I feel like everybody wants to become a Virtual Assistant these days. And honestly, I get it. Open Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, and you’ll probably see someone sharing their six-digit earnings, beautiful home office, flexible working hours, or how they left their corporate job and started earning dollars from the comfort of their bedroom. Some even make it look like all you need is a laptop, stable internet, and a little determination, then boom, six digits agad!
Sana all, di ba?
I started my freelancing journey as a Virtual Assistant myself, and I have absolutely nothing against people who want to become one. In fact, I love seeing more Filipinos discover opportunities beyond traditional employment. Freelancing has been very good to me. I’ve earned six digits, worked with wonderful clients, and enjoyed the freedom of working from home. It also gave me something I value even more now, the flexibility to spend so much time with my little boy while continuing to do work I genuinely enjoy.
But after years in this industry, I sometimes find myself smiling at those posts about how amazing the VA life is. Not because they’re lying, but because I know there’s a whole other side to the story. The unstable income, the awkward client conversations, the constant pressure to keep learning, and those moments when you suddenly find yourself questioning whether your skills are still competitive.
And since we’re already here, can we clear up one little thing first? Because I see this misconception everywhere, especially in the Philippines.
A freelancer is not automatically a VA
Somewhere along the way, the words freelancer and Virtual Assistant started becoming almost interchangeable. When someone says they’re freelancing, people immediately assume they’re a VA. And when someone says they want to become a freelancer, the first thing they usually ask is where they can apply as a VA.
But freelancing is actually a way of working, not a specific profession.
A freelancer is a self-employed professional who provides services to clients independently, usually through contracts, projects, or ongoing arrangements rather than traditional employment. Freelancers can have one client or several. They might charge hourly, per project, or through monthly retainers. Some work entirely online, while others provide services in person.
A Virtual Assistant, meanwhile, is someone who provides remote administrative, technical, creative, or business support. A VA can work as a freelancer, but some VAs are also employees of companies or agencies.
And not all freelancers are VAs. Freelancers can be software developers, graphic designers, accountants, writers, web designers, consultants, photographers, marketers, and so many other professionals.
I think this distinction matters because freelancing offers so many possibilities beyond virtual assistance. If you’re an accountant, you can offer freelance bookkeeping services. If you’re a designer, you can work with businesses that need branding. If you’re a developer, you can build websites or applications for clients.
You don’t have to become a VA just because you want to work independently.
And please don’t misunderstand me. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a VA. It’s a legitimate profession that requires real skills, and I started there myself. I’m proud of that experience because it helped me understand how online businesses operate and opened doors to the work I do today.
I just wish we’d stop making it seem like VA is the only career available in freelancing. Ang daming opportunities, mga teh. Explore din natin.
One day you’re earning six digits, then life looks a little different
There was a time when I was earning six digits in pesos, and yes, it felt amazing. I worked hard for it, and I was proud of what I accomplished. I enjoyed things that once felt like distant goals. It was a wonderful season in my career, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating those achievements.
But here’s something people don’t always talk about. Freelancing income can change, sometimes unexpectedly, and sometimes because you choose to change how you work.
In my case, there came a time when I intentionally slowed down. When I became a mom, I wanted to enjoy my little boy’s first year and be present for those everyday moments that I knew wouldn’t last forever. I was fortunate enough to have a working arrangement that allowed me to continue handling my responsibilities for around an hour or two a day, with very few meetings and a flexible schedule.
I wasn’t completely on maternity leave, but I definitely wasn’t working the same hours I used to. And just like that, I wasn’t earning six digits anymore.
Was it an adjustment? Of course. I was used to handling bigger workloads, taking on more projects, and earning more. But I also understood that I couldn’t expect the same income while working significantly fewer hours. Hindi naman pwedeng two hours lang ang work tapos same pa rin ang expectations ko sa income, di ba? Sana may ganung magic, pero wala pa akong na-discover na automation for that.
And honestly, I was happy with my decision. I love being Alan’s mom, and having the freedom to enjoy his first year while keeping my career going is something I’ll always be grateful for. I got to experience a slower season without completely stepping away from the work I enjoy.
But not every freelancer experiences a change in income by choice.
Sometimes a client closes their business, restructures their team, reduces expenses, or simply decides they no longer need your services. You can be doing an excellent job and still lose a contract because the business itself is changing.
