113. Consistent Income Without Retainers: Building Project-Based w/ Kim Vargo

Kim Vargo was a high school math teacher for 10 years. She had three-and-a-half-year-old twins. Her heart just wasn't in teaching anymore, and she was desperately Googling "what can I do besides teaching" while feeling completely pigeonholed. Then she found the world of virtual assistants and took the leap—even though she had no idea if she could make consistent money. 

In this episode, Kim shares how she went from general VA work to becoming a certified Dubsado specialist for wedding professionals, why she's not afraid to just try things and pivot if they don't work, and her biggest hurdle as a business owner (spoiler: it's not what you think).

If you've ever felt stuck in a career that's draining you, or if you're building a service business and struggling with consistent income, this conversation will give you permission to just start.

Connect with Kim:

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Transcript

[00:00:00] Andrea Elibero: Andrea here, your host and passionate business coach and scaling strategist for soulful service providers and coaches. Welcome to another episode of Solepreneur Scaling Stories. Have you ever wanted to look behind the curtain of your fellow entrepreneur's business to see what actually went into scaling it?

[00:00:22] Andrea Elibero: Well, you are in for a treat 'cause that's exactly what we are doing here. In each episode, we will be uncovering the truth of the lessons and the stories behind what it truly takes for sold entrepreneurs to scale their businesses intentionally. I'm hoping that their stories will help you to unlock the true potential of your business so you can create your own soulful, abundant, and aligned laptop lifestyle through intentional scaling.

[00:00:46] Andrea Elibero: So whether you're just starting out on your scaling journey or you're a seasoned entrepreneur seeking inspiration, this episode has something incredible in store for you. Are you ready to rise, grow, and create a business that fully supports your dream life? Well, let's dive in. [00:01:00] Before we begin, make sure to hit that subscribe buttons.

[00:01:03] Andrea Elibero: You never miss an empowering episode filled with real stories and soulful insights.

[00:01:10] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Hello and welcome back to Solepreneur Scaling Stories. I am really excited to, we have a guest today. It's been so long since I've had a guest. Uh, so today I have with me Kim Vargo, who is a systems strategist. Hello Kim. How are you?

[00:01:28] Kim Vargo: Hello. I am great. How are you today?

[00:01:31] Andrea Elibero: Fabulous. So introduce yourself please, and tell us what your business looks like today.

[00:01:37] Kim Vargo: Sure. So, hello, my name is Kim Vargo. I am the owner of Kim Vargo Co. Very original. Um, and I am a system strategist mainly for wedding industry professionals. Um, I help them with their inquiry process and kind of streamlining and optimizing their whole client journey. I am a certified dub sodo [00:02:00] specialist, so I do work a lot in Dubs, Sodo. Um, but yeah, and I really, I just love like helping creatives get to doing what they love and not focus on all of the backend stuff that that might not be their favorite thing to do.

[00:02:17] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Could we talk a little, um, controversy for a minute? For potential controversy? Okay. What are our thoughts on ddo 3.0? And am I a bad person because I have been delaying going in there because I already know how to use 2.0.

[00:02:34] Kim Vargo: No. Um, so I don't think it's a controversy, but I think like. I still use 2.0 as well be, and I'm a certified specialist. Um, dub Soto is still, when you go, it does say like, oh, new and

[00:02:49] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:02:50] Kim Vargo: very clear that it's still a beta. and with beta versions come honestly like issues and little problems and for [00:03:00] me. It's just not worth it to be using it yet. Like it's, I've gone in there, it looks pretty,

[00:03:06] Andrea Elibero: It does look pretty.

[00:03:07] Kim Vargo: I'm

[00:03:07] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:03:08] Kim Vargo: gonna work great. And I know the reason why they, they literally built 3.0 up from the ground

[00:03:15] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:03:15] Kim Vargo: Just there were all these features that people were requesting and they just literally couldn't put those into 2.0.

[00:03:21] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:03:22] Kim Vargo: they started fresh with 3.0. But there's definitely, and they're fixing things, but there's lots of bugs and I'm just, I tell all my clients like we're staying 2.0. I'm planning to make lots of tutorials once 3.0 is like, in my opinion, ready to go.

[00:03:36] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:03:37] Kim Vargo: now, especially because I preach like automations and stuff. When the automations glitch, that's really frustrating. So 

[00:03:45] Kim Vargo: yeah, 

[00:03:45] Andrea Elibero: okay.

[00:03:46] Kim Vargo: I'm very much a stay 2.0 for right now, so, no, I don't blame you. Yeah, I saw you used Dodo,

[00:03:52] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:03:53] Kim Vargo: as

[00:03:53] Andrea Elibero: You were like, oh, I recognize this Forbes. Yeah.

[00:03:56] Kim Vargo: I was like, oh, this looks like a dodo form. I can tell. I, so, yeah, [00:04:00] it's, I don't think like it's controversial, but there, I mean, maybe it is.

[00:04:03] Kim Vargo: There's definitely some chatter on, on the internet. I'm sure you've seen.

