Last year was tough.

That tiny invisible thing has turned the world upside down.

Businesses closed.

Many have lost their jobs.

Including our JasSuccess guest tomorrow.

"In March 2020, due to COVID, our company had to shut down its operation. I was unemployed since then."

But she had to sustain their living expenses.

She needed to make a move.

And fast forward to today.

She continuously provides for her family.

Not only that...

She now works in the comfort of their home with a flexible schedule, while being with her family and kids.

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

And it's because of the one huge step that she took (at dahil na rin sa lucky charm nya) 😉

Find out bakit nya nasabi "Lucky charm ko si VAB" sa replay na ito.

Introduction

Find out how an underappreciated employee finds a good luck charm after losing her job due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Discover how Rowena dealt with the situation and turned it into unexpected blessings from freelancing. 

Notable Quotes 

• At first, naguguluhan ako, hindi ko alam saan ako mag sa-swak. Sabi ko, hindi ko pa nakikita, saan ako magfifit talaga. Hanggang mareach ko si Ecom. Nabuhay yung interest ko. Sabi ko, dito ko gusto luminya. In a way, pwedeng magamit ko yung previous experience ko sa trabaho kay Ecom. 
• Pinush ko, hindi ko tinapos actually, hindi ako nakarating kay Bookkeeping sabi ko, wala akong experience. Pinush ko sya, nag send ako ng proposals. May, nagpray ako, sabi ko “sana bago ako magbirthday makakuha ako ng client. June birthday ko, mid-June, dumating na sya.    
• Nag stalk ako sa FLIP, at iba’t-ibang freelance group. Nakikita ko may mga internship. Sabi ko “ano ba tong internship?”. Parang nakakatakot, pagbinabasa mo yung description na ipinopost, nakakaintimidate. Sabi ko, kaya ko ba to?  There’s no harm in trying. Pag hindi ko sinubukan, pano ko malalaman?”,  I joined.
• Nakita ko yung post ni Ms. Jane about sa transcription. Nag join ako,  and when I got accepted, the next day, yung mga sinendan ko ng mga proposals may bumalik na isa.  Kaya ko nasabi na lucky charm ko si VAB, after ko ma admit sa internship, the next day, may nag send  sakin ng offer, wala ng interview, offer agad.  
• Sa transcription, madali lang, pag nabigay mo na yung task, okay ka na, may feedback ka pa kay Upwork. Ang task ko is itatranscribe ko, isa sa mga JSU na guest. I was inspired, Ecom din yung niche nya. Habang pinapakinggan at tinatranscribe ko yung story, sabi ko, “baka eto talaga yung calling nya sa akin”.  Dinadala nya ako sa VAB community, sobrang dama mo talaga yung support.  Hindi basta nag join ka lang ng course, bahala kana sa buhay mo.  Pag feeling mo demotivated ka, may mababasa ka, meron nagseshare ng mga small wins nila, somehow maiinspired ka.  Sa JSU, sabi ko, “ano kaya ang feeling, na story ko naman yung maririnig?”.  Little did I know, after 9 months darating ako sa point, na ako naman magsheshare ng journey ko. Kung papano ako nakarating kay freelance.
• After that was June, merong panibagong internship.  Sabi ko itutuloy ko, nararamdaman ko yung adrenaline rush.  Nag join ako ng another internship which is, VAB admin internship. Doon ko nakilala yung kapwa ko interns, naging friends ko hanggang ngayon.  Marami akong natutunan.  The next day nakareceive ako ng panibagong contract, for my second client.  Again, wala syang interview.
• Sa lahat ng mga pinagdaanan ko, everything is worth it. Pinirepare nya ako for a better future.  May second client nako, puro part time lang kinukuha ko, gusto ko munang itest kung magugustuhan ko sya. Since meron akong few hours left para sa sarili ko, sabi ko kaya ko pa.
• August, nag join kami ng Hustle Challege.  Isa sa mga reason kung bakit ako nag join is, I always wonder how it felt na may magcocoach  sayo. May matatawag ako na, coach tulungan mo ako sa ganito.  Iba yung feeling, kaysa self-study.
• Sobrang laking tulong, ang dami kung napulot.  Then on my third week sa GHC, sa challenge, dumating si client. Winish ko makakuha ako ng higher rate, na achieve ko, sa tulong ng mga natutunan ko sa hustle challege.  Especially, nagkaroon kami ng mock interview with Coach Leora, the next day, is interview ko kay third client.  Lahat ng mga napag-usapan namin, binigay nya sakin na mga points nai-apply ko and nakuha ko sya.  I was really happy.  Kaya ko nasabi na lucky charm kasi feeling ko, three straight in a row,  part si VAB sa journey ko.  Sobrang thankful ako.
• Ang tendency mo pag bago ka is, grab ka ng grab ng dumarating sa iyo.  Hanggang sa mararamdaman mo na, napapagod ka. Totoo pala yung sinasabi nila na burnout, naranasan ko talaga. There were nights na umiiyak ako, kasi napapagod na ako, wala  akong pahinga. For morning, online class yung kids, kailangan ko silang i-assist, tapos magduduty ako. Allthough flexible yung schedule, nakuha ko sa dalawa, isa lang ang naka fixed. Matutulog ako ng  two hours, pahinga, para mag switch ako sa another client. Kailangan meron akong reset button. Even weekends nagwowork ako. Nakaramdam talaga ako na umay na umay na ako sa ginagawa ko. Sabi ko, ano bang nangyayari sakin, parang hindi tama. Na end yung contract ko sa isa, kasi six months lang kami nung first client. Lumuwag yung schedule, nalungkot ako. Sabi ko, eto yung feeling na nagbe-break kayo ni first client. Although, wala  kaming bad blood sa isa’t-isa.
• Gusto ko mag upskill, mag-aral ako ng ibang niche.  Ayoko ma stuck sa isang ganito.  Ang mga freelancers ngayon is, multi-talented, maraming mga skills. Kailangan mo  makipagsabyan, otherwise maiiwan ka. Ayaw ko  namang i-pressure yung sarili ko. Gagamitin ko yung extra time ko para makapag-aral.  Kaso nga lang inisiip ko, ano ba yun? Nag try ako mag enroll ng social media, during that time na tatlo yung clients, hindi ko kinaya.  Hindi ako nakapagbibigay ng output, wala akong time.   
• Luckily, si second client, natuwa siya sa akin. Feeling ko tinest nya ako, naideliver ko yung gusto nyang gawin.  Sa tuwa nya, sabi nya bibigyan nya ako ng maraming responsibility, tinaasan nya ako, which is nagulat ako kasi hindi ko ineexpect. Wala akong bonus, nakakalungkot. Bago matapos yung taon, may nagbigay.  Although little token, at least may nakakaappreciate.  Sabi ni second client is, I’m gonna give you your ring, I’m gonna give you the full responsibility and I will let you decide on your own. Then, gusto nya dumating sa point na hindi ko sya ime-message at all.  Sabi nya, I trust you, alam ko na hindi mo pababayaan.
• Kaya nawalan ako ng client kasi, meron  darating na panibago. Everytime, feeling ko sinusurprise ako ni Lord, sa mga unexpected blessings. Kaya sa mga nawawalan ng pag-asa, hintay lang kayo darating yung moment nyo.  

