Every entrepreneur, from bootstrapped solopreneurs to Fortune 500 CEOs – knows that time is their most precious resource. Yet too often, business owners find themselves drowning in emails, calendar invites, and routine tasks that sap their energy. This is where a virtual assistant (VA) becomes a game-changer. In today’s era of remote work and digital connectivity, hiring a virtual executive assistant isn’t a luxury reserved for large companies; it’s a smart time management and outsourcing strategy that can fuel growth and restore work-life balance. In this post, we’ll explore why every entrepreneur needs a virtual assistant, how VAs help with delegation and scaling, and what to look for in a VA service like MySigrid’s human premium offering. We’ll also share data-backed insights, expert perspectives, and real-world testimonials on the transformative impact of remote administrative support.
The concept of remote staffing has exploded in recent years, and virtual assistants are at the forefront of this trend. During the pandemic, companies large and small discovered that business could carry on with distributed teams – and many even thrived by cutting overhead. In fact, the hiring of virtual assistants through offshore agencies rose by 41% in 2020 7 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Virtual Assistant to Support Your Team as organizations embraced outsourcing to stay flexible. Even as offices reopen, this shift is here to stay. Remote work is now mainstream, and entrepreneurs are taking advantage of a global talent pool.
Delegating tasks to a VA allows startups and growing businesses to remain lean and agile. Instead of spending on office space and full-time salaries for in-house staff, you can contract a skilled assistant only for the hours you need. The cost savings are significant – business owners don’t have to cover employee benefits or equipment for a remote virtual assistant 7 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Virtual Assistant to Support Your Team | 7 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Virtual Assistant to Support Your Team. You simply pay for productive work delivered, and none of the idle time or overhead that comes with a full-time hire. This makes VAs an attractive solution for scaling with remote talent without the usual risks.
Moreover, today’s virtual assistants often come with specialized skill sets. Beyond general admin work, you can find VAs experienced in social media management, bookkeeping, customer support, and more. This means you can outsource a variety of functions to one reliable partner instead of juggling multiple freelancers. As one MySigrid article notes, many businesses are “boosting their profitability by outsourcing specific job roles and tasks to highly experienced virtual executive assistants” 4 Business Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Executive Assistant - Sigrid. In short, leveraging remote staffing through a VA lets you scale up or down on-demand, plugging skill gaps and responding to business needs quickly without the red tape of traditional hiring.
You might be asking: “I already work 60 hours a week – how could I possibly find time to train an assistant?” The better question is: how can you afford not to? Studies show that entrepreneurs and executives spend an astonishing chunk of their time on busywork. A recent survey found that business owners spend 36% of their work week on administrative tasks like invoicing, scheduling, and data entry The Big Price Of Small Tasks: How Entrepreneurs May Be Unwittingly Keeping Their Businesses Small, Hurting Bottom Lines And Compromising Wellbeing | Time etc. That’s over a third of your time spent on duties that don’t directly grow the business. The same research revealed a clear difference in company performance for those who delegate effectively – self-described “expert delegators” were far more likely to see revenue and profit growth than their peers The Big Price Of Small Tasks: How Entrepreneurs May Be Unwittingly Keeping Their Businesses Small, Hurting Bottom Lines And Compromising Wellbeing | Time etc. The takeaway: handing off low-value tasks isn’t a cost; it’s an investment in your business’s growth.
As leadership coach Cameron Herold famously put it, “If you don’t have an assistant, you are one!” CEO Mindset Quotes That Keep Me Honest and Inspired | Entrepreneur. This quote resonates because it’s true: every minute you spend sorting your inbox or formatting a spreadsheet is a minute you’re acting as your own assistant instead of the CEO or visionary of your enterprise. High-performing entrepreneurs understand that time management for executives is about leverage. Your time is worth a great deal, so you should spend it on strategy, innovation, and decision-making – and delegate everything else that someone else could do. Would you pay someone your top executive salary to handle routine scheduling or travel bookings? If not, then you shouldn’t be doing those tasks yourself either CEO Mindset Quotes That Keep Me Honest and Inspired | Entrepreneur.
