05/07/2025
Why I’ll Never Accept Underpaid Virtual Assistant Work Again
2 years ago, I had a client who approached me offering $3/hour para sa trabaho nga klaro gyud unta na worth $10 or more. Giingnan ko niya, “It’s simple lang, 'lex. Just emails, calendar management, basic admin stuff ra gud.” Sa sugod, nagduha-duha pa ko, kay siyempre, trabaho gihapon siya, diba?
Pero here's the reality check nga akong nadawat the hard way:
Tasks nga gi-describe nga “simple lang” usually turn out nga dili diay ingon ana ka-simple. Those basic emails soon became full-time customer support. Calendar management turned into coordinating complex events. And “basic admin” eventually morphed into full-on project management.
Before ko kabalo, nagatrabaho na ko'g pang-duha or tulo ka tao...pero ang bayad, katunga ra sa usa.
Lessons learned:
✅ Never undervalue your skills. Dili ka newbie forever.
✅ Cheap pay usually comes with unrealistic expectations. Mas demanding pa kasagaran ang ubos mohatag og rate.
✅ Set boundaries upfront—Lisod na kaayo mag-reset kung nagsugod naka og barato.
Today, kung pangutan-on ko sa akong clients why firm ko sa akong rates, mao ni akong ginaingon nila:
"You’re not just paying for my hours, you're paying for the peace of mind, quality work, and reliability nga akong mahatag sa imong negosyo."
Remember, dili lang imong oras ang bayaran, but the months and even years of experience nga imong na-invest to become good at what you do.
Know your worth...kay naa gyud clients nga willing mobayad ana. I promise. 💪