Rowena Cruz’ Journey to Freelancing

• A graduate of Electronics and Communications Engineering.
• Applied to different companies especially Telecom but wasn’t fortunate. She worked as a technical support representative for one and a half years in a different industry and was promoted as Quality Assurance Specialist, but left because the workplace turned toxic. 
• Moved to a small-scale software company and worked as a help desk support, for more than ten years. Received recognition at first, but the longer she stayed, she felt stuck and underappreciated.
• Her search for career growth and better opportunities, of not living paycheck to paycheck, made her think of working from home but don’t know-how. 
• The pandemic came and in March 2020, her company needed to shut down. She stopped working for a month and felt bored just watching Netflix and not earning at all. 
• Her interest in working from home was ignited once again and discovered VABootcamp from a trusted friend. With the support of her family and without hesitation, she enrolled in the program in May.
• Determined to succeed in freelancing, she studied the lessons every day, though she didn’t finish all of them. Believing in herself, a strong support system, and taking action are her ways of moving forward towards reaching her goals. 
• She joined several internships in the VAB community that developed her online skills and found very supportive fellow interns. In her first internship, she landed her first part-time client, which made her very happy. The second internship also brought her a second part-time client.
• In August, she participated in the Guided Hustle Challenge because she wanted to know how it feels to be mentored by a coach. She applied all the points that she learned during her interview and bagged a third, full-time client. 
• Her first part-time client ended after six months but her second part-time client became full-time. She’s grateful for the unexpected blessings fate gave her.
• She now enjoys a freelancing career in the comfort of her home, managing these two clients and earning more than her previous jobs.