[00:04:06] Andrea Elibero: Well, and it's just interesting too because, yeah, I also, I will get off so I in a second, but like I, I feel like, I don't know, there's some sort of. Or I feel some internal pressure as a person who is like, yeah, I come from an OBM background, you know? And like, and I feel like, oh, it's pretty, like I should learn to use this, but every time I need to go in there, it's just to do something quick.

[00:04:25] Andrea Elibero: And I don't have the brain space right now to learn a whole new system when I already know the old system. And, but it's, it's also comforting to hear, be like, no, it's okay. Like, just hold on and it'll be fine.

[00:04:35] Kim Vargo: like 

[00:04:36] Kim Vargo: I know it's gonna be great,

[00:04:37] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:04:38] Kim Vargo: I just think for now I'm kinda like, it's not something I wanna deal with. Knowing that they're still making changes.

[00:04:44] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:04:44] Kim Vargo: Yeah.

[00:04:45] Andrea Elibero: okay. You already hear from a Deb specialist who's certified in all the things that we don't have to pressure ourselves to go into 3.0 right now.

[00:04:52] Kim Vargo: don't put any pressure on yourself. 'cause I, they didn't say like when they're getting rid of 2.0, but I

[00:04:58] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:04:58] Kim Vargo: gonna be a while.

[00:04:59] Andrea Elibero: Right. [00:05:00] Yeah. Yeah. I think there'd be a lot of backlash if they were like, bye. Like, you can't use this at all anymore.

[00:05:05] Kim Vargo: rip the bandaid. I

[00:05:06] Andrea Elibero: Right. Yeah.

[00:05:07] Kim Vargo: of warning

[00:05:08] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:05:08] Kim Vargo: all that.

[00:05:09] Andrea Elibero: Okay. Let's get back into something back to you more. Interesting. Okay. So, so you have, and I saw, um, that you have some really cool offers that are really organized and that there's done for you done with you.

[00:05:21] Andrea Elibero: There's groups. So can you talk a little bit about just kind of going over generally what your offers look like now, and then I want to talk about the journey to get to this place.

[00:05:31] Kim Vargo: Sure. So yeah, my main two offers are a done for you dubs auto setup, a and a done with you dubs auto setup. So done for you is where I do as much of it for you as I can, 

[00:05:48] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:05:48] Kim Vargo: still, I can't read your mind. I don't know what you need for your business, but I ask you the questions to figure that out. Um. But the done for you is like the [00:06:00] most hands off for my clients as possible. Although I, I never wanna say it's hands off because I, again, I can't read your mind. Um, but both of them, what's I think the most important for, if someone is going to map out your systems in Dubs, Sodo, or HoneyBook, or any other platform, you need to have. I start both services with a process mapping session where we basically like take what your dream client journey is and then I make that fit into judo, um, to, you know, like project statuses and the tags and custom mapped fields and all the little things that like you probably wouldn't think of, but I definitely think of when I'm building Dosa. Um, so both services start with that. Um. The done and then afterwards, so after we have our session, I basically end up with a big list of all the things that need to be created, because when you're building a system, you need to have all the pieces. You can't just go right to building [00:07:00] the workflows. If you go into Dodo and. you're gonna start. If you go to workflows first, that's the worst place to go. You need all the pieces for the workflows

[00:07:09] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:07:09] Kim Vargo: 'cause otherwise you're gonna go and say, oh yeah, I don't have this form yet. I don't have that schedule yet. I don't have these emails yet. I don't have that questionnaire yet.

[00:07:16] Kim Vargo: I need to build these project statuses and make it look branded and all the things. So in the Done for You setup, I build all those pieces for you. write your canned emails, I do it all.

[00:07:29] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:07:30] Kim Vargo: versus the done with You. I do this one as right now I'm offering it as a group program. and basically after that mapping am I frozen 

[00:07:42] Andrea Elibero: You're a little bit frozen.

[00:07:44] Kim Vargo: Okay. Yeah.

[00:07:45] Andrea Elibero: Hold on, we'll pause for a sec. 

[00:07:48] Andrea Elibero: Oh, 

[00:07:48] Kim Vargo: there we go.

[00:07:49] Andrea Elibero: now you're back.

[00:07:50] Kim Vargo: okay, cool.

[00:07:51] Andrea Elibero: Okay.

[00:07:52] Kim Vargo: so the done with you, we still have that same one-on-one process mapping

[00:07:56] Kim Vargo: session, but then from there I walk you through, [00:08:00] here's what you need to do first. Here's how you build this. I provide templates and stuff, but then you're the one actually doing the 

[00:08:06] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:08:07] Kim Vargo: Um, and I do it as a group program so I can offer weekly calls for people to ask questions. And there's a little like sense of. Comradery and also urgency with the, with the group program aspect. Um, there, and that's obviously like a bit of a lower price point

[00:08:24] Andrea Elibero: Right. 

[00:08:25] Kim Vargo: it's less work for me.

[00:08:27] Andrea Elibero: So what inspired you to, because, because, you know, do Soto builds, like this is a, I don't wanna say standard, but Yeah, that's like an offer that one would assume, right? Like, Hey, I'm a dead Soto specialist. I have the full done for you build. 

[00:08:38] Andrea Elibero: What was the thing that inspired you to do the group format in your offer?

