Transcript
Speaker: Long -term client is a bad thing. And goal is to have a long -term client, you know. Yes. So, yeah, you know, it's a whole center. Stability. Stability, yes. So, a long -term client, project, project, and data entry.
Speaker: It's been more than a year since COVID -19 hit. We were forced to stay at home for hours and our family's safety. During this time, many employers moved their business setup into home -based instead of office -based in order for the business to survive. On the other hand, online freelancers like me were grateful to have a job online when the pandemic hit.
Speaker: Online freelancing can be long -term, short -term, project -based, fixed rate, or hourly. I am one to experience these setups in different clients. Long -term freelancing gig provides assurance that you will always have a paycheck every month. The question is, is there actually a downside to being a longtime online virtual assistant to just a single client?
Speaker: In this episode of Above Ruby's podcast, we welcome our guest, Melo Silistial, a V8 to a client for years. We'll talk about how she started her online career and her experience as a long -time employee to a virtual client. We'll also talk about how she's now using this experience to teach other aspiring virtual assistants.
Speaker: Thank you for listening above Ruby's podcast, created by a mom for every mom and parents for that matter, embracing parenthood and sanity. Here to help you get by through weekly discussions and parenting, relationships, home and faith as you juggle daily in life.
Speaker: Okay. Hi, welcome to Above Ruby's podcast, where we talk about working from home, faith, parenting, relationship, and sanity. I am your host, Lynn, and with me is Melo Silestial, a fellow work from home mom, and she has been working from home since 2011. Wow.
Speaker: and is currently working as a virtual assistant slash customer service supervisor with a client based in Canada. She started creating content mid -February also for her YouTube channel. And to spice it up further, she also started podcasting, which we will talk more about later as she helps to inspire newbies and experienced virtual assistants with her content. Hi, Melo. How are you? Hello.
Speaker: Good afternoon, good morning, good evening. Wherever you are. Thank you for your time, and I know Nakhalaylan rescheduled Taeyo. Finally, it's here again. Now, let's talk about your freelancing journey. Can you walk us through that? How did you start? Because I'm pretty sure, I started in 2012 then, so Nakhalaylan.
Speaker: one year. I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in YouTube, but I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups, I don't want to be in Facebook groups,
Speaker: If you have a long -term client, the goal is to have a long -term client. You have to have a long -term client.
Speaker: project -project -lung, data -entry, cold -coding, marketing, marketing, and so on. I think it's important for us to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able
Speaker: I think that China will invest in the computer, but China will invest more in the internet connection, because it's my client now. It's before the internet came to White Tribe. I don't know why it came to White Tribe, but China will invest in the computer, but China will invest more in the computer.
Speaker: Yes. So, in the end, I don't know how to say it, but it's a bit of a challenge for me, because I'm a client, but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it, but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it, but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it, but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it, but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it, but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it, but I don't know how to say it.
Speaker: Two weeks ago, when I was a kid, I was a kid, and I didn't know anything about it. I was 2 years old, and I was a young girl. So I was a kid, but I didn't know anything about it. So I didn't know anything about it. So I didn't know anything about it. So I was like, I don't know anything about it. So I was like...
Speaker: So, again, in the first two years in Disha, in the old days,
Speaker: I'm going to be hiring for a virtual assistant. I'm going to be hiring for a virtual assistant.
Speaker: It's not between me and the client.
Speaker: I already resigned, but they're not part of the reason why I'm resigning. So, I'm going to help you for two hours, and I'm going to help you for two hours while you are searching for my replacement. I'm going to help you. And then, agency, I'm going to help you. I'm going to help you with virtual assistant, bookkeeping, and I'm going to help you.
Speaker: So, I'm actually torn between you and me.
Speaker: the bookkeeper can say, but I don't want to do a good job, you know? Yeah. Also, I will respect your dissension, whatever that is, but let me know. I can work with you for two hours in a day, for two weeks while you're looking for a replacement.
Speaker: Uh -oh, outside. Uh -oh, like directly.
Speaker: If you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me, if you're going to ask me,
Speaker: That was good thing na man. Si waifina.
Speaker: I refer to it as a wedding publishing company. And then the other one is a franchisee wedding fee wars. It's an invitation. I don't know if it's a souvenir or not. So I don't know if it's a business. It's a franchisee. And then the counterpart is a mother company. It's in South Canada.
Speaker: So, we don't know how to use it, but we don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it. We don't know how to use it.
Speaker: I think it's important to deliver again. I think it's important to have a connection with the customer. I think it's important to have an order in customer service.
Speaker: I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker: Nice, nice. There's nothing wrong with being a general VA. It's true. Customers support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers. They support our customers.
Speaker: I'm not a virtual assistant, but I don't know if I'm an FH mom or not. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker: And I said, because I don't know if I'm going to explore, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in 2018, but I don't know if I'm going to explore in
Speaker: any time. Also, if you're going to think about it, I saw conventional offices in the Philippines. Yes.
