EP 003: Get Into the Right Mindset to Ask for Help

Ambitious entrepreneurs everywhere know this feeling: “I want to build the best business possible, which means I’ve got to take ownership of all aspects.” 

Amy Landino, creator, entrepreneur, influencer, and host of the popular YouTube channel AmyTV, said that when she started out, that can-do-everything mentality was hugely helpful. She was creating and launching constantly, and because she is the face of her brand, doing everything meant that she could put her personal stamp on everything.

Plus, as a smart and ambitious founder, she knew that she could figure it all out. With the internet at her fingertips, she could learn any skill she’d need to run and scale her business.

That’s all well and good—up to a point. But as businesses grow, they sometimes reach a breaking point. Amy remembers that hers had to do with scheduling and calendar management.

While she’s an amazing creator, she struggles with the fiddly details of managing a calendar. She used to spend hours every week in the GCal weeds and would often book things for the wrong date or time. She’d find herself logged into a Zoom meeting a day early (or worse, a day late).

Finally, she realized something had to give. Sure, she was capable, and smart, and could do anything. But she started to come to terms with the fact that just because you can do everything doesn’t mean you should.

Here’s the good news: There are people out there who love the details. Finding someone who thrives in a Google Calendar frees Amy up to focus on what she does best: creating and sharing new ideas.

Amy’s slogan is to go after the life you want, and she realized that, with the help of a virtual assistant, she could do that for herself.

Amy now has a team of several people, plus a full-time executive assistant. She loves working with individuals with a diverse set of skills and interests. Each of them can do what they love and are great at, and together, they form a stronger unit.

After starting out as a solo creator, Amy has since learned what goes into managing a team. She’s found that understanding each person’s motivations is the key to building strong, empowered groups. 

And when she says “motivation,” she doesn’t just mean money. In fact, a lot of the time, it’s not money that drives people. It’s about creating a sense of purpose and accomplishment. That’s why Amy and her team focus on celebrating each other. Birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, and weddings all receive fanfare. The team is there to support each other in difficult times, too. The sense of community and true teamwork is really important to Amy.

When asked to give her biggest piece of advice to busy entrepreneurs considering a VA, Amy says, “Don’t tell yourself you can’t afford it.” While she was hesitant at first, she now can’t imagine life without her capable team.

Key Takeaways

• Ambition and grit are great qualities when starting a business, but when it comes to scaling, you need to shift your mindset from wanting to do everything to knowing what to delegate.
• Start small. If you’re nervous about working with a VA, it’s okay to delegate a little bit at a time. As you get to know your VA better, you’ll feel more comfortable handing off even more tasks.
• Understand your employees’ motivations. (Hint: It’s not always about money.) When you can give each team member what they want, you boost their commitment to the work and the brand.

Top Quotes

Resources From This Episode

• Visit Amy’s website
• Vist the AmyTV YouTube channel
• Follow Amy on Twitter
• Follow Amy on Instagram
• And learn more about Don’t Panic Management’s Panic-Proof Blueprint here.