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Elevate, Creative Virtual Assistance | Anna-ie

@va.elevate

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We support you to elevate your business to the next level through Consulting & Creative Virtual Assistance

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Letting go is scary. The thought behind it is often: I’m irreplaceable.

Maybe not nice to hear, but you’re not.

Also you can be replaced.

Especially in a world with AI, this is happening more and more with tasks and jobs.

I’m not saying you’re not unique in your ideas, your knowledge and the way you work.

Because you are.

But everyone is, in their own way.

My point is that you should actually want to be replaceable.

Because if you can’t be replaced... you’re never really free.

How nice would it be to leave your work behind without worrying about it?

Of course, there will always be things left to do or things you prefer to do yourself. But a big part can be taught to other people and now also to AI.

For example: your admin, marketing, a manager who manages your team, customer service, planning and other tasks...

There are so many things you might think that you're the only one able to do it

But often, that’s not true.

It takes time to train someone. And they most probably won’t do it exactly the way you would.

But is that a bad thing?

If it means you don’t have to be part of everything?

If you can go away for a few days without getting 55 messages with questions?

Or just close your laptop without thinking: shit, I still need to do this.

I think it’s much nicer not to be irreplaceable.

Because then you know things will keep going when you’re not there.

#virtualassistant #businesssupport #onlinebusiness #entrepreneur #marbella Letting go is scary. The thought behind it is often: I’m irreplaceable. Maybe not nice to hear, but you’re not. Also you can be replaced. Especially in a world with AI, this is happening more and more with tasks and jobs. I’m not saying you’re not unique in your ideas, your knowledge and the way you work. Because you are. But everyone is, in their own way. My point is that you should actually want to be replaceable. Because if you can’t be replaced... you’re never really free. How nice would it be to leave your work behind without worrying about it? Of course, there will always be things left to do or things you prefer to do yourself. But a big part can be taught to other people and now also to AI. For example: your admin, marketing, a manager who manages your team, customer service, planning and other tasks... There are so many things you might think that you're the only one able to do it But often, that’s not true. It takes time to train someone. And they most probably won’t do it exactly the way you would. But is that a bad thing? If it means you don’t have to be part of everything? If you can go away for a few days without getting 55 messages with questions? Or just close your laptop without thinking: shit, I still need to do this. I think it’s much nicer not to be irreplaceable. Because then you know things will keep going when you’re not there. #virtualassistant #businesssupport #onlinebusiness #entrepreneur #marbella taken in Marbella, Spain by @va.elevate

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a month ago

One thing I really can't stand is when people think a Virtual Assistant just ticks off a few tasks.

Because that's not what clients value most.

What they value most, is peace of mind.

As an entrepreneur, you have a hundred things going on at once.

Emails.
Planning.
Clients.
Content.
Invoices.
Appointments.
Ideas.

That's when it helps to have someone who thinks along with you and creates structure.

We don't just take work off your plate.

We create clarity.

Often, one message is enough and we know what needs to be done.

That saves a lot of time and energy.

Entrepreneurs like having someone who understands how busy business can get.

Someone who switches quickly.

Communicates clearly.

And gets things done without endless meetings.

That's what makes the difference.

A great VA isn't just support.

It's someone who helps bring back calm, clarity and space to focus on what matters most.

#virtualassistant #entrepreneurship #businesssupport #smallbusinessowner #onlinebusiness by @va.elevate

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5 months ago

A few snapshots I wanted to share, because I really love organizing events.

From a first idea to an event where everything falls into place.
Where people leave with a big smile and fresh insights.

I sometimes find it hard to explain everything we do, because it’s quite a lot.
Event support is one of those things we really enjoy.

Sometimes we help only during the preparation.
Sometimes we’re there on the day itself.
Sometimes as a speaker.
And sometimes we take care of the full package from start to finish.

We think along on the concept, the planning and the practical details.
We arrange locations, materials and experts.
Create invitations and promotional materials.
Make clear schedules and make sure everyone has the right information on time.

