media package option, and fill the first spot for it within 24 hours.
Specialising in a tight niche/service offering, and still build up a biz that supports multiple clients on a regular basis
Building a VA business in the background while you finish your degree, so it's ready to expand once you graduate
I know all of these for a cold hard fact, because I've seen mentees achieve these (and more) in real time!
Wondering if you have what it takes to start working as a health virtual assistant?
If you love the idea of:
Building a thriving biz as a health virtual assistant
Making money from the comfort of your home, your bed, your favourite cafe or even a tropical island resort (wherever you like, really!)
Pricing yourself in that sweet spot of client-friendly but not hitting burnout
Standing out from the crowd so you can work with the people you admire the most
Having the freedom to live your life and not be glued to your work 24/7...
then 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗩𝗔 is what you want to get your hot lil hands on!
In this FREE guide, I share exactly what you need to land your first paying clients as a health VA.
