VV TALENT IN THE aXia SPOTLIGHT
At aXia Consulting we strongly believe in helping small to medium enterprises. Each month we will interview a business owner to find out more about his/her entrepreneurial journey, the business as well as to get some advice from a fellow business owner. This month we are shining the spotlight on Debbie Vorster from VV Talent:
Tell us a little about your business and your background
VV Talent was launched in 2019. I experienced both internal and external recruitment during the course of my career and it was time to really test myself. VV Talent offers a personal touch to recruitment, and I would classify my business as a boutique style service. I offer clients the opportunity to engage with me on a strategic level. I also offer one-on-one coaching to candidates to educate and guide them through their job-hunting journey.
I’ve found that within my career there were certain barriers that I wanted to break through, and, in the end, an entrepreneurial approach was the answer to many roadblocks within the recruitment space. I was finally able to work with my clients the way I wanted to. If I wanted to spend an hour on the phone with a candidate to coach and motivate them not to give up their pursuit of success, then I could do that. If I wanted to give my client advice on how to interview or how to structure their recruitment process, then I could – free of charge.
We often want to spend every waking hour focusing on money-making activities BUT sometimes we have to build and nurture relationships instead. You are essentially tending to your fields to later reap the reward of your harvest.
I wanted to run this business MY way. To prove to myself that what I have to offer and how I think this industry should work, actually WORKS!
I believe this is something that every person should experience at least once in their life. To realise that YOU created and executed this amazing thing – that is pure joy!!
What/Who inspired you to start your own business, and how has that initial inspiration evolved over time?
A few years ago, I received a call from another independent consultant who wanted to offer me a role working as an independent contractor for her company. I declined the offer but she did not relent for 2 years. She believed I could do this and kept checking if I would change my mind. She kept saying to me “Debbie you can do this” after meeting me once and for only 30 minutes! Let’s just say that I wasn’t as confident as she was.
It took me 2 years to make the decision to say “Yes”, then I took a leap of faith. I’ll be honest, it was slow and scary in the beginning. I regularly woke in the early hours of the morning, covered in a cold sweat. I kept worrying that I had made the wrong decision and wondering if I should just go back to my previous job.
Then came a massive shock. The owner of the company that had just hired me, broke the news that she would be emigrating to New Zealand. If I wanted to continue being independent, I had to go at it completely alone. She reassured me that I would be able to do this, but honestly, at that stage I had no other choice. I could have re-entered the job market and I would have been ok, but I wanted THIS. I wanted this more than I realised and it was then that I knew that come hell or high water, I would not let myself fail.
As she left SA and with a handful of clients in my pocket, VV Talent was registered. It was time to just put my head down and get on with it. Today, almost 5 years later, that handful of clients (who carried me through Covid by the way) are still my loyal clients today and I could not be any more grateful.
Today I truly believe that I was meant to do this. I regret ever doubting myself. But one does not simply start a business, you need a nudge, a push or sometimes a shove in the right direction. Timing also makes a big difference.
I am glad I waited to start my business later in life. That maturity and experience meant that I was able to persevere. I had the determination and drive to transform into what I have always wanted to be – a confident and competent business woman!
What is a challenge you’re currently facing and what do you think will help you overcome this challenge?
The challenge is simple – do I expand or do I stay boutique? To grow or not to grow. I am in a very privileged space, and I appreciate the hard work that it took to get here so why not just stay here? However, I am beginning to experience recurring situations where I have to juggle multiple tasks. I often work 12 hour days because I want to help more clients and candidates as the demand is there but I am just one person and there is only so much that I can do.
Can you share a significant milestone or accomplishment that you are proud of achieving in your business?
Covid!! 100% Covid!! I started VV Talent the year before Covid took the world by storm. I was doing very well by the end of 2019 and then 2020 hit. And boy did it hit hard. I suddenly found myself in a position where I had to maintain two incomes with VV Talent. Self doubt quietly crept in. I had to think outside the box so I came up with the idea of an additional service offering.
In addition to working specs for clients, I created a candidate coaching service. I would do online sessions with candidates to create perfect CVs and I gave them career guidance. I taught candidates how to job hunt and how to interview. It was an amazing and a very rewarding journey for me. Candidates were at home with not much to do and they really appreciated that personal touch. I did over 15 sessions on some days but I learned so much and eventually I built a system that I was able to teach to an apprentice.
