VISIONARY SPOTLIGHT
Photo: Shayla Moulton, betterthanabot.ca
Some people have a gift for making everyone else's life easier. Shayla is one of them.
Usually when Shayla and I chat, it's all business and to-do lists. So it was such a treat to sit down with her on the Rain or Shine podcast (one of the very first podcasts she's ever recorded) and get to know the human behind Better Than a Bot. After 15 years in corporate oil and gas, she built a personal assistant business that gives busy people their evenings and weekends back. So for this Visionary Spotlight, I'm pulling from our conversation to bring you her journey, in her own words.
Tell us about your business and how it started.
Shayla has always been in the business of helping people. She spent 15 years in oil and gas, starting as a front desk receptionist and moving into administrative and HR roles. "I've always really enjoyed helping people and making their lives easier."
But corporate life meant missing moments with her daughter, like school award shows and swim meets, because she had to ask permission to be there, and sometimes it didn't work out. So when her daughter was almost 10, Shayla started her own business. For the first time, she was in control of her own calendar.
She wanted to keep helping people, but in a way that freed up their time. "If I take these skills and help people with the tasks that pile up in their personal lives, I can give them back their evenings and weekends."
What does a personal assistant actually do?
There's a lot of confusion around the term. Many people assume a personal assistant supports your business, but Shayla focuses on your personal life. She meets with clients every two weeks to go over what's coming up, and they hand her a list. That might include booking appointments, managing their calendar, getting quotes for a home project, shopping for a birthday gift, dropping off garage donations, or driving an elderly parent to an appointment.
"No day is ever the same." Some days she's working remotely on back-end tasks, and other days she's out in person with clients. "What works for one client might not be what another client wants, and I love that."
What stops people from hiring a personal assistant?
First, a lot of people don't know the service exists, or they think it's only for the very wealthy. In reality, people who are building their careers while raising small children often need it most.
Second, there's shame. Some clients are embarrassed by how far behind they are, whether it's an overflowing inbox or something else. "We all have areas in our lives where we're not caught up. That's exactly why people like me exist, to get you out of that situation so you feel less stressed and have more time."
How do you figure out what to outsource first?
Every new client starts with a three-month trial. It gives both sides time to get to know each other, make sure it's a good fit, and see where the client is really struggling. Most people come in with a few things they want off their list right away. Then, after a few weeks or months, Shayla starts noticing other areas where she could help, and she'll offer. "A lot of the time they're thrilled. They hadn't even thought of it."
"If you keep showing up, things get better and easier."
-Shayla Moulton, Better than a Bot
What's the strangest thing a client has asked you to do?
Removing a couple of dead bunnies from under a client's deck. (Her husband helped with that one.) Another time, a client asked her to carry 65-pound patio furniture up a flight of stairs by herself. Luckily, someone in the building lent a hand, and she learned to say no to jobs like that, while still offering to find someone who could help.
Photo: Shayla Moulton, betterthanabot.ca
How did you navigate a major setback in your business?
After being featured on Global News, Shayla got a call from a woman who needed help with a scanning and filing project. Shayla said yes without fully understanding the scope. When the boxes arrived, she realized it was far more than she'd expected, and she made the tough call to refund and cancel the project.
"It was a huge learning curve, to really understand what people are asking for, make sure it's something I'm able and willing to do, and not say yes just because the opportunity is there. If it's not the right fit, it's not fair to me or the client."
What's the "Punch the Monkey" philosophy?
Punch is a real monkey at a zoo in Japan who went viral this year. His mother abandoned him as a baby, and the other monkeys wouldn't accept him, so a zookeeper gave him a plush monkey that he carried everywhere and slept with. (Shayla even tracked down the sold-out IKEA plush for her daughter.)
Today, Punch is fitting in with the troop and thriving, and people come from all over the world to see him. For Shayla, that's entrepreneurship. Things are hard at the beginning, and you might feel lonely or unsure which way to go.
What keeps you going on hard days?
Her daughter, who's 14 now and watching closely. "I want her to see that if there's something you love doing or are passionate about, you can pursue it, even if it's hard. She can do hard things."
And she's poured her whole heart into this business. "I love my clients, and going back to my old life isn't even an option. When things are hard, I just have to figure it out, because this life is so much more in alignment with who I am."
What's worked best for landing new clients?
Word of mouth, hands down. "My clients trust me, so they tell their people about me." Beyond referrals, LinkedIn has been a great source, from reaching out and getting to know people on the platform to attending local Calgary LinkedIn events.
What’s something you always do?
Family time, every single evening. Shayla, her husband, and her daughter always do something together, whether it's watching a show, colouring, doing a puzzle, or going for a walk.
How do you wind down after a busy week?
A scheduled weekly nap, and she takes it seriously. "When I was young, I used to think, 'Oh, I have to have a nap?' And now I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I get to have a nap.'"
What was your most memorable early job?
Popping popcorn at Kernels. "No matter how much I showered, I smelled like popcorn for about a year." The lesson stuck with her, though: smile. "People will come to your booth and buy things if they see a friendly face."
Advice for other entrepreneurs having a rough day?
Delegate. Shayla tried to do everything herself in the beginning. "If someone had told me it's okay to ask for help and outsource certain things, I think it would have helped me move forward a lot quicker." Now she works with different people who support her business, and it's taken her so much further.
“Going back to my old life isn't even an option.”
-Shayla Moulton
A resource that’s added value to her journey?
One of Shayla's best sources of new clients, both online and through local Calgary LinkedIn events, where showing up and getting to know people in person has made a big difference.
Shayla's full story, including her services and a free discovery call, can be found on her website and social channels.
Visionary Spotlight
Want to be featured in an upcoming Visionary Spotlight?
Email support@kelseyreidl.com