"I want to enjoy yung pagiging bata ng first child ko."

I know you'd agree with me on this.

There's always a silver lining somewhere, no matter how bad the situation gets.

Just like what we're experiencing right now.

You may choose to look at the "nega" side of things. Or appreciate the good that it brings.

Sure, this COVID-19 has caused many to lose their income. For some, they don't have enough supply of food.

But if you dig deeper, the lockdown brought about by this virus has allowed you to do things that you've put on hold before.

Time to read books.

More time to rest.

And more time with your family.

Right?

What I'm saying is...

...there are things that we should be grateful for amidst this troubled time.

Before, kailangan pang mag-leave para lang magawa tong mga bagay na to.

Or worse, mag-resign sa work to have more time with your family.

Just like Marvin.

"Nirerenew yung contract ko. Hindi ko na tinanggap kasi nga I want to enjoy yung pagiging bata ng first child ko."

Find out how he was able to deal with the job loss AND still become a good provider to his family in our JasSuccess interview replay here.

Introduction

Marvin Valencia is an Engineering Graduate. Right after his college, his girlfriend got pregnant. Since he was not a board passer, looking for a job has been difficult at that time. He experienced being discriminated against in a job interview because of the university he came from.

From being a Young Dad, to a Job Hopper and  an Entrepreneur man, Marvin was determined for his family and overcame all his difficulties and struggles he faced.

Now he is a successful freelancer and has more time for his kids, working at the comfort of his home and still providing for his family's needs.

Notable Quotes

• Ang advice na masasabi ko sa mga freelancer, mag invest sila sa gamit nila sa freelancing.
• Dapat consider nila ang freelancing as their business kasi dito sila kumikita ng pera.
• Unang una, mag invest ka sa Laptop o sa PC, o sa upuan mo.
• Pag invest-san mo rin iyong pag kuha mo ng client. And, ng client appreciation. Kunwari ngayon, sa Upwork ako kumukuha, so bumibili ako ng connects.
• Mag invest ka din sa mga courses, puwede siyang free o paid courses na related sa niche mo para maging updated ka at maging competitive ka or mag stand out ka sa niche mo.
• Tapos ibang investment pa, kagaya ng Life Insurance, maybe ganun,.  or paghuhulog ng bahay, or other business na pagkakakitaan pa or maybe mag ipon ka.

Journey to Freelancing

• He is an Engineering Graduate.
• In 2010, after his graduation he became a father.
• He is not a board passer and getting a job that time for him is not that easy
• Until he landed his first job at Makati, he had a hard time traveling at work. From Bulacan to Makati. 
• Then he got a job transfer at Pasay City, still a long way off but still he is determined, it has to work for his family.
• Until his wife decided to work in Qatar, he had to move again to work near their home in Bulacan.
•  This time he worked in a cigarette plant, and the struggle this time is the long hours of work. He had to work for 12 hours,and even weekends he needs to report at work. He is only allowed to have 1- 2 days off every month.
• After a year, his employer offered him a new contract but he refused to accept this offer. Even the job offer and the new position is better still he declined the offer from the company.
• He rested for a month, and then decided to put up an LPG Dealer business, and a poultry feed shop  that lasted for 4 years. He decided to give up this business because of the competition in their area
• And decided to transfer this business near their place, and because their home was near the market he also put a ‘Gotohan’.
• One day, while drinking with his friend, his friend told him that he was only working from home as an online ESL Teacher.
• Out of curiosity, when he got home he searched on the internet about working at home.
• Until he ended up on an Ads of Jason Dulay, he got curious and immediately signed up for a free course. Until he decided to finally joined the VA Bootcamp.
• For 2 months he seriously  took the lessons and finished it. And after 2 months of consistently applying for a job, he finally landed his first job as a social media manager.
• He had this first fixed job offer for $5. And another client for a P10,000 a month only working for 2-3 hours a day. Considering the pay is not that good, but he doesn't lose hope. He still keeps on hustling and keeps on applying. 
• And luckily got his hourly client, for $4 per hour 20 to 30 hours per week and later a month on gave him an increased rate.
• Although Marvin started on a slow and low rate, He did not discouraged. 
• He kept on applying and leveled up his skill until he got his dream rate.
• Now he is a successful freelancer, with an expertise in funnel builder.