We keep the overview:
registrations, timing and last-minute changes.
We coordinate with speakers, partners and suppliers.
And we’re the go-to contact for everyone involved.

And on the day itself we make sure everything runs smoothly.

Through Elevate, we’ve also organized our own events for young entrepreneurs.
Connecting, sharing experiences, and learning from and with each other.
That’s where growth happens.

Good events aren’t just about planning.
They’re about connection.

And that’s exactly what we love to create.

#eventorganization #virtualassistant #entrepreneurship #eventmanagement by @va.elevate

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9 months ago

Some of my clients call me AI.

Not artificial intelligence… But Anna-I(e)ntelligence. 🤣

Funny enough, it fits my name perfectly.
And it also fits how I work:

Give me a task & I get it done.
Give me a text & I add a personal touch
Give me a topic & I come up with ideas.

I think & deliver fast

The difference?
I feel what is needed.
Ask the right questions.
Think things through with you.
And I actually know you, so I can give advice that fits you, without you having to explain yourself again and again.

Do you also prefer a more personal approach in your business?
Let’s connect.

#virtualassistant #businesssupport #backoffice #onlineentrepreneur by @va.elevate

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10 months ago

I really get an allergic reaction from inboxes with 359 unread emails.
How do you even know what’s important and what’s not?

When you get busier as an entrepreneur, you want one thing:
being sure you don’t miss anything.

And that starts with structure: archiving, pinning, labeling, deleting, organizing.

A few tips that help:
• Keep your inbox empty; archive as soon as something is done.
• Use labels: simple ones like to do, open, urgent and done, or labels that fit your business, like clients, invoices, contracts, admin, tax, etc.
• Set up filters for emails you don’t need to read but want to keep, like calendar updates, system emails or newsletters, so they get labeled and filed automatically.
• Unsubscribe from newsletters you never read 😉
• Take 5 minutes a day for a quick inbox clean-up.

Small effort → less chaos.

Any tricks you use to keep your inbox clean?

#virtualassistant #zakelijkeondersteuning #backofficemedewerker #onlineondernemer by @va.elevate

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10 months ago

Honestly…
How often do you, as an entrepreneur, feel overwhelmed by everything on your plate?
Endless lists.
Tasks stacking up.
Always “on.”

Now imagine having someone who thinks with you, works with you,
and takes things off your plate.
More space.
More focus.
Room to breathe again.

That’s what real support looks like.
And that’s exactly what we offer.

Imagine what you could do with all that freed-up brainspace.

Looking for a VA who has your back?
Send me a message.

#virtualassistant #zakelijkeondersteuning #backofficemedewerker #onlineondernemer #remotework by @va.elevate

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10 months ago

Sometimes you find someone who gets you with just one sentence (or emoji 😉).
That’s how it is with Nikkie, and it’s time for me to introduce her to you!

We’ve been working together for a year now, and I can say with full confidence:
she understands me with the fewest words.

She works hard, fast, and asks the right questions.
She gives advice, dares to make choices, and always thinks three steps ahead.

The best part?
I trust her completely. And that is rare.
She takes things on by herself and sometimes just checks in with:
“Good like this, or what do you think?”
(and 9 out of 10 times, she’s right 😅)

Some background info about Nikkie: Since 2020 she has worked as a Virtual Assistant for different Dutch companies.
Next to her VA work, she also supports our clients with website content: updating, adding, improving.

She has been living in Kenya for 9 years, where she and her husband run a youth center in Nairobi.
Where they give young people with little opportunity a real sense of perspective: they discover their creative talents, join trainings, and take part in group talks about parenting and other topics that matter to them.
Beautiful work with true impact.

I’m proud that she is part of Elevate, and that we get to build and grow together, for our clients and for Elevate.

