Hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) can either save you 20–40 hours a week or turn into a complete nightmare that wastes your time and money. Most business owners who hire VAs end up frustrated: the assistant needs constant handholding, doesn’t think critically, and creates more work than they solve.
But when you find and train a true A-player VA, it’s like adding a $250,000 executive to your team—at a fraction of the cost. The right VA doesn’t just follow instructions; they take ownership, make smart decisions, and become an operator inside your business.
At To Elevate, we’ve developed a proven system to help CEOs and real estate investors hire and train these top 1% Digital Assistants. Here’s the exact framework you can apply in your business.
If you try to hire randomly, you’ll end up wasting money. Instead, use platforms like Upwork to source candidates—but filter aggressively.
Search for Virtual Assistant (or a specific role like e-commerce, data entry, scheduling, etc.).
Filter for candidates in your time zone (or close to it).
Require native or bilingual English.
Evaluate attitude over skills—skills can be taught, but initiative and communication style can’t.
💡 Pro Tip: During your first call, pay attention to whether the candidate is proactive, communicative, and confident. That’s more important than checking every technical skill box.
This is where most entrepreneurs fail. They hire a VA and throw them into tasks without systems. Instead, follow this structured 30-day plan:
Days 1–5: Immersion & Observation
No tasks yet—just shadowing.
Have them join meetings, observe your workflow, and document everything into a “Day in the Life” guide.
Days 6–10: Systems & Tool Training
Record short SOP videos (2–3 minutes each) for tools like Google Calendar, ClickUp, or CRM systems.
Use the teach-back method: the VA re-records how they’d apply the SOP.
Days 11–20: Supervised Implementation
Start small: draft emails for review, schedule appointments with supervision.
Focus on accuracy and judgment, not speed.
Days 21–30: Decision Framework Implementation
Introduce the Decision Boundary System:
Inner Circle → Decisions they make independently.
Middle Circle → Decisions they make but inform you about.
Outer Circle → Decisions they prepare options for, but you make the final call.
By Day 30, your VA should be handling 80% of routine operational decisions.
Most VAs remain “perpetual assistants.” But the goal is to turn them into independent operators who run parts of your business. Here’s how:
Decision Boundary Document → Update every 2 weeks with new decisions they can own.
Principle-Based Decision Trees → Instead of endless SOPs, give them rules (e.g., refunds under $100 = approve).
Weekly Decision Reviews → Spend 15 minutes reviewing decisions. Don’t critique—explain your reasoning.
Ownership Expansion Plan → Every 30 days, assign them one new business area to fully own (emails, calendar, onboarding, etc.).
In 6 months, a properly trained VA can own 5–7 areas of your business, giving you back 20–40 hours per week.
When implemented correctly, our clients consistently report:
20–40 hours saved weekly.
Businesses running smoother, since their Digital Assistant becomes specialized in their processes.
True freedom—they can unplug without their business falling apart.
This isn’t about hiring cheap labor. It’s about identifying undervalued top talent and giving them the system to thrive at an executive level.
By Angélica Cemor
If you’re serious about scaling while buying back your time then let’s talk about your specific needs and how we can help you find, train, and manage your top 1% Digital Assistant