Imagine earning six digits one month, then suddenly losing a major client. Your bills don’t magically adjust themselves just because your income changed. Unfortunately, Meralco doesn’t accept “my client decided to restructure” as a valid payment arrangement. I hope that works LOL
That’s why I think we need to be more careful when talking about six-digit freelancing income. Yes, it’s possible. I’ve experienced it myself. SKY IS THE LIMIT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE SKILLS AND YOU KNOW HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF. But earning that amount and maintaining it consistently are two different challenges.
A good month doesn’t guarantee another good month, and the highest income you’ve ever earned shouldn’t necessarily become the standard you use to judge every season of your life.
Even experienced freelancers have to go looking for clients
I wish there were some kind of VIP lane for people who’ve been freelancing for years. Imagine sending your experience to a potential client and immediately receiving a message saying, “Wow, you’ve been doing this for a long time. You’re hired!”
Ay, ang saya naman. Where do I sign?
Unfortunately, experience doesn’t exempt you from the awkward process of finding clients. You still have to introduce yourself, send proposals, answer screening questions, attend interviews, and explain why someone should work with you.
And sometimes, after doing all that, you don’t hear anything back.
You spend time writing a thoughtful proposal, making sure it sounds professional but still friendly, and explaining how you can help. Then you wait. A few days later, you start wondering whether you should follow up or just leave it alone.
You type, “Hi, just checking in!” and suddenly it feels like you’re bothering someone who owes you money.
The funny thing is, I’ve managed business inboxes myself. I know how busy business owners can get, how easily messages get buried, and how hiring decisions sometimes take longer than expected. But when you’re the one waiting for a response, your brain somehow forgets all that professional knowledge.
You start wondering whether your rate was too high, your proposal was too long, or your introduction wasn’t interesting enough. Maybe you should’ve mentioned another skill. Maybe you sounded too casual. Maybe you sounded too serious. Or maybe the client simply hasn’t checked their email.
Ang daming iniisip, wala pa ngang reply.
Sometimes there’s no dramatic explanation. They chose another applicant, changed their plans, or never got around to responding. That’s part of freelancing too, and it can be frustrating even when you’ve been doing this for years.
Upskill, reskill, repeat. NO GRADUATION HERE.
One thing I’m glad I understood early in my career is that the skills that helped me get started wouldn’t necessarily be enough to carry me through the next ten years.
My educational background is in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing. That gave me a foundation in understanding businesses, customers, marketing, and management. When I started working as a VA, I was able to apply a lot of what I’d learned, but I also discovered how much more there was to understand about running an online business.
I became interested in websites, CRMs, business systems, and how different platforms communicate with each other. I learned how to manage websites, create automations, organize operations, and eventually how to code. I even pursued Computer Science as a second degree because I wanted to understand technology beyond simply knowing where to click.
And let me tell you, learning to code can really test your patience. You can spend an hour trying to understand why something isn’t working, only to discover you missed one tiny character somewhere. One missing bracket and suddenly you’re questioning your life decisions.
Lord, bracket lang pala. Akala ko career crisis na.
But I enjoyed learning those things. I still do.
Over time, I started taking on responsibilities beyond traditional virtual assistance. I became more involved in managing business operations, improving workflows, coordinating projects, building systems, and solving technical problems. That experience eventually shaped the kind of work I now do as an Online Business Manager and tech specialist.
I didn’t wake up one morning knowing how to build automations or manage complicated business systems. I learned gradually, sometimes through courses and formal education, sometimes through actual client work, and sometimes through hours of figuring things out myself.
And I continue to learn because this industry doesn’t stand still.
Look at how quickly AI has become part of everyday business operations. A few years ago, many of the tools businesses now use regularly weren’t even part of the conversation. Today, clients are looking for people who understand automation, AI-assisted workflows, CRM integrations, reporting, and more efficient ways of managing their businesses.
Of course, not everybody needs to learn coding or become a tech specialist. There are plenty of excellent careers in writing, design, bookkeeping, customer support, marketing, and other fields. What matters is understanding where your chosen profession is going and making sure your skills are growing with it.
That’s what upskilling and reskilling are really about. Upskilling means improving or expanding the skills you already use, while reskilling means learning new capabilities that allow you to move into different roles or kinds of work.
I’ve done both throughout my career, and I think that willingness to keep learning has helped me adapt as my interests and the market changed.
The uncomfortable truth? Someone else might be better than you.
This might sound a little harsh, but I think it’s one of the realities freelancers need to accept.
