Work Smarter, Not Harder: A Modern-Day Business Tale

Once upon a time, there lived a hardworking business owner who believed that success only came from doing everything himself. He was married with two children—a boy and a girl—and ran an e-commerce store on Amazon, selling over 200 different electronics.

Each day, he would add new products, write the descriptions, and manage his entire inventory. His social media accounts—LINE, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Tiktok and X—were always buzzing with customer inquiries. Some customers wanted to know the features of his products, others asked about discounts. Meanwhile, his email was flooded with supplier communications, delivery tracking updates, and bookkeeping tasks. He had to make sure goods arrived on time and his finances stayed on track.

To manage all of this, he spent long hours at his office. He left home before sunrise and returned after his children were asleep. His wife, emotionally exhausted, held on only for the sake of their children.

One evening, on the eve of the Gion Matsuri festival, he came home late—again. This time, he didn’t make it upstairs. He collapsed on the couch and fell into a deep sleep. By morning, his children panicked and rushed to tell their mother that a stranger had broken into the house. She grabbed a large spoon, ready to defend her home—only to discover that the “stranger” was her husband, unrecognizable due to fatigue.

That moment was a wake-up call.

The business owner sought help from counsellors, who offered a five-step strategy that would change his life forever:

Tasks like replying to customer inquiries and social media messages didn’t directly bring in profits but could lead to sales if done well.

He had a choice: drop what didn’t serve him, delegate what could be outsourced, or redesign how things were done—without shutting down important touchpoints like social media.

He hired two virtual assistants to take over communications, social media management, and admin work—freeing up hours of his day.

With more time, he reconnected with his family. He took them to the movies, out for dinner, and helped his children learn about family values, culture, and etiquette.

He made a promise to never return to the exhausting life he once lived. Instead, he committed to a balanced approach to work and life.

Since then, his business has grown across borders. His family is happier. His children now say he’s the best dad in the world. Most importantly, he discovered that true productivity isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about working smart.

From that day forward, he embraced the power of delegation, and it changed his life.

Want to experience the same freedom for yourself? Hire a virtual assistant today. Reach out to us on WhatsApp, book a call or fill out this virtual assistant request form.