[00:08:43] Kim Vargo: Um, well, the done, I was looking at like the done with you offer and the, I feel like I was trying to do like something that wasn't gonna be as expensive.

[00:08:56] Andrea Elibero: Right, because there are people, you have clients that say, oh, I can't afford. 

[00:08:59] Andrea Elibero: [00:09:00] Right? 

[00:09:00] Andrea Elibero: Like the full build. So what can we offer them that also can serve those clients?

[00:09:05] Kim Vargo: exactly. 

[00:09:05] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:09:06] Kim Vargo: I mean, the reason why I did the group program is because. Honestly the call aspect, if I were to offer one person a call each week for an hour, like by the time I build that in, the price is gonna be not as affordable anymore.

[00:09:23] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:09:23] Kim Vargo: if I'm doing it for 10 people, that feels better for me.

[00:09:26] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:09:27] Kim Vargo: and yeah, so that was why I did the group program. I'm still kind of thinking about how I can do the done with you, not as a group 'cause. You know, some people might not wanna, they might wanna

[00:09:37] Andrea Elibero: Mm.

[00:09:38] Kim Vargo: versus starting when the group is

[00:09:39] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:09:40] Kim Vargo: yada.

[00:09:40] Kim Vargo: But that's where I'm at right now.

[00:09:42] Andrea Elibero: Hmm. Very interesting. And so when, okay, so now let's go back in time and talk about your journey to get to this place. 

[00:09:49] Andrea Elibero: So when did you start your business? What year did you start?

[00:09:53] Kim Vargo: Well, I think about three years ago, maybe, almost

[00:09:59] Andrea Elibero: Okay. 

[00:09:59] Kim Vargo: three and a [00:10:00] half, I was, I used to be a teacher.

[00:10:03] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:10:04] Kim Vargo: So I was i'll. I imagine this is kinda where we're going anyways. I'm just gonna get right into

[00:10:09] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:10:10] Kim Vargo: I was a high school math 

[00:10:11] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:10:12] Kim Vargo: for 10 years. This is my first year full-time in this business.

[00:10:15] Kim Vargo: But I kind of post COVID and with having, so I have three and a half year old twins. Um, and you know what, I started this before I was even pregnant, so it was probably like four or five years ago. Now I think about it, time flies, but I

[00:10:31] Andrea Elibero: I'm sure, especially when you have twins, but baby twins, like I'm sure time doesn't even exist.

[00:10:37] Kim Vargo: I have

[00:10:37] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. 

[00:10:38] Kim Vargo: no 

[00:10:38] Kim Vargo: concept of how long it's been since things.

[00:10:40] Kim Vargo: Yeah. But I was looking for kind of a way out of teaching. My heart just wasn't really in it for a variety of reasons. And I think having my kids was really like the final push to like actually do something.

[00:10:54] Andrea Elibero: Hmm

[00:10:54] Kim Vargo: I, you know, I do what? There's lots of teachers out there googling, what can I do, like. [00:11:00] Thinking, you have no skills, right? You're

[00:11:02] Andrea Elibero: mm.

[00:11:02] Kim Vargo: can just be a high school math teacher. This is all I can do. Feeling so pigeonholed. 

[00:11:06] Kim Vargo: And then I found the world of virtual assistants and I said, okay, this might be something I could do. Well, I knew it was something I could do. Um, and I started, I took a course to, you know, do my branding and all

[00:11:21] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:11:21] Kim Vargo: out there and I. kept saying Niche down, niche down. And I was like, well, what's my niche gonna be? And I talked to this woman, Lisa, and she did this whole like brain map on me and she's like, okay, well you're really organized. You like helping people, blah, blah, blah. And she told me, she was like, you should look into systems. And I said, okay. And I found dub sodo and I kind of just went for it.

[00:11:46] Andrea Elibero: Hmm. 

[00:11:47] Kim Vargo: and then. I ended up working with a couple people in the wedding industry specifically. My first couple clients were signage and stationary, um, people, [00:12:00] and it kind of just became my niche. But yeah, so that's, that's the long story

[00:12:08] Andrea Elibero: So it's interesting though,

[00:12:10] Kim Vargo: I do. 

[00:12:11] Andrea Elibero: before you became enthralled with Dub Sato, were you doing general VA work or that's. Like kind of what you just jumped into because you were exposed to that and really loved it.

[00:12:21] Kim Vargo: so the first client that I had,

[00:12:24] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:12:25] Kim Vargo: actually, she's still a client today. Um, what is the signage and stationer? So I ended up like doing some system stuff for her and I was like, oh, okay. Like I should. You know, like kind of latch onto this,

[00:12:41] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:12:42] Kim Vargo: I was doing general VA stuff, um, like helping her with like scheduling and, but

[00:12:49] Andrea Elibero: the good. Yeah.

[00:12:50] Kim Vargo: system in place, so

[00:12:50] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:12:51] Kim Vargo: of doing the stuff that Dub Soto does for her now.

[00:12:53] Andrea Elibero: Hmm. Mm-hmm. But

[00:12:55] Kim Vargo: But 

[00:12:56] Andrea Elibero: okay. The thing that I find really cool is that you're like, oh, like [00:13:00] I kind like this. Like, let's go for it and see what happens. Like, 

[00:13:02] Andrea Elibero: it doesn't sound like there was a lot of hesitation in terms of like, I'm gonna focus on this.

