After launching as a VA to rebranding as a digital marketer - this episode is packed with insights, mindset shifts, and some serious gold if you’re thinking about leveling up your offers or positioning

Mon helps creative service providers build presence and attract leads, without burning out or selling out. She is not only a powerhouse when it comes to socials and overall marketing strategy, but she’s also a previous client inside the Expansion Mastermind. I’ve had the privilege of watching her evolve her brand and business over the past year, and I knew I had to bring her on to share the behind-the-scenes of what that journey has looked like.

✔️ What her business looked like before adding premium services

✔️ The strategies she adopted to re-brand and stand out as a digital marketer

✔️ How the expansion mastermind helped her level up

✔️ Current marketing trends VAs and service providers can be using to gain more traction online and position themselves as the go-to in their niche

If you’re on the client treadmill and crave more flexibility in your business, know that there is another way - A hybrid model. The perfect blend of done-for-you client delivery and strategic offers that give you back more time and freedom.

Links:

Connect with Mon from Bold Type Marketing here

Apply to the VAE Mastermind here

If you’ve built a solid client base, stayed booked, and kept busy but still feel like things aren’t quite working, this one’s for you. In this episode, I am revealing three of the most common (and overlooked) reasons your business may be stuck and the shifts you can make to change direction.

You’ll hear:

• The hidden cost of pricing based on time (and how to shift to value based pricing)
• Why flexible, people pleasing offers are actually sabotaging your growth
• How depending on “being on” is draining your business and your energy
• A behind-the-scenes peek at the recent NFY Planning Session (and the real numbers that shocked everyone).

If your calendar is full but your profit still isn’t where you want it this episode will help you zoom out and re-align. PS Stay tuned as I will be releasing a FREE and exciting way to learn more about how to create a consistent income without working MORE hours and hiring MORE clients.

● Instagram: ashleethomas.vacoach

● Website: www.ashleethomas.com.au

● Join the community: Startup Virtual Assistants Australia

Virtually Free is the go-to podcast for virtual assistants, online service providers, and digital entrepreneurs who want to build profitable, flexible businesses that support their lives—not consume them.

Hosted by VA coach and business mentor Ashlee Thomas, each episode is filled with real talk, practical strategies, and mindset shifts to help you scale sustainably, ditch the hustle mentality, and grow with ease.

New episodes released weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

If you’ve ever felt like your applications go into a black hole, this episode is for you as I sit down with Fiona Campbell, founder of the Virtual Assistant Lead Network and Thought Penny, to dig into what really works (and what doesn’t) when applying for VA roles and attracting high quality leads.

With 17+ years of experience across PA, EA, and VA roles, Fiona shares insights from behind the scenes of one of Australia’s most trusted VA networks, plus practical ways you can stop winging it and start getting noticed for all the right reasons.

✔️ How to stand out in a crowded application process

✔️ Why some applications get passed over (even if you're qualified)

✔️ The biggest mistakes VAs make when chasing leads

✔️ Whether it’s ever OK to follow up (and how to do it without being pushy)

✔️ The tiny detail in your response that might be making all the difference

✔️ Strategies to gain traction iif you’re applying but not landing any roles.

If you’re ready to ditch the chaos and finally land leads that align with your zone of genius, Fiona’s got a gift for you!

👉 Get 40% OFF your first month or year of membership to the VA Lead Network" VA Lead Network

Use the code AshleeThomasMonthly or AshleeThomasAnnual at checkout.

• Website: valeadnetwork.com.au
• Instagram: @virtual.assistant.lead.network

You don’t need more clients. You don’t need more hours. You need to face the big stuff - the rebrand, the pivot, the long-awaited offer, the thing that’s been sitting in your notes for months.

In this episode of Virtually Free, I’m getting honest about the resistance that shows up when you're about to grow and why the real freedom in your business is often buried under the tasks you keep avoiding. I’ll share my own experience launching Expansion Mastermind (after avoiding it for over a year), the imposter syndrome that came with it, and how doing the scary thing led to a $15K launch.