Ally, a young, bright-eyed and wonderful student is now my right hand woman. She designs the CV layouts and together we write the content. Whilst I am still involved in the writing of the CVs, I am so delighted to say that Ally has now established a second business alongside VV Talent. We now have a very special and unique touch to what we offer.
Not only did VV Talent survive Covid, but we created another income stream and the demand is only growing. Many competitors offer CV revamps but unfortunately they are either very over priced OR very impersonal and this is exactly what we are overcoming with our service. Keep it simple, then expand.
The most rewarding feeling in the world was to see Ally grow and develop into the amazing side-kick that she is today!!
How do you stay motivated and inspired during challenging times in your industry or market?
I believe that each of us has something inside of us that drives us forward. That one thing that no matter how crappy you feel, you get out of bed and you keep going. Mine is a combination of:
- refusing to accept defeat,
- my family, and
- my clients and candidates
It may not seem profound but it is very real to me. I never want to disappoint myself or anyone else.
That does mean that from time to time in my life I have had to step back and check if I am not overworking myself or beating a dead horse. I’ve had health issues. Nothing major, but issues due to not looking after myself properly. It is easy to allow hours to fly by while working. These times were particularly challenging. Couple that with some personal life challenges and it can really make you want to just throw in the towel. It’s so much easier to just stop fighting. To go back to what you had. To leave all this behind and write it off as a learning curve and never try again.
But then the words of ‘In My Blood’ by Shawn Mendes pops into my head, I think about how my father ran, and inspired me to run, the Comrades. I think about the image of my frightened 11 year old daughter taking a hit to the face in her first netball match then she just pushed her glasses back into place and got back to the game. I think about my candidates’ or clients’ Thank You messages. Then I refuse to be defeated. My brain switches to work mode. I start by repeating the recipe over and over and over and before I know it: invoicing and happiness!!
People depend on me and I depend on them.
What is your approach to building a strong brand presence, and how do you differentiate yourself from competitors in your industry?
In one word: RELATIONSHIPS.
I don’t believe in a ‘one size fits all’ approach. My service is personalised to each client and to each candidate’s talent journey. I will work in the way each client prefers and I will guide a candidate at their own pace. I simply make sure that my processes are flexible enough to suit the client or the candidate. My ability to work with and alongside clients, strategising and creating success is my value add.
When I place a candidate and the client is genuinely happy for me and I for them, then we both win. Often after speaking to a client I have to remind myself that this is a client and not a friend just calling me to ask for my help – what a lovely relationship to have.
Relationships. It sounds so simple because it is. If a client feels like they matter, like their business matters to me, then I am part of their team. They almost see me as an employee or as a division that forms part of their business.
How do you prioritise and manage your time effectively as a small business owner wearing multiple hats?
In my business it’s less about wearing different hats and more about navigating through various stages of the process. It’s being able to move back and forth when necessary and then being able to identify obstacles and predicting where to apply more energy. It is constantly re-adjusting and being flexible.
As I navigate through each task, I do what is required. I have to ensure that both sides are getting all the necessary info. Being open and transparent is sometimes a juggling act but I get to be front and centre when someone’s life is changed. I really do love my work. I feel so blessed to be able to do this every day!
What words of advice would you have for someone wanting to start their own business?
I very rarely offer advice outright. Before I offer any advice I would rather ask the person why they think they want to start a business and then try to get to this answer with them. I would get to the root of their motivation because I believe the best advice would be that there is no substitution for motivation.
No amount of advice or knowledge can replace motivation. You might get a good start with knowledge but you will never see it through without motivation. Understand why we do what we do and why we want the things we want then align this with your passion. Then it’s all about applying massive action!! Thank you Tony Robbins!!
Looking ahead, what are your future goals and aspirations for your business?
I would like to join forces with a partner that can offer me resources to grow my business.
Simply put, I am looking for a partnership to ensure VV Talents’s future. One that gives me just enough space to run my ship but also the opportunity to collaborate with a team that offers leadership and guidance, especially when it comes to strategic business planning. Soon the time will come where I would need to level up VV Talent so I want to be ready and prepared.
I thoroughly enjoy working with clients and at the moment this is my core focus. The tide rising and I am excited to see the opportunities ahead, because I know it’s coming.
Keen to get in touch with Debbie? You can reach out to her on email or LinkedIn.
Are you keen to have your own business featured? Click here to complete the form and we will get back to you soon.
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