[00:13:07] Kim Vargo: generally like I am a kinesthetic learner. I

[00:13:10] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:13:11] Kim Vargo: doing. So for me, I was like, I should just give this a shot and see how it goes and like not, I obviously like try to plan stuff out to a point, but

[00:13:20] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:13:20] Kim Vargo: sometimes build the plane as I fly.

[00:13:23] Andrea Elibero: Yeah, but listen, this is the, like, this is why you have a successful business now, right? Is because you were like, you weren't afraid to take that leap and you're like, let's just try, 

[00:13:32] Andrea Elibero: let's, let's do this thing. Let's go all in and see what happens. Versus what I find, or what I see oftentimes is that people hold themselves back.

[00:13:40] Kim Vargo: Mm-hmm. 

[00:13:40] Andrea Elibero: You know, and they're like, they're scared to evolve, you know, because anything unknown is scary, right? You're like, okay, like I just set up my business. I'm getting clients and now like it's scary to, to do the next thing, even if I want to do it. 

[00:13:54] Andrea Elibero: And so.

[00:13:55] Kim Vargo: what if it works out?

[00:13:57] Andrea Elibero: R. Right, right. Exactly. Exactly. I know this is [00:14:00] a, you know, this is a nervous system situation.

[00:14:02] Andrea Elibero: There's a lot going on. Our nervous system loves familiarity, and so anything new is really scary. And the success could be scary. And all of these things are really scary, and I think it's really inspirational and it's good lesson for people to be like, just try it. Doesn't mean you have to do it forever.

[00:14:17] Andrea Elibero: Right. Like, if Sato wasn't your thing, like you, I imagine you would've just switched to do something else.

[00:14:21] Kim Vargo: would've just pivoted

[00:14:22] Kim Vargo: somewhere 

[00:14:22] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Yeah. And so I think there's a lesson in that, right? Well, but it also, I mean, it's cool though because you also sought out another expert to help you see what was aligned within yourself, right?

[00:14:37] Andrea Elibero: Like for somebody else to be like, oh, you sound like systems would be something that you would be like good at and be interested in. And my words, I would say it's your unique magic, and then you're like, okay, yes. Like, let's go. You know? And like I'm leaning in.

[00:14:50] Kim Vargo: I kind of stumbled upon that person

[00:14:53] Andrea Elibero: Mm.

[00:14:53] Kim Vargo: a Facebook group. 

[00:14:55] Kim Vargo: I think I had like reached out offering. Like, honestly free [00:15:00] work or like

[00:15:00] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:15:00] Kim Vargo: work. 'cause I was trying to build up my portfolio 

[00:15:03] Kim Vargo: and she was like, Hey, like, don't do that. Let's chat. And it was, it was just like out of the goodness of her own 

[00:15:12] Kim Vargo: heart.

[00:15:12] Kim Vargo: I, I, didn't pay her anything.

[00:15:15] Andrea Elibero: wow.

[00:15:15] Kim Vargo: she was like testing a 

[00:15:17] Kim Vargo: new and was like, let all I, I was, I guess a good test dummy for her. but yeah.

[00:15:24] Andrea Elibero: But that's so cool. Yeah. So, and then, you know, that felt good and you're like, okay, let's go down that road. And then like you just being exposed to Sato and just taking the leap, I think is really cool.

[00:15:34] Kim Vargo: Yeah, 

[00:15:35] Andrea Elibero: You know? And then the wedding people, it sounds like you just kind of fell into it. You're like, okay, like.

[00:15:39] Kim Vargo: I did. Yeah. Um, I know, and it's sometimes like I've been asking myself lately, like, have I niched too much? Like

[00:15:48] Andrea Elibero: Ah.

[00:15:48] Kim Vargo: I expand a little beyond wedding people? Like I wonder if I'm like limiting myself. I love working with wedding professionals. [00:16:00] Like, so I, when I was in high school and college, I worked in restaurants, I worked at Starbucks.

[00:16:06] Kim Vargo: Like I have that like hospitality piece in me. So I, not that I worked weddings, but I, I actually did once in college, I

[00:16:14] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:16:15] Kim Vargo: But like I understand the high stakes that they have. I understand the level of pressure

[00:16:20] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:16:21] Kim Vargo: like. bride's expectations are just increasing by the minute. Um, especially with like social media and all these

[00:16:30] Andrea Elibero: My gosh.

[00:16:31] Kim Vargo: that they think are real weddings, you know what I'm

[00:16:34] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:16:35] Kim Vargo: I, I get the level of pressure that

[00:16:39] Andrea Elibero: Mm. 

[00:16:39] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:16:40] Kim Vargo: also get like that their brains are not wired to build systems, 

[00:16:46] Kim Vargo: which is why I enjoy helping them.

[00:16:48] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. 

[00:16:48] Kim Vargo: Yeah.

[00:16:49] Andrea Elibero: curious, what made you say that? Oh, maybe I've niched too much.

[00:16:52] Kim Vargo: Hmm. Well, I just think like as much as I love [00:17:00] working with wedding professionals, I'm like, I would also love to work with like. Brand designers and graphic designers and web

[00:17:05] Andrea Elibero: Mm. 

