Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Britney Irving. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Britney, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
But then I remembered when my son’s school had a sudden early release and I just went and picked him up. Or how when my sister was in labor with my nephew and I took my laptop to her apartment to work while I babysat my niece and nephews while she was in the hospital. Or how I could travel and still work. Or if I just needed a mental break, I could go sit outside with my dog or head to a coffee shop. No one controlled my time or forced me to sit at my desk. Those moments are precious.
Entrepreneurship fits me. One day, I will hire and teach other moms (in particular single moms) that it’s possible. You can get your time back. Yes, you work hard. Yes, some days I work well into the nighttime. But when I need freedom, I have it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Sure! My name is Britney Irving, I am a Mom, a dancer, a lover of words and a leader at my church. I started my business (Out of the Box Virtual Assisting) in September of 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my employer allowed staff to work from home but all WFH staff needed child care for any dependents. Well, in the middle of a pandemic, there was no child care. All daycares were closed.
My pastor noticed I was good with administrative work and asked me why don’t you start an admin business. I didn’t know it was a thing until I saw virtual assistance. Well, in order to be home with my child while schools were closed, my business was born.
I have gotten to where I am today by fostering healthy business connections, being wise, prayerful, resting AND working hard.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Communication is so important. In virtual teams, it’s even more important. Since the team is not in person, there are no “water cooler” moments or heading to the person’s desk to ask a question. Over-communicating and making sure everyone is on the same page will keep your business running smoothly. Failure to keep the unity and have clear understanding can be detrimental to your business. Be sure to have a communication tool set up such as Slack and make sure everyone knows how to use it and understands the expectations. Have a project management tool such as Trello or Click Up. Ensure everyone has training and knows and who to contact if they have a question or problem.
Lack of communication or confusion lowers morale. Everyone works better when they understand and are applauded for a job well done. Appreciation and transparency goes a long way.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Well, I self-funded my business. I brought a used laptop. It was small and very slow. I got a $20 desk from Amazon, and a $25 chair from Walmart. The desk was wobbly and the chair was tiny and uncomfortable. As I gained clients, I upgraded my workspace. Now I have a beautiful, functional, ergonomic workstation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ootbva.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ootbva
- Facebook: facebook.com/ootbva
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britney-irving-05699611b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLo4MPhCgV-Hw0r1kIBS8VQ
Image Credits
Write Dream Do Photography