The Mentorship Gap: 5 Signs You're Doing It All Alone (and It's Showing)
You know what no one tells you when you start as a VA?
That independence can quietly turn into isolation.
You tell yourself, "I'll figure it out." You Google. You YouTube. You join one too many Facebook groups where everyone's asking the same questions but nobody has real answers.
But then one day, you realize you've been "figuring it out" for three years straight. And you're still in the same place.
Still undercharging. Still overworking. Still wondering when it's going to click.
Here's the truth: Flying solo feels like freedom until it starts feeling like a cage.
So let me ask you something. How do you know you're doing this thing alone when what you really need is a mentor?
Here are the signs. And if even one of these sounds familiar, keep reading.
1. You're always "almost" there.
You tweak your offers. Rewrite your bio. Change your rates. Rebuild your Notion board for the fourth time this month.
And somehow, it's still not clicking.
You're so close to a breakthrough you can taste it. But you're also exhausted. Because you're building blind, hoping the next move is the right one.
A mentor doesn't give you more to-do lists. They give you the right next step. The one that actually moves the needle instead of keeping you busy.
They've been where you are. They know what works and what's just noise. And they can see the path you can't see yet because you're too close to your own business.
2. You're addicted to free advice.
You've watched every webinar. Downloaded every "5-day challenge." Bookmarked 47 YouTube videos you'll "totally watch later."
You're drowning in strategy, but starving for structure.
You don't need another Canva template or another "top 10 tips" carousel. You need someone who's been where you are, who can look at your business and say, "Here's exactly what to do next. No fluff."
Free advice is great for awareness. But it rarely gets you to action. Because general advice doesn't account for your specific situation, your clients, your strengths, or your roadblocks.
A mentor tailors the strategy to you. Not the other way around.
3. You've plateaued, but you keep pretending it's fine.
You're working more hours. Earning the same amount. And wondering if maybe this is just what the VA life is.
Spoiler: It's not.
You're stuck because you've hit your ceiling, and you can't see beyond it. You're doing all the things that got you here, but they're not the things that will get you there.
A mentor becomes your mirror and your map. They'll show you what you can't yet see. They'll call out the patterns you're repeating, the opportunities you're missing, and the stories you're telling yourself that are keeping you small.
You don't know what you don't know. And that's exactly why you need someone who does.
4. You're getting "advice" from people who've never done what you're trying to do.
Your friend with a 9-to-5 says, "You just need more clients."
Your cousin says, "Raise your prices!"
Your mom says, "Maybe just get a stable job?"
Meanwhile, you're like, "Cool, but how?"
Here's the thing: Well-meaning people will always have opinions. But opinions aren't strategies. And advice from someone who's never built what you're building? That's not mentorship. That's guessing.
Mentorship means getting guidance from someone who's actually done the work. Someone who's raised their rates and kept their clients. Someone who's built systems, set boundaries, and figured out how to scale without burning out.
You need someone who's been in the arena, not someone watching from the stands.
5. You're scared to ask for help.
Let's get real for a second.
You think asking for help means you're behind. It doesn't.
It means you're ready to accelerate.
The biggest flex isn't doing it all alone. It's having the courage to say, "I'm ready for more."
Because here's what I know about VAs who level up fast: They're not the ones who know everything. They're the ones who know when to ask for help.
They don't waste years trying to reinvent the wheel. They find someone who's already built the wheel, and they learn from them. They skip the trial and error phase and go straight to what works.
Mentorship isn't a shortcut. It's strategy. And it's the difference between spending three more years "figuring it out" and actually getting there in the next six months.
👉 Book your clarity call here: https://calendar.notion.so/meet/itsmonica/uw1in4l21
Final Word
If you've been in the game for a minute but feel like you're still piecing things together, this is your sign.
Stop playing the solo game.
You don't need another course. You need perspective. You need someone who can see your blind spots, call out your potential, and help you build a business that doesn't drain you.
Let's chat. Not a pitch, not a script. Just a real conversation about where you want to be in the next 3 to 6 months and how to get there.
No pressure. No sales tactics. Just two people talking about your business, your goals, and the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
👉 Book your clarity call here: https://calendar.notion.so/meet/itsmonica/uw1in4l21
You've been doing this alone long enough. Let's change that.
Let’s glow!
— Monica #TheVAGodmother 🪄