Speaker: But it's a very good skill to develop and develop your own. You have to have an American client that has to be able to understand what's going on. You have to have an understanding of what's going on. You have to have an understanding of what's going on. You have to have an understanding of what's going on. You have to have an understanding of what's going on. You have to have an understanding of what's going on. You have to have an understanding of what's going on. You have to have an understanding of what's going on.
Speaker: I don't know how to make customer service. I don't know how to make it in the past, but I don't know how to make it. I don't know how to make it in the build -up code. I don't know how to make it in the build -up code. See you.
Speaker: That's the downside of having a long term client.
Speaker: I don't know what I'm going to say. I don't know what I'm going to say. I don't know what I'm going to say. I don't know what I'm going to say. I don't know what I'm going to say. I don't know what I'm going to say.
Speaker: Okay, let's talk about the FH month. I mean, I don't know. It's social media. Main graphics design. Oh my gosh, on graphics design. Oh my gosh. Speaking of that, no? I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker: I am very happy to be here with you today. I am very happy to be here with you today. I am very happy to be here today.
Speaker: I'm going to have a seminar. I'm going to have training. I'm going to have to go to a doctor. I'm going to have to go to a seminar, some trainings. I'm going to have to go to a field. I'm going to have to go to a museum. I'm going to have to go to work from home. I'm going to have to go to work.
Speaker: I think that compared to the conventional office, I think that when I was a child, I was a child. For sure, I was a child. I was a child. I had a feeling that when I was a child, I was a child from home. For example, when I was a child, I was a child. When I was a child, I was a child.
Speaker: I agree. When I started, it was just $3 an hour.
Speaker: But we can't deny the new stepping stones that we have, especially in our customer support. It's the whole center. So, next night, we're going to put a temporary number of people in our customer service. Thank you, Mark. Thank you so much, Daddy. So, we're going to post cold calling, and then we're going to the same thing. Oh, she keeps her hand cold. We're going to post it, and then we're going to the same thing.
Speaker: Well, I know.
Speaker: Did you ever experience online lockdown? Did you ever experience that? People look down on you, especially since you are allowed there before.
Speaker: But I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker: I don't know how to print. I don't know how to print. I don't know how to print. I don't know how to print. I don't know how to print. I don't know how to print. I don't know how to print.
Speaker: Hey, I have a lot of people who are interested in my work, but I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to do it.
Speaker: That's the name of the name of the house. My daughter is calling me now, I don't know. You see that's how it's all about? Mm -hmm. That's the name of the house. I don't know, I don't know what it's called. I don't know what it's called. I don't know what it's called. I don't know, I don't know what it's called. I don't know what it's called.
Speaker: Oh, yes. Housewife. Oh, like...
Speaker: So, we didn't use that sign, no, it's a big sign. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker: I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain it. I don't know how to explain it.
Speaker: Because of COVID, I don't have to explain further enough, I don't have to explain further enough, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain, I don't have to explain,
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker: I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru. I don't want to be a guru.
Speaker: But if you don't have a job, you have to graduate as well. But if you don't have an interview, you have to introduce yourself. I'm not going to mention that I'm not a client. So I'm not going to offer that. That's the irony of a foreign client, because they don't care about your degree at all.
Speaker: Uh -oh. Can you do the job? What's the biggest challenge you have overcome as a work -from -home professional? What are some of the challenges along the way, especially in the 10 years of working from home? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker: I also saw that coming. I also saw that decrease in customers, sales. I also saw that decrease in customers, sales. I also saw that decrease in customers, sales.
Speaker: I am very happy to be here today. I am very happy to be here today. I am very happy to be here today.
Speaker: I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity. I didn't expect that much. I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity. I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity. I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity. I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity. I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity. I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity. I didn't expect that I would get an opportunity.
Speaker: I think it's important to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to
Speaker: Additionally, on the side. Pero da pat flexibol da pat tayena schedule mo. Hindi an sada hai. Nuhu da pado dig da ho na pada. Nuhu bahama wa da nuho na work na pada. Pahindi mon a kaya. Andi tayena schedule mo. Eki nuhu pahmo. Yes. You know, this is something that I'm looking at challenging. All right. Nuhu nuhu. Kairi ko. Soyun.
Speaker: I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know,
Speaker: Coming up next, Melo and I will talk about her achievements in freelancing, podcasting, parenting and starting out. We'll be back after the break.
Speaker: For your daily dose of inspirational proverbs, visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Simply search above Ruby's blog. Want to know more about podcasting and connect with podcast virtual assistants? Join us in our exclusive Facebook group. Simply search PodcastBAs Philippines.
Speaker: All right. And we're back, still with Melo. And I'm really loving our conversation so far. No, very candid. You experienced a lot of freelancers. Now, to inspire others, what's something you can call your biggest achievement so far? Sapa, go work from home. I don't know how to say it, but I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it, but every day, every week, I don't know how to say it.
