Anna’s VA Journey: From BUMN Life to Earning 3-Digit USD Income and Managing 14 Clients
Athika Rahma
SEO Specialist Virtual Assistant at SGBVA
Anna’s journey is one of bold change and incredible growth. After spending five years working in a state-owned company, she made the leap to becoming a virtual assistant. Today, she handles seven clients and earns a three-digit USD income, all while enjoying the flexibility to work from home and spend more time with her family. If you’re curious about her story, please keep read on!
In this article...
From the Corporate World to Virtual Assistance
Before she became a virtual assistant, Anna Dwi Rachmawati worked for five years at PT. Sucofindo, one of Indonesia’s prominent state-owned companies. With a background in chemical engineering, she spent three years as an environmental laboratory analyst and then transitioned to a financial accounting officer role. It was a stable, secure job — but something was missing.
Anna wanted more freedom, more flexibility, and the ability to balance work with her personal life. And that’s when the idea of becoming a virtual assistant (VA) crossed her mind.
“The beauty of being a virtual assistant is that you can work from home, and still earn an income. This means I can take care of my kids and manage my career at the same time,” Anna shared.
For someone who valued family time and work-life balance, becoming a VA seemed like the perfect fit. She could provide services to clients, create her own schedule, and still have time for the things that mattered most.
Also read: From 10 Years in Hospitality Industry to High-Paying Virtual Assistant: Mellika’s Journey
Discovering SGB VA
Anna’s introduction to the virtual assistant world came through an online free webinar hosted by SGB VA. She had no idea what to expect, but after attending, she felt inspired. The idea of becoming a virtual assistant felt real and achievable, especially after hearing how others had successfully made the transition.
She came across SGB VA through an Instagram ad. Initially, she hesitated. The course was on the pricier side, and she wasn’t sure if it would be worth the investment.
But fate had a way of guiding her. One of her friends, who had taken the same online speaking classes, was already working as a virtual assistant. She had also enrolled in the SGBVA course. That was the push Anna needed to take the leap.
Enrolling in the SGBVA course turned out to be one of the best decisions Anna ever made. The course offered a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to becoming a virtual assistant.
“The most valuable thing I learned was about the variety of services I could offer to clients,” Anna explained. She learned everything from email marketing, calendar management, and internet research, to social media management and lead generation.
The course also helped her discover her strengths. “We were encouraged to take a personality test at the beginning, which helped me understand my skills, interests, and potential better. It gave me the confidence to know I was on the right path,” Anna shared.
Also read: Turning Crisis to Opportunity: How Health Challenges Led Wirda to a Thriving VA Career
The First Year: Juggling Multiple Clients
When Anna first started as a virtual assistant, she wasn’t sure which services to specialize in. So, she decided to offer a wide range of services to see what worked best. “In my first year, I provided everything from administrative tasks, storyboard design, proofreading, to social media management, and bookkeeping,” she said.
Handling 14 clients in that first year was a whirlwind. But it helped Anna learn and grow quickly. She quickly realized that some services were in higher demand than others, so she decided to focus on what she enjoyed the most and what clients needed the most: administrative tasks, social media management, and bookkeeping.
Building a Steady Stream of Work
Finding clients was both exciting and challenging. At first, Anna joined exclusive groups like Telegram, where job offers were posted by SGBVA.
“It was easy to find clients through these job boards,” she said. “But for clients that I wanted to find on my own, I developed a 7-step process.”
Here’s how Anna landed her first clients:
- Research: Anna would start by researching potential clients, learning about their industries, challenges, and needs. “I would gather as much information as possible from their websites and social media,” she explained.
- Prepare Your Portfolio: Before reaching out, Anna made sure her portfolio was up-to-date and eye-catching. It showcased her relevant skills and experience.
- Contact the Client: She would then reach out via email or direct message, offering value specific to their business. “I’d offer solutions to their problems or ways to help them reach their goals,” she said.
- Discovery Call: During the discovery call, Anna would introduce herself, talk about her experience, and even demo her skills. “It was an opportunity to show them how I could help them,” she shared.
- Offer Work Plan: After the discovery call, Anna would send a detailed proposal outlining the work plan and timelines. This would include the steps involved, the specific tasks she would handle, and a clear timeline for project completion.
- Negotiation and Price Agreement: This includes discussing payment terms, hourly rates, or project-based pricing, depending on the client’s needs. Anna ensures transparency in this stage, making sure both she and the client are comfortable with the financial aspects before moving forward.
- Follow-Up: If the client didn’t give a decision right away, Anna would follow up. “I’d send a polite message asking if they had any further questions and how they were feeling about the proposal,” she said.
Through this process, Anna not only gained clients, but she also built strong, lasting relationships.
Also read: From Doubt to Confidence: Rifka’s Story of Becoming a Virtual Assistant
From Doubts to Confidence
By the end of her first year, Anna had already handled 14 clients, and her income was steadily growing. She started out with commission-based sales, which wasn’t a huge income, but after gaining more experience and securing clients from all over the world – including India, Canada, and Indonesia – her earnings grew to a three-digit USD income.
“After a year of learning, hard work, and persistence, I’m now handling 7 clients, and I’m earning more than I ever expected,” Anna beamed.
When asked what advice she would give to someone wanting to become a virtual assistant, Anna said it all boils down to mindset.
“Becoming a VA isn’t easy at first, but it’s something you can learn. You just have to be determined and have a passion for learning new skills. The best way to fast-track your success is by taking a course, like the one from SGBVA,” she explained.
Ready to Earn Like Anna?
Anna’s journey shows that with the right mindset, determination, and a willingness to learn, anyone can go from a traditional job to running a successful virtual assistant business. Now, Anna enjoys the flexibility of working from home, spending time with her kids, and earning a solid income. It all began with her decision to invest in herself and her future.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a virtual assistant, take it from Anna—the journey is absolutely worth it. Want to know the first step to becoming a successful VA? Join the free SGB VA webinar to learn more and kickstart your own path.
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