Q&A Highlights

Why was your husband very supportive of your freelancing journey? Does he know anything about freelancing?

Actually, wala  syang idea sa freelancing.  Sa family, ako lang  yung lumihis, nagconvert from corporate to freelance. Sa family nya more on government, sa amin  more on corporate, wala talaga. Lagi syang supportive ever since, every decision na gusto kung gawin, supportive sya. Kahit ano, walang sisihan kumbaga. Pag gusto mo, cge go ka lang.

When he told you, I am going to invest in you, hindi kaba ninerbyos doon, hindi kaba na intimidate?

Medyo, sabi ko, pabor kasi sayo kapag nagsucceed ako.  Sa isang family kailangan supportive kayo sa isat-isa.  Kailangan dalawa yung nagsasagwan, hindi pwedeng isa lang, sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, kailangan dalawa kayong gumagalaw.  Natatakot ako mawalan, ayoko yung feeling na umaasa ako sa isa.  Gusto ko meron akong sarili ko, para if ever may mangyari na hindi mo inaasahan, at least hindi kami pareho na malulugmok.  Meron at meron paring sasalo, diba? Hanggat maari ayoko pong nababakante, alam ko naman na meron pa akong kayang gawin at kaya kong tumulong.  Tulungan lang kaming dalawa.

Wala ka bang things that you need to change in your household? Since yun nga, pandemic, nawalan ng trabaho tapos hindi na corporate and mag-aaral ka pa.  Were there big changes in your family’s routine? 

With regards to adjustment, fortunate ako, yung family ko is very supportive.  Kasama ko yung parents ko ngayon since wala si hubby.  Nag-iipon kami para sa sarili naming bahay.  While he’s away and while I’m still working, sila yung nag oversee  sa mga bata.  During those time na nag aaral ako, hinahayaan nila ako na mag-aral.  Kahit hindi nila naiintindihan yung ginagawa ko, sabi ko hayaan nyo ako sa gusto kung mangyari, and then we’ll see how it goes.

Wala pong major adjustments, kahit before, working naman ako.  Sila naman yung naglo-look after sa mga bata pag wala ako.  Sa housechores, gumagawa ako sa bahay pag may freetime.  Pero most of the time, sila. Importante talaga na meron kang strong support system sa family mo, para magawa mo yung mga gusto mong gawin. Kaming lahat  naman yung magbebenefit.

With regards to the work, when it comes to adjustment with environment, kung nasanay ka sa office, wala masyado.  Yung work ko before, is somehow related sa work ko ngayon.  Sanay ako mag work alone, naiiwan ako sa office, nagduduty ako mag-isa.  Most of the time ako lang sa gabi, weekends ako lang.  Minsan dalawa kami.  Hinasa kami na, you have to fix the issues or problem on your own. Nung nag freelance ako, okay lang, sanay ako nagwowork mag-isa.  Minsan nakakamiss lang na may kausap ka, na four walls lang yung nakikita mo.

Eto ba yung right time na maggagastos ako?

During that time, wala na akong ibang choice.  I don’t wanna go back to the corporate world anymore. Ayoko maexperience yung, travel time na sobrang tagal.  Stressful, yung environment, ayoko na talaga.  Paninindigan ko na sya, ramdam ko naman yung support ni hubby.  Ginawa ko syang challenge kasi pressure sakin, nung sinabi nya, na mag-iinvest sya.  Tinuloy-tuloy ko siya, thankfully, nakapasok ako sa mundo ng freelance.

Job description ng internship is intimidating. Was your experience with the other job description the same, intimidating pero actually madali lang pala?