You can be very good at what you do and still encounter someone who has stronger skills, more relevant experience, or a better understanding of what a particular client needs. You might have been working with a platform for years, while someone else has already learned its newest features and can use them more efficiently.
And if you’re not continuously improving, it’s possible to get left behind.
I don’t say that to scare anyone. I say it because I think becoming too comfortable with what we already know can be risky, especially when our livelihood depends on clients choosing to work with us.
I’ve seen how quickly business tools evolve. Features change, platforms introduce new capabilities, and tasks that once required several hours can sometimes be completed much faster through automation.
AI is another part of that conversation. Some people are worried that it will replace freelancers, particularly those doing repetitive administrative work. I understand the concern, although I don’t think the situation is as simple as saying AI will replace everybody.
What I do think is that freelancers who know how to use new tools effectively may have an advantage over those who refuse to adapt. Clients are often looking for people who can help them save time, improve their processes, and solve problems.
For example, knowing how to manually transfer information between two platforms is useful. But knowing how to automate that process, verify that the data is accurate, and troubleshoot it when something goes wrong can bring a different kind of value to a business.
That’s why I try to keep learning. I don’t want to rely entirely on the experience I gained five or ten years ago and assume it will always be enough.
And honestly, learning new things keeps the work interesting. There’s something very satisfying about finally understanding a complicated process or building something that makes a client’s life easier.
Even if it occasionally requires three cups of coffee and a few conversations with my laptop.
Explaining what you do can be more complicated than the actual work
As my work evolved, explaining my profession became surprisingly complicated.
When I tell people I work from home, some assume I work in a call center. When I mention that I started as a VA, they assume I spend most of my day answering emails and managing calendars. And when I say I work with automation and business technology, suddenly they think I can fix their printer.
Hindi po ako printer technician. Please don’t make me.
Even explaining what an Online Business Manager does can turn into a lengthy conversation. I help business owners manage operations, improve workflows, organize projects, and make better use of technology. Depending on what a business needs, that might involve CRMs, automations, websites, client management systems, reporting, or coordinating the people and processes behind the scenes.
Sometimes I just tell people I help businesses run more smoothly, which is technically correct and saves us both a fifteen-minute explanation.
But I also think it’s wonderful that freelancing allows people to develop careers that don’t always fit neatly into traditional job titles. You might begin as a VA and eventually specialize in operations, or start as a writer and become a content strategist. Your first role doesn’t have to define your entire career.
That’s something I wish more aspiring freelancers knew.
When you’re good at organizing other people’s businesses but your own needs help
Here’s something slightly embarrassing about being an operations and systems person.
I can spend hours organizing a client’s CRM, improving their workflows, cleaning up their project management system, and making sure everything is properly documented. I genuinely enjoy that kind of work. Give me a messy backend and I’ll happily start figuring out what needs to be fixed.
Then I look at my own business and realize I have blog ideas scattered across different notes, website updates waiting to be finished, and a few tasks that probably should’ve been organized weeks ago.
Very professional, Reyn. Very professional.
I think this happens to a lot of freelancers and service providers. We spend so much time making sure our clients are taken care of that our own businesses sometimes get whatever attention is left at the end of the day.
It’s one of the reasons I’ve been putting more effort into Systems & Snuggle. I want to build a business that reflects the work I love doing, and I also want to share more of what I’ve learned over the years.
But marketing your own services is a completely different experience from actually delivering them. You can be confident about your skills and still feel awkward writing about yourself, promoting an offer, or reaching out to someone who might need your help.
Apparently, being good at business operations doesn’t automatically make you comfortable with self-promotion.
Who knew?
The funny relationship freelancers have with money conversations
Speaking of awkward things, let’s talk about telling someone your rate.
I can discuss workflows, software integrations, project timelines, and business operations without much hesitation. But pricing conversations can still feel a little uncomfortable, especially when you’re talking to a potential client for the first time.
You tell someone your rate, then suddenly feel tempted to explain everything that’s included. You mention your experience, the tools you know, how flexible you can be, and all the ways you can help.
Sometimes the client hasn’t even responded yet, but you’re already mentally preparing a discount.
I’ve learned that not every potential client will have the budget for my services, and that’s okay. Different businesses have different needs, resources, and expectations. A client deciding not to move forward doesn’t automatically mean your work isn’t valuable.
I’ve also learned that clients aren’t simply paying for the number of hours you spend working. Depending on the service, they’re paying for your knowledge, judgment, problem-solving ability, and the results you help them achieve.
