Meet Gladys Rios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gladys Rios.

Gladys, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in the small town of Camp Verde all I would daydream about was graduating and moving to the Big City of PHX. I was not an excellent student, only a mediocre athlete but one thing that I had the drive for was to work. As soon as I turned 14 1/2 I filled out my 1st application and began working. I juggled school, friends, working (sometimes two jobs) and sports all thru HS and moved to Glendale right after graduation. College was short-lived as I soon found out that full-time work, school, and a social life was much harder to juggle on your own.

Fast forward thru being a teenage mom, technical school, new jobs, being fired, another kid, getting married… Depression and anxiety hit me hard! I had to stop working after a week of constant breakdowns and crying in the employee bathroom, I just knew that something had to change. Being a SAHM was not my thing as hard as I tried I couldn’t get out of the depression and the anxiety was still there. I needed an outlet. All I knew how to do was work and keep busy…. And it wasn’t happening.

I’ve always been a super hard worker. I was always the one who stayed late to get a project done…. Helped clean up after events… Always did more than expected of me… Never complained… Always had a smile on my face… The first to arrive and the last to leave.

So I began helping a local #bossmom manage her social media and bookings on the side. That led to me meeting another #bossmom who needed customer service help for her growing business.

I began to realize how much I enjoyed it and how amazing it was to have found the perfect balance of being home with my kids and still working and feeling independent. So I decided I needed to become my own boss to create a life that truly fires me up inside and one that is completely and utterly LIMITLESS!! Mid-2019 I made it official and created my own virtual assistant business – “I got you Girl!- VA was born. My goal is to help other moms find their business/life balance and enjoy being a #mompreneur.

“It’s a very short life. There is no reason not to go after what sets your soul on fire.”

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Work was all that I knew and it was my need for independence that drove me to always be working. It gave me a purpose. My biggest struggles where learning to cope with my depression and anxiety while raising a child with ADHD and the other with anxiety. I returned to work when my 2nd child was two, then quit because of his separation anxiety. I returned to work 1yr later then quit again when my 1st child’s ADHD almost got her expelled. Went back to work only to have to quit again due to my anxiety. The rollercoaster of trying to find the balance of being home to take care of my kids and constantly trying to dig myself out of the depression was never-ending, it was a vicious cycle. I NEEDED to be home for my kids but I NEEDED to be productive and working to keep myself sane. Becoming a Virtual Assistant has finally stopped the rollercoaster.

Please tell us about your business.
“I got you Girl!” – I found myself saying this often to anyone that needed help so it naturally became the name for my business. I am a virtual assistant specializing in Social Media Management but can help in other tasks too. I have helped permanent makeup studios, website designers, restaurants, non-profits… you name it. I am here to help you build your empire, one task at a time. Because… I got you girl!
Being a small business owner can be overwhelming with a never-ending to-do list and maybe you’re not ready to expand your team, but you could use an extra hand. I can jump in and help with those tasks that are taking up time but not generating you any revenue, so you can spend more time on more important tasks. My heart is in it for those #bossbabes and #bossmoms juggling life and their business. I work with each client to build custom plans based on their needs and goals to help them succeed!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Having a supportive spouse every step of the way has been my biggest blessing. Thru the tears and sleepless nights, he made sure I was happy and that I never stopped until I found my calling. No matter how many crazy ideas I had! He is always by my side rooting for me. I have met some amazing #mompreneurs along my journey that have helped push me past my comfort zones and grow. Louisa at Seductive Beauty & Ink was the first to give me a chance and let me take over her social media which gave me my 1st glimpse at what I could do. I consider Nicole at Brand New Beauty my mentor; whether she likes it or not!- because she has pushed me to grow and believe in myself more than she knows. In order to be successful, you have to surround yourself with people who force you to level up every single day!

Contact Info:

• Website: igotyougirlva.com
• Email: igotyougirl.va@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/igotyougirl_va
• Facebook: facebook.com/igotyougirlVA

Image Credit:
Kayla Cariveau @thearizonaphotographer

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