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I’m a typical dad. When we pull up to something interesting, I want to point it out to my kids and maybe explain it. Sometimes they want to hear it and sometimes they don’t. We’ve visited a number of cathedrals since we’ve been here in Europe. They’re pretty amazing. This time I was explaining to my kids what a confessional booth is. My son took a picture to show evidence of me explaining things. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/a7f232bf-f7dd-a0c9-dfb2-2bd6c0130b27.jpeg" width="480" height="640" data-file-id="474036" /> Today, after we walked over a real draw bridge (they’ve never seen one before) I pointed it out and they made fun of me for the rest of the day. That’s the price I pay for being a good dad and explaining things. I never know what they’re going to like and what they won’t. Here’s an explainer about PhilHealth. If <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/benefits-give-ofs-online-filipino-specialist-practical-advice" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/benefits-give-ofs-online-filipino-specialist-practical-advice">one of the benefits</a> you’re paying for is your OFS Philhealth contributions, this is something you need to know. Philhealth (Philippine socialized medicine) just sent out an advisory announcing an increase in their premiums for the year 2022. They just announced it but the rate hike is retroactive. <a href="https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2022/adv2022-0010.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2022/adv2022-0010.pdf">https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2022/adv2022-0010.pdf</a> For the past few years, the minimum contribution for Philhealth has been Php300 ($5.75) per month. Philhealth set that as a minimum assuming that most Filipinos have a monthly salary of Php10,000 ($191) and at a 3% premium. Now, the rate is at 4% or P400 minimum. That’s an additional Php100 ($2). <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/44f729ce-2fe7-5c55-18a3-1649cf66801b.jpg" width="480" height="91" data-file-id="473932" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/44f729ce-2fe7-5c55-18a3-1649cf66801b.jpg" /> Why is this happening? Under the Universal Health Care Law of the Philippines, that rate should be at around 5%. <a href="https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/about_us/UHC-IRR_Signed.pdf " target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/about_us/UHC-IRR_Signed.pdf ">https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/about_us/UHC-IRR_Signed.pdf </a> For the longest time, the premiums were around 2% and the Philippine government was having a hard time covering hospitalization claims. So what the government did was introduce the increases gradually. They did an increase back in 2019, raising the premium rate from 2.5% to 3%. The increase was supposed to happen every year but was delayed for 2 years due to the pandemic. Again, the rate hike is retroactive. This means that if your OFS paid their Philhealth contributions early, they need to pay the balance so their contributions would be credited. They also need to pay the difference for the previous months’ contribution starting with January 2022. This could be a big burden. Ask your OFS about it. John |
I believe when you do good in the world, it comes back to you 10-fold. We see this all the time but still, sometimes it's hard to believe. Also, as people, we have self-protective instincts. We want to make sure that we get our fair share and that nobody takes advantage of us. But when we go out of our way to show trust, consideration, and kindness to people around us, what we get in return is just overwhelming. I got this email from Danielle. She shared with me a message she got from her OFS (Online Filipino Specialist). <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/8ada2b24-a4b1-44a7-eb86-25f179b6579d.jpg" width="480" height="667" data-file-id="473920" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/8ada2b24-a4b1-44a7-eb86-25f179b6579d.jpg" /> Danielle: “Just want to say thank you for all the work you do! You really have been so great at tracking so many different and new tasks - thank you for your input, suggestions, and the willingness to try and learn new things!” Danielle’s OFS: “Wow. Thank you for your appreciation. 😊 I love what I am doing because of your trust, consideration, kindness & everything 😊” Consideration and kindness I would expect. That's part of being a human being. But the trust part is so interesting to me. This OFS feels like her boss trusts her. Because of that she loves her job, she does good work, she contributes to the company. Try gaining your OFS trust, and trusting them to do good work. They’ll love their work, They’ll love working for you, and They’ll do what needs to be done to make your business successful. One way to show your OFS that you care is to give them training. You can give them that training with <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http://VAsMadeEasy.com">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. John PS. Today we visited the Hohenzollern castle. The castle itself was great. But the view point we were able to ride to was exceptional. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/3d96906e-7feb-f12f-8f7e-7b365afbd648.jpeg" width="480" height="278" data-file-id="474044" /> |
I got this great email from Kymn. She writes: Hi John, LOVE your newsletter! Quick question: 99% of my communication with my VA is via email. We used to meet on zoom frequently and now we do not anymore. Her work is still excellent. I’m wondering if it is a mistake not to connect with her face-to-face more often and wonder what you think about this. She seems satisfied; I’m satisfied yet this is a nagging question. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this!Kymn Honestly, I don't know. I NEVER meet with my people via video. Always via project management or email. Often I send them a video of me, but rarely do I get a video (screen recordings) of them. I asked them about it and got different responses. Some of them are okay with just the video message, email, Slack, or comments on our Basecamp. They don’t like doing face-to-face meetings because they don’t want me to see laundry or hear their loud chickens/dogs/tricycles in the background. I’m okay with it, but I understand why they’d be self-conscious about that. Some like regular meetings, but they're okay with how things are. These are my OFS (Online Filipino Specialists) who’ve worked in offices before and are used to meetings. The closest thing we have to a company meeting is when we do a Campfire on Basecamp. That’s where we post if we need to tell everybody something, and anyone can respond. For team meetings, we have our Slack channels. This system works for us, for how we do things. But I know this might not work for everyone. Meetings get a lot of flack for being too long and tedious, but some businesses need regular meetings. I think the important thing to think about is: Does a regular meeting serve a purpose? Does it help you run your business? Will it help your OFS get their work done? If the answer is yes to all three questions, then go ahead and have a meeting. If this is something that you want to do and would make you feel more comfortable working with your OFS, go for it. When you do it, you'll get a feeling from it. Might be great for you. Might be great for them. It might not be. I'd be interested in how you hold meetings with your team and how productive you feel they are. If you want to know more about how I work with my Filipino team, check out my book, <a href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/">The Outsourcing Lever.</a> John |
I’m on holiday right now. In the past week we rode our bikes from Germany to Switzerland to Austria. The Bodensee borders all 3 countries and is beautiful: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/a83117ef-f74b-92af-b60c-fcca9bf5ee30.jpeg" width="480" height="359" data-file-id="474060" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/a83117ef-f74b-92af-b60c-fcca9bf5ee30.jpeg" /> This coming Sunday, June 12 is the Philippine Independence Day. It’s a regular holiday celebrated all over the country. It commemorates the Philippines’ independence from Spain back in 1898. They declared independence on the balcony of Emilio Aguinaldo’s home (1st Philippine President) in Kawit, Cavite. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0e8c32be-ee74-20f5-a64e-7f3f6ffbe960.jpeg" width="480" height="298" data-file-id="473944" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0e8c32be-ee74-20f5-a64e-7f3f6ffbe960.jpeg" /> This house has been donated to the government and is now a museum. If you visit the Philippines, that balcony where they first waved the Philippine flag still exists. Also in that place is this plaque commemorating the event. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9f614635-748b-8dfc-932c-1603514f19e8.jpg" width="480" height="708" data-file-id="473948" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9f614635-748b-8dfc-932c-1603514f19e8.jpg" /> The plaque is in English! This year, Philippine Independence falls on a Sunday. This reminded me of an email I got a while back asking what the practice is in the Philippines when a holiday falls on a Sunday? Is the following Monday declared a non-working holiday? I know this was the practice back when the Philippines followed holiday economics, a policy that was created to boost domestic tourism and spending. But they don’t do that anymore because there are already so many holidays. So this holiday would only have an impact on your OFS if they work on a Sunday. Stay on top of the upcoming holidays by subscribing to our<a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=en.philippines%23holiday%40group.v.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=en.philippines%23holiday%40group.v.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila"> holiday calendar</a>. John |
On our bike trip, we could only bring a small bag for our clothes. It’s called a saddle bag and fits under the bike seat. Here’s my wife’s bike fully packed: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/8d3c40ff-69d1-bbcf-18b0-f895469dc396.jpeg" width="480" height="361" data-file-id="474064" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/8d3c40ff-69d1-bbcf-18b0-f895469dc396.jpeg" /> The rest of the bags are for food or gear or other essentials. The saddle bag is about 18” long and 6-8” in diameter. All we were able to bring is - 3 “kits” (the biking clothes we wear) - 1 pants - 1 shorts - 2 shirts - underwear - 3 socks - 2 jackets (rain and puffy) Thats it. We weren’t sure how rough it would be. But…to be honest, it has been really nice. No choices to make. Everything is simple. the hardest part is doing laundry so often. The rest of the world is getting back to work. In the US, that means getting back in a suit and tie. While many offices in the Philippines have adopted suits as men’s office wear, many still use the “barong tagalog”. The barongis a lightweight embroidered shirt used by Filipinos the same way we use suits here in the US. There’s a formal barong, a long-sleeved, intricately embroidered, sheer shirt usually made from pineapple leaf and jusi(pronounced: who-c) fibers from abaca (a banana sub species). It’s what you wear to life events like weddings or funerals. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9d3a8932-80a2-ff88-0b80-b725aac136aa.jpg" width="480" height="659" data-file-id="473972" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9d3a8932-80a2-ff88-0b80-b725aac136aa.jpg" /> Wearing a formal barongcan also be a status symbol, especially if you get a barong from high-end designers like Pierre Cardin, Rhett Eala or Rajo Laurel. Formal barongs are worn on red carpet and black tie events. Even heads of state or dignitaries who visit the Philippines would wear the barong. The best example of this was during the APEC summit in the Philippines in 2015. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/272afbd7-426e-59ee-c695-ecd1b8009752.jpg" width="480" height="240" data-file-id="473964" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/272afbd7-426e-59ee-c695-ecd1b8009752.jpg" /> Image: By Presidencia de la República Mexicana - <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciamx/23104738792/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciamx/23104738792/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciamx/23104738792/</a>, CC BY 2.0, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45272604" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45272604">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45272604</a> For the office, you wear a polo barong. It has short sleeves, simple to no embroidery, is made from cotton or linen, and can come in various colors. It’s too informal for weddings but good enough for work or meetings with clients. There are even feminized versions of the barong. They’re often worn by politicians or corporate executives. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e043f532-ac20-eecb-060d-c230c2c025a7.jpg" width="480" height="655" data-file-id="473976" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e043f532-ac20-eecb-060d-c230c2c025a7.jpg" /> Image: By Littlebeatlebum - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36507092" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36507092">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36507092</a> It makes sense to use this over a suit and tie when you see the shirt. Nobody likes wearing a thick jacket in a tropical climate. The embroidery work and design also look professional enough that they wouldn’t look out of place in a corporate setting. But what makes the barongreally interesting is that this type of shirt existed way before Spain colonized the Philippines. The kind of barong you wore would indicate your rank in society, what part of the country you are from, and what you did for a living. It can come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and designs. It’s one of those things that’s distinct about Filipino culture that has survived the test of time. Get my book to learn more about Filipino work culture: <a href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook">The Outsourcing Lever</a>. John |
