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Robin Marie Younkin is a virtual office manager and assistant who has over ten years of experience growing small businesses. She works with wellness-based business owners and heart-centered entrepreneurs. Her passion is streamlining your day so that you can focus on what you do best. With a background in social media management, copywriting, web design, and office administration, she utilizes a multitude of skills to help you succeed. When not working, Robin enjoys spending time with her son, writing fiction, and gardening.
Tell us about your journey to entrepreneurship
I’ve always had what I call “job wanderlust”. When I first set out in the workforce, I knew I wanted to do something that made a difference. I’m naturally organized and efficient, and found that with each job I took on, I’d finish my work for the day and have nothing to do! I quickly climbed the business administration ladder, working everywhere from a pizza place to an exotic animal clinic to a chiropractic office. After mastering the skills of each career, I’d find myself bored and ready to move on again. I blame this on my Aries sun/Scorpio rising. And then, I had my son. My husband and I both struggled severely with postpartum depression, which he was hospitalized for. I knew that I needed to find a way to provide for my family without leaving home, and my business was born!
Tell us more about what you do and your business
I provide virtual office management and assistance to clients all over the world! Utilizing my background in holistic wellness, I partner with functional medicine psychiatrists to run efficient practices while keeping their overhead costs as low as possible. I also work with heart-centered entrepreneurs like life coaches, authors, and reiki practitioners. Each day is completely different from the last, as I adjust to what my clients need. This can be building a website, creating engaging social media, editing web copy, managing inboxes…really, the sky is the limit. On top of the support I provide, I’m also my clients’ biggest cheerleader, always looking for ways to grow and expand their business so that they can truly thrive.
In order to leave your 9-5 and take your business full time, what did you have to change or develop into, in order to be able to do this?
I’m fortunate in that when I became a mother, I became a business owner as well. This was a really difficult period of adjustment, as I was in completely unknown territory. I relied heavily upon my in-laws for a while, which was difficult for me. I pride myself on being self-sufficient and in control, and this was a season of learning the opposite. My husband and I moved in with his family for a time and sold a lot of our furniture and possessions to simplify. It was hard to remember that this was temporary, and I think that they were as relieved as we were when we found our new home!
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How have you invested in yourself or asked for help in order to not burn out and become successful, more quickly?
This is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned: it’s okay to ask for help. Whether others were rocking my baby or giving us a place to stay while we figured out our next move, the support from others got me here today. In my work, I embody that same spirit of generosity. I partner with clients who are making a difference, so going above and beyond for them is really gratifying. I also seek out courses that expand my skill set while engaging my sense of joy. I’m currently taking an astrology course offered by the lovely Aeolian Heart.
What are your thoughts on being a “solopreneur” and going the journey alone versus getting assistance in your journey from others? How has investing in yourself propelled you forward in your entrepreneurial journey?
One of the greatest joys of being a solopreneur is being in complete control! I decide which clients I work with, how much I charge, which hours I work, etc. I see a lot of businesses fall flat because people aren’t quite ready for this responsibility. Having integrity is first and foremost. If there is something I am not qualified to do, I say so. While I haven’t invested a ton of money in certifications, the last decade of my life was hands-on training for the work I do today. That’s not to say that I don’t invest in courses…I’ve certainly taken my fair share! Each investment has allowed me to grow and develop as a person and as a business owner and prepared me for the clients who need me.
When you have those rough days in entrepreneurship, what do you do when you feel like quitting?
There are always rough days in any business, and when they happen, I allow myself to take time to reflect. I ask myself what lesson I am supposed to learn from the situation, and how I can grow. One of the most heartbreaking and terrifying days I had was early on in my business when my main source of income suddenly dropped out. This taught me to construct an airtight contract, and have several different sources of income so that I am not left in a panic, should something similar happen in the future. And really, even the most difficult day as a business owner is still far better than the life I had before entrepreneurship and motherhood.
What pieces of advice do you have for a woman who is just beginning in her businesses or up against obstacles right now and questioning if she is cut out for this?
The greatest advice I can give is this: Your business is a part of you. When something feels off or just isn’t sitting right, listen to your intuition. Connect back in to why you’re doing what you’re doing. Don’t be afraid to let your business grow and evolve. We are not meant to be static, but to change and expand. That, and create boundaries! At one point, I was feeding my son at 3 am and checking emails. This might work for some women, but for me, blurring the lines of when I am a business owner and when I am Mom was really devastating. When work is done, I shut down my computer, put down my phone, and pick up my baby. We’re all happier for it.
You can find out more about Robin Marie Younkin at https://robinmarieyounkin.com.
Click here to download my Realistic Budget template!
Click here to download my free favorite business systems and tools list to make your business more organized and to get your time and energy back, so you can be more productive and profitable!
I am very active on Instagram, follow me here for more financial tips & tricks: http://instagram.com/mandyythomas (@mandyythomas)
Do you have any questions or anything to add? Leave me a comment in the comments below and I will respond back to you!