My Virtual Assistant Niche

We all heard the saying, "the only permanent in life is change." Nothing could be further from the truth when it came to my life as a professional. I'll tell you my short story if you have time to read it.

Let me start by telling you that one of the worst places to be a nurse is in the Philippines! It just so happens that I have been one for nine years, and believe me, the pay is not worth the effort I put in. Yes, serving other people is noble, but you need to earn more and save for the future with a family to feed.

I resigned as a nurse manager amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis due to the unreasonable workload and risks we nurses were facing. Because my family's safety is more important, I chose to stay with them and avoid risking exposure and infection. Then one day, a friend of mine introduced me to the freelancing world, and from there on, my whole professional career changed for the better!

To be clear, nothing in life comes easy. It is especially true when it comes to career changes. I had to work out from the bottom up to be where I am now. Being in the medical field for nine years meant I had the experience and expertise to find a niche that suits me. Hence I decided to try out as a healthcare virtual assistant (HVA). The pay was not that big at first, as there was a lot of competition, yet it drove me to work harder and appreciate every opportunity that came along the way. Who wouldn't grab opportunities when you have no options left? I had no certificates as a freelancer, yet I worked my head off to make ends meet. Alas! After a year, I looked back and realized I was able to earn way higher than what I could ever achieve as a nurse. I provided my family with my time, talent, and treasure.

I believe that the best measurement for progress is only ourselves and not other people. We can either be complacent about remaining the same as yesterday or strive to excel and be better than yesterday! Being a good steward means working harder every day, enhancing our crafts, yet remembering to do these in humility and faithfulness to God, the source of all things.