Dan sent me this screenshot a few days ago. This guy, Marshall, shared his experience when he went to his dentist. Normally, you’d have a receptionist greet you and get your information for your appointment. Instead, Marshall was greeted by a virtual Filipino receptionist on video. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/a5fc0810-433b-47a4-514e-4c545c3069a5.jpg" width="480" height="771" data-file-id="473980" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/a5fc0810-433b-47a4-514e-4c545c3069a5.jpg" /> I’m really impressed with this dentist. Just imagine what a virtual Filipino receptionist can do for your business! If you’re worried that your clients won’t like it that they’re talking to your OFS (Online Filipino Specialist), Marshall’s reaction here is proof that clients don’t really mind. Your clients know that your OFS is your employee. If they’re getting amazing customer service from your OFS, it makes you and your business look good. Of course, the only way you can ensure that your OFS will do excellent work is to give them the training they need. For that, just go to <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040">VAsMadeEasy.com</a> John |
Breakfast in Europe is different than breakfast in the US. In the US I typically eat pancakes or cereal or potatoes and eggs. Since we’ve been in Europe, I haven’t eaten any of those things for breakfast. My breakfast almost every day has looked like this: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7900ce74-d687-3b37-25a4-0d47a63ffc2d.jpeg" width="480" height="639" data-file-id="474088" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7900ce74-d687-3b37-25a4-0d47a63ffc2d.jpeg" /> Here’s what Julia wrote about breakfast in the Philippines: ------------------------- When people talk about a typical Filipino breakfast, two things usually come to mind: the pandesaland the silog. What is a pandesal? The pandesal (salt bread) is a small piece of bread, around the size of a dinner roll, heavily loaded with bread crumbs. It’s toasted, slightly salty and crispy on the outside, and soft and sweet on the inside. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/_compresseds/f21c830a-5d54-0968-b1f1-eccae0a09578.jpg" width="480" height="359" data-file-id="474020" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/_compresseds/f21c830a-5d54-0968-b1f1-eccae0a09578.jpg" /> Every bakery in the Philippines makes and sells pandesal. This type of bread is such a big part of our culture, that people would wake up early and line up for a bag of warm, freshly baked pandesalfor breakfast. Even the Philippine government goes out of its way to protect the pandesal. Whenever the price of wheat or sugar would fluctuate, the government would be on it right away because nobody wants to lose their beloved morning pandesal. And if you’re the type of person who sleeps in, tough luck. Bakeries would always run out by mid-morning. But if you’re willing to wait, you can try early in the afternoon when bakeries make another batch for snacks. You can eat pandesalon its own or use it as sandwich bread and fill it up with whatever you like. My favorite is scrambled eggs. My husband likes liver spread or Spanish sardines. Dunking your pandesalin coffee is also common practice. The small size of the pandesalmakes it ideal for an afternoon snack (hence the afternoon batch). You know it’s afternoon pandesalwhen people dunk their bread in Coke instead of coffee. I promise, it’s a thing here in the Philippines, but I don’t get it either. If you want a heavy breakfast, another Filipino breakfast classic is the “silog”. It’s not just one dish. It’s more like a family of dishes. The “si” in silogstands for “sinangag” (fried rice in Filipino), and the “log” stands for “itlog” or egg in Filipino. When a dish has a protein (usually fried), garlic fried rice, and an egg (usually sunny side up), that dish becomes a “silog”. So when you have a fried hotdog, garlic fried rice and egg, you get “Hotsilog”. My favorite is the “Spamsilog”. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/_compresseds/9851c51f-131e-2bc0-dbcd-f07474fa811e.jpg" width="480" height="642" data-file-id="474016" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/_compresseds/9851c51f-131e-2bc0-dbcd-f07474fa811e.jpg" /> If you want a classic silog, go for Tapsilog. Tap is short for “tapa” or cured beef “jerky”. Unlike American jerky though, tapa is not preserved. It needs to be kept in the freezer and thawed before cooking. If you want to sell breakfast in the Philippines, you’ve got to have the silogand pandesal. Even McDonald’s has them here. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b2f5129d-e0bc-c182-092e-cef5c72c60c1.jpg" width="480" height="600" data-file-id="474012" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b2f5129d-e0bc-c182-092e-cef5c72c60c1.jpg" /> When we’re in McDonald's, my husband usually orders the longgasilog. Longganisa(Philippine sausage that comes in many variations) in McDonald's is a skinless sweet sausage. And yes, our McDonald's makes fried rice. My favorite is the one pictured below. It’s a pandesalwith a cheese omelet. We do have McMuffins but I prefer their pandesal meals because they’re lighter and less greasy. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0d7f4c79-f004-54fb-c6bb-5f4f9f562f4d.jpg" width="480" height="253" data-file-id="474008" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0d7f4c79-f004-54fb-c6bb-5f4f9f562f4d.jpg" /> Like the rest of the world, the McDonald's here refuses to serve these breakfast items after 11 am. ————— Nothing to add…So good. John |
I didn’t grow up watching “The Sound of Music” like my wife did, but I’ve seen it a number of times since we’ve been married. As we climbed these mountains in Austria I just couldn’t help but sing “The hills are alive, with the sound of music…” over and over again. These mountains really are magical. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/61abf047-c4e2-239f-8378-61635b42dec0.jpeg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474092" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/61abf047-c4e2-239f-8378-61635b42dec0.jpeg" /> One of the things I tell anyone who just hired an OFS is that they should pay their OFS weekly, at least for the first couple of months. I understand that paying weekly can be a bit of work. You have to remember. But paying weekly protects you and your OFS. It helps establish trust. How does it protect you? If you see that it’s not working out in the first couple of weeks, it’s easier to end the working relationship. Plus, there are no hard feelings from your OFS because they got paid for their work. They won’t feel cheated or scammed. It just didn’t work out. Now, how does it protect your OFS? Filipinos just want to work. Once they get a job, Filipinos want to jump on it. They’ll care about their salary, but their first priority is to show you that you made the right choice. Add that to the fact that they’re not comfortable talking about money. Weeks, even months, can go by, and they keep working without getting paid. You have no idea how many emails we’ve received over the years of Filipino workers asking us to talk to their employers because they haven’t been paid for months. They’re even apologetic about it, telling us that they would have waited a bit longer but needed the money for rent, groceries, utilities, etc. Paying weekly in the first couple of months shows that: You’re not a scam employer You have a thriving business that can afford employees You’re somebody they can trust Once you have your worker's trust, working with them is easier. You can ease up the schedule and pay twice a month or monthly. When you have their trust, they’ll be loyal and motivated to help you succeed. I talk more about this in my book, <a href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook">The Outsourcing Lever</a>. John |
Last Sunday, a volcano in the Philippines erupted, resulting in the evacuation of around 1,500 families. The volcano, Mount Bulusan, is in Sorsogon (Bicol Region). It’s part of the southernmost region of Luzon. It’s about 320 miles (517 km) away from Manila and just 43 miles (55km) away from Albay, the capital of that province. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/dd9c11c9-252a-baf6-a97b-ca39a658cd8c.jpg" width="480" height="563" data-file-id="474100" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/dd9c11c9-252a-baf6-a97b-ca39a658cd8c.jpg" /> What do we know about it so far? The eruption rained ash 5 kilometers around the volcano. Bulusan isn’t heavily populated. The ones affected are mainly farmers and those working in the agricultural sector. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/76dfd043-27ef-e09e-8522-25f7510171eb.jpeg" width="480" height="320" data-file-id="474096" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/76dfd043-27ef-e09e-8522-25f7510171eb.jpeg" /> It looks like the worst of it is over. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered the alert level, but people can’t go back home yet. They’re hoping for fair weather because heavy rains can cause a lahar flow. Lahar (volcanic ash, mud, and debris) flow is when all stuff flows down the volcano to the surrounding area. It causes more damage than a typical flood or landslide because lahar hardens like concrete, making recovery harder. <a href="/why-natural-disasters-happen-regularly-in-the-philippines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/why-natural-disasters-happen-regularly-in-the-philippines/">Volcanic eruptions happen regularly in the Philippines</a>. I explained why this is in a newsletter early this year. <a href="/why-natural-disasters-happen-regularly-in-the-philippines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/why-natural-disasters-happen-regularly-in-the-philippines/">/why-natural-disasters-happen-regularly-in-the-philippines/</a> If you have an OFS in Sorsogon, ask them how they’re doing. Also, pay attention in the coming weeks for any aftermath. Last time this happened winds rained ash all over the place causing major problems. John |
After reaching the pass the other day we had a long fun decent. At the bottom was an amazing river which we followed uphill for a long ways. Maybe 20 miles. The end miles were steep…just like the beginning miles were steep. Hard. After sleeping we didn’t really know what the ride looked like moving forward but we quickly found out it was another steep, long 1500 foot climb. It was rough. But with most rough things we do there’s something amazing on the other side: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b1144e15-aec3-7c90-0a62-2b2d61f60331.jpeg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474132" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b1144e15-aec3-7c90-0a62-2b2d61f60331.jpeg" /> While riding, I got this email from Kymn John, Is there something in the Filipino culture that has my 0FS have such low self-esteem? No matter how much I praise her, no matter how much I give her paid time off etc, her self-esteem does not seem to improve. She hears feedback as criticism even when I do my utmost to frame it as instructive not criticism. Might you write about this? Frankly it gets a bit exhausting constantly feeling a need to build her up. To be honest, I have never encountered this before. I knew Filipinos are shy but I think the Power Distance Index can give the impression that Filipinos have low self-esteem. But based on the email, that doesn't seem to be the case. So I showed this email to my OFS, Julia. I asked her thoughts about this and this is what she wrote. ---------- It can be due to a number of things (from most likely to least likely): 1. Personality When my husband was working as a BPO trainer and I worked in corporate, we encountered people like this. Best case scenario, they're uncomfortable with praise because they feel that they're just doing their jobs. The praise is still appreciated but not needed. Worst case, it's an ego thing. This is what I get from (She hears feedback as criticism even when I do my utmost to frame it as instructive not criticism). It could be due to: her age (younger workers tend to have bigger egos), background (upper middle class, went to a big school have bigger egos) previous work experience (freelancers who do one-off jobs usually don't get criticism because they leave as soon as they're done/ office workers who already had management/power positions ) , etc. 2. Mental health It could be <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-cognitive-distortions-identified-in-cbt-22412#:~:text=Cognitive%20distortions%20are%20negative%20or,%2C%20depression%2C%20and%20substance%20use." