In this episode of Task Me Anything, host Adam Duffus sits down with Jim Hilston, Director of Hilston Wood Floors, one of Brisbane’s most respected names in custom timber flooring. Jim shares his fascinating journey from working with horses and playing polo in the UK to building a premium flooring business back home in Australia. More importantly, he opens up about the critical role virtual assistants now play in keeping his business running smoothly. Jim highlights how partnering with VA For You helped him overcome the staffing challenges typical of small trades businesses, enabling him to focus on growth and client satisfaction. This episode is packed with valuable insights for any tradie or small business owner looking to scale without burning out.

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 — Introduction
Adam Duffus introduces the episode, his guest Jim Hilston, and sets the stage for the discussion about craftsmanship and scaling businesses with virtual support.

01:30 — Getting to Know Jim
A fun Q&A session with Jim, covering his go-to comfort food, hobbies, first job working with horses, and love for polo.

05:00 — Jim’s Journey into Flooring
Jim recounts how his experiences in the UK led him into the flooring industry and the choice that shaped his career.

07:00 — Polo and Commentating
A lively conversation about Jim's polo playing and commentating career, including memorable interactions with the British Royal Family.

09:00 — Challenges in Managing a Small Trades Business
Jim discusses the unique challenges of finding and retaining reliable administrative staff in a small business setting.

10:30 — How Virtual Support Transformed His Business
Jim explains how partnering with VA For You and his virtual assistant, Dilshan, has dramatically improved scheduling, client communication, and overall operational efficiency.

13:00 — Advice for Young Tradespeople
Jim shares advice for tradies struggling to balance hands-on work with business administration and how virtual assistance can be a game-changer.

14:30 — Closing Thoughts
Adam and Jim wrap up, discussing future plans for scaling virtual support within trades and celebrating the strong working relationship between Hilston Wood Floors and VA For You.

In this value-packed episode of Task Me Anything, host Adam Duffus, Managing Director of VA For You, sits down with Emma Goodfellow, Director of Property Management at RE/MAX Results Bayside, and Eran Chamil, Country Manager for VA For You in Sri Lanka. Together, they dive into how virtual assistants (VAs) have revolutionized the way property management operates — helping scale operations, strengthen team culture, and deliver better service.

From funny tenant stories to culture shocks, the episode keeps things light while delivering real-world insights into how integrating VAs has allowed RE/MAX Results to scale past 1,000 properties and retain long-term team members. Emma and Eran share their unique perspectives on what makes this partnership so powerful and sustainable.

📌 Episode Breakdown:

• 00:00 – 01:00
  Intro & Guest Introductions
  Adam introduces the show and welcomes guests Emma Goodfellow and Eran Chamil, highlighting their roles in property management innovation.
• 01:01 – 02:30
  Icebreaker Fun
  Emma and Eran answer quickfire questions—from favorite apps to funny maintenance requests and dream job swaps.
• 02:31 – 04:15
  Cross-Cultural Work Styles
  Eran shares how working with Australian teams revealed surprising differences in standards and workflows, especially around compliance and processes.
• 04:16 – 06:30
  VA Integration & Business Growth
  Emma discusses how VAs have freed up property managers to manage more properties and build better client relationships, while also supporting BDMs and admin functions.
• 06:31 – 08:00
  Team Culture & Retention
  Emma credits strong team culture and VA integration with RE/MAX’s impressive staff retention. Eran reflects on how being treated as part of the team makes a big difference.
• 08:01 – 09:30
  Measuring ROI & Growing Portfolios
  Key metrics include the cost-benefit of VAs and the increased capacity per property manager. VAs help push portfolios to 250–300 properties with confidence.
• 09:31 – 10:00
  Advice for Hesitant Business Owners
  Emma encourages others to revisit their perception of VAs—emphasizing how they can be trained for nearly any task and are integral to long-term success.

Why Listen?
If you're in property management or business operations and are curious about how VAs can supercharge your team, this episode offers first-hand insight into real-world impact, culture-building, and the future of remote support in real estate.

In this powerhouse episode of Task Me Anything, host Adam Duffus is joined by the unstoppable Hayley Van de Ven, founder of the Limitless Group under RE/MAX Results. With over 4,000 property sales and two decades of experience, Hayley shares how she scaled her real estate empire — while saving $1 million in wages and doubling her revenue — by strategically implementing virtual assistants (VAs).

Hayley gets candid about the failures of her first VA attempt, what made her try again, and how the second time around became a total game changer. This episode is a must-listen for business owners and real estate professionals looking to scale sustainably with systems, people, and purpose.

🧩 Episode Breakdown

0:00 – 2:00 | Intro & Icebreakers
Adam introduces Hayley, setting the tone with fun questions about theme songs, celebrity homes, and her real estate heroes.

2:00 – 5:00 | Hard Lessons & Real Talk
Hayley reflects on the worst advice she received early in her career — and why there’s no such thing as a magic pill in real estate success.

