I've been saying this for a couple of years now, I want to start working from home ASAP. So, I can spend more time with my son, Joaquin, and watch over his progress in school. And it's only in April-May that I started to do something about it. Applying for full-time work-from-home jobs (I still have to interview for one that pays decently. Not asking for a lot, but some are just too low!), getting more freelance work from Upwork, and then just last week, attending the Work-at-Home Expo.
The event was held at the Bayanihan Events Center in Pasig. Dompy of Hits and Mrs, a friend and fellow mom, and I attended the expo as a general audience. We paid 100 pesos for that and decided we would forgo the specialized talks due to budget constraints. Even though we only attended the general talks, I learned a few things from the speakers.
First, take the leap. If you are like me, a member of the 8-to-5 workforce for years, leaving the safety of steady work and regular monthly paycheck is scary. Maybe even a little nightmarish. Add to that the responsibility of bringing up a child in this hard, hard world. One of the benefits that keep me from taking the leap is the security of being covered by an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), which I've extended to my son.
Good thing, though, there are companies that provide health coverage and insurance for freelancers. One of them is Horsepower, among the more affordable options out there with plans starting for as low as PHP999 per year. There's also BlueCross for something more comprehensive, albeit more costly. Up to you how much you are willing to spend for healthcare.
Second thing I learned, do some prep work and then hard work. Though no amount of prep work can ever guarantee your success on a WAH set up. You have to do the hard work. Don't wait for opportunity to knock on your door, go out and look for it.
Third, and the one that stuck to me the most, was said by Anna Meloto-Wilk of Human Heart Nature (I say "Heart", but she only says Human Nature): Find a need and fill it. This is what inspired her to create and grow one of the best organic/natural product brands that is affordable and proudly made in the Philippines.
Even now as I think about this, I go back to all the times I've said, "Wish we had this in the Philippines." Or, "Wish I could buy a cheaper version of this." Would I have been able to create something from that and make it big? I wouldn't know if I don't try, right?
Fourth, find balance in your work (at home) and in your life. Because you are all at once, a child of God, a wife (or daughter), and a parent. You are juggling all these personas with different responsibilities and needs. You don't want to spread yourself too thin, but you also don't want to just focus a lot of your time and energy on just one thing.
Marilen Montenegro--blogger, interior designer, and model--gave tips on how to better manage your home life. Planning the day ahead and developing a system ensures that you will get things done on schedule, and you won't miss out on anything. Then, use the resources you have. Delegate tasks if you can't accommodate all that needs to be done, and use mobile technology so you can work wherever you are if needed.
Last, money is the least of your problems. What?! No way! Yes way. Why? Because there are tons of options and help out there. There are investors who can help fund your business ideas. One such person is Joe Maristela, an Angel Investor and founder of Katalyst.ph. He actually started his business in their garage/living room at home, so you can bet he understands the hardships and challenges of putting up a new business.
My key take away from his talk: sound professional. Even if you are running a business in your garage or home office/kitchen/den, talk as if you are working in an office. It makes you more credible, thus gain you new clients.
Yada, yada, yada. Let's get to the fun part of the WAH Expo: the freebies! Yep. I did get a lot of free stuff from the booth exhibitors. I even won 2 bottles of Cycles baby products. Weee! Sadly, I wasn't able to take pictures of the things I got from the expo. Suffice it to say, I ended up with a sore shoulder from carrying the bag of stuff home.
I did buy a few items like back issues of Travel magazine, an infinity scarf, and yummy orange cheesecake cookies from Isabel Bakes. That cookie is yum! I devoured the pack of cookies in like 10 minutes. No kidding.
It was a great day all in all. And I got to take home some valuable information from the talks.
The event was held at the Bayanihan Events Center in Pasig. Dompy of Hits and Mrs, a friend and fellow mom, and I attended the expo as a general audience. We paid 100 pesos for that and decided we would forgo the specialized talks due to budget constraints. Even though we only attended the general talks, I learned a few things from the speakers.
First, take the leap. If you are like me, a member of the 8-to-5 workforce for years, leaving the safety of steady work and regular monthly paycheck is scary. Maybe even a little nightmarish. Add to that the responsibility of bringing up a child in this hard, hard world. One of the benefits that keep me from taking the leap is the security of being covered by an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), which I've extended to my son.
Good thing, though, there are companies that provide health coverage and insurance for freelancers. One of them is Horsepower, among the more affordable options out there with plans starting for as low as PHP999 per year. There's also BlueCross for something more comprehensive, albeit more costly. Up to you how much you are willing to spend for healthcare.
 |
| Some of the exhibitors during the Workshop, including Horsepower |
Second thing I learned, do some prep work and then hard work. Though no amount of prep work can ever guarantee your success on a WAH set up. You have to do the hard work. Don't wait for opportunity to knock on your door, go out and look for it.
 |
| Some of the hardworking WAHMs |
Third, and the one that stuck to me the most, was said by Anna Meloto-Wilk of Human Heart Nature (I say "Heart", but she only says Human Nature): Find a need and fill it. This is what inspired her to create and grow one of the best organic/natural product brands that is affordable and proudly made in the Philippines.
Even now as I think about this, I go back to all the times I've said, "Wish we had this in the Philippines." Or, "Wish I could buy a cheaper version of this." Would I have been able to create something from that and make it big? I wouldn't know if I don't try, right?
 |
| Anna Meloto-Wilk of Human Heart Nature |
Fourth, find balance in your work (at home) and in your life. Because you are all at once, a child of God, a wife (or daughter), and a parent. You are juggling all these personas with different responsibilities and needs. You don't want to spread yourself too thin, but you also don't want to just focus a lot of your time and energy on just one thing.
Marilen Montenegro--blogger, interior designer, and model--gave tips on how to better manage your home life. Planning the day ahead and developing a system ensures that you will get things done on schedule, and you won't miss out on anything. Then, use the resources you have. Delegate tasks if you can't accommodate all that needs to be done, and use mobile technology so you can work wherever you are if needed.
 |
| Marilen Montenegro talks about balancing work, home, and heart |
Last, money is the least of your problems. What?! No way! Yes way. Why? Because there are tons of options and help out there. There are investors who can help fund your business ideas. One such person is Joe Maristela, an Angel Investor and founder of Katalyst.ph. He actually started his business in their garage/living room at home, so you can bet he understands the hardships and challenges of putting up a new business.
 |
| Joe Maristela speaks about how he started a business from his house |
My key take away from his talk: sound professional. Even if you are running a business in your garage or home office/kitchen/den, talk as if you are working in an office. It makes you more credible, thus gain you new clients.
Yada, yada, yada. Let's get to the fun part of the WAH Expo: the freebies! Yep. I did get a lot of free stuff from the booth exhibitors. I even won 2 bottles of Cycles baby products. Weee! Sadly, I wasn't able to take pictures of the things I got from the expo. Suffice it to say, I ended up with a sore shoulder from carrying the bag of stuff home.
I did buy a few items like back issues of Travel magazine, an infinity scarf, and yummy orange cheesecake cookies from Isabel Bakes. That cookie is yum! I devoured the pack of cookies in like 10 minutes. No kidding.
It was a great day all in all. And I got to take home some valuable information from the talks.