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-cognitive-distortions-identified-in-cbt-22412#:~:text=Cognitive%20distortions%20are%20negative%20or,%2C%20depression%2C%20and%20substance%20use.">cognitive distortion</a>, which is associated with anxiety and depression: This is something that has worsened during the pandemic. I noticed that those of us who are used to working from home have adapted better. But the new crop of VAs and people working from home really had a hard time: <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/19/21/at-least-36-million-filipinos-battling-mental-health-issues-amid-pandemic-doh" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/19/21/at-least-36-million-filipinos-battling-mental-health-issues-amid-pandemic-doh">https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/19/21/at-least-36-million-filipinos-battling-mental-health-issues-amid-pandemic-doh</a> Mental health isn't a priority in the Philippines. It's stigmatized and seen as a weakness. It's barely covered by Philhealth and not all HMOs cover it. Paying it out of pocket is expensive (I checked). If this is the case, she might benefit from these resources: <a href="https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline">https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline</a> <a href="https://blog.opencounseling.com/hotlines-ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://blog.opencounseling.com/hotlines-ph/">https://blog.opencounseling.com/hotlines-ph/</a> 3. Sexism I've actually had conversations about this with expats or foreigners who visit Asia. I also saw this when I visited Thailand and Malaysia. Compared to other Asian countries, the Philippines is less sexist but it's still pretty strong. <a href="https://pcw.gov.ph/philippines-drops-8-places-in-gender-equality-remains-top-in-asia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://pcw.gov.ph/philippines-drops-8-places-in-gender-equality-remains-top-in-asia/">https://pcw.gov.ph/philippines-drops-8-places-in-gender-equality-remains-top-in-asia/</a> Even though we have women in positions of power, there's still a lot of pressure to be the ideal wife/mother/daughter. The achievements of women and girls are still considered inferior compared to men. It doesn't matter if you're the president of the Philippines, if your family life sucks you've failed as a woman. Sexism is so ingrained that daughters are still jokingly referred to as "pambayad utang" (payment of debt). It's the (eldest) daughter's responsibility to take care of the family. They're expected to sacrifice everything for the family. Hence the inability to accept praise and criticism. Hard to accept praise when you feel all your work is never enough. Hard to accept criticism when you've worked so hard all your life and it's still not enough. I think this might be a part of it but just a small part. The workplace has given Filipino women freedom and power. The literacy rate gap between men and women in the Philippines is now less than 1%. More women are finishing school to enter the workplace. We even have better graduation rates than men. <a href="https://www.econstor.eu/obitstream/10419/46638/1/539787426.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.econstor.eu/obitstream/10419/46638/1/539787426.pdf">https://www.econstor.eu/obitstream/10419/46638/1/539787426.pdf</a> Personally, when I finished school and started working, I felt empowered. Sure, I had a sexism chip on my shoulder but I also knew I can do just as well (sometimes better) than my male peers. I also had a lot of bosses (men and women) who made sure that we were seen and treated equally. That helped me a lot with my self-esteem. Even though the<a href="https://investinginwomen.asia/posts/video-gender-pay-gap-philippines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://investinginwomen.asia/posts/video-gender-pay-gap-philippines/"> gender pay gap in the Philippines</a> still exists, we're seeing improvements in this because more women are getting better educated and gaining skills at a faster rate. I think this explains in part why we have more women than men in our database. Working from home gives women the best of both worlds. Online work allows them to practice their skills and education while taking care of their home. The bad thing about online work though is we don't really get the same respect or recognition as our office working peers. ---------- I don’t always have an answer. Sometimes we just have to work through hard things. John |
The Philippines has a long history and understanding some of it helps understand the people. Before the Spanish colonized the Philippines in the 1500s, it already had a rich history of writing using an indigenous alphabet called baybayin. If you want to learn more about it, you can read about it: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baybayin" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baybayin">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baybayin</a> Filipinos no longer use this writing style, even when writing in Filipino. However, there’s a resurgence of its use in official documents and seals to revive their lost culture and foster Philippine pride. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/3383cd65-bfba-ddb2-5cde-7baed4c7842b.jpg" width="480" height="326" data-file-id="474076" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/3383cd65-bfba-ddb2-5cde-7baed4c7842b.jpg" /> The baybayin script there reads "Ang katuwiran ay nagpapadakila sa isang bayan" or "Righteousness exalts a nation" in reference to Proverbs 14:34. Some Filipinos use baybayin when doing calligraphy. It’s growing in popularity in with desktop font makers. <a href="https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/design/baybayin-fonts-a1926-20190806-lfrm" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/design/baybayin-fonts-a1926-20190806-lfrm">https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/design/baybayin-fonts-a1926-20190806-lfrm</a> It’s also a popular script for tattoos and on products. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/2f481879-621b-c0c2-1b42-447752dd54ad.jpg" width="480" height="572" data-file-id="474080" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/2f481879-621b-c0c2-1b42-447752dd54ad.jpg" /> You can use <a href="https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/baybayin.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/baybayin.htm">https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/baybayin.htm</a> to see what certain words and phrases look like in baybayin. If you know Filipino, you’ll get the best results. I tried it out for fun, and here’s what John Jonas looks like: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e0f54d3a-d3af-110e-ddaa-92d7cea10b08.jpeg" width="480" height="88" data-file-id="474084" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e0f54d3a-d3af-110e-ddaa-92d7cea10b08.jpeg" /> (Di-yo-h-n Di-yo-na-s) Learn more about the Philippine work culture with my book: <a href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook">The Outsourcing Lever</a>. |
A lot of people know that boxing is big in the Philippines because of Manny Pacquiao. Boxing is a big sport in the Philippines. There are boxing gyms all over the country. Whenever Manny fights, the <a href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/689013/pnp-zero-crime-rate-in-metro-manila-during-pacquiao-mayweather-bout" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/689013/pnp-zero-crime-rate-in-metro-manila-during-pacquiao-mayweather-bout">crime rate in the Philippines virtually drops to zero</a> But you know what’s bigger than boxing in the Philippines? Basketball <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f432d29c-02fd-1ba5-81dc-ebc9334f5ad4.jpg" width="480" height="288" data-file-id="474048" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f432d29c-02fd-1ba5-81dc-ebc9334f5ad4.jpg" /> How big is basketball in the Philippines? Every school has a basketball court and team. When you go to school in the Philippines, you will learn to play basketball, whether you like it or not. Every barangay in the Philippines has at least one basketball court. They can make a basketball court out of whatever's available, no matter how small the place is. You may even sometimes see guys use coconuts as their ball. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bca72eb7-c45f-d57f-b4ab-438902f2fa1f.jpg" width="480" height="320" data-file-id="474068" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bca72eb7-c45f-d57f-b4ab-438902f2fa1f.jpg" /> The Philippines has a professional basketball league (The Philippine Basketball Association) that has millions of fans and has been going on for almost 50 years. If you think we’re crazy when March Madness happens, it’s the same with the Philippines and the UAAP and NCAA, their college basketball leagues. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/85164d56-9f44-b9ac-acfd-2a6a1452253d.jpg" width="480" height="241" data-file-id="474052" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/85164d56-9f44-b9ac-acfd-2a6a1452253d.jpg" /> The NBA finals draw the same excitement in Filipinos the way the SuperBowl does for us. Basketball changes lives in the Philippines. If you can play professional basketball, you can leverage that into a political or acting career. The connections players make while playing almost guarantees success if they go into business upon retirement. A big example is Robert Jaworski, a PBA Hall of Famer turned senator who wrote and co-wrote around 300 bills in his 6-year term. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/8ef7795a-45e2-ac0e-f577-d58f2e8eae95.jpg" width="480" height="939" data-file-id="474072" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/8ef7795a-45e2-ac0e-f577-d58f2e8eae95.jpg" /> Want to score points with your constituents? Politicians sponsor basketball leagues and build basketball courts as a form of public service. The Filipinos’ love for basketball is so well known, that some even put it on their Onlinejobs.ph profile. Some NBA fan sites hire Filipinos because of their extensive knowledge and passion for the sport. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/47a83d55-f534-e05e-bd19-a2bf21042ab1.jpg" width="480" height="180" data-file-id="474056" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/47a83d55-f534-e05e-bd19-a2bf21042ab1.jpg" /> Rafe Bartholemew wrote a great book if you want a deeper look into Philippine basketball culture. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Rims-Flip-Flops-Philippines-Basketball/dp/0451233220" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Rims-Flip-Flops-Philippines-Basketball/dp/0451233220">https://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Rims-Flip-Flops-Philippines-Basketball/dp/0451233220</a> Why are we talking about basketball in this newsletter? Because my OFS, Julia, knows a lot about it. She learned to play basketball in school, watched games growing up, and passes by a basketball court every time she leaves the house. And she hates basketball. John PS. In Europe, you know they love soccer. Did you know they love cycling almost as much? They have bike parking lots the same way we have car parking lots. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b5f2c820-50eb-959c-8961-7420ad1dfa7e.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474152" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b5f2c820-50eb-959c-8961-7420ad1dfa7e.jpg" /> |
While my family and I were biking across Europe, I’d check my emails and Basecamp on my phone. It’s work, but it’s only a few minutes every other day. The best part is I’m able to do it in places with the most amazing views. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/174edea8-9ec8-ef7f-b3eb-40178f400421.jpg" width="480" height="359" data-file-id="474156" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/174edea8-9ec8-ef7f-b3eb-40178f400421.jpg" /> This is one of the good things about having a remote team. You can work anywhere. Now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted, some of my OFS are also traveling to visit family. Some take their vacation leaves for this. Some don’t because they know they can work there. My OFS, Jamie, opted not to take her vacation leave when visiting her husband’s family for a month. I was worried that she can’t work there. It turns out she can work anywhere too. She writes: ------------ I’ve been working as an OFS for around ten years now, and I have worked in many weird places. I have OFS friends who have worked in odd places as well. In my case, the weirdest place I worked in was in a ball pit at a McDonald’s. My daughter was attending a birthday party, and I needed to get work done. I don’t know why but the ball pit was the place that had the best mobile data signal. A grown woman typing on her laptop in the middle of a ball pit with kids running around draws attention. Good thing the other parents more or less understood that I was working. I managed to keep doing that until the party was over. My husband can sometimes be caught working at parties too. He’s just more subtle because he can do some work on his phone. I have friends who have worked on tricycles, buses, boats, and jeepneys. I’ve seen Filipino VAs work in cemeteries, coffee shops, airports, bus terminals, seaports, etc. As I am writing this, I’m working from the dirty kitchen (an outdoor kitchen some Filipino homes have where most of the cooking is done). There’s someone doing laundry just a few steps away. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/eb0c1c19-5c03-1185-32cf-50cea24ab32e.jpg" width="480" height="359" data-file-id="474120" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/eb0c1c19-5c03-1185-32cf-50cea24ab32e.jpg" /> Don’t worry, we rarely work in ball pits, cemeteries, and public transport. It’s only when we have something urgent that comes up. Thank goodness smartphones are so functional now because carrying our laptops everywhere is unwieldy. Working in the kitchen, bedroom, garage, or laundry area is more common. Most of us live in tiny homes, so it’s hard to carve out a dedicated workspace. Where in the house we can work is often dictated by two things: Is the internet good in the area of the house? Can a computer and a person fit in it? So we often end up working in the common areas. When I first started working from home, I would work in the kitchen or living room. After I had been an OFS for more than five years, that’s when my husband and I started investing in room dividers, computer tables, and chairs to make it more comfortable to work. So we now have home offices! Well, home office space in the corners of our living room and kitchen. I got to stay where there’s good WiFi. ------- Your OFS now has <a href="/what-internet-options-exist-in-the-philippines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/what-internet-options-exist-in-the-philippines/">better options when it comes to internet connectivity</a>. It’s nothing like when <a href="/the-first-mistakes-i-made-outsourcing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/the-first-mistakes-i-made-outsourcing/">I started outsourcing to the Philippines</a>. John |