Question & Answer

At what point sa company na na-feel mo na, hindi mo na itutuloy ang trabaho mo na ito? Did it take you a couple of month?

Less than a week lang,.. nag decide na ako.  Ang offer niya is less time na, mapupunta na ako nang ibang department hindi na ako dun sa planta, nasa office na ako. Pero hindi ko pa rin tinanggap, naisip ko parang ganun pa din eh,..  magkukulang pa rin ako ng TIME sa anak ko.

Anong nangyari nung sinubukan mo na pumasok sa freelancing? How was it?

Akala ko yung pag apply medyo madali lang. Parang ano din pala para ka din yung nag ta-trabaho, para ka din pa lang nag-aaplay sa isang kompanya. At first parang ganun din.

Paano ka nahirapan? Why did you say na para ka  na rin nag aapply ng trabaho? Did you try to apply in multiple clients? Ganun ba ginawa mo?

Syempre sa simula apply ka ng apply,. Sa isang araw dalawang platform yung  inaapplyan ko.

How long did you try to apply for a job, before you snag your first client?

Nag start ako sa Bootcamp August alam ko,.  so mga September or October ako natapos. November or December ako nagkaroon ng first client.

 Are  you not disappointed? Kasi nakita mo nga mahirap rin pala, kasi para ka din pala nag aapply sa real world ang pag aapply sa freelancing. Were you disappointed at all, napagod ka din ba?

Hindi naman. Yung sa course naman ni Jason, sa simula lang yan mahirap kasi nga hindi mo pa alam, kunbaga bago ka lang, hindi mo pa masyado alam yung mga techniques, kung paano yung pag a apply , yung pagsusulat ng cover letter.

How did you get your first client?

Continuous na pag apply lang, tapos one day biglang,. may offer na ako na natanggap. Hindi na ako na interview through chat lang kami may offer na siya.

Before you landed the first contract of yours, di ba  nag sa submit ka ng cover letter mo, hindi napapansin, How do you feel about that?

Parang challenged para sa akin,  kasi.. basta hindi ako pinanghihinaan ng loob. Kasi baka wala nang kainin next month pag tumigil ako. Kasi nung time na nag ka first job ako sinarado ko na agad  yung tindahan nun.

When you started on your fixed contract, hindi mo ba naisip na parang maliit yata itong nakukuha ko. Hindi mo naisip yung ganun? Were you not disappointed by your income?

Hindi naman. Kasi yung first job naman talagang pang 5 dollars lang talaga so madali lang talaga. Tapos yung 2nd job ko naman is  P10,000 isang buwan 2 to 3 hours a day.  Hindi naman kasi naisip ko 2 to 3 hours lang puwede pa ako maghanap ng iba. So yun nga ginawa ko naghanap pa ako ng iba.  

May nasabi ka na, after a month nag taas, was it you who proposed for an increase or was it the client?

Hindi, yung client. Kasi ang asking ko talaga is $8  pero tinanggap ko pa rin, kasi sabi naman niya after ilang months tataasan naman niya. Tsaka masaya na ako, kasi malaki na yun e.

Initially ba pinag usapan nyo na you will settle for $4, and then mag i-increase nalang after a couple of months? Or did you check to impress your client para mataasan ka ng rate?

Oo, ganun,.panay over delivered.

How many clients do you have right now?

Dalawa.

 Paano mo na ma-managed yung 2 clients? How will you be able to manage them both?

Sa akin kasi, morning person ako eh, minsan gigising ko ng 5am, pagka hilamos, upo na ako, nag ta trabaho na ako. Mas maaga ko natatapos yung trabaho, mas marami akong time para sa anak ko.

How many hours do you work now? How many hours a day?

4 hours, sa dalawang client.

 As a graduate of Engineering is this difficult for you, yung ginagawa mo ngayon?  Nakatulong ba yun na pag aralan mo sa kolehiyo sa ginagawa mo ngaun?

Hindi, Walang koneksyon. 

Even until now hindi muna pinursige ang kumuha ng license?

Hindi na.