PS: Want to contribute to the youth center she runs?
You can donate via Stichting ORA (mention “Kipawa”).
https://stichtingora.nl/doneren/

🤍 by @va.elevate

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a year ago

Back in 2023, I was at an event in Marbella where one woman immediately caught my eye wearing a bold bright green suit.
My first thought: Now that’s a woman who owns the room.
So, of course, I walked up to her and said, “I love your outfit!”

Turns out, she was the one presenting

We started chatting, had an instant connection, and exchanged LinkedIn.
Fast forward a few months, I received a message from @denisepellinkhof:
“Want to grab coffee?” ☕

You can probably guess… our coffee catch-up was a good one.
We decided to work together. Soon after, I was introduced to @marieke_jansz, the co-owner of Bureau voor Boegbeelden.
And that’s when everything clicked.

These amazing, bold women help entrepreneurs, leaders and experts step into the spotlight with confidence, not just online, but in the media, on stage and in interviews, as recognized voices in their industry.
Because if you have a story that matters, it deserves to be heard. 🎤

We’ve been working with them as Virtual Assistants for some time now, and what I love most is that they are just as authentic as the day I met them: colorful, real and full of ambition.

Bottom line:
You attract the people who match your energy.
It’s about real connections. About showing up as yourself.
And it all starts… with being authentically you.

So do you have a colorful suit in your closet? (Literally or figuratively 😉)
Let’s connect.

#boegbeeld #virtualassistant #onlineondernemer #marbella #businesswoman by @va.elevate

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a year ago

I call my team every week for a maximum of 30 minutes or not at all. Why? Let me first explain how…

Here’s what I do: at the start of the week I assign tasks. I put them in a task document, with a clear but short description. If needed, I send a voice memo where I also try to speak quickly and get straight to the point about what needs to happen that week. Sometimes I make short explanation videos.

The girls also don’t call me for every tiny thing. They know that if they have questions, they can message me on Slack, and I’ll reply as quickly and briefly as possible. If it’s urgent, they can WhatsApp or call me. Two minutes, answer, and move on. I also encourage them to keep calls with clients to a maximum of 30 minutes.

Now the why part:
There is so much time wasted on meetings just to have meetings. We work hourly, and our clients get real value because during that hour we are actually working.

Speed and clarity are key. I believe that when you communicate well, you don’t need much time.

I like maintaining a good connection, so yes, sometimes we plan an intentional call to actually chat.

But work is work, so when we work we deliver fast, and we do it well.

#virtualassistant #va #onlinebusinesstips #onlineondernemer by @va.elevate

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a year ago

Remote work has become a hype. Working from home, while traveling, or moving abroad to work from there.
When I moved to Spain 8 years ago, it wasn’t really a thing yet. I had low-paid jobs just to find my way under the Spanish sun.

Now it’s super easy to start your own online business.
Still, for many employers it’s a big step to let people work remotely, especially hiring someone they’ve never met in real-life.

When I started working online, it was definitely a bit of a search. But now? I don’t know any different. Wherever I am: laptop open = work mode on.

Most of my clients are in the Netherlands, one in Spain, but even though, I still work 95% remote.
I do love visiting a client’s office once in a while. Face-to-face just hits different than a screen.
But hey, at least we actually work, no half-hour chats at the coffee machine, no small talks in between.
We save that for when we meet in real life. When I work, I actually work.

What I love about remote work:

1. Freedom for me, my clients, and my colleagues at Elevate.
2. No travel to work: more (work) time, less stress, less costs.
3. Work where and when you want (as long as the job gets done).
4. Global talent you’re not limited to your local area.

And for the business owner / client:
No expensive office space, no gas, water or electricity bills. Want to meet up? Just rent a meeting room.

Most remote workers (including us 😉) are self-employed: independent, responsible, quick problem-solvers who know how to plan, take action, and deliver.
No payroll, no hassle.

So honestly… isn’t it great to have a remote worker on your team?

Would you go for remote workers, or do you prefer having your team right there with you at the office?