I get emails like this from a lot of people. But I’m featuring Mitchell’s email here because it also gave a great suggestion. Hey John! I've listened to every podcast episode you have, I love them, short and sweet and to the point which I appreciate it. I would love to hear some episodes on compensation for OFS's. I know that will vary based on what position they do, how skilled they are, where they are located, etc. Just like someone in New York City or LA is gonna make more than someone in a small town typically, but I'd love to hear from you and your team about the minimum wage there, how that works and what is considered "good", "great" and "amazing" in terms of salary and what things cost over there to help us Americans better picture it in our minds of what things cost over there. Thanks in advance! I'm looking forward to this episode! Jamie's going to be hosting the podcast version of this newsletter. You can find my podcast on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6aQMucIC86EaAj7Fll3BBw" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6aQMucIC86EaAj7Fll3BBw">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-sauce-of-outsourcing/id1593820974" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-sauce-of-outsourcing/id1593820974">Apple Podcast</a>. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk about minimum wage in the Philippines. The minimum wage is different per region in the Philippines and it’s determined by a government committee called Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board. They base the minimum wage on the cost of living, socioeconomic factors, and salary trends. Metro Manila and other big cities like Cebu and Davao have the highest minimum wage. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/66601828-388e-50e3-2d2c-361eae8d91e8.jpg" width="480" height="258" data-file-id="474104" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/66601828-388e-50e3-2d2c-361eae8d91e8.jpg" /> Are these rates good starting salaries? Not really. Why? Below is another table that shows the monthly expenses of an average 3-person family every month. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b979320a-3cab-d1f2-4060-4bbf80b1b9e0.jpg" width="480" height="320" data-file-id="474108" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b979320a-3cab-d1f2-4060-4bbf80b1b9e0.jpg" /> Now, let’s compare that to the minimum wage. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/44b81fdc-723b-379b-afba-d6bb07b92d06.jpg" width="480" height="240" data-file-id="474112" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/44b81fdc-723b-379b-afba-d6bb07b92d06.jpg" /> As you can see, the minimum wage really isn’t enough to cover most of the basic needs. This is why most Filipino homes have 2 breadwinners and why working abroad continues to be an attractive option. When Filipinos work from home, a lot of those expenses can go down. The commuting, clothing, and food expenses go down because they don’t have to go out as much. Some might be able to get rid of rent altogether because they don’t need to move close to the city. The computer, electricity, and internet costs may go up but considering how much you’re saving by not having to go out every day, that increase is negligible. In our <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/filipino-virtual-assistants-salary-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/filipino-virtual-assistants-salary-guide">salary guide</a>, you’ll see that the minimum rate there for inexperienced workers is around twice the minimum wage. It’s enough to cover their expenses and gives you a lot of room to give your workers a raise. I’ll have more newsletters talking about this. I want to give you guys a better picture of the cost of living difference between Filipino workers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. John |
Voting brings a lot of emotion. During the last election cycle my wife and I had some different views. We had a number of heated conversations. Nothing ever got out of control...but it wasn't our normal. We ended up coming really close together and having really similar views in the end. That's rarely the outcome. The Philippines is no different. The Philippine Congress finally declared Bongbong Marcos as the next President. The daughter of Rodrigo Duterte (Sara) is going to be his Vice President. The term of the Philippine President and Vice President runs for 6 years, so they're expected to serve until 2028. There's no turning back now. Preparations for the inauguration on June 30 are already underway. They have started discussing what they plan to implement for their administration and picking their cabinet members. Bongbong has met with foreign dignitaries from Spain, Morocco, and Germany. He met with the United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on June 9. So far, they haven't said or done anything that would affect how you work with your OFS, which is good. Also, as far as we know, June 30 is not going to be a holiday, regular or otherwise. But we are following the news since this concerns Filipinos, your OFS included. Like, for the inauguration, the police will be on high alert. Protests are expected because a lot of people are not happy about it. Hopefully, they won't escalate to violence because the whole world is watching. Despite winning by a landslide, people still remember what the Marcoses did (good and bad) and the idea that the Marcoses are back in power brings up a lot of emotions there. Your OFS may or may want to talk about it, depending on where they stand. Of course...there's always the 3 things "we don't discuss": Religion, Politics, and Futbol! John |
Brett sent me this email in response to the previous email about having regular meetings with your OFS. Hey John! I meet with my VA every 6 to 8 weeks. These meetings are not particularly productive, but that is not the point. Systems and quick communication will always be more productive than conversations which easily side tracked. Meeting via video regularly makes my VA feel appreciated and like she’s part of a team. We don’t even always talk about work and projects though usually at least ask how the workload has been and if there’s anything I can do to make it easier or more efficient. Meeting via video also builds influence with your employees. It seems like for the most part Filipino VAs do what they’re told because that is their job, but the quality of work always goes way up in my opinion when in addition to it being their job, you have spent the time to develop the influence and relationship with the people that makes them want to contribute at the highest level. We have the opportunity as business owners to you have employees, but we also have the opportunity as business owners to build the types of working relationships that cause both the employees and the leaders to grow. In my opinion it’s the best investment of your time and resource to focus on leading well and growing people because in the long game this will always benefit everybody involved. Video might not be the only way but it’s one of the ways that I’ve been intentional about growth and building rapport and influence This is a great way to build rapport and make your OFS feel like they’re part of the team. Regular meetings don’t mean you have to meet with them every day or every week. Once a month can be enough as long as you’re intentional about it. You don’t have to always talk about work. Small talk is how you get to know your OFS and make them part of your team. It doesn’t even have to be a video meeting at all. I always send my team videos through Basecamp. I like what he said about influencing your OFS so they’d always want to do their jobs at the highest level. This is good. I’m probably going to try this with my team. Do you guys have anything you want to add to Brett’s tips? Or is there another topic you want me to talk about? Just reply or send me a message through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnjonasofficial" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/johnjonasofficial">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thejohnjonas/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.instagram.com/thejohnjonas/?hl=en">Instagram</a>. My OFS will forward them to me. Want to really improve the relationship with your OFS, try visiting them in the Philippines. It's amazing. John |
A few years ago my grandparents (my dad's side) died at 99 and 100 years old. They died a few months apart, both of them still at home. They never went to a care facility. I don't hope to live that long, but I certainly have some long living genetics. This is kind-of morbid, but I have a death plan. I don't want to live into my 90s. So...if I'm in my 80's and things start to go downhill, I plan on going backcountry skiing on a high avalanche day. Avalanches aren't random...they're predictable within a certain range. Imagine...I could go out and ski the perfect slope. If it avalanches and I die, I win. If it doesn't avalanche, I win with the perfect ski run! Ok...this is unlikely to actually happen, I admit. To the Philippines... This June, my OFS’s Jam and Julia traveled to Manila to visit Jam’s parents. When they told me about it, I said, “It’s great that you’re visiting family for vacation! It’s been so long since you've seen them.” Julia was like, “No, it’s not a vacation. We’re going there because the family asked us to help care for Jam’s elderly parents.” Retirement care and nursing homes exist in the Philippines. But culturally, it’s not something they’re comfortable with. Financially, it’s not something that most Filipinos can afford. The facilities that do exist in that country mainly cater to expats. In the Philippines, you’re expected to care for your parents as they age. This is why most Filipino continue to live with their parents, even after they get married. Those that do move out are expected to live close by so they can keep tabs on their family. The only exception to this is when you have to move away for work. There’s an advantage to this setup. Living with or close to your parents means you don’t have to worry about childcare. Your parents can help watch over your child while you work. You don’t have to worry about rent if your parents own their home. Or at the very least, it’s easier to pay rent with more people contributing. Retirement homes in the Philippines are super expensive. Prices start at $1665/month for assisted living. It gets more expensive for seniors that need more medical care. As you can imagine, it can get pretty crowded. Julia sent me this picture. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/4581574f-c3f8-7501-b3e8-e5023cbd3bfd.jpg" width="480" height="359" data-file-id="474128" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/4581574f-c3f8-7501-b3e8-e5023cbd3bfd.jpg" /> She and Jam are working in a common area while the parents and cousins and aunts are there. If your OFS can work with all that chaos around them, they really are rockstars. One way you can turn your OFS into a rockstar is to make sure they have the training they need. Give them that training: <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040">VAsMadeEasy.com</a> You can buy all our training or just pick and choose whatever is right for you. John |
I just got back from cycling across Europe for a month. No laptop. That's right. I didn't take my laptop with me. "But John...I've been getting your emails 4 times per week for the past month. I've seen your ads on Facebook and Youtube. How?" Guess. Yep...OFS. Running my own business was always about lifestyle for me. It was hard in the beginning. I was doing everything myself. Wearing all the hats. "CEO" (hah...yeah right), book keeper, social media manager, content writer, customer service, web development, marketing, appointment scheduler, sales... I did it all. I worked a lot. It was hard. Until I learned how to find and hire the right people. And, it didn't happen all at once. It was a slow process. I hired one person to do one thing. Then I taught them something else. Then something else. Then it was time to hire someone else. That first person was a leap of faith. It was hard on me. Can I afford them? Can they do good work? Can I trust someone? Can I keep them busy? The second person I hired was another leap of faith. Less hard than the first. I already had answers to my questions. The third person, much less of a leap. The fourth...easy. Hiring someone the first time isn't easy for anyone. It's not easy for you. It's not easy for your neighbor. It wasn't easy for that guy you know who is super successful. But to make progress you have to take a leap. Working about 17 hours/week is standard for me now. I have an entire team of OFS who run my business, even when I'm away. <a href="https://www.OneVAAway.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OneVAAway.com">Take the leap.</a> It's amazing. John We climbed up and over the mountain behind us. Even starting the climb was a leap of faith. It was hard. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/4baf6d4d-48b0-a821-cfac-c14a50cc477e.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474168" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/4baf6d4d-48b0-a821-cfac-c14a50cc477e.jpg" /> |
Today is Independence Day in the USA. I'm at Lake Powell. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0b7f03e8-f869-dd78-b7bc-8e3fb9c00b52.jpg" width="480" height="221" data-file-id="474172" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0b7f03e8-f869-dd78-b7bc-8e3fb9c00b52.jpg" /> I've often found that holiday mornings are some of the most productive times for me. Nobody expects normal work. It's a good time to spend an hour working on your business rather than in. Spending 10 minutes posting that job post that you've been putting off would be really good time spent today! We’re always looking for ways to improve <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/">Onlinejobs.ph</a>. - We beefed up our verification system to improve the quality of Filipino jobseekers on the site. - We’ve improved the design of the website to make it easier to use. - We're working on improving the search function to give you more relevant talent when you search. In the latest line of improvements, here are some of the things we rolled out to make hiring an Online Filipino Specialist easier and better for you. You can now upload your business logo in your job post. This will help your job post stand out and make it look even more professional. We’re now offering <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/pricing">annual subscriptions</a>. Rather than paying every month, you can pay once with the annual subscription which will save you up to 71%, and make future hiring a no brainer. We’ve made improvements on our job board so that all job posts can be seen, even if there are a lot of posts that day. This increases your chances of getting more applicants. We're constantly making changes. Are there other improvements you want to see? Let me know! John |
