We recently had the chance to connect with Jessie Shaw and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessie, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I get it and get my kids to school/daycare! Then I sit down at my desk and work on marketing content for my business, answer emails and start on my projects for my photographer clients. I typically work until mid-afternoon and then get my kiddos from school and spend time with them outside. It’s not a fancy day, but I really love being able to hold both work & parenting hand in hand.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jessie, and I’m an Austin-based virtual assistant agency owner. And if that feels like a lot to digest, basically: I help photographers all over the country run their high-profit businesses without burnout. I have a team of women who help me keep everything spinning. We are all former photographers, who love working with the admin side of the photography industry. We do everything from inbox management to SEO optimized blogging… updating systems and running launches… sending invoices and designing weekly newsletters. We’re the glue that helps photographers deliver an amazing client experience, while keeping their sanity in tact.
One of the reasons I am so passionate about reducing their mental load and helping these women-owned businesses thrive is because I am no stranger to burnout! I brought my first baby home during the very start of COVID, after spending 2 months in the hospital during a lockdown with preeclampsia. I ran my business through all of it, and eventually just really burned out. I knew there was a way to hold the roles of parenting & business ownership hand in hand. And I found it through outsourcing. I wanted to provide an easy, clear, trustworthy solution to other creative professionals facing the same issue.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That being attuned to the world around me was a negative thing. I was always really observant as a child, and that was always perceived as an inconvenience. I believed that for a while. But as I got older I realized that being observant and attuned to the surrounding environment is a sharp skillset to have. Not only does it make me a better business owner who can anticipate client’s needs, it also makes me better in my interpesonal roles.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yeah! Right before I started this business! I was a photographer, during covid. I had just brought home my first baby. My partner’s job had relentless hours, and I was watching my photography business go down the drain because I had no time to shoot or edit. Childcare was unavailable because of the pandemic, and my partner had to be gone a lot. I was so confused and discouraged. It wasn’t until I started tapping into the fact that I LOVED the computer work of the photography world, and started seeing a need for a VA that I pivoted! Imagine if I had given up!?
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Honesty, authenticity, hard work and fun. I love people I can laugh with.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Second-guessing myself over anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.the-focus-collective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocus.co/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefocus.co
Image Credits
All photos are by me
