Virtual Zen

I’m Marisa, the babe + brains behind Virtual Zen and I teach soloprenurs + small service based bus Welcome to Virtual Zen! Let’s change that.

I’m Marisa and I am so excited you stopped by to learn more about all the tools and services I have to offer you and your business. I’ve worked with over 320 small business owners on accelerating their growth by managing all logistical and administrative elements, program implementation, partnerships and grant management of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, based here in Cleveland, OH. Growing up within a family owned small business, I’ve experienced first hand the ups and downs of owning and operating a small business; A constant balancing act that leaves you working a lot of the time in the business instead of ON the business and its possible growth trajectory. A little more about me and then its all about you! My professional experience ranges from administrative and operational support with Vittoria Inc., a small business franchise, to Human Resource management and recruitment with Target Corp. Within my time at Target, I managed and developed diversely large teams within the highest volume stores in both the Toledo and Cleveland markets before transitioning into the Goldman Sachs small business initiative. My entrepreneurial spirit, passion for making an impact, and belief in small business is what cultivated Virtual Zen. So let’s start balancing your time and business, so you can start building the bigger picture. Looking forward to connecting.

11/10/2023

Raw, reflective, and more myself than ever. ✨

That’s the magic of and its membership community SWELL.

In 2018, I attended my first RebelleCon and it changed my life.

In 2019, I supported the conference while it supported me through a tough transition.

This week, four years later, I returned to to share space again with this community of friends that has become like family.

I feel so lucky. 🥹

as I told you over coffee, I wouldn’t be here without you. My FIRST client and forever friend.

you are such a pivotal player here. Thank you for the fireside belly laughs and that huge heart of yours.

knowing you is a gift in of itself. Sharing cheese and crackers as we chatted chickens and life will truly be a treasured memory of mine.

your smile and spirit light me up! I just adore ya.

the space you curate and the people you connect, the way you imprint your brilliance and love…It really is life-changing. You’ve championed me, taught me endlessly, and on this visit, essentially even housed me 😂 I am forever grateful to have you in my world.

Whether you live in or not, peek - it may be exactly what you’ve been yearning for. It was at least for me. 💕

12/24/2021

My wish for you this holiday…🎄

When my chiropractor’s office called this morning asking “em, where are you?” I responded with pure defeat, “I honestly totally forgot about you”…

From sleepless nights, to Christmas being two days away, wrapping up work before the new year, baby brain (which is so ungodly real) and LIFE, I bowed my head in hard acceptance of my imperfect present.

Yet, instead of guilt, I needed grace.

Especially as I laid horizontal for the make-up session they so kindly opened for me and realized in my haste, I’d also left my bra behind ya’ll 🤷🏽‍♀️

This holiday season, I hope you give yourself the grace that so many of us need right now.

Whether your presents aren't all wrapped, you haven’t picked out the “coveted” word of the new year, totally forgot the thing you went to the store for, searched endlessly for your AirPods whilst still in your ears, or had time to goal set like everyone says you should, know that you’re doing an incredible job and it’s all be f’ing okay!

We’re all doing the best we can ❤️

With love, grace, and holiday cheer, M.

11/19/2021

Big, Beautiful, and FLUFFY…or at least that’s what I keep telling myself 😂

We officially light weight waddled our way into the third trimester this week and with less than 90 days to go, mama is feelin all.the.things!

Current prego realities include ⬇️

👉🏾 old sweatshirts now becoming crop toppy. Sexy I know 😉

👉🏾 acceptance of hard truths; like sleepless nights being here to stay…I’m convinced anyone who says “get all the rest you can before baby comes” has never been pregnant or was chomping on Tylenol PM like tic-tacs while in it.

👉🏾 relinquishing some of my highly coveted independent lady status as it now takes two to tackle getting shoes on over these lil brown sausages I used to call feet 🌭

👉🏾 being out of breath even after zero exertion. A gift truly.

👉🏾 maneuvering the ups and down of losing love for your body whilst also remembering with each baby kick, the out-of-this-world magic happening on the inside ♥️

All in all, we’re healthy, happy, and ready to slowlllyyyy salsa our way through the next 12 weeks 💃🏽

Pss. Im on the hunt for the best baby journals or picture with prompt notebooks/albums to save some special moments in. Found one you love?? Drop it below for me pretty please 😘

07/27/2021

Note to self ✍️

No one is better than you.

