My guest on the podcast this week is Anna Bailey, founder of the Assistant community Pally Talk. She launched her business and 2 months later had her first baby, in her own words, the last year has been 'hardcore'.

Anna has a lot of practical insight into navigating a business and new baby concurrently - this is your sign to start sliding into people's DMs on LinkedIn. 

We spoke really honestly about social media v reality, not only of motherhood, but the assistant world and when, for Anna, revenue finally started coming in from the business.

For me, there's a theme - you will get through it. Whether that's the newborn stage, the not making any money stage or being too busy for friendships stage, you'll come through and it will get better.

Takeaways:

• Anna's career journey from early entrepreneurship to the assistant world

• Why having a mentor is so important for new assistants

• How Pally Talks has changed as a business since inception

• Navigating a new business and newborn concurrently

• Anna's first revenue month and how she's funding the business

• What Anna's work week looks like

• Why workplaces are failing new mothers

• TikTok v reality in the assistant world

• Anna's sister's experience of baby loss and its impact

• Why we should all be DMing people

• The hardest part of the first year of motherhood

• Newborns aren't for everyone, but you'll get through it
  

Chapters:

00:30 Introduction to Pally Talk and Anna Bailey

04:53 Anna's Journey from Assistant to Entrepreneur

09:33 Navigating Motherhood and Business Launch

14:12 Building a Community for Assistants

18:44 Challenges of Balancing Work and Family Life

23:19 The Future of Pally Talk and Business Growth

23:37 Building a Virtual Assistant Business

27:04 Navigating Personal Loss and Support

32:50 Finding Joy in Motherhood

36:26 Challenges of the Newborn Stage

40:33 Future Plans for Pally Talk

Resources:

Amanda Johnson VA Training Academy: https://vatrainingacademy.co.uk/

Baby Loss Club: https://www.instagram.com/baby.loss.club/

LinkedIn Sales Navigator: https://business.linkedin.com/en-gb/sales-solutions/cx/23/08/linkedin-sales-navigator

Dripify: https://dripify.io/

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

About Anna Bailey

Anna Bailey is the founder of Pally Talk, a platform designed to empower female assistants through community, flexible job opportunities and a fresh modern approach to networking.

Launched in March, 2024, just weeks before giving birth to her son, Pally Talk reflects Anna's deep belief that mothers returning to work deserve flexibility, empowerment and support. What started as a place to help moms explore freelance assistant roles has rapidly evolved into a vibrant community of hybrid, remote and part-time professionals sharing resources, job leads and real life advice. 

Anna Bailey's Links:

Website: https://pallytalk.com/

Instagram: (Pally Talk): https://www.instagram.com/pallytalk/

Instagram: (Anna Bailey): https://www.instagram.com/annabelpbailey/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pallytalk/

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/