Member’s Name: Jo McClure
Business name: JMVBS

Can you tell us a bit about your business and what inspired you to start it?
I suddenly realised that I was an unemployed full time student after enrolling to complete my MBA. I had always done work from home administration, for 20 years before the term ‘Virtual Assistant’ was invented, it seemed the natural thing for me to do. One of my neighbours and a couple of my friends needed administration assistance so I registered my business name.

What’s the most unique service or project you’ve ever worked on?
I think one of the most unique services JMVBS offers is a full ‘Turn-Key’ solution to running a business. I have only ever run Google Ads once and from that ad I was engaged by a start up business. For the first 2 years of that business (from launch) my team and I ran the business for the owners as it was a side hustle for them. We answered all their calls, live chats, emails, worked with their manufacturer and delivery partners to ensure orders were received, manufactured and delivered and did all their invoicing. As they grew, they put on full time employees, we trained their employees. As they grew bigger, we then handled the overflow of calls, emails and manufacturer, delivery partner and customer relationships. To this day, we are still a large part of their business and are considered part of their team.

What’s one thing about your workday that always brings you joy or a sense of accomplishment?
Invoicing lol, but seriously, the networking and connecting with Clients and prospective clients is the highlight of my day

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about running your virtual business?
Make sure that you schedule personal time into your day. It is too easy to work from sun up to sun down and miss the day immersed in client work. Your calendar is your bible, use it religiously.

Do you have a favourite tool or app you can’t live without? Tell us why it’s a game-changer!
In the olden days I would have said Google…. but now it is Perplexity. It assists with more than just finding things, it assists with developing strategies, can outline step by step on how to’s and drafts every price of copy to work from. There is no excuse not to know how to do something now. I have always been a firm believer in ‘Fake it to you make it’ and Google was always my BFF, but now I have a new BFF, Perplexity.

If you could work from anywhere in the world for a month, where would you choose and why?
Anywhere on a Beach in warm weather. Not my favourite holiday destination though, I wouldn’t want to spoil that experience for myself.

Coffee, tea, or something else to power you through your day?
Coffee and Arbonne Green Synergy Elixir (it’s amazing!)

Which book, podcast, or series has influenced or inspired your business journey the most?
Richard Branson’s ‘Losing my Virginity’ and ‘Screw it, let’s do it’, both from the late 90’s and early 200’s, are always in the back of my mind.

What’s been a highlight or proud moment for you and your business in the past year?
Finding the right team, the right mix of people and skillsets and growing the business.

What makes your approach or services unique compared to others in your industry?
Once I would have said being 100% Australian based, now it is the breadth of services we offer. From Virtual Reception, administration, systems implementation and management to Public Relations, we offer it all.

What tasks do you enjoy doing the most?
Networking and business development