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hey
I'M RENEE
THE FOUNDER, MENTOR & ADVENTURER BEHIND RENEE MAREE
ABOUT
VIRTUAL FOCUS
HEY, I'M RENEE
THE FOUNDER, MENTOR & ADVENTURER
BEHIND VIRTUAL FOCUS
Early in my career, I realised working in the corporate world wasn't ever going to be something I was truly passionate about.
I craved a career that offered the freedom to explore, travel, and work on my own terms—something that would fulfil my passion for creativity and adventure.
After exploring various startups and investing thousands into courses on dropshipping, affiliate marketing, and travel blogging, I finally found virtual assistance. This was my lightbulb moment: I could leverage the skills I gained from my corporate roles to make money online.
It started as a side hustle to fund my travels and I’ll never forget the feeling when I got my first client and the courage that came to me. I can actually make money from anywhere! That validation was all that I needed to keep going...
HOW I GOT HERE
It's no secret I love what I do, but it didn't happen overnight..
Building my VA business, Virtual Focus, while working my full-time job wasn’t easy; it was long nights and weekends spent pouring my time and energy into my business. My only regret? Not believing in myself and leaving my corporate job sooner to go after what I truly wanted! The truth is, that starting something from scratch requires consistency, patience, and the determination to show up—even when things get hard. Those challenges were key to my remote work journey. What I didn’t know at the time was just how much I would learn and grow from the ups and downs along the way.
timeline
OF MY JOURNEY
At 21, I set off on my first solo backpacking trip through Southeast Asia for two months. It was during this trip that I realised I wanted to build a career that would allow me to work remotely, so I could keep exploring without limitations. This is where I got bitten by the travel bug, and little did I know, the rest of my 20's would become a decade of chasing adventure around the world.
Inspired by my first backpacking trip, I decided to quit university and fully commit to figuring out how to build an online business that would allow me to travel the world. It wasn’t easy— I tried several ventures — none took off, but each failure taught me invaluable lessons. During this time, I continued working full-time in my corporate job, saving money, travelling for months at a time, and then returning home to save up and do it all over again.
Milestones:
- Quit university (Primary Teaching) to chase my dream career.
- Travelled across South America, Asia, & the Middle East.
Tried and Failed at:
- Dropshipping
- Blogging (Backpack Full of Maps)
- Network Marketing (we've all been there!)
During a travel stint exploring Central America and the Caribbean, I landed my first paying client and made my first dollars online. That moment changed everything! I spent 4.5 months travelling, balancing adventure with my new VA role before returning home to my full-time job to work and save for my next adventure. At this point, I wasn’t quite confident enough to leave the safety net of my 9-to-5 just yet. My remote work journey was only just beginning.
Milestones:
- First Paying Client
- Made my first $ online
- Travelled through Central America & the Caribbean before the pandemic forced me to return home.
- I learned to sail in the Bahamas while working from my laptop.
What started as a side hustle became the stepping stone to an exciting new chapter in my life. With only one client and a lot of determination, I was finally ready to leave the safety net and quit my 9-to-5 job! I took a risk and went all in on my new business, Virtual Focus, and haven’t looked back since.
Milestones:
- Quit my full-time government corporate job in Health.
- Moved interstate during the pandemic, embracing change, growth, and new opportunities.
With my VA business still in its early stages, I set off on another big trip, spending 10 months travelling through the Caribbean and Africa. It was the year I fully embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, balancing adventure with work and growing my online business.
Milestones:
(Both while working 100% remotely in my business)
- Lived on a sailboat in the Caribbean for 4.5 months
- Bought a car in Africa and overlanded 7 countries
After returning home from a massive overseas trip, I was ready to dive in and focus on my business. I became clearer about my services and found my niche in website design, where I could combine creativity and strategy to serve my clients better. I also began 1:1 coaching and mentoring, helping others kickstart their own VA journeys.
Milestones:
- Found my creative niche in website design.
- Transitioned from admin to creative VA
- 1:1 coaching aspiring virtual assistants
I spent the first half of the year travelling through India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Europe, continuing my freelance work as a web designer while living the digital nomad life. Returning home, I shifted focus to building my coaching business, taking on the challenge of building a new business venture from the ground up.
This year was a turning point as I laid the foundations for The Virtual Business Academy (VBA). Balancing freelance web design work with building a coaching business was no joke—I probably bit off more than I could chew! There were moments of self-doubt that made me question everything. Despite these struggles, I kept pushing forward, determined to work towards my vision for VBA.
Milestones:
- Continued living the digital nomad lifestyle while balancing freelance work
- Focused on expanding my coaching beyond 1:1
- Laid the foundation for The Virtual Business Academy (VBA)
Struggles:
- Overcoming self-doubt while juggling multiple business ventures
In 2025, I’ll focus on growing The Virtual Business Academy to help even more women build their dream businesses. It will be a year of growth, not just for VBA, but for the ambitious women I’m proud to support on their journey to remote careers.
As you can see, my journey wasn’t an overnight success. I tried and tested many different paths before finding what I genuinely love to do. Now, this work perfectly aligns with my lifestyle, giving me the freedom to wake up when I want, work when I want, travel when I want, and truly live life on my own terms. If you're ready to live and build your own freedom life, keep on reading.
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READY TO BUILD YOUR DREAM CAREER?
If you're ready to step into a life of freedom, flexibility, and remote work, I'm here to guide you every step of the way!
Whether you're interested in becoming a virtual assistant or want to build an online business that allows you to travel the world, I can help you take the necessary steps to achieve your goals.
Luckily, it's the 21st century, and the rules have changed. You can build a life around your passions on your own terms—whenever, wherever, and with whomever you choose. Millions of people work this way, and there's absolutely no reason why you can't too—you just need to know where to start.
I built my VA business through trial and error, and now I’m here to help you navigate that journey—without the obstacles I faced along the way. By sharing my own experiences and insights, you'll save months or even years trying to figure everything out on your own.
from start to finish
I'M HERE TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, STEP BY STEP, SO YOU CAN SKIP THE OVERWHELM AND GET STRAIGHT TO BUILDING YOUR SUCCESSFUL VA BUSINESS
VA BUSINESS MENTOR
HOW I CAN HELP YOU
Through my templates, training, and signature course—The Virtual Business Academy—I’ll teach you everything you need to set up and grow your freelance business. You’ll develop the skills and confidence to build a business that supports your dream lifestyle while evolving in your remote work journey.
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READY TO START YOUR FREELANCING JOURNEY?
The career and lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of is just a few steps away. I’ve helped countless women start their freelancing journeys—and I’m ready to help you too.
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