Amongst the numerous successful freelancers you could find on Upwork, this time we present to you Cathy Mangulabnan. The services she offers are Virtual Assistant/Project Manager/Executive Assistant/Lead Generation. She is married to a Seafarer and a mom of two. Cathy is an undergraduate of BS Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima University within the Philippines. She works as a freelancer since 2011, closely with business owners from different countries, and sometimes also with a team.
“I’m having fun with my work and I like what I do!” says Cathy.
“I grew up and currently living in Quezon City, Philippines.” adds Cathy. “I really like reading and learning latest things most specially about skills and private development. I really like to cook for my family. I really like music, watching motion movies and traveling.”
She says that spending time in nature with family helps her to alleviate stress, improve mood, increase life satisfaction, boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Cathy all the time desires to get a possibility to loosen up during weekends after long hours of labor. It is usually a time for her to spend time with family, which is significant to have a healthy work-life balance.
– How do you manage to cover so many alternative jobs (Virtual Assistant/Project Manager/Executive Assistant/Lead Generation).
Time Management is crucial for managing multiple clients. It’s worthwhile to discover which task is the high priority, which task you possibly can quickly get done so you possibly can move on to the following one and get it done.
I organize, track and plan all the things to avoid burning out. I all the time plan my week. I make sure that that my plan is realistic to get the job done. I do one task at a time and take a break. I start on the duty that’s urgent and high priority after which the duty I can quickly get done and move on to the opposite task that’s time-consuming.
I actually have an additional hand at home. I hired a maid to do household chores and a nanny to take care of my 4-years old son so I shall be productive. As an alternative of me doing the household chores, I hire someone to do them so I can manage to cover many alternative jobs.
– Which of those jobs do you enjoy essentially the most, and which provides you essentially the most problems?
I enjoy all of them because I all the time wish to learn latest things. I all the time search for a job that’s exciting to me. You’ll all the time learn latest things from different firms, clients, and teams.
You will need to be comfortable and revel in what you’re doing. If not, it’ll not work, and you may fail to do your job. I all the time make sure that that my clients are satisfied with the services I provide. Their feedback may be very necessary. At any time when I take a job, I make sure that I like working on it.
– How did you manage to master so many skills?
The key isn’t stop learning. I don’t concentrate on one or two skills. Clients need an additional hand to get things done. Your skills and capabilities must not be limited. The client will hire another person to do the opposite job if my skills are limited. It will be great in case your client can throw anything in your plate. This helps your client in case you are trustworthy, reliable, resourceful, creative and self-motivated.
Clients are impressed if you may have many skills. Clients adore it after they don’t have to train you to do things. If you assist or help your clients, that saves them time and energy so that they can concentrate on their business.
If you master a skill, upgrade your skills. Learn latest things to upgrade a latest skill. If you may have multiple skills, it opens up many more opportunities for you in the long run. It is going to not be hard for you to seek out more jobs or clients.
Clients love suggestions and concepts for the corporate. If you may have an idea or two about how it might be done more efficiently, suggest it. Sometimes the smallest ideas can have the best impact. Do greater than your job requirements, all the time offer to assist others, be proactive, do things without being asked.
– What skills are clients most frequently searching for from you?
Throughout Virtual Assistant, I do a whole lot of various kinds of work. My skills and capabilities are usually not limited.
– Have you ever had the chance to work full time, or have you mostly desired to be a freelancer?
Since 2011, working as a freelancer is my full-time job.
When the client offers me 30 hours every week, I still have 30 hours to work with a distinct client. Now I actually have 60 hours to work per week! Some clients will give you 50-60 working hours every week. Working with one other client will upgrade my knowledge and skills. I really like and revel in working with business owners from different countries. I like the chance to work with them.
I don’t have to commute. 1-2 hours going to work and 1-2 hours going home from work? I’ll spend those 2 – 4 hours commuting to work or spending time with my family.
– What influenced you essentially the most to start out freelancing?
I would like a job! I would like extra income! I can’t just sit here and wait… My daughter feels so sad after I am not around and she or he gets sick after I leave her with a nanny. I made a decision to not work and just stay at home, but I still feel like I would like to earn additional income to assist my husband. I really need to work!
A friend introduced me the Upwork. I had a netbook at the moment, so I’m only using a netbook after I began working as a freelancer. Then I arrange my Upwork account and searched for a job, and after a month, I got a job through Upwork.
I hired a nanny to do the home tasks and take care of my daughter while I’m working. My daughter not feels sad! I’m all the time together with her 24/7.
– How do you approach failures or setbacks?
I all the time try to not fail. I all the time do my best to maintain my clients satisfied. Their feedback is significant. I feel good if I get good feedback from my clients since it signifies that I’m effective all-round Virtual Assistant. I make sure that the work has been done successfully because in the event that they are completely happy and also you exceed their expectations, they are going to come back and hire you again.
– What are your success habits?
Clients need me as their extra hand to get things done. I all the time make sure that to get things done in a timely manner. I give them the outcomes and I don’t allow them to to attend.
– What was one of the best advice you bought in the beginning of your freelance profession?
Don’t lose hope of getting a client/job. Be patient! Spend money on yourself to enhance your skills and talents. If I can, you then can!
I haven’t any experience with all assistant jobs, administration jobs, lead generation, graphics, email marketing, scheduling, etc. I only know in the pc is typing, sending emails and messages. I actually have a pc that point because my husband gave me a netbook for communication because he’s all the time in another country.