Even corporate leaders at the highest levels embrace this principle. A Harvard study on CEO time use found that, on average, only about 11% of CEO time is spent on routine chores – and the experts recommend keeping it that low or lower Test of time: Harvard study reveals how CEOs spend their days, on and off work. The world’s top executives maximize their impact by focusing on the big picture and entrusting administrative details to capable executive assistants. For entrepreneurs and startup founders without a support staff, a virtual executive assistant provides that same leverage. It’s the secret to how to delegate tasks effectively: identify repetitive or secondary tasks, document how you want them handled, and entrust them to a dedicated assistant. With a bit of upfront guidance, you’ll quickly find your VA can take the ball and run with it.
One way to start delegating is to make a list of all the tasks that occupy your day which do not require your unique expertise. Here are some common responsibilities you can offload to a skilled virtual assistant:
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The key is that virtually anything that can be done online or via phone can be handled by a virtual assistant. By outsourcing these tasks, entrepreneurs reclaim countless hours. As one MySigrid blog put it, “Unless you’re able to delegate secondary and admin tasks… you’re most likely spending a great deal of time doing repetitive and non-core tasks” 4 Business Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Executive Assistant - Sigrid – time that could be refocused on strategic growth or innovation.
For solopreneurs, startup founders, and small business owners, a virtual assistant can be like an extra pair of hands (or two) that dramatically amplifies what you can accomplish in a day. When you’re wearing all the hats in your business – CEO, salesperson, customer service, and admin – it’s easy to get overwhelmed and let important opportunities slip through the cracks. Bringing a VA on board helps you punch above your weight class by delegating the follow-ups and minutiae that would otherwise eat up your prime working hours.
Think about the tasks you procrastinate or rush through because your plate is just too full. Maybe it’s organizing your receipts for the accountant, updating your website, or following up with leads from last week’s webinar. A capable virtual personal assistant can take these off your plate seamlessly. This not only ensures the tasks get done (and done consistently), but it also frees you up to focus on revenue-generating activities. Instead of spending your morning on admin drudgery, you could be refining your product, meeting with a big potential client, or simply taking an hour to strategize your next move – all because your VA has the routine work under control.
Don’t just take our word for it. Entrepreneurs who have hired virtual assistants often describe it as a turning point. For example, MySigrid client Yuanzheng Lee, the founder of a Singapore-based company, shared his experience: “I’m a very busy person with numerous business and personal commitments. My VA helps free up a lot of my time so that I can focus on more productive work. I love the consistency of the service provided by MySigrid.” MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance By offloading day-to-day tasks, he regained hours in his week and peace of mind knowing that nothing important would fall through the cracks. Many solo business owners also find that having a VA forces them to get more organized (since you need to hand over information and processes to delegate). The end result is greater productivity and a more streamlined workflow for you and your virtual team.
Crucially, a VA is a cost-effective way for a small business to get support. You might not have the budget to hire a full-time assistant or multiple employees, but with a virtual service you can start with just a few hours a week. There are flexible plans (as we’ll discuss later) that allow even solopreneurs to afford a dedicated assistant. Considering the value of the time you’ll save and the stress you’ll relieve, the decision often pays for itself. Outsourcing to a virtual assistant is like buying back your own time – allowing you to achieve more without working longer hours.
It’s not only one-person businesses that benefit from virtual assistants. C-level executives, department heads, and founders of growing companies are also turning to virtual executive assistants to gain an edge. In larger organizations, an executive’s day can get consumed by back-to-back meetings, overflowing inboxes, and coordination challenges. Having a capable executive assistant – even if they’re remote – can be transformative for time management for executives who need to stay focused on high-level leadership.
Virtual executive assistants for CEOs essentially provide the same leverage as a traditional in-office assistant, and sometimes more. Because many remote assistants adjust their schedules to their client’s needs (and often work across time zones), you can essentially get extended coverage. Imagine ending your workday by handing off a task to your VA in another timezone, and waking up to find it completed. One MySigrid client, Hans Schambye, a CEO in the biotech industry, noted how this global support model became a huge asset: “My VA sometimes anticipates my travel needs before I do – that’s a luxury I now enjoy… because of the time difference, tasks are already solved when I arrive at the office in the morning.” MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance For a busy executive, that kind of proactivity and 24/7 continuity is invaluable. It means you’re always prepared, and routine issues get handled behind the scenes without requiring your intervention.