[00:17:06] Kim Vargo: like those type of people. 

[00:17:07] Kim Vargo: And, but like my website is, if you go on it, it's very much like, hello, I work with wedding professionals, 

[00:17:14] Kim Vargo: which is good, but you know what I'm saying?

[00:17:16] Kim Vargo: Like I just, sometimes I'm like, Ugh, should I try to branch out a little bit? Or like, what about working with like a, um, interior designer or like, there's plenty of other businesses that I would feel like I would connect really well with.

[00:17:32] Andrea Elibero: Hmm mm-hmm.

[00:17:33] Kim Vargo: yeah, there's that little in the back of my mind,

[00:17:36] Andrea Elibero: Well, what's exciting about that is that it really just involves some tweaking,

[00:17:41] Kim Vargo: right? 

[00:17:41] Andrea Elibero: you know, like if your messaging is on point. For the wedding people, I'm sure it's very similar, and you would figure this out with doing market research or talking to, you know, the other creatives, and I bet it's just like a little bit of tweaking and it's not too much to be able to expand if it's something that you want to do.

[00:17:57] Andrea Elibero: And it just sounds like, it's like, oh, this would be fun. 

[00:17:59] Andrea Elibero: Not like, [00:18:00] oh, I don't feel like I don't have clients in this area, but it's like, oh, it'd be kind of fun to do. Yeah.

[00:18:03] Kim Vargo: I just feel like it could be fun to try something

[00:18:07] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:08] Kim Vargo: just expand and maybe I might find another group of people that I really enjoy working with,

[00:18:12] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. And, and Right. And it sounds like, you know, you're the type of person who's not afraid to try

[00:18:18] Kim Vargo: Mm-hmm. 

[00:18:19] Andrea Elibero: like, let's see what happens. And just jump in and see,

[00:18:22] Kim Vargo: Yeah.

[00:18:23] Andrea Elibero: I wanna shift a little bit. So we talked about your offers, we talked a bit about your journey, and I love also to dive into. How are we finding clients?

[00:18:33] Andrea Elibero: Like what's going on there? How do we identify and like what's been the journey on that way? 'cause that's also obviously an area that is of interest to people who are building their businesses.

[00:18:44] Kim Vargo: this is something that I still struggle

[00:18:46] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:46] Kim Vargo: being honest with you. Um, marketing myself, talking about my business. like, this is why I'm go going on podcasts because I need to talk about my business more. I need to get more comfortable. Um. I need to be [00:19:00] like, okay, saying, hey, these are my offers and they're great.

[00:19:02] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:19:03] Kim Vargo: to do,

[00:19:04] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. 

[00:19:05] Kim Vargo: when you're starting out as like a VA or OBM or

[00:19:07] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:19:09] Kim Vargo: Um, but honestly, a lot of my. first client, the one who I'm still working with, she was a referral from a friend locally, which was such a blessing because she has other friends in the wedding industry that she's recommended me to. And a lot of my business has been referrals in word of mouth,

[00:19:32] Andrea Elibero: Mm. 

[00:19:34] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. 

[00:19:34] Kim Vargo: not really a special formula for

[00:19:37] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:19:38] Kim Vargo: other than.

[00:19:39] Andrea Elibero: Doing good work and asking like a lot of times. Yeah.

[00:19:43] Kim Vargo: telling people

[00:19:44] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:19:44] Kim Vargo: would 

[00:19:45] Andrea Elibero: [00:20:00] Mm-hmm.

[00:20:03] Kim Vargo: connection. 

[00:20:04] Kim Vargo: Um. But yeah, I don't, I'm like, oh man, I, I wish I had 20,000 followers on Instagram, but like, I don't, I think I have 600. Um, and it's just, yeah.

[00:20:18] Kim Vargo: I, it's something I struggle with all the time.

[00:20:20] Andrea Elibero: Well, so you're not alone, I'll tell you that much. And marketing is interesting, right? Especially as VAs obs done for you service providers because you like to be in the background doing the stuff,

[00:20:31] Kim Vargo: right? 

[00:20:32] Andrea Elibero: Like not like, 

[00:20:33] Kim Vargo: like, Hey. 

[00:20:34] Andrea Elibero: Front facing like Hi and show up, dancing on reels and whatnot. Like that's not something that appeals to most people who are doing done for you work.

[00:20:41] Kim Vargo: I sure 

[00:20:41] Andrea Elibero: And I do see, yeah, like a lot of people similar who grow their business based on referrals, which is amazing, right? 'cause that means that you do good work and then there comes a point where it's like, okay, like maybe I need to do something else. Right. To like to continue to grow.

[00:20:57] Kim Vargo: tapped out of the referrals and you don't wanna [00:21:00] solely rely on referrals.

[00:21:01] Andrea Elibero: Right.

[00:21:02] Kim Vargo: But 

[00:21:02] Andrea Elibero: Okay. 

