Meet Angélica! This Sugar Land mama of two young boys is just like the rest of us when it comes to balancing work and small children. Exhausted and wanting more time with her children, she took matters into her own hands and created an opportunity for herself that would allow the flexibility of generating an income while being more present with her family. By opening her own small business, AK Virtual Services, she has been able to accomplish this and much more!
She’s also an integral part of the behind the scenes work we do here with South Houston Moms, as she does an incredible job keeping our local event calendar up to date!
Check out her inspirational story and how she made some important changes to fit her lifestyle!
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
Enthusiastic. I bring a lot of energy to my work, enjoy learning new things, and love to share in the joy and lives of my loved ones. I throw myself 100% into whatever I am doing at the moment.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I briefly considered being an ESPN sportscaster for soccer and basketball. But after taking a communications class in college, I realized it wasn’t for me.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you along your motherhood journey?
My husband. My mom. My sisters-in-law. My community of amazing friends. I couldn’t have made it this far in motherhood without any of them. I feel really blessed to be surrounded by people that love me and my family so well.
What inspired you to become a virtual assistant?
I’ve spent the last 10 years as a Spanish teacher. After having Mateo last year and trying to balance working full time, having 2 kids and all the things that come with having a newborn, I realized I wanted something with more flexibility. With my husband also being a teacher, I wanted to be able to have more freedom with my time. I wanted to be able to pick up my kids from school when they’re sick without scrambling for coverage, take them to a doctor’s appointment without feeling guilty, and be more present for my family.
Tell us more about your journey and how you turned your passion into a business? Briefly tell us about your services and what you offer?
After deciding to leave the classroom, I realized I still wanted to help others. As a teacher, my favorite thing was watching my students succeed in all areas of their lives. I usually got more excited than them at their successes. As I was looking into work from home options, freelancing/virtual assistance came up. It seemed like the perfect fit since I really enjoy helping people succeed and being a cheerleader for others.
At AK Virtual Services, I offer general admin services (email management, calendar management, etc), creative services (content creation, course creation, etc) and podcast management (transcription, guest management, etc). I like to get to know my clients and create packages that are unique to their needs.
What are the top 3 benefits of hiring a virtual assistant?
There are so many! I would say the top 3 would be:
1- Save time! VA’s do the tasks that take you away from the things that would help your business grow.
2-Save money! Have an assistant without having to have an employee. You only pay for the hours they work. You don’t have to provide equipment, space or health insurance.
3- Strengthen your weak areas! If there is an area in your business where you struggle (social media, inbox management, etc) a virtual assistant can be your secret weapon. They can take over these areas and help your business continue to be successful.
What would you tell a busy mompreneur who is on the fence about investing in the help of a virtual assistant?
Try it out for a month or two and see how much it can help! I know it can be hard to delegate tasks for your business. Hiring a VA actually saves you money because it allows you to focus on the things you love doing and work on the things that generate revenue for your business. I want your business to succeed just as much as you do.
Do you have a favorite thing you do for self-care?
As an extrovert, I recharge by being around people I love. But, when I need alone time, I like to read, go for walks while listening to an audio book or a podcast, and nap :-).
What is something you would tell the “old you” before you had kids?
Life isn’t a competition. Live your own life, do your best and enjoy the present. There is no point in wallowing in the past or anticipating the future.
Funniest shortcut or routine for helping you through parenthood.
It’s not funny but it’s been the most helpful. Be okay with mess. In a house with 2 boys and 2 dogs, my house is always in a mess. It’s hard to let go of the expectation that my house has to look perfect. By being okay with the mess in my house, I am able to be more present in the interactions with my husband and kids.
We love to support local small businesses. What is your favorite place in the Sugar Land, Pearland or Friendswood areas to:
Take your kids out for some fun: In the heat, we like to go to Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center.
Have a date night: We like to try new places all the time. But our go-to is Texas Leaguer Brewing.They have board games, food trucks, and great beer!
Have fun as a family: We are homebodies. If we go out it’s usually to a park like Oyster Creek or Cullinan Park. We also love the beach and like to go down to Surfside as often as we can!
Get your hair done:I haven’t found a place in Texas yet. I usually get my haircut in Ohio when I go visit my mom. I have curly hair so I’m always nervous to try a new place.
Get your nails done: Nexus Nails & Pedi Spa
Get a facial: Never had one!
Shop for yourself: I do most of my shopping online. Usually Target or Amazon.
Shop for your kids: Mostly online but if I shop in person, I go to Once Upon a Child.