Why Overthinking Is Costing You Your First VA Client

Lisa Sabala
Oct 13
2 min read

How many opportunities have you lost because you were stuck inside your own head? Be honest.

Congratulations. You just spent 3 hours convincing yourself why you can’t do something… meanwhile, someone else already got hired.

Painful? Yeah. But true.

Overthinking is like standing at the door of your dream job while holding the key… and never turning it. It makes you believe the problem is “not being ready” when in fact the real issue is you not even showing up.

Soooo, to hopefully help you out, I listed 5 things that might help you stop overthinking…

1. While You’re Doubting, Someone Else Is Applying

You’ve seen that VA job post. You stared at it. You opened it five times. You zoomed in on the qualifications like you were about to solve a crime. And then… you closed the tab. Again.

Here’s the thing. Clients don’t hire people who never apply. No matter how “not ready” you feel, your hesitation doesn’t pay the bills. Someone less experienced than you is already in the client’s inbox saying “Hi, I’m interested” while you’re still overanalyzing your grammar in your cover letter draft.

2. Overthinking Feeds Your Excuses

“I’m not techy.”

“My English isn’t perfect.”

“I’m too old.”

“I don’t know how to start.”

Sound familiar? These are not reasons. These are excuses in pretty packaging. Overthinking takes those excuses, polishes them up, and turns them into your personal walls. But walls don’t protect you here… they trap you.

3. Clients Want Initiative, Not Perfection

You think clients are out there hunting for the most flawless VA in the world? Nope. They want someone who takes initiative. Someone who learns fast. Someone who actually replies to the job post instead of overthinking it for 5 business days.

Being “ready” isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about being coachable and reliable. If you can be that person, you’re already ahead of most applicants.

4. Fear Feels Real but It’s Not the Boss of You

Let’s be real. Fear can feel huge. It whispers things like “what if you fail?” or “what if you embarrass yourself?” But here’s the secret... fear is just noise. It can’t control you unless you give it the steering wheel.

No one ever got their first client by overthinking. They got it because they hit “Send.”

5. Your First Step Matters More Than Your First Mistake

The most successful VAs I know didn’t start with perfect portfolios. They started with shaky hands, unsure hearts, and a healthy dose of self-doubt. But they started anyway. And every step forward silenced the noise a little more.

The client who’s meant for you will not find you if all you ever do is think about applying. They’ll find the person who actually did it.

to survive.