[00:21:03] Kim Vargo: I do, like if you look at my social

[00:21:05] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:21:06] Kim Vargo: on 

[00:21:07] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:21:07] Kim Vargo: try to do reels and stuff, and I also do email marketing, um, I am hoping we'll eventually produce some fruit. It's all, it's all like long game,

[00:21:20] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:21:20] Kim Vargo: says, you know, someone needs to see something like how many times before they actually 

[00:21:26] Kim Vargo: take the next step. I don't know what the number is, but it,

[00:21:29] Andrea Elibero: I used, I used to say seven, and now I think it's just exponentially increased. Right? Like from there,

[00:21:34] Kim Vargo: So.

[00:21:35] Andrea Elibero: you, yeah. Yeah. Right. I know, but you brought up a lot of good points and I think it speaks to two things, right? So like one is the actual messaging piece, and I think that something that a lot of is done for you service providers.

[00:21:48] Andrea Elibero: Don't, or like they think like, oh, I just do the things like, right. Like I'm just doing the task. I'm just building the Sato and not think beyond like, no, I'm actually making like transformation for [00:22:00] people

[00:22:00] Kim Vargo: Right. 

[00:22:00] Andrea Elibero: and I'm doing, and I'm doing more than just saving them time. You know? And it's when. Like, so I'd say like, if I were to give just advice, well, not if I were to, this is what I do like, like when I work with my clients, is to talk really about, um, like to really dial in and like know your ideal client, right?

[00:22:18] Andrea Elibero: What their struggle with like, do market research interviews, like get their words and what their desires are and um, and then have some messaging that's speaking to those things that goes beyond, right? Just like the basics of like, yeah, I'm making you a CRM. 

[00:22:33] Andrea Elibero: Like, 

[00:22:33] Andrea Elibero: no, who cares?

[00:22:34] Kim Vargo: What 

[00:22:35] Andrea Elibero: Yes.

[00:22:35] Kim Vargo: Yeah.

[00:22:36] Andrea Elibero: Yeah, right. Like all that good stuff.

[00:22:38] Andrea Elibero: Because when you're really clear in those things, then, then not only does everything become easier, right? But it's also like, um, then it resonates with the clients more, and then it's a, then it's right. Like, it's just things happen much, much quicker.

[00:22:54] Kim Vargo: Yeah, that's

[00:22:55] Andrea Elibero: And it's really cool. Yeah. So those foundations, and I'm gonna add another thing because [00:23:00] I also find

[00:23:00] Kim Vargo: Yes. Tell

[00:23:01] Andrea Elibero: get on my, get on my soapbox.

[00:23:04] Andrea Elibero: I find so much that done for your service pros are so busy that also right, that the marketing, like that's the last thing that you want to do.

[00:23:12] Kim Vargo: It falls off to

[00:23:13] Andrea Elibero: It falls off and then when you meet a client, you're like, oh, shit. Like, I like have not, right? 'cause I've been so busy, I haven't been doing what I need to be doing to get clients.

[00:23:22] Kim Vargo: Yep. 

[00:23:22] Andrea Elibero: So having the like what? What I hope my. Clients with is creating a system, a marketing system that works and it, you kind of adjust it based on where you are. So like knowing your plan ahead of time and adjusting it based on what your client load is. And basically it's two flat, one visibility platform and one nurture platform.

[00:23:41] Andrea Elibero: And just focus on those things. And then if you wanna expand beyond that later, fine, but getting really consistent on those two things and ones that you really enjoy. And then that's it. And so just like really basic foundations, and I think that those, those are the things, right, that really just help marketing not feel so heavy 

[00:23:58] Andrea Elibero: and not feel so 

[00:23:59] Andrea Elibero: like, ugh, [00:24:00] like 

[00:24:00] Kim Vargo: yeah. 

[00:24:01] Andrea Elibero: be doing this.

[00:24:03] Kim Vargo: When you, so you said one visibility platform 

[00:24:06] Kim Vargo: and one 

[00:24:06] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:24:07] Kim Vargo: So visibility or thinking like Instagram,

[00:24:10] Andrea Elibero: It can be Instagram, it can be threads, it can be networking groups. 

[00:24:14] Andrea Elibero: It doesn't have to be, it doesn't have to be social media.

[00:24:17] Kim Vargo: Right, 

[00:24:17] Andrea Elibero: like it can be these podcast interviews, right? 'cause then you're being exposed to like anything that gets you in front of new audiences where you're not the one.

[00:24:26] Kim Vargo: Yeah. 

[00:24:26] Andrea Elibero: Like, like new people. Anything visible like that. 

[00:24:30] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:24:31] Kim Vargo: nurturing,

[00:24:31] Andrea Elibero: Nurturing would be like email marketing ins.

[00:24:35] Kim Vargo: that I'm not thinking of, I'm

[00:24:36] Andrea Elibero: Yeah, because, so Instagram can be both. Right, because you're nurturing people on Instagram 'cause they're already in there, you know, like when they already know you and then when you find the new people, it's kind of visibility.

[00:24:45] Andrea Elibero: So social media can be both types. Um, email is a big one

[00:24:50] Kim Vargo: Mm-hmm. 

[00:24:50] Andrea Elibero: that's probably like a main like nurture type of a platform. So anything that's like they're already in your world and you're just connecting with them more.