This email contains free training to give to your OFS. I'm sending this out because it has been requested so many times. Training an OFS sucks. I know you don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. It's not fun. It takes time. It requires you to think. It's 1000% effective and will return on your time investment over and over again... So here's a preview of some of the training we've created for you which you get when you buy <a href="https://www.VAsMadeEasy.com">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. The document below is intended for you, the employer. It's 1 page. It explains the training you're about to give to your OFS. The training is titled: <a href="https://media.onlinejobs.ph/SOP_training/3StepstoQuickandEasySocMedContentCreation/SOP-The3StepstoQuickandEasySocialMediaContentCreation.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://media.onlinejobs.ph/SOP_training/3StepstoQuickandEasySocMedContentCreation/SOP-The3StepstoQuickandEasySocialMediaContentCreation.pdf">The 3 Steps to Quick & Easy Social Media Content Creation</a> At the end of the document is a link to a video you should watch. It explains the process to you (the employer). At the end of the document is a link to give to your OFS. This is the actual process training teaching them what to do to create social media content for you. This is one of the shorter trainings we have available inside <a href="https://www.VAsMadeEasy.com">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. I'm giving it to you free. <a href="https://media.onlinejobs.ph/SOP_training/3StepstoQuickandEasySocMedContentCreation/SOP-The3StepstoQuickandEasySocialMediaContentCreation.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://media.onlinejobs.ph/SOP_training/3StepstoQuickandEasySocMedContentCreation/SOP-The3StepstoQuickandEasySocialMediaContentCreation.pdf">https://media.onlinejobs.ph/SOP_training/3StepstoQuickandEasySocMedContentCreation/SOP-The3StepstoQuickandEasySocialMediaContentCreation.pdf</a> If having your OFS create social media content for you makes your life easier, feel free to use this. If you want other processes like this, get them at <a href="https://www.VAsMadeEasy.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.VAsMadeEasy.com">www.VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. John |
While on our bike trip I heard about inflation all over the place. Gas is $8-9/gallon! Inflation is affecting everybody, including your OFS. I got this email from Tiffany. Hi John, Sorry to bother you on your holiday, but I got a rather urgent note from my VAs today about their cost of living increases, and wonder if you are hearing about this from others? I'm wondering how extreme the effects could be for them? Are you planning a newsletter on this (asap) perhaps? The insane inflation and cost of fuel is really affecting our business here in North America too, but we will be ok. Here's part of what they sent me, I'm glad they felt they could approach me on this: "There has been a rampant price fluctuation happening here in the Philippines because of the Fuel price Hike that started on June 7, 2022.Everything is affected since most companies here in all aspects run their business using Fuel,and I think prices of Rice, electricity and other utilities are expected to rise by next week." I asked my OFS, Julia, and here's her report on the situation: ----- Since January 2022, the Philippines have been experiencing inflation which contributed to the rising cost of commodities. One of the first things to feel the impact of the rising fuel prices is food, specifically agricultural products (meat and vegetables). Food has been getting more expensive or shrinking in size. Fuel and food prices are directly related here in the Philippines because most agricultural products are transported to markets and food processing plants by land. Fuel cost is added to the wholesale price when these products are brought to market in different cities. The further they have to transport these products, the higher the cost. Electricity costs in the Philippines have always fluctuated based on market rates, but it's not solely influenced by fuel prices because we buy electricity from multiple sources (coal, natural gas, renewables). Historically, rising electricity costs are felt more during the summer months, when there's an increase in demand and low water supply is affecting hydroelectric and geothermal power sources. Commuting costs has stayed relatively stable because the transportation board (LTFRB) has strictly regulated fare even with rising fuel prices. It's only recently that they allowed a provisional fare increase of $0.02 on the base fare for jeepneys. Buses and taxis have not been given permission to increase their fare yet but operators continue to campaign for it. Ride share and motorcycle ride share services have not increased their fare but are able to change their booking fees. The cost of internet has not increased and continues to be fixed within the plan period. Even with prepaid plans, the price is fixed based on consumption/availed data promo. Water is also a fixed cost. The government has started gas subsidies to public utility vehicles to help manage fuel costs. The Philippines also has rice reserves that are released in times like this. But the cost of everything else will continue to rise. -------- At OnlineJobs.ph we're feeling inflation too. We've decided not to raise prices for now. We just want you to hire the help you need. We want to make it easy. We want it to be reasonably priced. John |
“John, can you just recruit for me? The fact that you made <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020">OneVAAway</a> tells me you have it down to a science. I really don’t have the time to do it myself. Let me just pay you to recruit people for me.” I get a version of that message in my email and social media at least once a week. I always give the same answer. No. It’s not because I can’t hire people. I’ve been doing and teaching it for years. We even have a <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/recruiting" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/recruiting">recruiting service at </a><a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/">Onlinejobs.ph</a>. Despite having it, I don’t actively promote our recruiting service. Why? I don't like it. I always say no when people ask me to recruit for them, no matter how much money they offer, because usually it's not good for them. Hiring isn't just about finding the person with the right set of skills and experience. If it were, we could easily automate the process. Hiring the right OFS for your business is also about hiring the right personality. The personality that fits in working with you. The personality that's suited to the role. That’s why we have a DISC personality test at Onlinejobs.ph. I talk about Filipino culture a lot in my podcast, so you know how it would influence your OFS’ behavior. So the biggest reason why me doing the recruiting for you isn’t going to be good for you is because I’m not you. YOU are the best person to do the recruitment for your business. <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020">OneVAAway.com</a> is my hiring process that helps you hire people that would work well with your business, your personality, and your management style. My personality, my business, and my management style are the things that influence my hiring needs. So, when I do the recruiting for you, that’s what I’ll always fall back on. Now, you might ask, “Could it be that OneVAAway only works with your management style, business, personality, etc?” I’ve noticed that those who say that they’re having problems with the OFS either: Didn’t really take the OneVAAway challenge Took shortcuts with the OneVAAway challenge, or Insisted on doing things I would tell employers not to do (like pre-paying for work, interviewing too early, etc). You’ll find the right OFS for you because Filipinos are not a monolith. Within my team of 40, we have a bunch of different personalities. Some prefer to work on their own. Some work better in teams. Some are early birds, and some are night owls. Some need a lot of handholding; some work best with minimal supervision. Some are outspoken, while some are shy and introverted. Doing the hiring yourself is around twice as likely to end in success than if I did it for you. John PS. I don't do the hiring at <a href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph/recruiting" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph/recruiting">www.OnlineJobs.ph/recruiting</a>. My team in the Philippines does. |
Late last year, a typhoon hit Cebu, which affected several of my OFS, mostly our developers. One of the OFS who was affected is Mark, who works as a web designer and front-end developer for us. Cebu is 2nd largest IT hub in the Philippines. A lot of people move there to gain experience working for tech and start-up companies. Many of these companies set up shop there because of the availability of talent and low cost compared to Manila. If you're looking for technical workers, you’ll find a lot of people who have either lived, studied, or worked in Cebu. I wanted to check in on him to see how he’s doing. I figured this is also a great opportunity to introduce you to other people who work in a team and a different perspective on how I hire technical people. From Mark: Hi! I’m Mark! I am a Web Designer and Front-end Developer at OnlineJobs. Originally, I am from Negros Oriental (a neighbouring island). But I now live here permanently in Cordova, Cebu and I am mostly proud of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. It’s an engineering marvel and is 5-10 minutes away from where I live.<img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7a257083-4630-a162-6cd7-d934efb8f9c3.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474144" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7a257083-4630-a162-6cd7-d934efb8f9c3.jpg" /> When I graduated, I moved to Cebu City to gain experience and hone my skills but that would mean that I will be away from my family. My story here in OnlineJobs began when I decided to quit my office job and tried out working from home to be with my family. After resigning, I went on and registered at OnlineJobs hoping to find my very first full-time job online. And then one day, to my surprise, I received an email from John Jonas himself that the team needs a guy with my skill set. I went ahead and grabbed the opportunity. Since then, my life at work has never been this fun. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/16e2bd44-90b9-9310-bb9b-078705769968.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-file-id="474140" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/16e2bd44-90b9-9310-bb9b-078705769968.jpg" /> Work day for me starts in the afternoon since I’m a night owl and I have the freedom to work any time of the day (advantage of working at home). After my afternoon snacks, I go straight to my office and cave there until my tasks are done. My time before and after work is always spent with my wife and 1 year old mini me. I asked Mark what it was like back when he used to work in an office. His answer to that question was really funny. To be honest, I can’t imagine myself going to work in an office again. Too much travel time because of traffic. I would rather spend that time with my family. When I asked him how he and his family are doing, here’s what he said: Last year, typhoon Odette affected my work badly. After Odette hit, electricity, water, gas, basic needs, etc., are scarce and hard to get by. Since electricity was forecasted to be fixed in 3 months, me and my family had to move back to our provinces (Siquijor and Negros Oriental) because they weren’t hit as bad as Cebu just so that I can resume work. Our house has minor damages as well. When the electricity and internet was fixed here in our place, we immediately went back. Our area, today, I can say that it has fully recovered from Odette’s wreck. It was such a relief to know that they were safe. I had faith that they'd be able to recover faster with a bit of help. So, I sent them a bit of money to help them relocate. Now that people are free to travel again, I asked him what places he would recommend if I knew people interested in going to Cebu. Here’s what he told me: Cebu is quite a big province and has a lot of tourist spots. But personally, I will probably show them Bantayan Island and Camotes Island.<img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/71ea39c0-2998-2049-78ca-e276be9d4524.jpg" width="480" height="208" data-file-id="474136" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/71ea39c0-2998-2049-78ca-e276be9d4524.jpg" /> Those two islands would be at the top of my list as they have super nice beaches and lots of activities touring around the island. As you can see, it doesn’t take that much work to check in on your OFS. It’s one of those little things that keep them motivated and keeps you connected with your team. Are you putting off posting a job because you're not sure what to put in the job post? You should get my <a href="https://www.VAJobPostTemplates.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.VAJobPostTemplates.com">free Job Post Templates</a>. John |
