CASE STUDY: Age Ain't Nothing But a Number

Meet Cathy Ann De Four

Tell us about yourself, Cathy.

I am Cathy Ann De Four from Trinidad and Tobago. I am a mother of one son and grandmother of four wonderful grandchildren, ranging in age from 21 to six years. I am sixty-five (65) years blessed. 

I enjoy photography, listening to music, nature, and reading. I am also a lover of the steel pan, which I played for 28 years with Starlift Steel Orchestra and an all-female steel band called NSA Vibrations.

I have been in the secretarial field for over 47 years, working for shipping companies, attorneys-at-law, and a manufacturing company. My jobs were primarily in administration and accounting.  I stayed along this path because I was comfortable and confident in what I was doing.

I never thought about doing anything else.

The Challenge

So what happened next for you?

Then the pandemic hit!  Suddenly, I was not working and I had bills to pay.  My thoughts, of course, were:

🤔 What am I going to do? And what am I going to do at my age?

🤔 Who would hire a 64-year-old when they can hire someone who is 25, and get at least 30 years of service from them?

A close friend of mine told me about someone she knew who offered a Virtual Assistant course.  Now, this was like telling me the properties that made up a rock from space!  I had no clue as to what a Virtual Assistant did. After some research on the subject, other thoughts hit me. 

"What! Start a business at this age? With what money?"

"Do you want to be a laughing stock?"

I was terrified!!  But I had to try something, and this was what was presented to me. 

So, I took the leap.

The Solution

Tell us about this big leap you took.

I enrolled in the Successful VA Programme in May 2021. It’s a 12-week programme that walks you through the essential steps to starting your virtual assistant business. At the end of the 12 weeks, there’s an internship period to get hands-on training in setting up your backend systems.

😕 I was very apprehensive and nervous.

😕 I knew that if I failed, I have no one to blame but myself.

From the first session, I realized that I was not alone.  The ladies in my group were in the same position as me, trying something new. 

Desi-Ann, our Coach, asked us questions about ourselves that I never thought about.  It really had me thinking and searching deep inside. We addressed our fears, hopes, challenges, dreams, and expectations.  We were exposed to many different platforms that would assist us in our journeys. 

One of the most important lessons we covered was mindset.  This was like an “ah-ha” moment!  The light bulb got brighter for me. My confidence began to grow, and I thought, yes, maybe I could do this! 

Desi-Ann's approach to teaching was so comforting, confident, nurturing, and down-to-earth.  I guess that is why we call her our “VA Mom”.  She encouraged us to step out of our comfort zone.  Many of us had trouble speaking in front of people or were shy about being in front of a camera.  She helped me get over that fear.

The Results

Amazing Cathy! So what can you share with us since you completed the programme?

At the end of the Successful VA Programme, I experienced a significant shift. My mindset has changed by leaps and bounds. 

🌟 I no longer think I am too old because you are never too old to learn.

🌟 I no longer focus on what others think. Instead, I am focusing on what I have set out to do.

🌟 I am no longer afraid of being visible or talking in front of a group.

🌟 I am confident in myself and no longer think about age or failure. I feel prepared!

I am also proud to say that I have 4 paying clients (1 international and 3 local).

All in only 1 year!!! 

I have achieved all of this during my training with Desi-Ann.  She always has her students’ best interests at heart and goes the extra mile for them.

Connect With Cathy Ann