[00:24:58] Kim Vargo: Yeah. Thank [00:25:00] you for clarifying

[00:25:00] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Yeah, of course. Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now, but that's, and because you brought that up and I think it is a really big pain point, I wanted to give some like little, some quick things that

[00:25:10] Kim Vargo: Oh yeah.

[00:25:11] Andrea Elibero: we can do.

[00:25:11] Kim Vargo: it. I'm always

[00:25:13] Andrea Elibero: And, and so, okay. So in your own journey, what has been the biggest hurdle as you have been growing your business?

[00:25:22] Kim Vargo: Hmm. Making consistent money

[00:25:26] Andrea Elibero: Hmm.

[00:25:27] Kim Vargo: it's like, so that was why I took so long to leave teaching,

[00:25:32] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:25:33] Kim Vargo: because I was worried

[00:25:34] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:25:35] Kim Vargo: like, I, it's still something I think about all the

[00:25:37] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:25:37] Kim Vargo: um, because most of my clients aren't retainer based. They're

[00:25:40] Andrea Elibero: Right, 

[00:25:41] Andrea Elibero: right. 

[00:25:42] Kim Vargo: I am constantly needing to find clients

[00:25:44] Andrea Elibero: Yep.

[00:25:44] Kim Vargo: hit my, the number that I need to make so I can pay my mortgage.

[00:25:49] Kim Vargo: Like

[00:25:49] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:25:50] Kim Vargo: Um. I, and also with leaving teaching, like I, I know you can, you know, technically give your two weeks and leave whenever, but I was like, no, I [00:26:00] wanna leave at the end of the school year and leave on a good note. And so I had you, you have to like time it.

[00:26:06] Andrea Elibero: Mm. 

[00:26:06] Kim Vargo: so it

[00:26:07] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm. 

[00:26:07] Kim Vargo: was that was a hurdle.

[00:26:09] Kim Vargo: But yeah, I think just like the consistently it, knowing like that I am the sole person that is responsible for. the money is just, it's just different. I don't just show up to a place anymore and get a paycheck, which is like, obviously the whole reason why I, I, this is what I wanted. I

[00:26:29] Andrea Elibero: Right, right, right.

[00:26:31] Kim Vargo: Um,

[00:26:32] Andrea Elibero: choosing your hard

[00:26:33] Kim Vargo: yeah,

[00:26:34] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:26:34] Kim Vargo: exactly, I'm

[00:26:35] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:26:35] Kim Vargo: heart. Yep.

[00:26:37] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. And I mean, this is a real concern, right? This is a real thing that we all have to think about as being business owners in the online space. And, and, okay, so I'm gonna go back and like, I'm not even like a sole person who like focuses on marketing, but like, I don't know, I feel like it's applicable.

[00:26:53] Andrea Elibero: I know, I'm like, you've, you've inspired this in me. But, um, it's part of what I do. But anyways, but [00:27:00] that's where I think that. Being consistent and like having a plan in marketing is that is how you kind of, how you secure your, um, your stability,

[00:27:13] Kim Vargo: Yes.

[00:27:14] Andrea Elibero: right? Because then it's not like, oh, it's not this. Like, oh, I have clients.

[00:27:17] Andrea Elibero: Oh wait, I don't have clients. Oh wait, I have clients. Oh no, I don't have clients type of a thing. 

[00:27:21] Andrea Elibero: So, and that's like a self care, right? For yourself, for your business, for yourself, for everything.

[00:27:26] Kim Vargo: that you have that,

[00:27:28] Andrea Elibero: Right? Knowing it's like, okay, I know how to get clients.

[00:27:31] Kim Vargo: yeah. 

[00:27:31] Kim Vargo: I'm 

[00:27:31] Andrea Elibero: clients.

[00:27:32] Kim Vargo: the manifesting.

[00:27:34] Andrea Elibero: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:27:35] Kim Vargo: are like, oh, you just manifest and it'll happen, and I'm like, Hey, okay. I don't know if I trust that.

[00:27:41] Andrea Elibero: That's a part of it. But we also need strategy to match it, right? So we have the, the manifesting plus the action. We have to take action too. So yeah. So that's, but yeah, that's a very big concern that so many people have. And that's, um. To me, this is the way, right? Like this is how we mitigate this concern is by, is by like, okay, [00:28:00] this is the action that I'm taking is like, this is also important.

[00:28:02] Andrea Elibero: Like my business, my clients are important, but my business is the VIP client, right? Because you need to be healthy. Mm-hmm.

[00:28:11] Kim Vargo: forget about that and let themselves, I mean, I'm guilty of it

[00:28:14] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. Oh, everybody is right.

[00:28:16] Kim Vargo: solely on your 

[00:28:17] Kim Vargo: clients. 

[00:28:17] Andrea Elibero: Right. 

[00:28:18] Kim Vargo: I really wanna start implementing the like CEO day,

[00:28:22] Andrea Elibero: Mm-hmm.

[00:28:23] Kim Vargo: maybe even just every other week

[00:28:25] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:28:26] Kim Vargo: it and it would be majority spent on marketing.

[00:28:28] Kim Vargo: Let's be real.

[00:28:29] Andrea Elibero: Yeah. No, but it's important, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You have to.