They may have more money. Be further along in their story. Have more clients. More followers. More insight. More confidence. More clout…

The truth is. We are all mere mortals, walking in similar directions on different paths. None of any higher importance or value than the other.

Don’t forget who YOU are. What you offer to this world. You’re just as great, as capable, special, knowledgeable, I pinky promise.

Love,

The absolute truth.✨

07/03/2021

When’s the last time you really rested without guilt?

When I started vacation last week I had a laundry list of to-do’s, dreams and things I wanted to get done. I literally visualized each day differently relishing in the absolute joy of being unplugged!

Instead, my body decided horizontal living was our new normal. Napping (multiple times a day) was necessary and being free of obligation or expectation was mentally required.

Have I apologized to my husband this week for being absolutely useless? Yup 💯. But here’s the thing, that guilt has been met by a self-reminder that we are ALWAYS pushing GO. A lot of times even when our bodies are begging us to stop.

Check in with yourself over the weekend. Holiday or not. If your company doesn’t offer Monday off as most do, take it for yourself.

Start planning that extended time off because you really really deserve it and if you go into total 🦥 sloth mode as I have, remember that’s a-freakin-okay too! ✌🏾

05/09/2021

3 ways to easily unwind over the weekend 👈🏾👇🏾

After a mental workout of a week, I’m still coaxing my mind to relax and unwind though the short time we have before the next week unfolds.

If you struggle with calming that brain of yours too, here are 3 easy actions that have really helped me re-center!

1️⃣. Take a car ride 🚘but with no directions: One of my favorite pandemic past times has been getting in the car with a good cup of coffee, and hitting the road no destination in mind.

With one task required (to drive) it gives my brain time to rest, resolve and just be. Every single time, I’ve returned feeling more at ease uncluttered than when I left. Go however far you feel comfortable but at minimum, if you can swing it, I’d highly recommend giving it a try.

2️⃣. Cook or if a wanna-be baker like me, bake something sans instructions 👩🏾‍🍳. If your inner type A won’t let you go balls to the wall here, choose a favorite recipe you’ve done and a ton, but this time, try to make through memory and taste.

You can look up the basics, but after that, let creativity be your guide. (Literally about to go make something chocolatey with coconut and strawberries 🍓 )

3️⃣. Do something for yourself. ANYTHING. Could be as easy as taking an extra long shower 🚿 or reading that magazine you’ve been dying to get to.

I sat for 15 mins today, just inhaling the cinnamon scents off my homemade cappuccino, slowly sipping while savoring the rare moments of silence in the house. It was beyond glorious 😂.

Truly wishing you the same simple joys and mind-freeing fun while you recharge through the weekend✨.

02/13/2021

If you would have told me THIS a year ago, I’d likely have laughed and moved on...

This month; 365 days prior, I sat around a large oak table with 9 brilliant, ambitious women longingly looking at the desert hills🌵joking about my need to saturate my brown body with sunshine before heading back to the Ohio winter chill.

We talked dreams and life and when I was asked what I envisioned, it was to to call this palm swaying place home. I of course prefaced with this being a *pipeline plan.

Immediately they asked me WHY? I was baffled! Em, money, mortgages, moving across the county...it just wasn’t plausible. They encouraged me to dream bigger, because to them, it sure as hell was.

Tomorrow we head back to Ohio after spending the last month in Arizona. You’ll notice I didn’t input back*home, because truthfully OH doesn’t feel like home anymore.

Our hearts 🤍and plan to relocate are pumping full steam ahead as we prepare to be official residents by year end.

Takeaway uno: Surround yourself with dreamers and doers who love and push you to unveil the endless possibilities that life has to offer. Never.ever let them go!

Takeaway dos: Stop making excuses and just f*ing do the damn thing.

What’s ☝🏾 dream that’s become or ( is becoming ) a reality for you? Let’s drop it in the universe and fuel it forward together!!

Photo cred to this gem:

02/12/2021

“Marisa gets s**t done” ✨

Truly the best 4 words my boss could ever bless me with. See as an Integrator, that’s my job and you better believe I pride myself on taking an end goal, reverse engineering it, and pulling all the puzzle pieces together to make it a reality.

I was trying to explain “what an Integrator is” to a close family friend the other day and If you’re also scratching your chin thinking 🤔 “please explain” well, you’re in luck!

