Ever wondered what it takes to ditch the cubicle and become a full-time girl boss? Our Student Spotlight Series interviews our students who have made the transition from 9-5 to remote CEOs! 

From what inspired them to start their own business, their favorite podcasts, go-to morning routine, advice to aspiring girl bosses, and so much more! 

Today, we’re sitting down with our student Lauren Birkmire, Founder of L. Elizabeth Virtual Assistant! Originally from Shoreham, New York, Lauren gives us a glimpse into her girl boss journey…

Q: What type of online business do you own and what services do you offer?

I’m the Online Business Manager and Founder of L. Elizabeth Virtual Assistant. Through online business management, I help my clients with setting up systems as well as email, calendar, and project management. I also offer services in all things marketing such as landing pages, ConvertKit, and social media creation!

Recently, I also started offering 1:1 coaching where I coach women who want to start or grow their virtual assistant business!

Q: What inspired you to enroll in the Bucketlist Bombshells Academy?

I saw a Bucketlist Bombshells ad on Facebook and thought, “OMG I need that!” 

“I wanted the freedom to work on my own time and really be in charge of my success.”

Q: How have the courses helped you to become an online business owner?

The Tech Skills Course is where I thrived! From social media management and ConvertKit to web design and so much more, the course taught me the skills that every business needs! When I have questions, I always reference back to the course material.

The Work Online and Travel the World Course was great for giving me an outline for how to set up my business! There are so many things to know when it comes to running a business. This course made it easily understandable!

The Design Skills Course was awesome! However, I’m not intrinsically a design person, so I didn’t end up providing design services in my business.

Q: What type of job were you working in prior to running your own online business?

Prior to running L. Elizabath Virtual Assistant, I was a marketing director and a teacher.

Q: How long did it take you to ditch your 9-5, and how much time did you dedicate in order to make it happen?

I started the Bucketlist Bombshells courses in March and left my 9-5 in June. 

Initially, I started with devoting an hour a day and extra hours on the weekend for The Tech Skills Course as well as The Design Skills Course. It took me about a month to complete each!

Q: How long was it until you landed your first client online?

I landed my first client two weeks after I started applying. By applying, I mean mass applying 10 times a day!

Q: What has been your biggest setback, and how did you overcome it?

Finding clients in the beginning was really difficult. Finding and landing my first client was really hard, but I just kept at it. I had my goals list and my “why” written down so I could always see it and stay motivated. 

“I knew I wanted my business to be successful so I never gave up.”

Q: What was the final push in your story to get you to ditch that 9-5 job?

I drove three hours home for Christmas to visit with family and I had to be back in the office the day after. So, I had to leave Christmas (also my birthday) dinner early to be in the office the next day. 

When I went back to work, I was on my computer all day without any meetings or anyone having to talk to me about specific projects I was working on.

“I realized I could literally do all of this at home on my own schedule.”

Q: Tell us what a “day in the life” looks like for you now that you’re running your own online business!

I wake up at 5am because I love being up before everyone else. I make a cup of coffee, write down my goals for the day, and work for two hours. 

From 7-10am, my boyfriend and I spend time together before he goes to work. We usually take the dog for a walk and then go to the gym. 

I do client work or have calls from 10-1pm. From 1-2pm, I take my dog for a walk or have a coffee date with friends. I work from 2-5pm and spend the rest of the night doing whatever I want!

Q: What’s the most challenging part about running your online business?

Balancing work and life has been extremely challenging. It’s so important to set boundaries with clients about when your work hours are. If your clients continuously try to reach you on weekends and evenings, it can be really overwhelming!

Q: How do you stay inspired and motivated to run your online business?

I have my “WHY” written in my office and it always keeps me inspired. I love having the flexibility to work at my own schedule from wherever I want. Plus, I never have to worry about having to find a new job if I ever move!

“Each day I’m building my business to be more successful than the day before. I’m confident that it will grow into something amazing that allows me to have financial freedom!”

Q: What is your process for finding and landing clients online? 

When starting out, I searched the Bucketlist Bombshells’ Facebook groups for #gethired posts three times a day and continuously applied to job postings. I also optimized my LinkedIn page so that I was searchable and showed up as an authority figure. 

After my first two clients, I began to get my clients from referrals!

Q: What do you love most about the work you do and the clients you work with?

I work with amazing coaches. They are incredibly smart boss women. Every day I work with them, I learn new things about life and business. Their work is something that I believe in and can stand behind. They each have their own leadership model so it’s awesome to see what works and how I can be a more effective!

Q: What’s the best part about being your own boss?

I love that I have complete control over my ability to produce income. 

“If I want to make another thousand dollars a month, I just work hard to find a new client!”

Q: What is your favorite destination to work remotely from?

This past summer, I stayed in a tiny house on the water in the Hamptons. I loved getting to wake up and work every day in that environment!

Q: What’s your go-to favorite podcast that you’d recommend to other girl bosses?

I love Amanda Boleyn’s She Did it Her Way Podcast!

Q: What is your number one piece of advice for aspiring Bucketlist Bombshells?

Know your why! Starting a completely new business and life is not easy, can be totally overwhelming, and is scary! Being clear on why you’re doing this and how you want your life to look in the future will help you when you’re thinking about giving up!