If you’ve been around here for a while, you might have noticed me singing Micala’s Quinn’s praises for several years. (In case you missed it you can catch up on my business journey over in this post).
The TLDR version is that Micala Quinn’s course, The Live Free Academy changed my life. (I know, that sounds dramatic, but it’s true!). So, if you’re thinking about – or needing – to earn extra income from home or wondering how to become a virtual assistant, this post is for you.
How to become a virtual assistant
Five years ago, I’d never considered starting my own business or becoming a virtual assistant. But, of course, motherhood, life, and time change things! In 2019, I was a stay-at-home mom of two kids under three. I was desperate to find a non-spammy way to make money from home that didn’t involve waking up at all hours of the night to teach English in other countries or selling MLM products to my closest family and friends.
I decided to take one last look at my options, and that’s when I heard about becoming a virtual assistant. I found Micala Quinn & The Live Free Academy online, which became my pathway into online freelancing and eventually led me to found Southern Creative.
Wondering what a virtual assistant or freelancer does?
They operate as an independent contractor to help small or online businesses grow. You might niche down into a specialized skill set (like graphic design, social media marketing, or copywriting), or you might offer virtual assistance support (this is where I recommend starting!)
As a freelancer, you set your own rates, run your own business, set your hours, etc. You are in full control of your work, down to who you work with and where & when you work!
Who is Micala Quinn?
Micala Quinn is like a freelancing fairy godmother who teaches moms how to become virtual assistants. She’s created tons of online resources and a podcast to help launch working moms into the freelance world prepared, confident, and ready to make their mark.
She started out as a teacher, working 50-60 hours a week and making $2300 a month (pre-tax). She was also absolutely miserable dropping her baby off at daycare every day. She definitely needed and wanted to work – she just wanted it to be on her own terms.
So she figured out how to freelance online. And soon she was working 15-20 hours a week & earning double her old paycheck while staying at home with her kids. Now, she teaches other moms how to do the same thing.
When I watched Micala’s free workshop, I immediately fell in love with her authenticity. She was like me (a mama and former teacher) and she’d found a better way to work from home with flexible hours.
My Live Free Academy Review
The Live Free Academy is the exact process Micala used to go from a teacher to a work-at-home mom. The thing I loved most about her program was that it was from the perspective of another mom in the trenches. In other words, someone who knows what it feels like to want to be present with your kids when they’re at home with you and take care of work during nap time, after bedtime, and while they’re at school!
Here are some other things that made The Live Free Academy stand out for me:
Micala truly shares everything with you.
She pulls back the curtain on her processes and takes you through getting your business set up, step by step. You learn the basics of how to become a virtual assistant and get your business set up, like:
- Choosing your services
- How to find jobs
- How to price your work
- How to conduct a discovery call
- Marketing yourself
- Handling contracts and invoicing
By the way, many of the skills you learn when setting up your own business are things you can do for other business owners – so you’re learning new skills from the get-go. Speaking of skills…
Exclusive skills training
Unless you already work in a field that translates to freelance, it can be super intimidating to figure out what you can offer clients as a virtual assistant. But you can learn marketable skills in The Live Free Academy. There are hours of additional training in the “Masters of Online Business” section. Guests teach on all kinds of topics and skills, like social media management, podcast editing, Pinterest management, email inbox management, and SO much more.
If you’re worried that you won’t have the skills to make money as a virtual assistant…don’t! Seriously, there’s more than enough to get you started.
Weekly coaching calls
If you get stuck on something in the course, need a mindset boost, or just want to get to know other people in the program, attend the coaching calls every week. Even if you don’t have questions at first, you can learn so much by showing up each week and listening to what other freelancers are going through at each stage in their businesses.
Exclusive Live Free Academy job board
This is HUGE. So many people who start freelancing compete for jobs in Facebook networking groups or on Upwork. Having access to a job board that is dedicated to Live Free Academy students is a game-changer and speeds up the process of finding your first clients. You get access for the first year after you buy the course, and you can subscribe to the board every year afterward.
The Live Free Community
There’s also an exclusive Facebook group for Micala’s students where you can ask questions, chat with other people going through the program, and start building your network of freelancers and online business owners. It’s an amazing feeling to talk to other mamas as they work their way through the program and build their businesses!
My Live Free Academy success story
So now that you know what I loved about the program, let’s talk about my results.
When I started out as a virtual assistant, I wanted to supplement our “fun” money for the family, so I could take the kids around town to museums and playdates and grab the occasional coffee while we were out. I also wanted to re-spark my creativity and get out of the post-partum funk I was in.
Within just a few months, I found myself loving working with clients on graphics and brand design. That led to a graphics VA position with a web design company I’d seen on the LFA job board. Over the next few years, I dove into all things web design strategy and worked my way up to Creative Director. As my role grew, so did my passion for all things web design, development, strategy, + SEO – until it was time to fully step away and focus on Southern Creative’s mission and goals.
The really cool thing about making that transition was that years later, I was still using the foundational lessons I learned from The Live Free Academy. And when my husband was faced with the choice of staying in a corporate position or taking the leap of faith to launch his own company, the choice was clear!
If you want to hear more about my journey with The Live Free Academy, you can listen to my episode of Micala Quinn’s podcast:
Special Offer When You Sign Up for Live Free Academy Through My Link
I created my Scalable Websites specifically for freelancers, virtual assistants, and service providers who are just getting started out! Of course, you don’t need a website to get started with freelancing. But once you’ve landed your first few clients, it can help you build credibility, visibility, and confidence.
As your client roster grows, people will start asking for your website link – and it happens sooner than you think! A one-page website is the perfect place to share more about yourself, your services, and some glowing testimonials from clients. And (bonus) it’s an amazing mindset boost to start thinking of yourself as an online business owner.
When you sign up for The Live Free Academy through my link, let me know! I’ll give you an exclusive discount code for my Scalable Website service!
If you have any questions about getting started, head over to my Instagram and pop into our DMs with any questions!
Ready to become a virtual assistant?
Micala is currently offering a FREE workshop and starter course to all my readers! During the workshop, you will learn:
- ALL about freelancing and how modern moms are working from the playground and during naptime AND earning more money while working fewer hours.
- How to find your secret superpower & turn it into a wildly profitable service.
- The surefire fastest way to get your business up and running in 6 months or less without wasting time or money!
If you have any questions about getting started, head over to my Instagram and pop into our DMs!