One of the hardest things to do when you get back from vacation is putting away everything that you brought with you. There’s also the cleaning and the organizing. It’s so much work that sometimes you feel like you need a vacation after coming home from vacation. We all clean our homes. It’s a universal thing. We all have brooms, rags, and mops. They also use brooms in the Philippines, sort of. Remember in my previous newsletter where we talked about how Filipinos use flip-flops and how they have one for indoors and another one for outdoor use? It’s the same thing with brooms. You have an indoor broom (walis tambo) and an outdoor broom (walis tingting). Why have 2 different brooms? According to my OFS Julia, the booms that most of us are used to are too flimsy for outdoor use but also too rough for indoor use. She explains: Most of us have plants and trees in our yards. A rake works but it can’t go into tight spaces or uneven terrain. A typical broom would break if you use it on mud or wet dirt. A “walis tingting”, which is made by binding the dried-up spines of coconut leaves, is the best tool for the job. The shape and flexibility of the “tingting” make it easy to use in tight spaces. It’s also strong enough to be used in mud and even push water (to clear out puddles) if needed. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/6c36b2a4-144e-d473-2bae-80b941e57c07.jpg" width="480" height="480" data-file-id="474148" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/6c36b2a4-144e-d473-2bae-80b941e57c07.jpg" /> We like the floors inside the house to be really clean. That’s why we don’t allow shoes and outdoor slippers inside the house. If possible, the floors inside the house have to be so clean, you’d want to walk barefoot. A regular broom can’t sweep the fine dust that we can feel with our feet. A “walis tambo”, which is made from corn fiber or weed fibers, has really fine hairs that can sweep those up. The “tambo” is so good at sweeping fine particles, we use it every day and before mopping. The “tambo” removes as much loose dirt as possible, then use a mop to clean up the dirt that sticks to the floor. Most older houses have wooden floors. To clean and polish them we have our leg-powered floor polisher called the “bunot.” <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/2c23598d-6e81-b9b9-1588-9a6242ad71eb.png" width="480" height="354" data-file-id="474176" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/2c23598d-6e81-b9b9-1588-9a6242ad71eb.png" /> The “bunot” is half a dried coconut husk that you use to scrub and polish the floor. The modern version of this is a floor pad made from woven coconut or plastic fibers. If you want to make your floors shiny and have your leg-day workout, polish your floors with a bunot! |
Wow, I didn’t really expect a lot of people to respond to a newsletter about breakfast. I’m not super passionate about food. For me, food is fuel. I eat to keep myself healthy. My wife says I don't have a "relationship with food". It's just something necessary for me. But some have really strong feelings about it. Thank you for your responses. I showed my OFS, Julia some of them, and I liked her reply so I’m sharing it here. ---------- The typical breakfast I presented here was the typical breakfast for a working-class Filipino. Someone who needs a heavy meal because they need to get to work right away or commute 2 hours to work. The Philippines, for the longest time, was an agricultural country. People would work from dawn until noon. In order to work for 6-7 hours straight, you’d want something that’s really heavy and filling. Now that a lot of us commute at least an hour to work, picking up breakfast along the way isn’t really an option. You don’t want to stop anywhere because you might get caught in traffic. There might not be any good food places along the way. So you'd want to eat a heavy breakfast at home. The typical Filipino breakfast I presented isn’t something we eat all the time. It’s just the kind of breakfast that we find comforting. I don’t eat like that every day. Most mornings, I would have coffee and toast. --------- Someone pointed out that I didn’t talk about the cornucopia of fruits and vegetables that they have in the Philippines and encouraged eating them for breakfast. Julia writes: ----------- We do have vegetables for breakfast sometimes! The preparation varies from place to place. When I think of breakfast veggies, I think of tortang talong(eggplant omelet). My husband prefers poqui-poqui(sauted eggplant with egg). Another popular choice is ginisang ampalaya(sauted bitter gourd). The easiest way for me to have veggies for breakfast is to add malunggay(drumstick tree) leaves to my eggs. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1c30bf19-1e29-e400-4d18-673ac0df7db8.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474160" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1c30bf19-1e29-e400-4d18-673ac0df7db8.jpg" /> Fried fish is also a healthier breakfast option. I have these options because I’m lucky. I have access to fresh vegetables, fruits, and fish everyday because we have traveling vendors that go to our subdivision. We live close to a wet market. I also have the time to make breakfast. Not everybody has that access. What most Filipinos have access to is a bakery for pandesalor a tapsilogan(food place that serves silog meals all day). --------- There was also a comment that I should have encouraged fruits for breakfast. I agree that fruits for breakfast are healthy. Here's what Julia said: ----------- Fruits are great, but it’s not typical for us if we need something filling. We sometimes have fruits WITH our breakfast but fruits really aren't enough to fill you up. We do eat a lot of fruits throughout the day and with our meals. We even have a term for it, "panghimagas". It roughly translates to palate cleanser and digestive aid. One fruit that you’d see as part of breakfast is the banana, but more often, you’d find that Filipinos will just bring the fruit with them so they can eat it on their break between the start of their work and lunch. I know “silog” isn’t healthy but I love it because it’s really comforting. Also, silogas a breakfast meal started as a way to make use of leftovers. The fried rice is made from day-old rice. The fried protein sometimes consists of what was leftover from yesterday. The egg is just added to make it "breakfast-y". It helps reduce food waste, which is always a good thing in my book. A "healthy" breakfast option that many Filipinos do enjoy that I forgot to mention in the last newsletter is taho. It’s silken tofu with tapioca pearls and caramel syrup. It’s protein-rich and often served hot, which makes it really comforting. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bb949830-236f-7b6a-b03b-ad895648aad0.jpg" width="480" height="642" data-file-id="474164" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bb949830-236f-7b6a-b03b-ad895648aad0.jpg" /> If you want to cut back on sugar, you can ask the taho vendor to hold the syrup. In other places, they add milk or jackfruit. Some personalize their taho at home by adding fruits. Or in the case of my daughter, choco-malt powder. If you want an extra shot of protein without the meat, most taho vendors also sell fresh soy milk which is way better than the ones you can get in stores. Why didn’t I include this last time? Because I usually have taho as a snack. Most taho vendors walk so you can only get taho if the vendor gets to you in time. It’s not something everybody can have for breakfast. --------- Different culture, different food. John |
I'm all about family time. And, if I can include family time with friend time, even better. That's one of the reasons I love Lake Powell. I just got back from a week at Lake Powell, where we taught a bunch of little girls how to braid hair, <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/59339d68-22fd-a4ef-b014-89e7bb1dab72.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474180" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/59339d68-22fd-a4ef-b014-89e7bb1dab72.jpg" /> and how to surf: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/51f7752b-3b79-9d4d-8ce5-92897b3a6aaf.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474184" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/51f7752b-3b79-9d4d-8ce5-92897b3a6aaf.jpg" /> Including one who is still too little to surf by herself: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1c0d5141-6846-10cc-3872-eeab4a8516e9.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474188" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1c0d5141-6846-10cc-3872-eeab4a8516e9.jpg" /> We learned all kinds of life skills. But apparently, I forgot the one about how to put on sunscreen. Yes, those are my shoulders, burned around the life jacket outline. By the end of the week, all those girls could surf in the wave without the rope. It's amazing how fast little kids learn. I got this email from Mike that I wanted to share because there's a lot of relevant learning we can do from it. How does your company handle time off work? We have 13 OFS working for our company in the Philippines. (Or is it 14 now - I have to think hard to count as we keep growing and hiring.) Anyway, one area that I'd love to learn more about is how you handle holidays, vacation, and sick leave for your team. Specifics, especially about which holidays you give off, how many days of vacation or sick time, do they earn more as they work longer? What about maternity leave? (Typical to be 3+ months in the Philippines as I learned when our first OFS had her baby.) Paternity leave? (This will be a new one for us as a baby is on the way later this year.) Rather than try to understand Philippine holidays vs. US holidays, our policy is just to provide 25 days of paid time off. We'd love to hear specifics about how your company or others address time off, especially considering cultural differences. That's a lot. I'm going to try to answer all of them. Specifics, especially about which holidays you give off, how many days of vacation or sick time, do they earn more as they work longer?Our policy is "take whatever time off you want or need. If you can, we want to know about it ahead of time." I don't know if it's the best policy, but it works for us. My team just takes their leaves when they need it, like when they're sick or when there's a death in the family. If they ask for a vacation leave, it's never longer than two weeks. So the policy you mentioned about providing 25 days sounds good. I think you should try it to see if it works for you. I've always tried to make this as easy as possible on myself. I don't want to track days off. I also don't want someone to worry about taking time off. When someone asks for time off, we immediately tell them yes. What about maternity leave? (Typical to be 3+ months in the Philippines as I learned when our first OFS had her baby.) Paternity leave?Yes, maternity leave is three months in the Philippines. Paternity leave is seven days. If your OFS is paying into SSS, the Philippines government should pay for their time off. My experience is OFS are usually pretty anxious to get back to work. I'm not sure that's the best route as I notice that our team doesn't seem to use days when it's a holiday in the Phillipines.Regarding holidays, like you, not everybody in my team takes the day off. Not everybody in my team is Catholic, so religious holidays aren't as meaningful for them. Some choose to work on a holiday to save that time for a vacation. Some work on a holiday to take the day off to attend their kid's recital or doctor's appointments. The only thing that matters to us is they inform us ahead of time or as soon as possible. They email Joven, me, or my business partner, Dan, to let us know. Once we know how long they'll be out, we can make the necessary adjustments if needed. For example, if someone in customer service takes a vacation, the team lead will make scheduling changes to ensure there's always someone answering emails. If it's just one or two days off (like for sick leave) and they don't have anything urgent that needs to be done, we just wait for them to get back. In my business, we don't have anything urgent. We don't have deadlines. When people take time off doesn't really matter to us. Your business is probably different. I suggest you come up with a plan for time off and then ask your OFS if it's fair or if they have anything to add to it. If you have a relationship with them, they'll make suggestions or ask for changes. John |
A few of you will remember this photo: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/69d05a9d-8f70-c944-e4bc-c3679dd852ac.jpg" width="320" height="480" data-file-id="474192" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/69d05a9d-8f70-c944-e4bc-c3679dd852ac.jpg" /> It's from when my 3rd baby was born. The baby who gave my wife pre-eclampsia and caused "strict bedrest" for my wife. The baby who set me on a path to work 17 hours/week for the past 12 years. The baby who forced me to really learn what OFS were capable of. She's now 15: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c8744aba-d224-795e-9144-78fb75117cd0.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474196" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c8744aba-d224-795e-9144-78fb75117cd0.jpg" /> Her name is Bailey. Names can get pretty interesting. My OFS at the time were named Joven (left) and Paul (right). <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/31ea2716-98a9-6260-25dd-ae03ecbfceef.jpg" width="480" height="270" data-file-id="474204" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/31ea2716-98a9-6260-25dd-ae03ecbfceef.jpg" /> Since then I've seen a lot of Filipino names. These aren't unusual...just names: Dianne Rose Malvar Singson Aurea Esquivel Orbina Don William Rosaupan Fabella Dorothea Mae Pacatang Zaldarriaga Lord Jason Campos Jose Again...nothing abnormal about those names. For most of us here in the US, the way we get our names is pretty straightforward. Our last name is our parents' last name. Then our parents choose a first name and a middle name if they want to. In the Philippines, most get their last names from their father too. But the parents don’t get to choose the middle name, just the first name. The mother’s maiden last name is automatically assigned as the middle name. The only name parents can choose is the first name, and the first name can be as long or as short or composed of several names, as long as it fits on the birth certificate. So, from above, the first names chosen were: Dianne Rose Aurea Don William Dorothea Mae Lord Jason For people who like tracing their lineage, this system makes things easier. Because the parents can only choose the first name, you’ll find a lot of interesting choices, like multiple first names or names spelled differently. Take this baby born in 2021. He has three first names, and there’s no vowel to be found:<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7eenx/baby-name-philippines-glhynnyl-hylhyr-yzzyghyl-why" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http:// https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7eenx/baby-name-philippines-glhynnyl-hylhyr-yzzyghyl-why"> https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7eenx/baby-name-philippines-glhynnyl-hylhyr-yzzyghyl-why</a> Like I said, names can get interesting. John |