That perspective has helped me become more comfortable discussing rates, although I still think it’s one of the more awkward parts of freelancing.
Especially when someone asks for a quick discount before you’ve even discussed what needs to be done.
Working from home doesn’t mean you’re available all the time
Another thing people sometimes misunderstand about freelancing is the flexibility.
Yes, I love being able to work from home. I love having more control over my schedule, and I’m incredibly grateful that this career allows me to spend so much time with my little boy. Having that freedom has become even more meaningful to me since becoming a mom.
But flexibility doesn’t mean you don’t have responsibilities.
Clients still have deadlines, projects still need attention, and sometimes you have meetings scheduled across different time zones. Just because you’re sitting at home doesn’t mean you can immediately drop everything whenever someone needs something.
There’s also the funny experience of working with international clients while living in the Philippines. You’re checking what time it is in California, wondering whether it’s still Monday for your client, and trying to remember whether daylight saving time has changed again.
Sometimes I feel like I need a separate degree just to manage time zones.
And while working from home means I don’t have to deal with daily commuting, it also requires discipline. You need to manage your schedule, communicate clearly, and make sure you’re actually delivering what you promised.
The freedom is wonderful, but it works best when you know how to manage it.
The loneliness and the strange little things we celebrate
One thing I don’t think gets enough attention is how isolating freelancing can sometimes feel.
When you’re working remotely, you can spend hours completing tasks, troubleshooting problems, and communicating through emails or project management tools without having a casual conversation with another person who understands your work.
Then someone asks how your day went, and you excitedly explain that you finally fixed a complicated automation.
Unfortunately, not everybody finds that as exciting as you do.
I miss having people to talk to about those little work-related things sometimes. Fellow freelancers who understand the frustration of a client changing their requirements halfway through a project, or the happiness of receiving a thoughtful message from someone who appreciates your work.
And yes, we celebrate some very strange things. A workflow finally running correctly, a website loading properly after a frustrating issue, or a CRM that no longer creates duplicate contacts can genuinely make our day.
It’s probably why I enjoy connecting with other freelancers, VAs, OBMs, and people who work in tech and business operations. There’s something comforting about talking to people who understand this slightly unusual career.
You don’t have to explain why you’re happy that a Zap finally worked.
They just get it.
I still love freelancing, even the awkward parts
After everything I’ve shared, I hope nobody thinks I’m trying to discourage people from becoming freelancers. I genuinely believe it’s a wonderful career path, and I’m grateful for the opportunities it has given me.
But I also think we need more balanced conversations about what this kind of work actually involves.
The six-digit earnings are possible, but they aren’t guaranteed. Flexible schedules are wonderful, but they still require discipline. Working with international clients can open amazing opportunities, but finding and keeping those clients takes effort. And having years of experience is valuable, but it doesn’t mean we can stop learning.
I’ve experienced some wonderful years in freelancing, and I’ve also experienced how quickly circumstances can change. Both have taught me things that I probably wouldn’t have learned if everything had always gone smoothly.
I’m proud that I started as a VA, and I’m equally proud of how my career has evolved through the years. From studying Business Administration and Marketing to learning coding, automations, and business operations, I’ve discovered that one of the best things about freelancing is the freedom to keep growing into different roles.
I still have plenty to learn, and I don’t think that will ever stop. There will always be new tools, new ways of working, and people who know things I haven’t learned yet.
That’s fine with me. I’d rather stay curious than pretend I already know everything.
So to anyone who’s thinking about entering freelancing because they saw a six-digit income post, I hope you give yourself time to understand the industry beyond the exciting screenshots. Learn a skill, get really good at it, treat your clients well, understand how to manage your money, and keep improving as you go.
And to my fellow freelancers who’ve been doing this for years, I hope we keep sharing the less glamorous stories too. The unanswered proposals, the awkward rate discussions, the projects that didn’t work out, and the times we had to learn something completely new just to stay competitive.
Because those experiences are part of freelancing too, even if they don’t make particularly impressive Instagram posts.
As for me, I’ll be here, still learning, still building systems, still occasionally overthinking a follow-up email, and probably explaining for the hundredth time that being an OBM doesn’t mean I can fix someone’s printer.
Although at this point, maybe I should learn that too. Another skill for the resume. Haha.
I’m Reyn, the OBMama behind Systems & Snuggle. I help business owners make sense of their operations, organize messy systems, build automations, and make technology work a little better for their businesses. I also write about freelancing, business, motherhood, and the not-so-glamorous things we experience while working from home.
