Not Just an Extra Pair of Hands: Busting the Myths About Virtual Assistants
When people hear “Virtual Assistant,” a few common images pop up. Usually it’s either a robot with a headset or someone in a faraway land answering emails for $3 an hour.
Neither of those paints an accurate picture, and to be honest, they both make me twitch a little.
There are a lot of misconceptions floating around about what a VA actually does, and that’s no surprise. The industry has exploded in recent years, and somewhere along the way, the message got muddled.
So let’s clear things up, with a good dose of honesty and just a dash of sass.
Where the Misconceptions Came From
Back in the day, when people said “virtual assistant,” they mostly meant overseas admin support, AKA cheap rates, quick tasks, and not a lot of relationship-building.
That model still exists, and it suits some businesses. But it’s just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.
Then came the rise of AI. Suddenly, “virtual assistant” also meant your phone talking back to you, or that slightly unhinged chatbot who insists your problem is “very important to us” while not helping at all and raising your blood pressure to new heights.
Throw in a few influencers promising you’ll make a squillion dollars by “outsourcing everything” and sipping cocktails in Bali, and the VA image got even blurrier.
What a Virtual Assistant Actually Does
Here’s the real tea: a good VA is not just a task-ticker.
We’re part admin guru, part operations ninja, part business wing woman.
We help you build systems that make sense, manage the chaos before it becomes a fire, and bring a calm head (and probably a to-do list or five) to the table.
Sure, I can wrangle your inbox, book your appointments, and make your social media look sharp, but I also help you stop reinventing the wheel every Monday.
I build the processes, tweak the tech, and help you work smarter, not just harder.
Think of it this way: You’re spinning ten plates while hopping on one foot and trying not to swear.
I don’t just offer to hold one, I suggest you chuck a few in the cupboard, stack the rest properly, and maybe take a break before something smashes.
Who Is a VA For?
This isn’t just for seven-figure CEOs with a private chef and a personal mindset coach. (Though if that’s you, lovely to meet you. Let’s chat.)
VAs are for small business owners who are drowning in admin and starting to dream about spreadsheets chasing them in their sleep.
We’re for the brilliant, creative, hard-working folks who didn’t start their business to spend their evenings formatting PDFs and chasing invoices.
And no, you don’t have to have your act together before you hire a VA. If I had a dollar for every time someone said, “I just need to get organised first,” I’d be typing this from my yacht.
Spoiler: Getting organised is part of the job.
If you’ve ever thought a virtual assistant was a luxury or something only “real businesses” hire, let me gently say: that’s a load of rubbish.
You don’t have to do it all on your own. You just need someone who gets it, gets you, and knows how to make things flow better (ideally without suggesting you download 12 new apps).
Let’s make business feel a bit less like chasing rogue sheep round the paddock, more like a solid yarn at smoko, relaxed, real, and right up your alley.
Want to chat about how this could look in your business?
Flick me an email at hello@getfrankva.co.nz or book in via my website and let’s book in a FREE, no obligation 30-minute discovery call.
You bring the chaos. I’ll bring the calm.
