Scaling doesn’t start with hiring — It starts with you
Fearless Business
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Episode breakdown
Barbara Turley is an investor, entrepreneur, and Founder & CEO of The Virtual Hub – a business she started by accident that exploded in the space of 12 months to become one of the leading companies that recruits, trains, and manages support assistants for businesses who need to free up time and energy so they can go to the next level. With a strong focus on customized training and ongoing career development, Barbara ensures that her team is trained in cutting-edge programs (like Hubspot, Ontraport, etc.) to best meet their clients’ unique needs in digital marketing, social media, personal assistant services, and administrative support.
- How to confidently and successfully use assistants to scale your business
- Why outsourcing with assistants is the new Lean Business Model
- How Barbara built a business and had a baby at the same time with high-quality assistants
- The 10 best productivity apps that you and your assistant can use to get more done
- When should you fire your assistant?
- Think you only have 5 hours of work to delegate to an assistant? Think again
- The 5 reasons you fail with an assistant - and how to fix it
Delegation is part of operations as is automations, and systems and all that kind of thing. But if you don't invest the time, energy and money actually in trying to master that as a skill...you end up paying dearly for it and you pay in frustration..
In this episode
00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
Robin Waite introduces the Fearless Business Podcast and his guest, Barbara Turley, an investor, entrepreneur, and CEO of The Virtual Hub. They set the scene for a conversation about lean business models and assistants.
02:15 The lean business model concept
Barbara discusses the rapid digital transformation over the past 10-15 years and how businesses, regardless of size, should reassess how human capital is allocated. She emphasizes the importance of delegating process-driven, systemizable tasks, especially in a remote-first world.
04:32 Common fears of hiring assistants
Barbara addresses typical concerns such as language barriers, trust issues, disappearing staff, and miscommunication. She highlights cultural nuances, particularly in the Philippines, and the necessity of rigorous recruitment, testing, and leadership in delegation.
08:00 Recommended tools for managing virtual teams
Barbara shares her go-to apps: LastPass for security, Google Workspace for collaboration, Asana for project management, Loom for task training via video, and messaging tools like Slack and WhatsApp. She emphasizes structured, clear communication, especially across cultures and time zones.
13:46 When to fire an assistant
A detailed framework for diagnosing issues with assistants. Barbara suggests auditing processes and tools first, determining if problems stem from skill or attitude, and making responsible decisions rather than hastily firing. Robin shares his own experience transitioning from an assistant to a local hire.
19:51 Barbara’s business journey and founding the virtual hub
Barbara recounts her pivot from corporate to consulting to accidentally starting an assistant business. The rapid growth of The Virtual Hub, the operational challenges she faced, and launching a company while having children are central to this narrative.
25:09 Success stories from staff and clients
Barbara shares heartfelt stories, like enabling employees to spend Christmas with family for the first time and clients achieving personal freedom through delegation. These examples highlight the real-world impact of her business.
26:18 Debunking the four-hour workweek
Barbara and Robin discuss the impracticality of the four-hour workweek for serious business owners. They reflect on the nature of entrepreneurship and the continuous, fulfilling grind that comes with loving your work.
27:54 Future plans for the virtual hub
Barbara reveals new initiatives: a content creation service for clients, a structured client success program with result coaches, and an operational framework for better delegation outcomes. The goal is deeper client impact and operational excellence.
31:00 The scariest decision in business
Barbara describes the intimidating but pivotal decision to incorporate her business in the Philippines, formalizing employee contracts and benefits for a growing team. This move aligned with her vision for a respected, people-first company.
32:38 Advice to younger self
Reflecting on her early years, Barbara admits she could have sought more mentorship sooner. She stresses the importance of learning from experienced leaders while acknowledging that organic, feedback-driven growth forged the unique identity of her business.
34:09 Conclusion and final thoughts
Barbara and Robin wrap up by underlining the value of feedback, adaptability, and continuous learning in building resilient, human-centered businesses. They reflect on entrepreneurship’s ups and downs and the importance of process improvement and people-focused leadership.