I'm the type of person who asks for forgiveness rather than for permission. I tend to jump in, before I know exactly how to make it work. I rarely read instructions. These were all good things helping me figure out how to outsource to OFS. There was no manual when I started. Heck, there wasn't even <a href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph">OnlineJobs.ph</a>, which makes it so much easier. If you're like me, you've likely already hired OFS. You've jumped in. You've made mistakes. You've figured it out. But a lot of people aren't like me, so I want to simplify things so that if you haven't yet hired someone, you can feel a bit more comfortable. Nearly every day I hear from someone who says "I just wish I would have done this sooner!" I almost never hear "Man...I should have waited another year before hiring." Here's the simple of what hiring an OFS looks like (these are normal concerns I hear): - Posting a job isn't right or wrong. If you're scared about doing it wrong, just post the job. Chances of you doing it wrong is super low. And, if you don't find the right person, we'll give your money back. - Narrowing down candidates is easier than you think. You don't have to have a bunch of tricks. It doesn't take a ton of time. Just ask people questions. - The prospect of hiring someone is daunting. The prospect of continuing to run your business without help is worse. - Taxes are a non issue. The OFS is not an "employee". There's no way to W2 them. You don't send them a 1099. They're not in the USA and you don't have a presence in the Philippines. There's no "withholding", no compliance, no regulations.* - You can't trust the person you're hiring any more (or any less) than if you were hiring someone in your office. The Philippines culture makes this trust way easier. But you won't see that until you try it. (my OFS have my credit card, bank account, home address, access to my email, ...) - Paying people is easy. Use EasyPay. Or Wise. Or Paypal. Just pay people on time. - The easiest way to start is to hire someone to do something you know how to do and can teach someone. It's the best case scenario for you. You get something off your plate and immediately stop feeling overwhelmed. You know what to write in your job description, what skills you're looking for, how to train, how to give feedback, what outcomes look like. Outsource this first. "Do what you're good at and outsource the rest" is the worst advice I've ever heard. As soon as you accomplish the first thing with your new OFS you'll see the light at the end of the tunnel. Worlds of opportunity open up. You start becoming the CEO. - You can hire full-time. You can hire part-time. You can hire hourly. You can hire per project. You can hire however you want. We don't dictate what you can or can't do. Just hire someone. Generally offering a full-time job with a salary is going to be better for them (and for you in the long run). - You hire someone after interviewing them by saying "Hey, you seem like a good fit for us, I want to offer you a job. When can you start?" That's it. To some of you, this email feels like, "duh!" this is so obvious. To others, I hope this offers you a path forward. If you've been thinking about hiring an OFS but aren't sure, the best way is to take two steps forward. 1. search resumes on OnlineJobs.ph. Look at what people can do. 2. Post a job on OnlineJobs.ph. The rest will follow. Everything I offer (<a href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph">OnlineJobs.ph</a>, <a href="https://www.OneVAAway.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OneVAAway.com">OneVAAway.com</a>, <a href="https://www.VAsMadeEasy.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.VAsMadeEasy.com">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>) comes with a full guarantee. If something doesn't work out, just let us know and we'll give your money back. We don't want it if we don't earn it. No hoops to jump through. John *Don't listen to anything I say. I'm not an accountant or a CPA or an attorney. |
Remember back when we used to think that in the future, we’d finally be rid of COVID and get back to normal? Those were the good old days. Now, we look at COVID like it’s the flu or the common cold. You don’t want to get it, but you’ll get it sooner or later. When you do get it, we’ll just have to manage it. Filipinos have learned to live with COVID like the rest of the world. Everything is open for business, but they’ve kept their mask mandate. Because of this, case spikes are smaller. People are still being hospitalized for COVID, but more beds are available now than at the start of the pandemic. Because of the global supply chain problems, some drugs are still difficult to come by. Vitamins are now more expensive than before. Pharmacies can run out of COVID testing kits and essential medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen. COVID hospitalization costs are manageable if they’re up to date with Philhealth contributions, don’t have a severe infection, and have health insurance. Most Filipinos, on average, would need around $450 (P25,000) to $900 (P50,000) for treatment. But for: severe cases or those that don’t have Philhealth, or are confined in an expensive hospital, Covid treatment can cost up to $18,000 or more. <a href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1482978/surviving-covid-19-a-costly-struggle" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1482978/surviving-covid-19-a-costly-struggle">https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1482978/surviving-covid-19-a-costly-struggle</a> This is why I pay for my workers’ Philhealth and health insurance. They get the support they need. They don’t have to worry about their medical expenses as much. I don’t have to worry about their medical expenses. It ends up cheaper overall. John PS - Unlike the Philippines, where I live, the mask mandate is long gone. Garth Brooks, 45,000 people, no masks on anyone! <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/4ce025d4-fc96-4fa6-98eb-0401de9f25fb.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474212" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/4ce025d4-fc96-4fa6-98eb-0401de9f25fb.jpg" /> |
I've always found foreign currencies interesting. I'm so used to the green USD that when I first saw other money I thought it was strange. Now I often use foreign currency as a bookmark souvenir of where I've been. Most of the world uses paper and linen for their currency. That’s the texture you feel when you touch a dollar bill or a euro. It feels organic. It feels like paper. But if you’ve ever been to Australia, the UK, Canada, or Mexico, you’ll notice that their currency feels different. They use plastic polymer for their bills. It's supposed to last longer, be water-proof, and be harder to counterfeit. There was even news years ago about how Australians can go swimming with money in their pockets. Here's my Mexican Peso bookmark: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d2b32732-f36b-2388-fd4f-bff3b8f24e3b.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474216" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d2b32732-f36b-2388-fd4f-bff3b8f24e3b.jpg" /> Notice the see-through butterfly? The whole note feels slick, almost like wax. Now, the Philippines is joining Mexico, Australia, and 57 other countries in using plastic bills as their currency. Why are they changing from cotton-abaca to polymer? The Philippines has had the idea of using polymer notes for a while now. We know how easily paper bills can break down over time. In a tropical country, paper degrades even faster. This makes the currency more expensive because they have to replace them often. A more durable currency would help the Philippine government save money since they won’t be printing as much. Like everything else, COVID also had something to do with it. Paper also attracts a lot of moisture and dirt, making it harder to sanitize. You can damage paper currency if you wash it. With polymer, all you need to do is spray it with alcohol, wipe it with a towel, and you’re done. They started distributing P1000 bills ($18), and this is what it looks like:<img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/15f3076c-fbbf-c899-3a1f-b7dcec5f9532.jpg" width="480" height="301" data-file-id="474208" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/15f3076c-fbbf-c899-3a1f-b7dcec5f9532.jpg" /> John PS. Europe seems to be ahead of the times in a lot of things...but not in money. They still use coins all the time! It drove me nuts while we were there. In Switzerland I gave someone cash and as change, they gave me 9CHF (about $9) in coins! <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1ba62c8c-c997-4445-7840-d49311dd19b3.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474220" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1ba62c8c-c997-4445-7840-d49311dd19b3.jpg" /> My kids think it's awesome, so they brought it home. |
Mistakes are a part of life. There are a lot of things in my life that I wish I could change. But the one thing I’ve never regretted is doing something and failing at it. Most of my regrets are things that I didn’t do or started too late. Like with my business, I made<a href="/the-first-mistakes-i-made-outsourcing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/the-first-mistakes-i-made-outsourcing/"> a bunch of mistakes when I started</a>. If I had stopped outsourcing back then, nobody would blame me. I had struggled enough times to swear off outsourcing forever. But I kept at it until I got it right because I knew once I found the right system, any problem that came after would be easier to figure out. Did your first, second, or third hire not work out? I understand your frustration. The first few people I hired didn’t work out for me either. But once I found the right person and created a hiring process (<a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020">OneVAAway.com</a>), I learned how to avoid bad hires. Is your <a href="/why-your-ofs-sometimes-work-mindlessly-and-how-to-change-it-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Filipino worker making mistakes</a>? Does it seem like they don’t know what they’re doing? I went through that with several people on my team. Here's what I've found: 1. Ask them why they're struggling to do it right? Be upfront about the problem and your frustration. 2. Have you set it up so that you're the one always correcting mistakes? If so, they'll expect it. Why go through the extra work to make it perfect when you're going to correct their problems anyway? Let them know this isn't how it's supposed to work. 3. Give them a title and a responsibility. Make it their responsibility to get the work right. You're not the one to be fixing it. Don't fix their mistakes. Outside of that, training is the best way to fix problems like this. Training is a lot of work. That’s why I created a training library (<a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>), to make it easier for you to train your OFS. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It happens. Expect mistakes to happen with your OFS. Just don't let the mistakes continue and continue. Make changes to correct it. Go to <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/sales-page-537065901647522650020">OneVAAway.com</a> to learn how to hire a great Filipino worker. Get that great Filipino worker the training they need through <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/va-sop-sales53504040">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. John |
Vacation!!! Such a happy topic. But not so much in the Philippines. It comes with stress there. We’re pretty generous when it comes to giving paid time off here at Onlinejobs.ph. We tell our people they can take as much time off as they want. But I have always felt like my people are hesitant to take vacations. We (me and my business partner Dan) want them to take vacations. We want them to have a break from work. I want to share what I can enjoy because of their hard work. I want them to be healthy. Giving them as much time off as they want is one way of doing that. I thought this was something unique to our company. Then I got this email from Andrea. When I hired my OFS in Oct 2020 I told her she got 10 US holidays and she was welcome to exchange them for Holidays she preferred. She was also granted 2 weeks of paid vacation upon completing 6 months. She has taken hardly any vacation time, so I addressed it - asking if it was cultural or something else. She let me know it was cultural and that previous employers discouraged vacation time. I assured her we wanted her to take a vacation to come back refreshed and renewed and ready to work again. She was happy to hear that! Regarding the cultural aspect of not taking a vacation, Filipinos are eager to please. This is part of what makes hiring them so amazing. When they find a job they love, they want to do everything they can to keep it. So to show their dedication, they avoid taking leaves as much as possible. It could also be that they want to save up their leaves for something important. Like if there’s a death or serious illness in the family. In our case, we let them take all that time off with no limits, and they still don't want to take it. I know that some employers discourage vacations. I understand why they do that, but I don’t think it’s healthy for your Filipino workers long-term. We all need a break every once in a while, even the most hard-working, dedicated OFS. If you discourage your OFS from taking a vacation, it could be one of the reasons why they disappear. Encourage your people to take a break. Encourage them to come back refreshed. Encourage time off. John My most recent vacation saw my daughter finish 5th at Mountain Bike National Championships. I'm a proud papa. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/214688ea-199c-8466-f496-161196cea0d6.jpg" width="480" height="401" data-file-id="474280" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/214688ea-199c-8466-f496-161196cea0d6.jpg" /> |