Additionally, virtual support can extend beyond just one assistant. Services like MySigrid provide each client with a dedicated executive assistant backed by a team of specialists. This means as a CEO or manager, you effectively gain a whole support department – researchers, project coordinators, writers, etc. – orchestrated through your primary assistant. As Yuanzheng mentioned in his testimonial, MySigrid has “all the training and documentation in place” so that even if another team member steps in, they understand his workflow and can deliver results consistently MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance. For executives, this translates to reliability and depth: your assistant is never out sick without backup, and you have access to a breadth of skills through one point of contact.
Executives also appreciate the discretion and professionalism that premium VA services offer. Top virtual assistants are experienced, often with backgrounds as high-level admins or project managers. They understand the needs of executives, from managing confidential information to representing you well in communications. In essence, you get a high-caliber executive assistant without the full-time cost or the need to find local talent. It’s hiring executive assistants for CEOs reimagined for the remote era – you can have a world-class assistant working from another city or continent, integrated with your day-to-day operations via the cloud.
By entrusting scheduling, correspondence, and administrative coordination to a VA, executives can concentrate on leadership and strategy. As one article put it, “As a business owner, you’re constantly focusing on the bigger picture… Unless you’re able to delegate secondary and admin tasks… you’re most likely spending a great deal of time doing repetitive and non-core tasks.” 4 Business Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Executive Assistant - Sigrid The more you delegate those non-core tasks, the more mental space and energy you reclaim for the responsibilities that truly require your expertise – whether it’s steering the company vision, closing major deals, or mentoring your top talent. And as a bonus, when you hand off work to a trusted assistant, you often reduce stress and prevent burnout for yourself. You know that at the end of the day, the loose ends have been taken care of, which means you can actually unplug in the evenings. In fact, entrepreneurs who delegate more are also more likely to take guilt-free vacations and breaks compared to those who try to do it all themselves The Big Price Of Small Tasks: How Entrepreneurs May Be Unwittingly Keeping Their Businesses Small, Hurting Bottom Lines And Compromising Wellbeing | Time etc.
It’s worth emphasizing that the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant aren’t just professional – they’re personal. Many entrepreneurs start a business seeking freedom but end up feeling chained to endless to-do lists. Effective delegation is the key to breaking that cycle and creating space for your work-life balance. When routine tasks are handled by someone else, you can end your workday at a reasonable hour and actually be present with your family or pursue your hobbies. Consider the difference it would make to have your VA organize that pile of invoices or handle the customer follow-up, while you make it home in time for dinner or hit the gym without guilt.
MySigrid’s service even allows clients to delegate personal and family logistics to their remote assistants – things like scheduling doctor’s appointments, planning events, or managing household maintenance MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance | MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance. This holistic approach recognizes that busy people need help not just at work but in life. By outsourcing errands and personal admin, you regain hours of personal time each week. One client testimonial from MySigrid, Helen Kwon Kalanithi, highlights this peace of mind: “My VA is so helpful at pointing out what can work better for me in my workflow and day-to-day life.” MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance The support is not only about doing tasks, but also about bringing order and efficiency to your routines.
Delegation isn’t always easy for driven entrepreneurs – it can feel strange to let go of control. But a great VA will quickly earn your trust by demonstrating reliability and good judgment. They become a partner in your success. As Paul Østergaard, co-founder of MySigrid, explains, it’s about combining smart technology with real human connection – leveraging tools and processes to be efficient, while still having a human assistant who can think critically, anticipate needs, and adapt to your style At MySigrid, we’ve always believed that the best results come from… | MySigrid. At MySigrid, we’ve always believed that the best results come from… | MySigrid. MySigrid calls this a “human premium” approach: despite all our tech tools and AI, there’s immense value in the uniquely human touch that a talented assistant provides. Your VA learns your preferences, understands your business, and can even proactively suggest improvements to how you manage tasks or time. This partnership can significantly reduce the mental load you carry as a leader.
Ultimately, handing off tasks to a virtual assistant allows you to be more present and effective in every role you play. At work, you’re the sharp, strategic leader because you’re not running on fumes from late-night paperwork. At home, you’re not glued to your phone sorting out schedules – you can actually relax. As one client put it, having a VA is “a luxury I now enjoy” MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance – but in today’s world, it’s a luxury that is surprisingly accessible and can pay for itself in improved productivity and well-being.
