Happy #Wednesday aka our favourite day of the week because it's blog day! And, it's an even better Wednesday because it's #mplocal day! A day where we feature someone from our little community and shine the light on them!
We love when you guys reach out to us to be featured, even if we've never met - the power of #socialmedia is amazing and making connections is key! We are so excited to share Shauna from Simplified Savvy with you! She has such an aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed (good luck not getting lost in it 😍) and she provides incredible services to business owners to keep them organized and optimize their online presence.
So without further ado... meet Shauna!
Name: Shauna Grey
Your title: All the online things - Virtual Assistant providing Administration, Content Writing and Social Media Management services.
Your elevator pitch:
I allow entrepreneurs and small business owners to get back to running their businesses while I take care of their online worlds.
One word to describe yourself:
Outgoing
Why did you choose that word?
Most people I know would describe my personality this way. I am naturally very chatty, upbeat and energetic. Well, as energetic as one can be with two young kids, a new business and very little sleep.
Why did you start the business that you did and what was the inspiration or reasoning of how it came it life?
I honestly couldn’t imagine trying to do the Monday to Friday, 9-5 daily grind with two kids. I felt rushed and crazed doing it with one and I was absolutely dreading the thought of having to manage it with two. I enjoyed my work (communications) but doing the work for one organization with not a lot of creative freedom was stifling. I am the type of person who gets bored at a job easily. My business now allows me the creative outlet I was craving and keeps things fresh and interesting because I get to work for such a wide variety of clients. I also love that I have the flexibility to work the hours that fit in with my kids schedule AND I can work in the comfort of my own home in my pjs all day if I want to (and let’s face it, most days I do) My work is all online so I do feel like I work all the time but I truly enjoy it so it doesn’t bother me. And because I’m building something that’s all my own, I really feel fueled by it and care about it so much more. It’s been a wild ride already and I’m only four months in. I’m learning every day which is also really important to me and I’ve made some amazing connections with other #bossbabes that has been so incredible!
First thought when you officially became your own boss:
Holy s***. Here we go!!!
When you’re not hustling, what do you do in your free time?
Hang out with my family and friends, cook, read, watch all the Housewives (don’t judge me!).
Describe a day in your life:
It’s not very exciting LOL I get up and work for a bit before everyone else wakes up. Then I get the kids up, get them breakfast, get them ready and drop them off at school. I come home and make an 8-cup pot of coffee (don’t judge me, I’ve cut down from a full pot and it’s half decaf!), sit down at my computer and work away until it’s time to pick up the kids from school. We come home and they have snack and I usually do a bit of work while they’re snacking. We hang out and play, eat dinner then the bath and bedtime routine starts which is at least a two-hour ordeal LOL Once the kids are in bed I do some more work and go to bed way too late. Really working on trying to workout daily and go to bed earlier but January has been a complete flop in that regard hahaha Oh well, hoping I can get back on track in February.
What is your biggest accomplishment?
I would say starting my business. I have dreamed of this business in some capacity for so long and I just never thought I would actually be able to do it so the fact that I’ve started and it is prospering is incredible to me. I still can’t believe most days that this is my life.
Also giving birth. That s*** was hard LOL
What are your top 3 bucket list items?
1. Meet Jillian Harris!
2. Be asked to speak at an event or on a podcast.
3. Repeat the backpacking trip my husband and I did for 9 weeks when we were 24, but stay in fancy hotels and not carry a huge backpack around this time. Won’t happen until we’re retired, if ever, but one can dream.
What or who inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing?
My kids, they are my “why”. One of the reasons I wanted to start my own business was to be able to have the flexibility to be home with them before and after school, so even when things get crazy and I feel like I haven’t had any downtime, every day I am reminded why I chose this and it makes it all worth it.
What animal do you resonate with and why?
My spirit animal would be a coyote. Apparently if you have the spirit of the coyote you are clever and work best when you're in a pinch and that’s definitely me, I almost have to be under pressure to get things done. It’s when my best ideas come out. The coyote spirit also tends to be the life of the party (true, I love going out with friends and get serious FOMO if I can’t attend something), bringing everyone together with their quick wit and disarming charm (not sure about those but I’ll take it). A Coyote spirit is also playful, resourceful and extremely enthusiastic.
What is your daily mantra?
To be a better version of myself than I was yesterday. I’m a very reflective person and am on a daily mission to improve. I don’t want to just talk and think about who I want to be, I actively work every day to implement small steps to reach my big goals. I am still a work in progress, as we all are, but I love looking back on each year and seeing all the ways I’ve changed and grown, even when I’m in the thick of it and it feels like nothing is moving forward.
What are some tips and tricks you use to stay motivated?
I don’t really find it hard to stay motivated, I am a pretty hard worker by nature (I thank my parents for instilling a strong work ethic in me) but I find that going to the same place to work every day helps to get me in the zone when I really need to focus. We set up a little “office space” for me in the bedroom that has a desk that is all mine, has my little trinkets and personal touches on it and it’s “Simplified Savvy HQ” or that’s how I think of it. I put on music and just get in the flow. So that and coffee, lots of coffee helps keep me going too.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt along the way?
Connection is key. You have to put yourself out there and make true connections with people if you want to grow. You can’t hide at home, launch a website and then wonder why you have no business. Some very smart business women gave me this advice early on and as intimidating as it can be, it has definitely been the thing that has brought me the most success thus far.
What’s next for you?
Personally, taking a lot of trips this year which I’m super excited about. Some big, some small, some with family and some with friends. I love travelling and these getaways are always so great for getting in some quality time with those closest to me.
Work wise I am just continuing to grow my business and connect with lots of other #bossbabes online and at networking events. Entrepreneurship can be lonely so getting out to events and meeting up with people helps to keep me sane.
How can our readers find you?
Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest: @simplifiedsavvy
Website: simplifiedsavvy.com
We can't wait to see her business grow this year because she provides a service that every business owner could use! If you're looking for VA support, definitely reach out to Shauna online!
We are constantly looking to promote local businesses and freelancers in the community, so if you are interested in sharing a bit about your life and your journey, send us a DM or email us at hello@mintandpoppy.com.
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