We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jacki Hayes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jacki below.

Jacki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

If I was starting over today, there are a few things that I would do differently. Of all those things, I think the change that would’ve made the biggest impact would be to trust my expertise, knowledge, and skills. When I set out on my own, I failed to see that my years in corporate and nonprofits meant I wasn’t new to my role. I had decades of knowledge I was bringing to my new business.

Instead of trusting my expertise to craft offers that highlighted my skills and supported my desired lifestyle, I invested thousands of dollars in certifications and courses. Before I had a solid understanding of what I offered and what services my ideal clients needed, I burned through savings and put myself into thousands of dollars of debt. I had no idea if the money I was investing was going to lead me in the direction I wanted to go because I didn’t have any idea what I wanted my destination to be.,

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.

I’m Jacki Hayes, a systems strategist and operation support specialist. I like to think of myself as the Pepper Potts to my clients’ Tony Starks, the Alfred to my clients’ Batman. I work behind the scenes, ensuring everything runs smoothly so my clients can shine in their businesses and lives.

After more than 20 years in nonprofits (and a few years in corporate), I set off on my own as a Virtual Assistant. As a VA, most of my client check-ins, those calls where I was supposed to get my to-do list, turned into strategy and brainstorming sessions. I quickly learned that my clients valued my ability to ask clarifying questions, pull the big ideas out of their heads, and create a strategic plan to bring those ideas to life.

I shifted gears, earned a certification as an Online Business Manager, and have been evolving my offerings ever since. In all the evolution, one thing has remained constant – my desire to help my clients build a business that works for them and supports the life they want to live.

With four of my five top Clifton Strengths being in the Strategic Thinking theme, this shift felt natural. My fifth top strength, Relator, gives me the ability and desire to form deep relationships with my relationships. Those relationships give me insight into their dreams and desires; insights that allow me to support them in a way that many operational support providers can’t.

I’ve found my sweet spot in offers that not only provide my clients with an invested thought partner but also someone who can ensure all the action steps toward their goals are getting done.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing your clientele is to exceed the expectations of your current clients and ensure that they feel safe, seen, and heard. My business has been built by referrals. All it took was one well-respected client to rave about me (even now, 3 years later) to get my business off the ground.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When you are a solopreneur in the online line space, pivoting needs to become a way of life. And when you’re a manifesting generator, pivots are essential. The world of online businesses is constantly evolving and the needs of our ideal clients are as well. One of my most popular initial offers was in launch strategy and planning. This was in 2021 when everyone had created an online business and was doing live launches. But fewer people are responding to old live launch techniques, so fewer people need that offer.

When the traction on that offer dried up, I listened to what my retainer clients were saying, and what I was hearing in the circles I belonged to, and matched up the needs of my ideal clients with my skills to create done-for-you support services. My ideal people wanted someone who would get in there and get the work done, and so that’s exactly what I give them now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jackihayes.co
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jackihayes_obm
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/jackirhayes