I used to type slowly in 2011. I don’t know any shortcuts on my keyboard! I used my mouse in copy-pasting! So, what I did was practice typing after I had free time. I visited web sites with a typing test.
– And what’s the worst advice you’ve ever got?
Being a freelancer? None. I discovered my clients and teammates extremely helpful. They are going to make it easier to grow!
– Have you ever worked on any freelance platform aside from UpWork?
I’ve got referral and direct clients who’re outside of Upwork but only a few. 90% of my clients are from Upwork.
– Why has UpWork change into your selection?
I got a job at Upwork, I receives a commission, I met and worked with different clients from different countries on Upwork. It’s globally! I’m learning latest things and developing my skills with my clients through Upwork. You have got nothing to fret about whether the client can pay you or not. Upwork freelancers can get secured payments via PayPal or direct deposit. There’s a whole lot of job post in Upwork day by day!
– What are the benefits of a contract lifestyle for you?
A healthy lifestyle and work balance. I’m a completely happy mother and wife! I’m with my children 24/7, I make money working from home, I may help my husband to get monetary savings for our family’s future.
No more day by day commuting. I can select my clients and work with international clients. I can manage my very own time, I actually have multiple sources of income, flexible working hours, I can work wherever I would like, skill improvement, control of workload and I actually have freedom.
– And what are the disadvantages?
Less social life or social interaction. No paid break day so you may have to construct a vacation into your annual income. No company-sponsored health advantages so that you must have your individual insurance, no maternity or paternity leave, working in isolation and no worker advantages.
– What was the toughest decision you ever needed to make as a freelnacer?
Since I began working as a freelancer, I’m considering to proceed my studies and I desired to shift to a pc course, but I selected to proceed working as a freelancer.
– There are lots of freelancers with skills much like yours. What makes you stand out and make you more successful?
My clients wish to duplicate me. Ahahahah! I wish I can duplicate myself! I’m a unprecedented freelancer, and I’m rare to seek out!
– To succeed, freelancer must also possess certain soft skills, equivalent to communication, organization, time management … Which soft skills were essentially the most difficult for you?
After I was a newbie or latest to freelancing. I used to be so shy. I don’t like video call interviews; I don’t like the web meetings. But eventually, you’ll get used to it and you may feel comfortable talking to different people.
In the event you decide to be a freelancer, that you must be comfortable in communicating along with your client, teams, you may have to know the way to manage time, be creative and be a pacesetter.
– What has benefited you essentially the most to change into a successful freelancer? Your education, certain books, courses, forums, instructions on freelance platforms or something else?
Learn all the things you wish to know! There are Google and Youtube! They’re my online best friend! Spend money on yourself. An investment in your personal and skill development is one of the best investment you possibly can make.
– In the event you could start all once again, what would you do in a different way?
Nothing. I like the way in which I began. I began with I do know nothing on a pc othen than slowness to type, sending messages and emails.
From low hourly rate to a high hourly rate. From a Data Entry to a successful freelancer.
– What’s your biggest motivation?
Spend money on yourself. Help yourself to achieve latest knowledge. Never stop learning! Don’t lose hope to seek out a client or job on Upwork or other online job sites. Be focused to seek out a latest job post on Upwork that’s relevant to your skills. When you get hired and have good feedback it’ll be a very good opportunity for you to seek out and get the brand new next client.
– What do you’re keen on about your job?
It’s a non-stop learning. I can work anytime and anywhere I would like!
– How necessary is constant skilled improvement?
I actually have open attitude to learning and development. So, I can proactively do, track, document and reflect on activities that make me higher at what I do to develop and enhance my abilities.
– What are you most grateful for in your freelance journey?
I began at $0.83 per hour way back in 2011. I used to be hoping that point to have at the least reach the hourly pay rate of $4. Now, I earn greater than I believed!
It was 2011, after I asked some advice from my online coworker because I used to be not satisfied with my hourly rate $0.83 per hour. His rate was $4 per hour. That point, I would like to depart the web job and work in a BPO company. He motivated me to remain and keep working and find clients on Upwork. He told me that regardless of how hard you’re employed here within the Philippines, you’ll become old, and your salary won’t increase like what Upwork can do.
So, I never stop learning and gaining knowledge. I keep my clients on Upwork. I construct my profile to face out! I make sure that that my clients will give me great feedback.
So now, finding a latest client just isn’t difficult for me. Clients will find me, take a look at my profile and call me.
– What’s one of the best approach to organize multiple jobs and personal life?
Develop habits and construct a routine. Find balance. Make a timetable. A time so that you can work, a time on your family, a time for your mates and a time for yourself.
– Several aspects are necessary for achievement. Are you able to name a few of crucial for you?
My knowledge, skills, traits, motivation, attitude, value, trustworthy and being a unprecedented person are the necessary aspects for my success.
– In the event you needed to single out one characteristic that’s most significant for the success of a freelancer, what would it not be?
Trust
– What advice would you give your younger self?
All the time read books and learn latest things if you find yourself still young. Never stop learning and improving yourself.
– The perfect advice for individuals who are considering a contract profession?
Freelancing is for everybody! Freelancing just isn’t just for Experts! So long as you wish to earn extra income, you wish an element time or full-time job, the freelance profession is for you. There are lots of various kinds of online jobs on the market! Just all the time learn, gain knowledge, and upgrade your skills. All you wish is a pc, web and your skills to use for a job.
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