created my LinkedIn 1st, as discussed, I need to go more personal, so here is why I am a business owner:
I didn't quit my job. My job quit on me.
For 15 years, I rushed to the City. Black-and-white suit, 9 to 5, the whole thing.
My daughter was growing up fast, and I had no family around here in the UK.
I started looking for a hybrid role. Every single interview ended the same way.
"Yes, maybe after 6 months with us."
I couldn't wait 6 months. I needed to take my daughter to a playdate on a Friday afternoon. From day one.
Back in 2020, hybrid was not really a thing yet. At least not one anyone wanted to talk about openly.
So I had a bit of a rant in a mum's Facebook group.
A VA agency noticed. Sent me a DM. Gave me some guidelines.
And two weeks before lockdown, sitting in my leggings and hoodie in my laundry room, on a family PC that took 20 minutes to warm up... Ines Virtual PA was born.
No savings. No plan B. Just a lot of stubbornness.
My first client came from LinkedIn. My second did too.
My third came from me sliding into strangers' DMs and spamming them like I was selling insurance.
(I woke up quickly. That strategy died fast.)
I still hear my mum's voice when someone asks me to lower my rate.
"Ines, I pay my cleaner more than you as a bilingual corporate PA."
That one stuck.
Fast forward nearly 7 years.
38 business owners supported.
Over 52,000 hours given back to founders who needed them.
Ines - Virtual PA is now Ines - Bilingual OBM.
I support founders in the UK and in France to grow without the chaos.
Not because I wanted to get rich.
Because I wanted to be there for every breakfast and do my daughter's hair before school.
(She is 13 now. A simple ponytail takes 45 minutes. Teen mums, you know.)
If you are a founder carrying your business entirely on your own right now —
I would love to know:
What was the moment you realised you could not keep doing it all alone?
Drop it in the comments. I will read every single one.
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created my LinkedIn 1st, as discussed, I need to go more personal, so here is why I am a business owner:
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