This Isn't a VA Job. It Might Be the Best Job You've Ever Had.
I'm looking for one exceptional person. Not a task-follower. Not someone who waits to be told what to do. I'm looking for a true right-hand — someone who thinks ahead, takes ownership, and turns my intentions into reality.
If you've ever been told you're "too much" for a VA role — that you care too deeply, overdeliver when no one asked, or ask too many questions — keep reading. This might be your thing.
About Me
My name is Nephi. I'm an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and software founder based in Utah — for now. My partner Fernanda is from Brazil, and we're building toward living abroad, probably Latin America.
I work full-time as a Scrum Master — about 10-hour days. That's my primary income. My career went from mechanical engineering to manufacturing project management to where I am now, which shaped how I think: analytical, process-oriented, obsessed with continuous improvement. I'm a big fan of visual Kanban boards and dashboards — they create undeniable clarity in real time. The businesses are real and growing, but they haven't replaced my salary yet. I'm upfront about that because transparency is one of my core values.
I taught myself Spanish and Portuguese. I'm a competitive powerlifter (recently broke 1,000 lbs total). I completed 75 Hard. I'm a member of GoBundance, an entrepreneur mastermind where I facilitate a local pod. I've traveled extensively — Africa, Japan, the Philippines, Italy, Taiwan, Costa Rica. I'm open-minded, growth-oriented, and always consuming books and podcasts.
I have ADHD. I move fast, I have a million ideas, and I struggle with implementation — not because the ideas aren't good, but because executive dysfunction is real and my time is limited. The vision is there. What I need is someone who can take it and run.
What drives me: impact, connection, and variety. What I value most: kindness, transparency, speed, and playfulness. I like to laugh — a lot. If you can make me laugh in your application or on our first call, that'll go a long way. The agile mindset from my Scrum Master work carries into everything — constant iteration, transparency, inspection, and adaptation. Nothing is ever "done" — it's always getting better. I'm looking for someone who feels less like an employee and more like a partner. Someone who cares personally and challenges directly.
What I've Got Going On
Porch Light (tech startup) — this is the one I care about most. Mission-driven, addressing the loneliness epidemic. We have an MVP, no revenue yet, and I believe this has more potential to make a meaningful difference than anything else I'm working on.
A land flipping business (paused) — proven model. Paused due to costs and time. Could be revived with the right support.
Airbnb properties — operationally heavy for what they return. I need strategic thinking, not just task management.
Long-term rentals — a fourplex and other properties.
Personal admin — a constant backlog of tasks that never get done because I work 10-hour days.
Other ideas waiting for bandwidth — a podcast called Insight in Inmates, accessible Montessori-style education, and more.
There's a detailed briefing section at the bottom of this listing with full context on each business, my challenges, and my daily schedule. That's what you'll use for your 90-day plan.
What You'd Actually Do
I'll give you everything you need to succeed — my vision, my intentions, and what "good" looks like. How you get there is up to you.
Sometimes I'll call with something specific — "research apartments in Uruguay" or "schedule a Mexican passport appointment." But more often, I'll share where I want things to go, and you'll figure out the path. You know the Airbnb numbers need to improve, so you work through Karla (my co-host, who's great) to find solutions. You know Porch Light needs users, so you draft a growth strategy. You see a vendor isn't delivering, so you find a better one. You notice my calendar is a mess, so you fix it. Creativity and problem-solving — not just following instructions.
You'll manage my calendar, triage email, and handle communications on OpenPhone and WhatsApp — often as my voice, which means you need to understand how I think. I use OpenClaw (an AI assistant on WhatsApp) and I expect you to learn it and actively find ways AI tools can improve our operations.
After onboarding, I will not touch a keyboard for business operations. Everything goes through you. We'll connect by phone — twice a day at first, lunch and evening.
Tools: Google Workspace, Hostaway, Airbnb, OpenPhone, WhatsApp, OpenClaw, various AI tools.
Who You Are
I care far less about your experience and far more about how your brain works.
I'm not trying to hire someone less capable than me — I'm trying to do the opposite. I want someone sharper, more organized, and more detail-oriented than I am. I want to pay you well — genuinely above what your skills would typically command locally — because I'm not hiring for a task list. I'm hiring for a brain.
You act first and report back. My biggest pet peeve is "what should I do?" at every step. I'd rather you decide and be wrong than wait and slow things down. There's a story I love: three people are asked to buy oranges for someone's wife. The first just grabs oranges. The second asks the clerk for the best quality and price. The third calls the wife directly, finds out her favorite variety, drives to a better store, and brings them back with a note. I want the third person. They didn't need step-by-step instructions — they understood the intention and figured out the best way to get there. That's what working with me should feel like.
You're radically candid. Tell me when I'm wrong. Push back from kindness. Then execute once we've decided.
You're tech-savvy and AI-literate. I built my startup with Claude. Non-negotiable.
You're a personal development enthusiast. You'd have book and podcast recommendations for me, not just the other way around.
You thrive in ambiguity. Shifting priorities, a dozen contexts in one week, no clear-cut instructions. If that excites you, keep reading.
The Basics
• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• 4–6 hours of daily overlap with US Mountain Time (UTC-7)
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Reliable internet, quiet workspace
• Comfortable with technology and AI tools
If you've read this far and you're thinking "this sounds like a lot" — it is. But if you're thinking "this sounds like exactly the kind of person I want to work with" — I want to hear from you.
Talk soon.
— Nephi
