“I’m passionate about so many things. I worked as a training consultant for a couple of years clocking in at least 45 hours a week. 

​On the side, I started a passion project called Giving is Social. I really wanted it to get off the ground but there was no way I can manage it while holding a demanding corporate job...

​So I watched how successful people do it—they had people working for them. 'Maybe I can have someone working for me,' I daydreamed one day.

​‘But I’m just an employee!’ I debated with myself.

Then I saw the real cost of my time. It didn’t matter that I wasn't a CEO yet. My time is as valuable as one.

​So, I looked at my potential costs if I continued trying to do everything on my own—the stress, the time with family and friends I’d lose and dreams I won't be able to fulfill. Then I looked at what I was earning back then. I actually could afford to hire a virtual assistant for a few hours a week!

​2013 was the start of my journey working with both a physical and virtual teams.

Through setting up and growing Giving is Social, working with a virtual team, and creating more brands through the years, I've learned on the job about real-life branding, marketing, and business operations. I've complemented my on-the-job knowledge with at least thousands of hours and thousands of dollars of mastermind courses live and online. 

— Joanna Blanding,
Founder & CEO of The Collective, Giving is Social, and The Smart Shopper. Author. Blogger.