Speaker: Hopefully, I will not be able to speak in the audience. Because if I don't speak in the audience, I will not be able to get a message from them. I will not be able to speak in a video or video. I will not be able to speak in a video or video. I will not be able to speak in a video or video. I will not be able to speak in a video or video. I will not be able to speak in a video or video. I will not be able to speak in a video or video. I will not be able to speak in a video or video.
Speaker: For me, achievement. Yes. And then, same thing. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home. I work from home.
Speaker: In the future, me. Outside of my circle. When it comes to producing content, go for it. If you want to make the island inspired, go to the link below. If you want to make the island inspired, go to the link below.
Speaker: And speaking of content, you're also now a podcaster. What made you decide to start podcasting? It's an interesting part.
Speaker: Usually, I don't know every time when I go work a horse, I play music again, or when I go to work, so I can say, I'm tired again. I'm so sorry. I'm boring. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker: What about the R .A.? I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker: speakers, more podcasters from different countries.
Speaker: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Speaker: I'm going to show you how to make a platform. So I'm going to show you how to make a platform.
Speaker: And then we had to support our friends. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests. We had to support our guests.
Speaker: How are you able to do all these things, Naaman?
Speaker: about ritual assistance.
Speaker: Especially when you're not a child. I don't know what to say. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it.
Speaker: I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you. I'm calling for you.
Speaker: If you like this video, please like, comment and subscribe! I'll see you next time!
Speaker: I don't have any pressure on my body. I don't have any pressure on my body. I don't have any pressure on my body. I don't have any pressure on my body. I don't have any pressure on my body. I don't have any pressure on my body. I don't have any pressure on my body. I don't have any pressure on my body.
Speaker: or I'll reproduce my own video I'll reproduce my own video I'll reproduce my own audio format I'll reproduce my own audio format I'll reproduce my own audio format I'll reproduce my own audio format
Speaker: You can repurpose it to make a video about going graphic, going infograms, social media and social media. But now I'm going to do a podcast. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it. I don't know how to say it.
Speaker: Show notes, yes.
Speaker: Along the way, you still earn the experience.
Speaker: So this is the last question now, finally. Anything that you can share? Free lancing or work from home?
Speaker: I don't know anything that you can share to those who are just starting out.
Speaker: I know that my advice is to stop my blanche in working from home. My advice is to stop my blanche in working from home. My advice is to stop my blanche in working from home. My advice is to stop my blanche in working from home. My advice is to stop my blanche in working from home. My advice is to stop my blanche in working from home. My advice is to stop my blanche in working from home.
Speaker: Yes. Yes. So do your own thing with research. And do not be afraid about getting hired or not.
Speaker: Yes, there are many competitions, but there are a lot of openings every day in different platforms. I think that there is a lot of experience among freelancers, but there are a lot of openings every day. So, there is Upward, there are jobs at PH, and there is LinkedIn.
Speaker: I don't have any other virtual agencies. I don't have any Facebook groups. So start from there. Do you have any challenges? Yes. You have equipment, internet connection, acquiring more skills, lack of experience. So you've recognized that. I'm very good though. You've already recognized these challenges. But will this continue to be your reason? Will this continue to be your alibi for you not to start?
Speaker: So will it stop you? So I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues. I don't know if I'm going to address those issues.
Speaker: I'm going to search for my research. I'm going to search for my research. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job. I'm going to search for my job.
Speaker: It's really a question of how badly you want it, and how badly you need it. Because if you want it so bad, and if you need it so bad, no one and nothing can stop you. Yes.
Speaker: You see, anyway, that's a newbie for you, for your content creators, for YouTube, for Facebook groups, for inspiring stories. When you come back, I don't know, you know, Ignite. Ignite. Ignite. But you'll feel well that will keep the fire burning.
Speaker: It should be the fuel and the fire should be within me.
Speaker: Oh, it does make sense.
Speaker: And if anyone or if people want to reach out to you, how can they find you?
Speaker: So YouTube channel is Melod's channel. So that's M for mama, P -L -O -D for dog. And then the apostrophe on S. Apostrophe S. Melod's channel. Yeah, now I'm trying to say YouTube. And in the new Facebook page, that was Sam.
Speaker: Those are in a lot of virtual assistant stories. Fashion podcast. Yes, fashion podcast.
Speaker: Spotify, Apple podcast, Google podcast, Peek and Search.
Speaker: He is a VA with a lot of experience already. I'm sure you will learn from her. And so again, thank you so much. And it's really a pleasure to have you on my show.
Speaker: Hope you enjoyed today's episode. Sign up to my newsletter so you're notified of my next podcast at www .abovefreshestrubies .com or follow me by Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Podcasts, and other podcast streaming platforms.
Speaker: If you have comments, questions, or suggestions, email me at n -i -l -y -n at abovepreciousrubies .com. I look forward to talking to you. Today's Bible reading is found in Proverbs 4, verses 4 to 5, and Proverbs 16, verse 3.
Speaker: He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son. He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. And now Proverbs chapter 16 verse 3. Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.