Whether you’re stuck in busyness, telling yourself “now’s not the right time,” or just unsure where to begin.. this one’s your sign to stop playing small.

✔️ Why the work you’re avoiding is often your biggest opportunity

✔️ How false productivity keeps you stuck

✔️ The mindset shift that helped me stop playing small

✔️ Simple, practical steps to help you start moving forward

💻 Join the New Financial Year Planning Session – July 24, 12:30pm AEST

→ https://www.ashleethomas.site/courses/nfyplanning

🎧 Listen to previous episodes on planning your best year yet:

→ How I Plan My School Holidays

→ You Don’t Need More Time, You Need a Better Plan

→ How I’m Planning My New Financial Year

✨ Want to stop winging it and start leading your next season with clarity and purpose?

Join me for the New Financial Year Planning Session on July 24.

We’ll zoom out, review your business, and build a custom plan that supports your life and your income goals.

🎯 Save your seat here → https://www.ashleethomas.site/courses/nfyplanning

The New Financial Year is here and I’m taking you behind the scenes of exactly how I’m planning, resetting, and setting myself up for success. This isn’t about getting more done. It’s about doing the right things, with intention.

I walk you through the exact questions I’m asking, the way I audit my time and income, and how I’m using the NFY Planning Workbook (yes, the same one I share with clients AND those attending the NFY planning session) to reverse engineer my next season of business growth.

In This Episode, I Cover:

✔️ How I’m reviewing and refining my offer suite

✔️ Time and income audits to spot mismatches

✔️ The power of CEO time and quarterly rhythms

✔️ What I’m putting on the calendar first (hint: it’s not business)

✔️ How I’m creating a life-aligned plan for growth

Feeling ready to reset your business and plan with intention? Join me for the New Financial Year Planning Day next Thursday. You’ll walk away with a complete 90-day plan, mapped income targets, aligned offers, and a marketing calendar built around your life

>> Click here to save your spot <<

Pssst.. If this episode resonated, I’d love if you rated and reviewed Virtually Free and don’t forget to tag me @ashleethomas.vacoach when you share.

● Instagram: ashleethomas.vacoach

● Website: www.ashleethomas.com.au

● Join the community: Startup Virtual Assistants Australia

Virtually Free is the go-to podcast for virtual assistants, online service providers, and digital entrepreneurs who want to build profitable, flexible businesses that support their lives—not consume them.

Hosted by VA coach and business mentor Ashlee Thomas, each episode is filled with real talk, practical strategies, and mindset shifts to help you scale sustainably, ditch the hustle mentality, and grow with ease.

New episodes released weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

Feeling like there’s never enough time to do it all? In this episode, I’m unpacking why it’s not always about adding more hours, it’s about having a plan that actually works for your life and business. If you’ve ever said, “If I just had more time,” this one’s for you.

In This Episode, I Cover:

✔️ Why time isn’t the problem and what is

✔️ What capacity led planning looks like in real life

✔️ How to align your offers with your actual goals

✔️ The power of quarterly planning rhythms

✔️ Your next steps to prepare for the 2025/26 FY

If you’re craving more space, structure, and strategy heading into the 25/26 financial year — this is your next step.

Join me for the New Financial Year Planning Day happening this July! Together, we’ll map your goals, offers, income targets, and plan for the next financial year and beyond in a way that fits your life and your season.

>> Click here to save your spot <<

Pssst.. If this episode resonated, I’d love if you rated and reviewed Virtually Free and don’t forget to tag me @ashleethomas.vacoach when you share.

● Instagram: ashleethomas.vacoach

● Website: www.ashleethomas.com.au

● Join the community: Startup Virtual Assistants Australia

Virtually Free is the go-to podcast for virtual assistants, online service providers, and digital entrepreneurs who want to build profitable, flexible businesses that support their lives—not consume them.