[00:28:33] Kim Vargo: it's how 

[00:28:34] Kim Vargo: the other stuff comes.

[00:28:35] Andrea Elibero: Yes. A thousand percent. So we've learned anything today

[00:28:39] Kim Vargo: Yes.

[00:28:40] Andrea Elibero: have a CEO day do. Yeah. Right? Like do marketing, like take care of yourself and that these growth things, if you're feeling it right, like you. As Kim like vocalizing this, like everybody else has had the same thoughts.

[00:28:57] Kim Vargo: Right. 

[00:28:57] Andrea Elibero: it's really helpful to have somebody share that, [00:29:00] you know, and be like, oh, okay. And normalize that this is going on in the background, so it's amazing. Um, and then my, my second to last question is what is your top scaling tip? If somebody's growing their business, like from your journey, from what you've learned, what is the top thing that you would like to share?

[00:29:17] Kim Vargo: Um, well, I think naturally my tip is gonna be based around systems.

[00:29:22] Andrea Elibero: Yes.

[00:29:23] Kim Vargo: Um, my tip is to try to like build the systems before you think you need them. Um, I find that most of my clients come to me and they're so busy, they're getting tons of inquiries and 

[00:29:41] Kim Vargo: they're so overwhelmed. Try to get systems in place that will maybe prevent that overwhelm.

[00:29:50] Kim Vargo: Um. And I know it's hard, especially in the beginning when you don't have a ton of money to like put into your business, but choosing where to invest your money in a [00:30:00] way that you know will like move your business forward, 

[00:30:03] Kim Vargo: um, I think is important.

[00:30:05] Andrea Elibero: Yeah, and that's a really good point, right? Because a lot of people are like, no, I can't spend any money. But then it also holds them back.

[00:30:12] Kim Vargo: Yeah.

[00:30:13] Andrea Elibero: You know from, 

[00:30:14] Andrea Elibero: yeah. 

[00:30:15] Kim Vargo: popped on calls with people that are like asking me to spend like $15,000 a month. And I'm like, I'm sorry, but like I, and they're like, well, you'll get that if you, you'll

[00:30:25] Andrea Elibero: Oh God, no. Yeah, yeah.

[00:30:26] Kim Vargo: And I'm like. I'm sorry. Like no, 

[00:30:28] Andrea Elibero: no, 

[00:30:28] Andrea Elibero: Yeah.

[00:30:29] Kim Vargo: I might, but I also might not, and then I'm out $15,000,

[00:30:33] Andrea Elibero: Right,

[00:30:34] Kim Vargo: like, there's, there's gotta be a line.

[00:30:36] Andrea Elibero: right. 

[00:30:37] Kim Vargo: but, and like making sure you're working with people that are kind and supportive

[00:30:43] Andrea Elibero: Yes.

[00:30:43] Kim Vargo: know 

[00:30:44] Andrea Elibero: not work with the scammy people who are charging you that. Yeah. No. Who are pressuring you into doing that, but investing is important. Right,

[00:30:51] Kim Vargo: spend that just 

[00:30:52] Kim Vargo: seems 

[00:30:53] Andrea Elibero: No, that's insane. Yeah. No, that's insane. But yes, in

[00:30:57] Kim Vargo: Glad we

[00:30:57] Andrea Elibero: invest. Yes. Invest. [00:31:00] Investing is important

[00:31:01] Kim Vargo: Yeah. 

[00:31:02] Andrea Elibero: as long as you can do it right. We don't want anybody going into debt and doing crazy things, but it is really, you know, whether it's a system, whether it's a person, you know, like whatever it is, there are things that are going to help you to grow

[00:31:14] Kim Vargo: Mm-hmm. 

[00:31:15] Andrea Elibero: get you there faster.

[00:31:15] Andrea Elibero: So yeah, a thousand. Okay. And last thing is how can we get in touch with you and then do you have any gifts or freebies or anything like that that you would like to share?

[00:31:28] Kim Vargo: Yes. Okay, so you can find me in quite a few places. My website is kim vargo.com. Instagram is kim vargo.co. Um, and a resource that I'd love to offer. If you head to my website, it's kim vargo.com/resources. I have a freebie. It's a dub sodo inquiry workflow, and I made it specifically for virtual [00:32:00] assistants. So kim vargo.com/resources will bring you there. Um. Yeah, and also feel free to join my email list where I share more resources. That's also on my website. Yeah, lots of ways. You can get in touch with me. Oh, and you can also email me at hello@kimvargo.com. I'll respond to you there as well.

[00:32:20] Andrea Elibero: Amazing. Thank you so much for coming on and sharing it with us about your journey and being vulnerable and all of those good things. That was really fun.

[00:32:28] Kim Vargo: Yeah, this was so fun. Thank you so much. 

[00:32:31] Andrea Elibero: Thank you so much for joining us today. I really hope you found inspiration and insights from today's episode. You know, scaling your business intentionally and from the inside out is a transformational process, but I'm here to support you every step of the way. Head on over to dancing leaf solutions.com/resources for free tools to help you do just that.

[00:32:56] Andrea Elibero: And thank you again for being a part of the Solepreneur Scaling [00:33:00] Stories community. Your presence and dedication to growth inspiring me every day.