We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Linda Engram a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Linda, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Our Mission is to Provide the support you need so you can show up for your passion and experience the luxury of time.

As an OBM and Business Systems Strategist, I can pull from my vast experience of 20 years, and I couple that experience and knowledge with high energy, attention to detail, and a passion for supporting business owners so they can thrive and grow their businesses while still maintaining a balance between work and personal life.

I know firsthand what it takes to juggle all “the things.” Which is part of why I started Elly Virtually in 2018. Since the inception of Elly Virtually, my professional and knowledgeable team of assistants and I have partnered with visionary business owners who struggle with organization, follow-through, strategy, and managing the daily operations of their businesses. I encourage and assist them by focusing on scaling their business past 6 figures and beyond!

As a female entrepreneur, I know the importance of being a leader of change and a role model for other women who have the same passion for owning their businesses or contributing monetarily to the household. I use Elly Virtually as a platform to provide opportunities for women who are stay-at-home wives or mothers who want to work and follow their passion, yet still provide the care and nurturing of their families. I recognize the struggle of balancing both and providing an environment where this is possible.

I’ve shared my passion for Elly Virtually, so let me tell you a little about the business side of Elly Virtually!

On the business side of Elly Virtually, I am an OBM and Business Strategist that manages client relations and client communications while acting as a point of contact and resource to my clients. I am exceptionally professional, and research-oriented, and have a forward-thinking approach. I am comfortable managing high-volume tasks, work with integrity, and use discretion while handling confidential matters.

As stated in our vision, I am determined to use the best processes and systems required to support their business and personal core values and goals. I help them transition from working IN their business to working ON their business so that they have the freedom and availability to focus on their passion and live intentionally.

Linda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It’s similar to stories told by other business owners, in that I started out in the corporate world. I loved what I did – until I didn’t.

So years into my corporate life, I began to realize that at the end of the day, I had no energy left for my family, I was always tired, and found that joy was overshadowed by dread and anxiety. Part of it was the environment, but most of all, it was the inability to freely live my life – to enjoy my kids’ events, take vacations without having to ask for permission, and have control of my own destiny.

I knew that I could find a job with another company, I was very employable and had an amazing set of skills that were in high demand. However, that still would not get me where I envisioned my life to be.

Therein lies the big, hard decision – do I take the leap of faith and go into business for myself? What would that impact mean to my family and our financial security? What if I fail? We all know that the hardest part of any journey is taking that first step – but I was DETERMINED to take that step – I did – and I have NEVER looked back!

So here I am – proudly able to introduce myself today as the Founder of Elly Virtually! The dream job that I always envisioned for myself. A role that gives me my sense of “peace”, allows me to enjoy time with my family, take those amazing vacations, continue to contribute to our financial freedom, and offer my skills to other business owners who are dreaming of taking their businesses to a point where they also have their dream job.

My take away from all of this is if you are considering something, DO IT and DO IT NOW! The old cliche still holds true today – life is short and you need to enjoy it while you can.

Take that first step, hold your head high, and choose your destiny!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

First and foremost, it’s all about the Client. Understanding the Client’s needs, goals, and business direction. Communication is also KEY! Making sure that they know the status of their projects, consistently meeting due dates, making sure you are demonstrating reliability, and confidentiality, and building their trust in you and your business. Making all those things a priority to each and every client has allowed me to build a solid reputation and relationship with current and past clients. In turn, this has led to many referrals that continually bring in new clients.

What advice do you have for managing a team and maintaining high morale?

Members of your team must feel valued and appreciated. It’s easy to get caught up on the daily operations and projects that need to be done and overlook the dedication and effort that your team members give in completing all that needs to get done.

It may sound simple, but communication is so very important. You need to make sure that your team understands the expectations, has clear direction on their responsibilities, and that you are approachable if they have any issues, questions or concerns.

It’s important to allow team members opportunities to collaborate. There will be plenty of opportunities for them to work on things individually. Still, by allowing them to collaborate, you will build a team that works well together, is not afraid to rely on each other for assistance, and allows them to bounce ideas off of each other.

All of the above will also lead to a team with high morale, a sense of ownership, and an exciting work environment.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ellyvirtually.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellyvirtually/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellyvirtually/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elly-virtually/about/

Image Credits
Claude LaGuerre