What does it really take to leave the corporate world behind and build a career on your own terms? For Candice Dorsey, a former 9-to-5 employee turned Virtual Assistant, the journey wasn’t always easy—but it was absolutely worth it.

In this inspiring interview, Candice gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her journey. If you’ve ever dreamed of creating a career that fits your life (not the other way around), Candice’s story will show you that with the right mindset and attitude of perseverance, you CAN do it!

Welcome, Candice! Let’s dive right in – why do you (did you) want to be a VA?

I wanted to be a VA so that I could make some extra money while working my 9-5, and I thought I could really turn it into a full-time business one day. However, I kind of brushed off the idea of being a VA full-time because I was working a full-time job at the time that was so demanding.

Yes! Makes total sense. So, you started, but kept it part time. How did you decide on your services? 

So, way back in the day (2011) I published a book and created a blog for it. I got into the self-publishing space, learned about book blog tours, and decided to feature other authors on my blog as one of the tour stops. One of the authors who I was promoting my blog asked me if I do book marketing. I said no at the time but thought about it and then looked up how I would go about doing so. In came Abbey and I watched her webinar and I jumped at the chance to become a VA. Once I dove into the course, I reached out to the author and she became my first client. So it was a no-brainer to start off offering book marketing and promotion as my first service.

Ooo, I love that! What a great connection!

What were some challenges you faced early on in your business, and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge early on was trying to niche down too early and the ‘shiny object syndrome’. Going through this caused me to be in a constant spiral and it’s been hard to stay stable since. The beauty of having your own business is that you can pivot when you need to and when you want to. I overcame the hamster wheel by going ahead and getting everything out of my system! I tested different business models to see which ones I liked and didn’t like. Sometimes, you feel like you’ve wasted time, but I don’t feel like that anymore because I was able to gain knowledge and skills just by testing things!

YES! There is no wasted time when you are learning. What a fantastic takeaway!

Ok, let’s talk a bit about how you managed your business while working your 9-5.. Can you talk about what that was like?

I will not sugar coat anything… It was very hard working my business and my 9-5 because of the demand of my 9-5 and always working overtime. I was so mentally burnt out with my 9-5 that it was so hard to focus on my own business. This is one of the reasons why it was hard for me to work on marketing and get clients, because I had no energy at all. I was working 10-hour shifts and sometimes working on the weekends. With the time that I did have, I slept. Some people can build their business quickly and are really successful at landing clients and making the transition out of their 9-5. For me, it took saving money, paying off debt, and then being able to work my VA business. So, everyone’s journey is definitely different.

One tip I have is to get up early, and that is what I sometimes had to do. I would get up early to work on my business, get in the car, and drive to work. I worked on my business some evenings if I was able to leave work on time. If I had a client, I would do most of the work on the weekend. I also (don’t do this) would answer client emails during work or on my lunch hour. 

I love how committed you stayed, though, even through the hard. And I know it was HARD! What is your most exciting win to date?

Leaving that corporate job in July 2023! That was the most exciting, yet mentally challenging thing I have done in my life. But, I’m grateful for it because now I can say who I want to become next!

Ahhh you are amazing. What did that feel like, putting in your notice?

I’m not going to lie, it was difficult to put in my notice because I was there for so long and it was all I knew since I was 21 years old. But, what drove me to put in my notice was that I was overlooked too often for a management role. I was constantly told I wasn’t fit to be a manager, I wasn’t innovative enough, or I needed to “act like” I wanted to be a manager. I was drained and if I had not left, I would have eventually demoted myself from the role of supervisor at the time I was being forced to. With a lot of prayer and seeking guidance from God, He made it a no-brainer to put my notice in. Everything fell into place before my departure. I paid off all my bills and stacked my savings not knowing why, but now that I look back I see why. It took a lot of mindset shifts and getting rid of negative talk and head trash, but I feel like I’m now mentally ok with it and I’m ready to dive more into my business than I was before. After I left, I was not focused and it was hard because I kept spinning my wheels as to what I would do next. I’m happy I dabble into other areas of the online space, but my #1 money maker has been being a VA.

Growth is found in the challenge. I love that you took the challenges you faced head on, and while it wasn’t easy, you kept pushing towards that growth you desired. And now, as you’ve said, you’re in a much better place mentally and ready to THRIVE!

You mention a lot of hard work, some burnout as you built your business and balanced your 9-5, and the challenges along the way. All that in consideration, tell us, was it worth it? 

You know, it was truly worth it. Trying to start a business while working in a fast-paced and chaotic work environment helped me to build character. Though it was not fun in the thick of it, it gave me the drive that I needed to say “this is why I need to start my own business, so I don’t have to work by someone else’s rules and work hours.” 

Looking back on your experiences, what advice do you have for someone just starting out?

Don’t feel like you need to niche down to one thing because everyone says so. Take your time and build up your client list until you’re booked out. Then, you can get an idea of what your clients are asking for the most and start focusing on that.

Great advice! Sometimes, you can get too far ahead of yourself and it’s important to slow down and evaluate where you really want to go!

What’s your favorite tool or program that you use?

Loom is my go-to. I have booked most of my clients by using Loom videos. I also use it to communicate with my clients and they have been impressed with the level of communication. 

Loom is a favorite here at The Virtual Savvy, too! 

What does life look like now? How are you living your freedom life?

Now, I have time freedom and can work when I want. I’m also available to support my mom when she needs me and to help more around the house. And, I can go and look after the people in my church when they need me. That is my freedom life!