Compound Leverage
You get this email because you subscribed to it at compoundleverage.com or are one of our customers or prospects. If you're no longer interested in receiving our emails, you can unsubscribe using the link in the footer.
I get this question every week from my real estate and service business clients:
"Marvin, should I hire a VA? Will AI just replace them?"
Or worse: "I have a VA, but training them takes forever. Should I just let them go?"
Here's what I tell them:
You're looking at it wrong.
The real problem isn't your VA.
It's that everything is in your head. No documented procedures. No systems. Just you explaining the same research tasks, Excel reports, and follow-ups over and over.
So what do you do?
"I'll just do it myself. It's quicker."
Sound familiar?
But that's exactly how you become the bottleneck in your own business.
Here's what I learned from having a VA for over a year:
Your VA doesn't need more training. They need an AI command center.
Think about it - why explain the same task 50 times when AI can remember it once?
Build Your VA's Command Center (Start Here):
Copy this master prompt into ChatGPT:
I'm building an AI command center for my VA who helps with my [type of business].
Their main responsibilities:
- [List 3-5 tasks your VA does]
Their experience level: [beginner/intermediate/advanced]
Help me create:
1. An AI assistant for their most repetitive task
2. Templates they can customize
3. A system to track their productivity gains
Let's start with their most time-consuming task: [describe it]
What information do you need to build the perfect assistant?Real Example - Research Assistant:
After ChatGPT responds, try this specific prompt:
Create a research assistant for my VA.
Task: Competitor research for my [business type]
Current problem: Takes 3 hours, misses key data
Desired outcome: 30-minute comprehensive reports
Build me an AI assistant that:
1. Guides them through each research step
2. Ensures they capture pricing, features, and recent news
3. Formats findings into a standard template
4. Flags important insights
Include exact prompts my VA can copy and use.Your Complete Command Center Toolkit:
For Sales Support VAs:
You're my lead qualification assistant.
When given a lead name and company:
1. Research their business model
2. Find recent company news
3. Identify decision makers
4. Assess fit with our services
5. Draft personalized outreach
Format: Brief summary + recommendation + draft message
First lead: [paste lead info]For Operations VAs:
You're my Excel report assistant.
Transform raw data into insights by:
1. Cleaning and organizing data
2. Creating summary statistics
3. Identifying trends and anomalies
4. Generating visual representations
5. Writing executive summaries
Today's data: [paste CSV or data]
Output format: Dashboard-ready insightsFor Content VAs:
You're my content planning assistant.
Based on my business focus: [your niche]
My target audience: [describe them]
Generate:
1. 20 content topics our audience needs
2. Catchy headlines for each
3. Brief outlines (3-5 points)
4. Engagement hooks
5. Call-to-action ideas
Focus on: [specific pain points]The Transformation Process:
Week 1: Build the first assistant
Pick one frustrating task
Create the AI assistant
Test with your VA
Measure time saved
Week 2: Expand the toolkit
Add 2-3 more assistants
Connect related tasks
Create standard workflows
Week 3: Full automation
VA runs independently
Quality improves
You stop micromanaging
Here's what happens next:
Your VA might need you less for some tasks. That's okay.
You're not just saving time - you're giving them superpowers.
Every AI skill they learn:
Goes on their resume
Increases their value
Opens new opportunities
Makes them grateful
They work harder because you're investing in their growth.
Your Quick Start Plan:
Copy the master prompt above
List your VA's top 3 time-wasters
Build one assistant today (5 minutes)
Share with your VA tomorrow
Track hours saved this week
Bonus: Meeting Prep Assistant
Help my VA prepare for my meetings.
For each meeting, research:
- Attendee backgrounds
- Company recent news
- Relevant discussion points
- Potential questions
- Follow-up actions
Meeting details: [calendar info]
Output: One-page briefThe bigger picture:
You might eventually need your VA less for routine tasks. That's your opportunity - now they can handle bigger responsibilities, freeing you up even more. Plus, you've given them skills that last forever.
That's not replacing people with AI. That's empowering people with AI.
Big difference.
Stop being a teacher. Start being a builder.
Your VA wants to learn. Give them the tools.
Remember - every minute you spend building an assistant saves hours of explaining. Your VA becomes more valuable. You become freer.
Everyone wins.
Marvin
PS: Whenever you're ready, here are three ways to get your time back:
THINK Email Course - Find your biggest time wasters. Free email course reveals how.
THINK Guide - Our data shows people waste 15+ hours weekly on manual tasks. Get the fix for $147.
THINK Academy - We help you implement AI instead of hiring more people. No IT needed. 13 spots left in 2025.