Here’s my best analogy and stick with me folks, it’s a solid one.

Visualize a volleyball team for me. The “visionary” starts every match (idea) with the first serve.

The ball or action items to make that idea a reality is passed around the court to each player ( team member).

The Integrator is that guy you see hustling around the court, keeping the ball above the ground, ensuring it’s passed to all the proper players.

Once ready and in position to score, the Integrator sets the ball and the visionary spikes it on over. Point!

See, not so bad after all 😉

Now tell me, are you an Integrator or a Visionary? 👇🏾 If undecided but curious, I’d love to know that too! I’ve been noodling on writing a blog post on the topic and want to know if you’d be down to learn more ☺️

📷:

01/18/2020

This human here has and will be one of my greatest teachers in this lifetime👈🏾
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It’s funny because I still get asked, “how the heck did this all happen?” and my response is always, the universe and a lot of hard work. Which I believe with every bone in my body.
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Our story of finding each other in such different seasons of life will forever be one of my faves; because it taught me that every single thing we put energy into matters!!
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Deciding to say NO to joyless jobs and YES to creating a life I love! Taking that 50% pay cut to shift fields and start a new path supporting small businesses. Believing in myself enough to start + build a business.
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All stepping stones to my current reality 🖤
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Please don’t for a second perceive my life or path to mirror any form of perfection. It isn’t and nor is anyone else’s. More so, I hope you read these words, take a breath, and refuel your belief that you have everything you need to make moves 👊🏾( even if they feel minuscule )!!
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Mind matters. Just as much as great guides do.
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Got a game changer in your life too? Share some love and tag em below👇🏾
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Photo cred to the beautiful and 📸

01/10/2020

I felt it hard👇🏾
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I had an experience last week that wrecked me. Like one of those fist pounding on desk, ugly cry kinda wrecked.
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In the moment, I couldn’t see any light. But here we are and I can tell ya truthfully that that experience wrecked me in the best, most beautiful way.
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Becoming aware of yourself and how you project internalized narratives onto others feels like ripping off bandaids on old wounds that haven’t breathed in a long time. It’s fricken FREEING!
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I mean, who else is tired of their own s**t ??!
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I’m not ashamed in the least to admit that my internal work is next level ready and that means, stepping back into therapy to work through closing past chapters, being accountable to the way in which I feel and living a fear-free life.
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This year is MY year! It’s about being the best ME I can possibly be. Ya with me?
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Whether mental, physical, knowledge based, what goals have you set for your personal growth this year?👇🏾 Let’s cheer each other on!!!

01/06/2020

This is a lil meaty, but stick with me!
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Hello sweet world, it’s me, Marisa! I've been behind the scenes scrolling with love and admiration of your accomplishments, and in awe of the goals you’ve set for the year ahead.
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I used to feel such immense pressure to show up and share all of the same things within these teeny tiny squares; but now in days, my mind wanders towards different things. ! Ya get me?
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Science was probably right when they said your self-concept solidifies in your late 20’s because as I approach my next decade of life, I feel more in tune than ever before.
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Virtual Zen is evolving and so am I, the typer behind the text, the heart and human behind the screen; but let’s pump sed breaks for a minute as this isn’t totally about me!!
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If you’re new here or have been following along since day one, here’s what you can expect as we continue to put up virtual high fives and support + learn from each other whether strangers or not!
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Ready to outsource and hire a Virtual Assistant but have no idea where too start? Ya came to the right place! Head to my link in bio to snag my “VA in a Day Guide”!
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Not sure if a Virtual Assistant, Personal Assistant or Executive Assistant is right for you? Link in bio to take the Quiz and rock the right next steps!
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Havn’t found great resources on building the backend of your online business or breaking into the remote work space? I’m pinky promising quick action biz blog magic each month! Need help setting boundaries in your business so you don’t burn out this year? Head to the blog right meow!
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Virtual Zen no longer provides 1:1 services; but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue the conversation around bringing balance to your business as you build and grow.
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Interested in sharing specific topics you’d kill to explore more? Drop em below👇🏾
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Need a few top notch VA recommendations? You’re always welcome in my inbox. In the meantime, how about we cheers it out🥂

12/25/2019

From our family to yours, wishing you all the joy, laughter, warmth, and love🖤

Address

Cleveland, OH

Website

https://linktr.ee/virtualzen

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