5:00 – 7:30 | Scaling from 4 to 120 Team Members
Hayley reveals the keys behind her rapid team growth, her mindset around mistakes, and how taking big leaps has fueled her journey.

7:30 – 10:00 | VAs: From Failure to Formula
A brutally honest look at her failed first attempt with VAs — and how the right strategy, training, and partnership turned things around.

10:00 – 12:30 | Saving $1 Million with VAs
Hayley breaks down how VAs have replaced overhead roles, boosted efficiency, and allowed her team to deliver better service without burnout.

12:30 – 14:30 | Culture, Retention & Empowerment
Why giving team members VA support has improved work-life balance, driven productivity, and become a cornerstone of Limitless Group's strong culture.

14:30 – 16:00 | What’s Next for Limitless Group
Big plans ahead: a new head of sales, a deeper focus on data, and even more VA roles to help drive lead gen and team growth across Queensland.

🎯 Key Takeaway:
Virtual assistants aren't just a cost-saving tool — they're a growth strategy. Hayley shows exactly how to integrate them the right way to scale smarter, faster, and stronger.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re serious about building a business that’s both profitable and people-first.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to go Limitless with VAs!

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Task Me Anything, host Adam Duffus welcomes Sam Devlin, Managing Director and Principal of Harcourts Property Centre. With over 18 years of experience in real estate, Sam shares his journey, insights on business growth, and how Virtual Assistants (VAs) have revolutionized his operations. From maintaining clean data to streamlining contracts and accounts, Sam discusses the impact of VAs on efficiency, employee happiness, and business scalability. Plus, hear his take on the best (and worst) real estate advice, the value of lead generation, and whether he'd rather face a horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses!

Episode Breakdown

• [00:00] Introduction
  • Adam introduces the episode and guest, Sam Devlin.
  • Background on Sam’s role at Harcourts Property Centre and his success in real estate.
• [02:15] Icebreaker Questions
  • Sam's go-to emoji and who he'd want with him on a deserted island.
  • Fun debate over the worst real estate advice he’s ever received.
• [05:00] The Role of Data in Real Estate
  • Why clean data is crucial for business growth.
  • How Sam’s team uses VAs to maintain data integrity.
• [08:20] VAs in Business Operations
  • The impact of VAs in finance and accounts.
  • How VAs support contract processing and reduce workload stress.
• [12:00] Lead Generation & Scaling with VAs
  • How VAs contributed 1,600+ leads to Sam’s business.
  • Why real estate agents should leverage VAs for better efficiency.
• [15:30] Misconceptions About VAs
  • VAs are not just about cost-cutting but improving productivity and employee satisfaction.
  • How they allow employees to take time off without business disruption.
• [17:30] Advice for Real Estate Agents Considering a VA
  • Key considerations for agents writing $250K+ in sales.
  • Why starting with a VA can optimize existing business processes.
• [18:45] A Fun Closing Question
  • Sam flips the script and asks Adam a quirky hypothetical question!

Tune in to discover how VAs can transform your business, boost productivity, and create a more sustainable real estate operation!

👤 Host: Adam Duffus, Managing Director of VA for You
🎤 Guests: Anna Kate (Harcourts Property Center), Jerome (VA for You)

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this debut episode, host Adam Duffus sits down with real estate powerhouse Anna Kate, who made waves in 2024 by generating over $700,000 GCI in her first year as an agent. Joining them is Jerome, Anna’s trusted Virtual Assistant (VA), who plays a key role behind the scenes.

Anna shares why she hired a VA from day one, how it freed her up to focus on high-value tasks, and why clean, structured data is the secret weapon in real estate. Jerome gives insight into his work and the game-changing impact VAs can have on business growth.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a VA is worth it, this episode is packed with real-world insights on leveraging virtual support for maximum efficiency and success.

📌 Episode Breakdown:

🔹 [00:00] Introduction

• Welcome to Task Me Anything
• Meet Anna Kate (real estate agent) & Jerome (VA expert)

🔹 [02:00] How Anna & Jerome Met

• Anna’s journey from assistant to top-producing agent
• Why hiring a VA was a priority from day one
• Jerome’s background at Google before joining VA for You

🔹 [05:00] The Real Estate VA Advantage

• How a VA helps agents scale faster
• The importance of clean data management
• How Joanne (Anna’s second VA) handles cold calling & lead generation

🔹 [10:30] Overcoming VA Hesitations

• Addressing concerns about offshore cold callers
• How Anna’s VA won her a listing in Birkdale
• The ROI of hiring a VA (hint: just one sale per year covers the cost!)

🔹 [15:00] Communication & Training with a VA

• How Anna manages her VAs through WhatsApp & voice notes
• Why a VA isn’t just an assistant, but a business partner
• Real estate agents: Are you making 150+ calls per day? If not, a VA can!

🔹 [18:30] Final Advice for Agents & Business Owners

• Why systems and support are key to success
• Anna’s offer to chat with agents considering hiring a VA
• How to connect with VA for You for a free consultation

👉 Tune in now and learn how a VA can take your business to the next level! 🎧✨