“Everybody ultimately wants to be the surgeon. Ultimately, you want to do the part of bookkeeping, that had you become a bookkeeper and had you open a bookkeeping business.” -Gina Cotner Taking on an assistant can sometimes feel like a burden. When we are already overwhelmed, the last thing we need is a new person in the mix, one we have to train, oversee and constantly course correct to get things done the way we want them to be. Not to mention the additional cost of a new hire. But hiring an assistant doesn't have to be like this. A small shift in mindset can have a dramatic impact on your bookkeeping business. Rather than thinking about the cost and time spent hiring and training an assistant. Imagine how much more profitable your business would be if you spent the time you are currently using on repetitive and monotonous tasks, doing the high-level work in your business.  Gina Cotner, CEO and founder of Athena Executive Services, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career training and connecting the right people with the right businesses. Her approach focuses on finding people to fill your gaps so you can do more of the things you love in your business. Delegating is a skill that takes practice. If you are spending too much time in the minutia of your business and want to get back to the tasks that you love, the tasks you created your business to do, then this is the episode to start a shift in your mindset toward what your business could look like with the right help. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of delegating tasks to free up your time How to let go of the tasks that aren’t the best use of your time The importance of finding the right VA for you To find out more about Gina, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:41 - Gina talks about her career journey 10:25 - The challenges of hiring a virtual assistant 13:41 - Letting go of the tasks that eat up too much of your time 19:10 - How to delegate effectively  21:07 - Finding the right VA for you 27:33 - What to look out for & what to avoid 32:28 - Building a healthy relationship with your VA  37:14 - Getting connected with Athena Executive Services This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event. Introducing the Technology Showcase! If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!   It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern. To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late!