Community Highlights: Meet Jessica Thomas of Imperative Concierge Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Thomas. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey to entrepreneurship was sort of serendipitous. Before my business was even a thought, I went to college and earned my Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and later a Master of Public Health. 

By the time I started working in my career, I still wasn’t really thinking about creating a business. Instead, I was too busy establishing myself in the healthcare industry, taking on roles that built my skills in program development, quality improvement, and health education. 

However, in the midst of working, I realized one thing: I was suffering from burnout, and I wasn’t the only one. Nearly everyone around me was having difficulty juggling everything on their plates. As a result, I found myself brainstorming ways to better manage my work and personal life, so I didn’t feel so overwhelmed. 

While trying to find a solution for myself, I realized that some of the ideas I came up with could be beneficial to others too. A light bulb went off in my head around early 2015, and I found myself building a concierge company that would offer virtual and personal assistant services. By September 2015, Imperative Concierge Services LLC was born. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’d be fibbing if I told you this journey has been smooth. Building and maintaining a business is much like riding a roller coaster. The process includes plenty of unexpected highs and lows, so it keeps me on my toes. 

In the beginning, one of my biggest challenges was getting my services in front of the right people. It’s easy to assume that everyone is your customer, but they’re not. Once I clarified my target audience, things improved, and my company started to grow. But, of course, scaling comes with its own set of challenges, so I’m thankful that I was able to rely on my experience in quality improvement to guide me. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My company, Imperative Concierge Services, is all about making delegating to Virtual Assistants easy. I understand that entrepreneurs already have a lot on their plates, and the thought of hiring can seem overwhelming. By partnering with us, they don’t have to take on the tedious tasks typically associated with hiring a Virtual Assistant. Instead, they tell us what they need assistance with, and we match them to a Virtual Professional who’s qualified to take on the project. 

What makes me and my company different from others like it is that we’re not just trying to help people delegate. Our vision is to change the narrative surrounding entrepreneurship and the do-it-all-yourself mindset. We want a future where entrepreneurs can work smart and strategically and achieve scalability without the burnout. So, while delegating is a big part of it, encouraging work-life balance and educating those around us about time and money-saving business practices is what we do too. 

I’m most proud of our ability to help entrepreneurs reclaim some of their time, ditch doing work they dislike, and focus on their CEO duties. I’m also excited about launching a Virtual Assistant course to assist those who aspire to work from home and earn money. 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I’d let them know that it’s okay to make mistakes. A lot of times, people are seeking perfection, which can hold them back. However, business is all about trial and error, so if you get it wrong the first time, just do better next time. 

I’d also suggest connecting with and learning from others. Building a successful business requires you to lean on more than just your own knowledge. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.imperativeconcierge.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperativeconcierge/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imperativeconcierge

Image Credits
Aubrey Grace Photography