Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Hickle.
Hi Jen, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
I was only 18 when I started my first little business. I taught piano lessons to the kids in my neighborhood. I loved it! After getting married and having babies, I needed to earn more income, but I wanted to be home with my kids. So, I started hiring music teachers to teach lessons and I handled all the billing, invoicing, scheduling, newsletters, recitals planning, and all the marketing. Working from home while raising and homeschooling my 4 kids was a dream come true. I loved the flexibility to be available when they needed me. All my kids have graduated (except for the last one, and she is doing PSEO at Bethel University), and I have a grandbaby. I still love the flexibility to work when I want to and be able to be present for my family.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning a business always has challenges. But each of those challenges has driven me to my knees in prayer, asking God to please show up and show me the way. My faith has grown so much as my little side business grew into a full-service brick-and-mortar music school. We had almost 600 students when we sold it in 2020. (It’s still going strong!). It was another leap of faith to start our marketing agency and get our sole income by selling websites, SEO, and Google Ads. Our marriage has been tested while working together. Chris is wired to protect what we have, and I love to start new things and jump in feet first. We have had to determine how we are each wired to appreciate the other’s strengths. These challenges ultimately brought us closer, and I’m so thankful for that!
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Never Alone Coaching?
I love helping business owners. I love mentoring, writing, and telling them, “We can do that for you.” After about 5 years of owning a marketing agency and working with overworked business owners, I saw over and over that they needed more help. I started advising them to hire a virtual assistant to carry some administrative and marketing load. And it worked! They were so relieved and grateful. Over and over, they asked me, “Jen, where can I find a reliable and trustworthy VA?” And that’s when I decided to start the VA Academy. I teach Christian homeschooling moms how to assist business owners with their calendars, email, bookkeeping, social media, websites, and more. The Academy starts with a 6-month training program where I teach them all the skills and tools needed to help a small business owner. After 6 months, they can stay connected, have a listing on our directory, and be matched to business owners who request a VA. I love bringing together small business owners with reliable VAs! It’s fantastic to see the dynamics when you help people stay in their strengths and do what they do best!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Looking back, I was always a nerd. I loved to read (usually 1 chapter book a day!), I loved creating newsletters on my mom’s typewriter, organizing Bible studies, and leading the neighborhood kids to put on a circus in the backyard. School was boring until I switched to a private school that challenged me. I loved it! I played piano, took lessons throughout school, and then got a degree in music from North Central University. I never dreamed of owning a small business, although it makes perfect sense now! I was born in Iowa but moved to Minnesota before first grade, and I love it here! I met my husband at church– his dad was the pastor, and my parents did all the music. We were great friends for years before I finally gave in and agreed to date him my senior year of high school! We have always loved computers and jumped on AOL when it came in the mail on a disc. We love technology, so it’s been an excellent fit for us to own a business and help other business owners with their digital marketing.
Pricing:
- The VA Academy is $1500 for the 6-month training.
- Custom websites start at $4,000.
- We offer SEO and Google Ad services starting at $1000 per month.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenhickle.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenhickle
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenhickle1
- Other: www.neveraloneservices.com
Image Credits
@Madeline Hickle and @Cati Holker