Hosted by VA coach and business mentor Ashlee Thomas, each episode is filled with real talk, practical strategies, and mindset shifts to help you scale sustainably, ditch the hustle mentality, and grow with ease.

New episodes released weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

In this week’s episode of Virtually Free, I’m coming to you from a holiday park during the school holidays because this business was built to give me the freedom to do exactly that. This isn’t about switching off completely. It’s about pausing with purpose, creating space to reflect, and leaning into a slower season strategically.

If you’ve been feeling stretched or scattered, this is your reminder: freedom doesn’t come after success - it comes from how you build it.

In this episode, I share:

✔️ My 90-day planning rhythm especially around school holidays

✔️ The boundaries, systems, and support that make space for rest

✔️ Why I scale back socials (and still thrive) post-launch and holidays

✔️ How time off is planned on purpose not just when I burn out.

If you’re craving more space, structure, and strategy heading into the 25/26 financial year — this is your next step.

Join me for the New Financial Year Planning Day happening this July! Together, we’ll map your goals, offers, income targets, and plan for the next financial year and beyond in a way that fits your life and your season.

>> Click here to save your spot <<

Pssst.. If this episode resonated, I’d love if you rated and reviewed Virtually Free and don’t forget to tag me @ashleethomas.vacoach when you share.

● Instagram: ashleethomas.vacoach

● Website: www.ashleethomas.com.au

● Join the community: Startup Virtual Assistants Australia

Virtually Free is the go-to podcast for virtual assistants, online service providers, and digital entrepreneurs who want to build profitable, flexible businesses that support their lives—not consume them.

Hosted by VA coach and business mentor Ashlee Thomas, each episode is filled with real talk, practical strategies, and mindset shifts to help you scale sustainably, ditch the hustle mentality, and grow with ease.

New episodes released weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

Let’s be honest systems can feel like the biggest hurdle when starting your business. Between the CRMs, automation tools, and endless templates, it's easy to feel like you need it all set up before you start. But what if we told you that simplicity is the real secret?

In this episode of Virtually Free, I’m joined by the wonderful Jo Draper - a Creative Mentor and Digital Designer who’s been supporting VAs and self-led creatives to build a backend that makes business feel easier (and more fun). Jo is also a current mastermind client, business bestie, and someone who truly walks the talk when it comes to simplifying tech

Together, we’re diving into the systems conversation - what’s essential, what’s not, and how to stop overthinking your tech setup so you can actually start showing up and serving.

In This Episode, We Cover:

✔️ Why most VAs and service providers overcomplicate their systems

✔️ The common tech mistakes that waste time and money

✔️ What’s essential from day one (and what can wait)

✔️ Jo’s favourite underrated tools for simplifying your business

✔️ A look behind the scenes at Jo’s own growth from working with me in the Expansion Mastermind

About Jo Draper:

Jo is a Creative Mentor and Digital Designer for virtual assistants and self-led creatives who want clarity, confidence, and a business that finally feels like theirs. With over 30 years of experience, Jo brings a refreshing, rule-breaking approach to business - ditching formulas, adding sparkle, and helping others build systems that work.

She’s the creator of The DOTTED Path, a strategic and simple framework for growing your business with purpose. Whether it’s branding, digital tools, or custom systems — Jo helps you connect the dots so things just make sense again.

Learn more and connect with Jo:

Jo’s Website & Resources

Instagram: @dottybydesign

Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram and let us know what your biggest takeaway was (ashleethomas.vacoach) and (jo.draperau)

● Instagram: ashleethomas.vacoach

● Website: www.ashleethomas.com.au

● Join the community: Startup Virtual Assistants Australia

Virtually Free is the go-to podcast for virtual assistants, online service providers, and digital entrepreneurs who want to build profitable, flexible businesses that support their lives—not consume them.

Hosted by VA coach and business mentor Ashlee Thomas, each episode is filled with real talk, practical strategies, and mindset shifts to help you scale sustainably, ditch the hustle mentality, and grow with ease.

New episodes released weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!