Yung iba intimidating, pero pag ginagawa mo na, marirealize mo, hindi pala sya ganun ka hirap. Medyo overwhelm ka lang, hindi kapa masyadong familiar sa mga jargon,  terminologies, application or tools na ginagamit. Akala mo mahirap, pero once na sinimulan  at ginagawa mo everyday, hindi ganun kahirap, kaya naman. 

How were you able to breakthrough that intimidation? Pano mo na ipush yung sarili mo na sumali ka parin sa internship?

Ginawa ko po syang challenge, it’s a win-win situation. Pag nagjoin ako ng internship, mabibigyan nila ako ng feedback, kailangan ko yun, experience, pampadagdag ng portfolio. I took the challenge. Nagjump ako, pagdating ko doon, bahala na, gagawin ko lahat ng makakaya ko. And very supportive naman yung mga kasama ko, si Coach Bong, Ms. Jane, susuportahan ka naman nila, hindi naman super heavy yung ibibigay nila sayo na workload. Actually, masaya yung internship namin.

In the corporate world, you said very supportive ang mga kasama mo doon. Would you say, it’s the same experience in VAB? 

Opo, family si Bootcamp.  Iba lang sila ng strategies, mararamdaman mo kay VABootcamp yung warmth, yung pagwelcome nila sayo. Especially mga coaches, ipupush ka talaga nila. Kung ano yung sinabi nila sayo na gawin mo, i try mo lang.  Kapag nag work, go, if not try ka ng ibang strategy.  Just go with the flow and trust the process. Huwag mag madali.

Was there any part in your freelancing journey where you said, “nagsisisi ako na pumasok dito”?

No, definitely not.

When it comes to having changes in your life, kapag uuwi si husband, what’s gonna happen? Would you encourage him to join your freelancing journey and become a freelancer as well or, iba ang gagawin nya?

Tinatry ko siyang i-convince, maybe hindi pa sya ready.  Nag-eenjoy pa sya sa ginagawa nya.

Iniisip ko din naman yun.  May mga couples na side by side nagwowork sila together as freelancer.  Goal ko po yun, which I brought up sa kanya before. Iba pag magkakasama kayo.  At least, makikita nyo together yung paglaki ng mga anak nyo.  Macheherish namin yung moments na magkakasama kami. Let’s just hope kung ano yung will ni Lord para sa amin.

For someone who has been lucky in freelancing, what advice can you tell them?

Kailangan talaga take action, hindi basta-basta lalapag sa harapan mo yung trabaho. Hindi ka babybehin ni VAB.  As a matter of fact, very straightforward ang mga coaches, when it comes to pointers na binibigay nila sayo.  Hardwork talaga ang number one, prayers and faith sa sarili mo na kaya mo.

Is there anything you’d like to advertise? 

Sa mga interested kung sino ba si VAB, visit the page of VABootcamp. Sa mga nalilito kung ano ba ang freelancing, andyan si VAB para i-guide kayo, para ma achieve nyo yung gusto nyong mangyari, kung gusto nyo talagang maging freelancer, pero sasamahan nyo ng hardwork.

What’s the dream?

Aside sa financial stability, gusto ko mashare yung experiences ko sa iba.  Sa mga nagsisimula na hindi nila alam ang gagawin nila, alam ko yung feeling, nanggaling ako dun. 

Ang hirap kaya pag hindi mo alam kung sino yung pagtatanungan mo.  Yung sister ko, na convert ko, ginuide ko sya. Luckily, last week lang, nakakuha na sya ng client.  First proposal, first interview equals first contract.

What is your final advice to everybody, to all the freelancers out there?

Believe in yourself.  Magkaroon ka ng confidence.  Walang unang magtitiwala sa sarili mo kundi ikaw lang.  Number two, strong support system whether family, friends, mentors, coaches.  Surround yourself with good people, who would understand what you’re going through, who would continue to push and motivate you.  Most likely, kapwa freelancer mo rin, magkakaintindihan kayo.  Have faith na darating yung time.  Huwag lang kayo mawalan ng pag-asa.  Maybe na reject ka before, but God is directing you to a better opportunity.