#remotewerkers #remotesupport #virtualassistant #zakelijkeondersteuning #onlineondernemer by @va.elevate

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a year ago

Elke hoofdpersonage in een theaterstuk of film heeft een understudy. Waarom? Omdat er altijd iets kan gebeuren. Dan is er een tweede persoon die het stuk kan redden.

In real-life hebben ondernemers vaak geen understudy. Niemand die het zomaar overneemt. Ook in het echte leven kan er van alles gebeuren. Zeker wanneer je net start, alleen werkt of weinig personeel hebt, ben je kwetsbaar. Dan is het slim om mensen in te werken op de dingen die jij doet. Zodat wanneer jij uitvalt -en ja, dat kan gebeuren, er iemand klaarstaat die kan overnemen en alles kan doorgaan.

Ondernemers moeten voor zichzelf zorgen. Wij moeten verzekeringen afsluiten en pensioen opbouwen, iets dat in loondienst vaak standaard geregeld is. Wat veel mensen niet weten, is dat je als ondernemer zelfs met verzekeringen vaak nog steeds niet 100% gedekt bent. En er is geen vangnet. Heb je weinig spaargeld of ben je nog niet gesetteld en val je uit? Dan zit je in de problemen.

Ik heb dat zelf op de harde manier ervaren, door langdurige uitval niet meer te kunnen werken. En bij verzekeringen word ik niet volledig gedekt, omdat eerdere gezondheidsproblemen in mijn dossiers staan. Kun je niets aan doen, toch word je ervoor gestraft. Precies daarom ben ik gestart met wat ik nu doe. Het is de drijfveer achter mijn wens om van Elevate een agency te maken. Een agency waarin ondernemers ondersteund worden, zodat zij niet alleen afhankelijk zijn van zichzelf maar ook een understudy hebben, en het werk altijd kan doorgaan.

En ook voor mijzelf geldt dit: meer vrijheid, rust en veiligheid. Daarom heb ik niet één, maar twee understudies, en hopelijk straks nog meer. Zodat wij samen ondernemers kunnen ondersteunen en dat veilige vangnet kunnen zijn op intern gebied.

#virtualassistant #zakelijkeondersteuning #remotesupport #ziektewet #ondernemerschap by @va.elevate

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a year ago

Isn’t it kind of strange that someone once decided we should work eight hours a day? That this somehow became the standard. Or even longer if you want to be seen “working hard.” As if working less than eight hours makes you automatically less ambitious or successful.
But is that really true?

This division between work and free time is just an unspoken rule we all seem to follow.
But… what if you could choose differently?
What would you do with more time?

I know what I’d do.
I don’t live in sunny Spain for nothing. I truly enjoy the hours outside of work.
Not because I don’t like what I do, I really do!
But because there’s more to life.
People I love spending time and energy on. Nature I want to be in. The sun on my skin. Being outside. Doing fun things.

Because I love building what I do so much, I choose to divide my time wisely. I don’t do it all alone. I work together with others. Because when you collaborate, you don’t have to carry it all by yourself and that creates space.

My clients are entrepreneurs. And entrepreneurs are busy. They want to do it right, do it all, and preferably do it all themselves.

But that’s exactly why important things get left behind.
Not just in their business like improvements and long-term plans but also in their life.
Spontaneous moments. A birthday. An afternoon at the beach. A morning workout.

What they’re really looking for is flexibility.
Space. Room to breath.

And that only really happens when you dare to delegate.
And yes, that can feel scary. Like: “Will they do it right? Will they do it like I would?”

But what if someone can do it just as well as you?
And you can let go and spend your morning at the gym instead of ticking off small tasks?

How would that feel?

Letting go is hard. But it’s also the key to a freer life.
And that’s exactly what I help entrepreneurs with.

#virtualassistant #delegation #onlinebusiness #businesssupport taken in Zoco Café Marbella by @va.elevate

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a year ago