Exploring Life & Business with Dalynn Hare of Essential Timing Solutions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dalynn Hare.

Hi Dalynn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
This may sound cliche, but I was born a natural leader. From grade school to undergrad, to graduate school, I have always walked to the beat of my own drum. If I was ever told, there was something I couldn’t do or wouldn’t be successful at doing, that’s the route I took.

This is my second journey of full-time entrepreneurship and I remember why I missed it so much. I learned about the virtual assistant industry about 3 years ago when someone I knew entered the industry. It later came up again in 2021 when my best friend launched her VA company. At this time, I was looking for a side hustle, companies were trying to recover from COVID, and the industry I was working in was constantly changing.

The driving force behind me taking my VA side hustle seriously, was being called into a meeting and being told that because my department was being restructured and relocated, I would have to transition to another role and department. The final words in that meeting were “I am sorry, but this is your ONLY option here.” At that moment, I knew I could unwillingly accept the new role, which I did, or submit my resignation letter.

In July, I got my first client doing simple admin work and social media management. One month later, I got my second and third client. Being a social media manager was perfect for me, because I could spend the weekend creating graphics for the month or upcoming week (based on the client’s events and sales) and automate the posts and just do this process on repeat. In this business, automations are your best friend, especially if you work a 9 to 5.

My next client came on shortly after, and needed podcast services. Once I realized that I could do VA work that was more project-based and not task-based, I knew this would become my full-time career. I gave myself 5 months to leave my 9 to 5 and launch my business full time, and that is exactly what I did. Some thought I was crazy, while others supported me. My husband, parents, and a few close friends encouraged me on this journey. I also knew in order to increase revenue in my VA business, I needed to either get more hours, get more clients or add to my business offerings. Before I left my 9 to 5, I let my current clients know if they needed more hours, I would be available in the coming weeks. One client jumped on this offer immediately, and upon leaving my 9 to 5, I increased my hours and pay with them.

The beauty of entrepreneurship is that you can pivot at any time, outsource (which I did a lot of), increase your pay rate when necessary, make your own schedule, enjoy life and gain more time freedom. Since leaving my 9 to 5 and working as a VA full-time, I am now offering business consulting to others who want to launch their own business, are in the beginning stages, or others who need a complete revamp.

My best advice on any journey is to surround yourself with those who are running at your pace and others who are where you want to be. Read books and research current industry trends often, continue in your professional development efforts, and always remember, it’s okay to not be the smartest person in every room you enter. Always remain teachable and your growth as an individual and entrepreneur will forever be an amazing journey.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Finding the motivation to leave my 9 to 5, where I had a salary, benefits, retirement, PTO and other things, always made me think, “what if this doesn’t work out?” However, the biggest motivation for me to join the “Great Resignation” was being backed into a corner and left with no options. That was the most pivotal moment in knowing that someday this side hustle would become my main career. Still, deciding when to transition may have been the hardest part in the journey. I was leaving a field that I had worked in for 9 years, but I knew it was time for a change.

Now that I run my VA business full time, things have been smooth and have mostly fallen into place. The hardest part about entrepreneurship is knowing when to pivot, the necessity for defined clarity, finding time for self-care, and reminding yourself that taking a break is okay. There are times when I struggle with work-life balance, because mentally, I am geared towards grinding or simply working hard to achieve my goals on my vision board. However, family and time away from the business is what helps me to continue to grow within the business. Both are absolutely necessary in order to maintain the level of success I strive for.

Finally, keep in mind that running a business does not mean you have to do it all. I had to get to a place where it was okay to officially outsource.The best benefit for me was hiring a social media manager and an email marketer. Outsourcing to other amazing companies or freelancers will save you so much time and stress. Trust me on this one: it is so worth it!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Essential Timing Solutions is a virtual assistant and business consulting firm. We provide the everyday small business owner with essential solutions, so they gain more time and freedom in life.

ETS specializes in administrative services, digital product launches, VIP Project Management Days, and business consulting. We are very well known for our business consulting and helping up-and-coming new business owners launch their businesses and current business owners revamp their business plans and perform a SWOT analysis.

What sets ETS apart from other VA companies, is that we offer VIP Days. This a day where you meet with our team and outline your monthly to-do list and all tasks are completed in one day. An example would be, if you are someone who hosts a lot of webinars, we would set up all webinar sessions and links, build automations, email campaigns, text alerts, etc. to make sure each webinar is set and ready to go the day of, and that your audience remains updated in the process.

The thing about ETS that makes us most proud, is that it grew from just a side hustle to an amazing company and brand within a year.

If you are in need of a VA to assist your business with administrative services, VIP Project Management Days, or business consulting, feel free to contact us. Our VA services start at 40 hours per month and include almost every administrative service you can think of.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Prioritize your mental and physical health. Without either of those, how are you able to show up for anyone else, let alone yourself? Remember to lean into grace and pivot as much as necessary. If it gives you more time freedom, outsource it. No one will ever be on the same journey or have the same outcome. They may be on a similar one but never the same. Finally, get a strong support system and put your blinders on to achieve every goal you have set for yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.essentialtimingsolutionsva.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essentialtimingsolutions_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essentialtimingsolutions
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EssentialTiming
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqQq1T4-9B8W9TXq6ONRtQ
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/essentialtiming

Image Credits
Denise Benson Photography
Wild Hare Photography