Every December, the online space turns into a highlight reel.

And yes, those moments deserve to be acknowledged. But here’s the truth most business owners don’t share online:

The hardest parts of entrepreneurship never make the grid.

Welcome to the side of the story no one talks about… and the part that might matter most as you walk into 2026.

Empowered CEOs don’t choose between success and sanity. Learn how smarter leadership, strong systems, and true balance let you thrive in business and life.

Running a virtual assistant business means juggling many moving parts: clients, tasks, deadlines, and communication.

And while we love a good to-do list, these three systems keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Here is a look at the three systems that keep Champagne Collective running like clockwork (and keep us sane) after almost ten years in business.

Building a seven-figure business takes more than strategy and hustle. It takes intention.

Because here’s the truth: you can’t scale and do it all yourself. You can’t grow while micromanaging every corner of your business. And you definitely can’t build an empire on exhaustion. 🙃

Every successful business owner eventually learns that the secret isn’t doing more. It’s doing what actually moves the needle and letting go of what doesn’t.

If I were starting my seven-figure online business today, here are the first three things I’d do differently.

Let’s be honest…nobody talks about how hard Q4 really is.

Between closing out client projects, wrapping up financials, prepping for the new year, and trying to enjoy a little downtime in between, this season can stretch even the most seasoned business owners thin.

It’s the time when everything seems to hit at once: your clients want things finished before the holidays, your team is running at max capacity, and you’re trying to plan for next year while still surviving this one.

At Champagne Collective, we know what that feels like because we’ve lived it. Late nights, full inboxes, and that familiar thought of, “I’ll rest in January.”

But when you lead from exhaustion, everyone feels it. Your energy sets the tone for your team, your clients, and your business as a whole.

Picture this for a second.

You wake up, pour your coffee, and your inbox is already managed.

Client projects? Tracked, updated, and organized in Asana before you even open your laptop.
That content calendar you’ve been avoiding? Already planned, proofed, and scheduled.
The launch you’ve been losing sleep over? Emails are queued, graphics are live, and for once… you’re not running on adrenaline.

Sounds impossible? Well, it’s not.

It’s what happens when your business has the right systems and the right support behind it.

You see a lot of flashy “hacks” online that promise to scale your business overnight: the viral post, the perfect funnel, the next automation app that will finally free you up.

But here’s the truth we learned the hard way: None of that matters if your backend is chaos.

Our agency didn’t grow to seven figures because of one viral moment. It grew because we finally decided to build a business that could run without us running ourselves into the ground.

Here are the three simple, and unsexy, things that completely transformed our company.

If I started over today, here’s exactly what I’d do instead.

If I had to start my business from zero again, I’d do things very differently.

Not because what I did didn’t work, because it did. It got me to six and then seven figures. But I can see now how much time I wasted in the wrong places, how much energy I spent trying to do everything myself, and how long it took me to understand what actually moves the needle.

If I started over today, here’s exactly what I’d do instead.

If you’ve been here a while, you’ve seen me share the messy parts of entrepreneurship: the micromanaging, the scarcity mindset, saying yes when I should’ve said no. None of it was pretty, but all of it shaped the business we’ve built today at Champagne Collective.

Because growth doesn’t come from getting it perfect. It comes from getting it wrong, owning it, and doing better the next time.

Here are a few lessons from nine years in business that I wish I’d learned sooner, so you don’t have to.

We hit a 35% profit margin last month.
That’s well above “healthy.” Most agencies would kill for it.

And still…we panicked. 🫠

Because this year, more clients have handed in their notice than in any year before. Some left due to the economy, some because of financial reasons, and some because of the political climate. Most reasons were completely out of our control.

If you’ve ever had a slow season or lost clients back-to-back, you probably know the feeling: that little voice asking, Are we stable enough? Are we growing fast enough? What if the bottom falls out?

Here’s what we’ve learned (and what I hope helps you if you’re spiraling too).

We’ve all seen the hype online about “milestones” every entrepreneur should hit. 10K followers. Perfect engagement rates. Flawless launches in the “right” season.

But here’s the truth: most of those so-called milestones are vanity metrics.

At Champagne Collective, we believe the milestones worth celebrating are the ones that create clarity, sustainability, and actual growth.

So, let’s talk about what’s really worth raising a glass to this year.

Selling should feel easy, and if it doesn’t, you’re doing it wrong. It’s not about being sleazy or relying on outdated sales tactics. It’s definitely not about following a rigid script. So, what is it really? It’s about connecting with the people you started your business to help. It’s about understanding their needs, sharing your genuine passion, and showing how you can make a real difference in their lives. Here are four ways to make selling feel simple!

If there’s one thing that no longer gives me anxiety in my business, it’s money! It wasn’t always this way, though. There was a time when even the smallest financial decision felt overwhelming. As I’ve grown and my business has scaled, I’ve learned that financial success is as much about mindset as it is strategy. Here are the mindset shifts I've relied on to build my 7-figure business!

I hate to break it to you, but if your business isn’t growing, it’s because you’re too afraid to fail! The next time you are afraid to put your best foot forward, I want you to remember what I’m about to teach you.

If you’re afraid AI is going to take your job, think again! I’ve heard so many people say that over the past few years, but it’s never even crossed my mind. I know for a fact that nobody will buy a product or service that was promoted by robot-made content, and here’s why.

If you constantly fire clients, you’re likely not doing enough due diligence during the vetting phase. Here are three things you should consider before you welcome new clients into your world.

We lost five clients in April, and I didn’t lose my shit! Why? Because I knew we would replace those open spots, so there was no point in worrying! The next time you lose a client, try these three things to help you navigate the situation and move your business forward.

POV: You outsource tasks in your business to help you grow. That’s amazing! BUT. . . That doesn’t mean your service provider is responsible for your sales. Your team isn't going to generate six figures in sales for you alone. As a business owner, you are responsible for showing up, engaging with your audience, and driving sales. So, how can you increase sales in your business with the help of your team?