By now, the advantages of getting a virtual assistant should be clear. So how do you go about it? While there are many routes – from hiring a freelancer directly to using a marketplace – the easiest and most reliable way is to go through a reputable VA service that matches you with vetted professionals. MySigrid is one such service that stands out, offering premium executive and personal assistance through a flexible subscription model. This approach gives you the benefits of a managed service (training, backup coverage, quality control) with the dedicated feel of having your own staff.
MySigrid’s plans are designed to fit a range of needs, whether you’re an individual or a team. You can start small and scale up as needed. For instance, their Personal Plan provides 15 hours of VA support per month – perfect for a solopreneur just starting to delegate. As your needs grow, you can move to a Startup Plan (30 hours) or Growth Plan with even more hours and multiple users, up to Enterprise plans that accommodate support for several executives. All plans include a dedicated virtual assistant backed by a 24/7 backup team of specialists, ensuring continuity and expertise in various domains 7 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Virtual Assistant to Support Your Team. This means if you suddenly need help with, say, an IT issue or a graphic design task, MySigrid has experts on staff to assist alongside your primary assistant. It’s a comprehensive solution, akin to having an entire remote staff on call, but packaged in a simple subscription.
Transparency is another plus – you know exactly what you’re getting and what it costs. (For details, you can check out MySigrid’s subscription plans and pricing page which breaks down each option in full.) Unlike hiring an employee, there’s no hidden costs or lengthy contracts; you subscribe to the level of support you need and can adjust as you go. Outsourcing through this kind of service also spares you the headaches of recruitment and HR management. MySigrid meticulously hires and trains for “human premium” qualities – their assistants are selected for skills like critical thinking, problem-solving and emotional intelligence At MySigrid, we’ve always believed that the best results come from… | MySigrid. So you’re not just getting a task-doer, you’re getting a partner who can operate with minimal hand-holding and represent you with professionalism.
Crucially, MySigrid makes onboarding easy. They often have new clients meet with the team to discuss needs and preferences, ensuring a strong fit. One of the reasons clients rate MySigrid highly is the “excellent customer service” and support structure: “They offer top-notch service at a good price point… My VA is so helpful at pointing out what can work better for me” as one happy client noted MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance. The combination of quality, trust, and convenience means you can delegate with confidence. Whether you need a virtual executive assistant to manage your work life or a remote personal assistant to handle private affairs (or both), MySigrid’s team has you covered. With the right plan in place, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without this kind of support system.
Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique, but the challenges of time management, scaling, and work-life balance are universal. The most effective founders and executives have learned that growth comes not just from grinding harder, but from delegating smarter. Bringing a virtual assistant on board is about reclaiming your focus for the things that truly move the needle – whether that’s closing a big deal, developing your next product, or simply having the bandwidth to think strategically rather than firefight day-to-day tasks. It’s also about reclaiming something even more precious: your sanity and personal life.
In a world where remote staffing and outsourcing are easier than ever, you have the opportunity to build your own support structure at a fraction of the traditional cost. A skilled virtual assistant can be the difference-maker that propels you from being busy to being productive. Imagine walking into your office knowing your schedule is organized, your inbox is under control, your research is done, and your errands are handled – so you can dive straight into the high-impact work that you love (or simply end the day on time). It’s not a fantasy; it’s the daily reality for entrepreneurs who have embraced delegation and partnered with the right VA service.
If you’re ready to lighten your load and scale with remote support, consider taking the next step. MySigrid offers a straightforward way to get started with a dedicated virtual assistant. You can explore their subscription plans and pricing to find an option that suits your needs. Better yet, experience the value firsthand – book a consultation now to discuss your goals and see how a VA can be tailored to your life MySigrid | Premium Executive & Personal Assistance. It’s a free, no-obligation chat that could very well change how you work and live. Remember, your time is the one resource you can’t get more of – but you can free up a great deal of it by delegating wisely. Take it from those who’ve done it, and from experts who swear by it: investing in a virtual assistant might just be the best decision you make for your business this year.
Ready to reclaim your time and focus on what truly matters? Schedule a consultation with MySigrid’s team and start your journey toward smarter productivity and growth. And for more insights on balancing leadership with life, feel free to connect with MySigrid co-founder Paul Østergaard on LinkedIn – he’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve work-life harmony while scaling their companies. Don’t let another week of small tasks hold you back. Embrace the power of delegation and give yourself the gift of a top-notch virtual assistant to conquer your to-do list, one task at a time.