Our lead generation isn't the same as your lead gen. My business is different than yours. But lead generation is still critical to almost all businesses, so here are some ideas for you from ways my team does it for me. - participating in forums - they regularly make posts and contribute to relevant forums. They don't always include links, but when they do, it's usually to my business. - Social media - My team completely runs my social media channels. I don't actually know what they do there...nor do I want to know. - Ads - We run google ads. We run Facebook ads. We run YouTube ads. We DON'T run tik-tok ads (we probably should...I'm just not hip enough yet). I never login to any of those platforms. - Free giveaways - we have multiple instructional documents we give away free to bring new leads in. I didn't write most of these documents. I didn't write the copy for the opt-in pages. I didn't create the opt-in pages. I didn't hook them up to my email provider (mail chimp). I did write some of the emails that go out. How is your OFS generating leads for you? John |
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit Luzon, with Abra, a province in Northern Luzon, as its epicenter, last Tuesday (July 26). This earthquake was so strong that the effects were felt all the way in Manila, which is 270 miles away. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bf8eb4f7-b6d9-38ad-9b38-6dcfaa4facc7.jpg" width="480" height="270" data-file-id="474284" /> This has reminded a lot of people of the July 1990 earthquake. That was also in Luzon, and it was so destructive and deadly that it killed 2,000 people. As far as we know, there are 3 reported casualties, and dozens are injured. Many buildings are damaged, and some partially collapsed. Vigan, a UNESCO Heritage Site famous for its many historical landmarks, suffered much damage. Their electricity had to shut down temporarily, but it’s now back after they made sure that the power lines are safe to use. Most of the hospitals in the area have also re-opened after they were deemed safe. The local disaster council has been activated, so they’re now working to ensure the people affected are safe and provided for. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/dbb4d9dc-89a0-d91a-917c-fe8b7a0b62c5.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474288" /> People who live in the area were asked to brace for aftershocks. There’s no tsunami warning issued because Abra is a landlocked area, so they don’t have to worry about that. But the area is mountainous, so they’re watching out for landslides. Below is a list of other areas affected by this earthquake. If you have VAs in those places, you may want to check on them. Intensity VII – Vigan City Intensity V – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Peñablanca, Cagayan; Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Sinait, Ilocos Sur; Baguio City Intensity IV – Gonzaga, Cagayan; Baler, Aurora; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Ramos, Tarlac; Ilagan, Isabela; Basista, Pangasinan; Claveria, Cagayan; San Jose, Palayan City and Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Madella, Quirino; Tabuk, Kalinga; Santiago City, Isabela Intensity III – Quezon City; Iba, Zambales; Navotas City, Malabon City, Metro Manila; Magalang & Guagua Pampanga; Bolinao, Sison & Infanta, Pangasinan; Bulakan, San Ildefonso, Guiguinto, Plaridel, and Malolos City, Bulacan; Tarlac City, Tarlac Intensity II – Dona Remedios Trinidad, Angat & Santa Maria, Bulacan; Tagaytay City, Cavite; Pasig City Metro Manila; Polillo, Gumaca & Infanta, Quezon Intensity I – Tanay, Taytay, Morong, Antipolo City, Rizal; Marilao,Bulacan; San Juan City, Las Pinas City, Metro Manila; Lucban, Quezon; Subic, Zambales; Mercedes,Camarines Norte; Olongapo City, Zambales; Carmona, Cavite If you want updates on this story, you can check it here: <a href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1635407/quake-felt-in-metro-manila" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1635407/quake-felt-in-metro-manila</a> |
Security is one of the biggest concerns people have when working with an OFS. What if my OFS gets hacked? How secure is the internet in the Philippines? I understand these concerns. We often see it in the news and in movies about how hackers can steal your information. The thing is, most of the technology is the same. A bunch of my team use MacBook Airs. A bunch of my team have iPhones. Their Windows computer has the same security as your Windows computer. Routers are made by Cisco or Linksys or... the same companies who make your router. The biggest security vulnerability is actually you and your OFS. Humans are the weakest link in the data security chain. This vulnerability is so prevalent there’s a name for it: social engineering. Social Engineering is when an individual cons somebody into providing access to them even if they are not supposed to get that access. They can use tactics that either put people at ease or seem familiar or evoke fear and panic to their mark to achieve their goal of breaching security. Check this out. This week my team got an email from me: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/10022b09-22ef-7d72-dd9a-8d17e821dde3.jpg" width="408" height="240" data-file-id="474356" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/10022b09-22ef-7d72-dd9a-8d17e821dde3.jpg" /> Except...I didn't send it. Someone was purposefully spoofing email as me. It's the second time it has happened. The first time it happened gmail didn't catch it. Fortunately there weren't serious consequences involved, but if there were this is a legitimate security concern. My team has been advised to make sure any email from me or my business partner are actually from us. Here are a couple things you can tell your team to increase security: 1. Think before you click. Don’t click unfamiliar links and attachments. When receiving links, check the URL by hovering on the link and seeing the actual URL at the bottom of your browser. If that does not work, do a right-click (or a 2-finger gesture tap), use the copy link option in the floating menu, and paste the copied URL to a note app. This will allow you to check the link's validity without opening it. 2. Check the sender of important emails by viewing the original or raw message. Do not ever provide personal information or passwords until you're 100% sure of the source. Companies will never ask for username/password. 3. Don’t download files you don’t know, especially if you are not expecting to receive any. 4. If you’re really worried about data security, you can also encrypt or password-protect your files. You can do this for Google Drive (<a href="https://support.google.com/docs/answer/10519333?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://support.google.com/docs/answer/10519333?hl=en">https://support.google.com/docs/answer/10519333?hl=en</a>) and One Drive (<a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/protect-a-document-with-a-password-05084cc3-300d-4c1a-8416-38d3e37d6826" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/protect-a-document-with-a-password-05084cc3-300d-4c1a-8416-38d3e37d6826">https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/protect-a-document-with-a-password-05084cc3-300d-4c1a-8416-38d3e37d6826</a>) I know a lot of people worry that the Philippines is less secure. It's not. They're not more likely to get hacked than you are. Their internet isn't less secure than yours is. Data security comes down to social engineering almost every time. John |
Everyone wants to hire experienced workers. I get it. An experienced OFS can get to work right away. They require less training and onboarding, giving you a faster investment return. ...in theory. But you know what? Some of the best people I've hired were newbies. They didn’t have any experience. They didn’t know how to do anything. But they were the most loyal, hard-working people who have done amazing things for my business. Take <a href="/how-i-hired-a-project-manager-for-onlinejobs-ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/how-i-hired-a-project-manager-for-onlinejobs-ph/">my project manager, Joven</a>. I had to teach him everything when he first started. If I were just looking for experience back then, I wouldn’t have given him a chance. Now, he’s a rockstar and my number one worker. That’s why I like to keep an open mind when hiring. Yeah, newbies require a lot of training and handholding. But most businesses have a lot of tasks that require training in order to hand them off. You're going to have to train anyone. Until you've hired a team, consider hiring someone who is new and willing to be taught. Newbies are also cheaper than experienced workers. You’ll also get more applicants because there are more inexperienced workers out than experienced ones. Inexperienced Filipino workers are now more technically proficient than the ones I encountered ten years ago. I’ve also made training easier, so you don't have to worry even if you hire a newbie. Just go to <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. You’ll love it because it’s less work for you. Your new hire will love it because they want the opportunity to learn on the job. If you're putting off hiring because you're worried about finding someone super experienced, maybe hiring someone less experienced will be easier for you. I've talked to a lot of employers who were glad their first hire was someone they could teach. John |
I have a friend who lives in Chile. The other day he sent me a photo of his kids: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/70802be1-30b9-cbb0-b9ab-78feb3df5e9b.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474376" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/70802be1-30b9-cbb0-b9ab-78feb3df5e9b.jpg" /> Everywhere else in the world it's HOT! (at least...it seems that way) Here are a few typical Filipino cold desserts according to Julia: Halo-halo.This beloved dessert is now known worldwide thanks to Jollibee and Filipino restaurants. But the mass-produced stuff still doesn’t compare to the cheap halo-halo you can get from neighborhood stalls. Stalls that are only open during summer afternoons and use authentic halo-halo ingredients. The neighborhood halo-halo stall is where you hang out with your friends to cool down. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7a3386fb-b394-ab95-c971-2108c5e38ad3.jpg" width="480" height="320" data-file-id="474236" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7a3386fb-b394-ab95-c971-2108c5e38ad3.jpg" /> Image by: Elmer B. Domingo Sorbetes. You know the sorbetescart is coming when you hear the sorbetero(sorbetes vendor) call out his wares and ring his bell. Sorbetesis traditional Filipino ice cream made with coconut and/or carabao milk and sold in roaming carts. Each cart can hold 3-4 metal bins of ice cream, each a different flavor. Sorbetes usually comes in tropical flavors like mango, ube (sweet purple yam), avocado, pandan (Asian vanilla) or coconut. You can also find other flavors like strawberry (usually in Baguio), cheese (my favorite), and tablea(Philippine chocolate). You can have your ice cream on a sugar or wafer cone or as a sandwich . <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b6f00e4f-5406-c3bd-fc21-2959e297caa8.jpg" width="480" height="319" data-file-id="474232" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b6f00e4f-5406-c3bd-fc21-2959e297caa8.jpg" /> Image source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lainetrees/5693223587/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lainetrees/5693223587/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/lainetrees/5693223587/</a> Iskrambol. Iskrambol or ice scramble is shaved banana-flavored frozen evaporated milk, topped with powdered milk, chocolate syrup, marshmallows, and candy sprinkles. This candy-colored Filipino version of a Slushy is a favorite among school kids. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1b43c093-4272-798e-a35e-cb2acd01d8a4.jpg" width="480" height="600" data-file-id="474240" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1b43c093-4272-798e-a35e-cb2acd01d8a4.jpg" /> Image source: <a href="https://www.pinoyrecipe.net/ice-scramble-recipe-or-iskrambol/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.pinoyrecipe.net/ice-scramble-recipe-or-iskrambol/">https://www.pinoyrecipe.net/ice-scramble-recipe-or-iskrambol/</a> Mais and Saging Con Hielo. Though not as fancy as halo-halo, mais con hielo (sweetcorn with shaved ice and evaporated milk) and saging con hielo (cooked, sweetened bananas with shaved ice and evaporated milk) are perennial favorites because of their simplicity. It’s not as sweet as halo-halo but just as comforting. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/aabc5a0a-60b3-2a72-47dc-117cb27fefd0.jpg" width="480" height="720" data-file-id="474244" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/aabc5a0a-60b3-2a72-47dc-117cb27fefd0.jpg" /> Image source: <a href="https://www.foxyfolksy.com/plantain-bananas-in-syrup-minatamis-na-saging/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.foxyfolksy.com/plantain-bananas-in-syrup-minatamis-na-saging/">https://www.foxyfolksy.com/plantain-bananas-in-syrup-minatamis-na-saging/</a> Ice Candy. If you’re craving something cold and sweet on a budget, you can go to your favorite sari-sari store to get ice candy. Ice candy is just frozen juice in a plastic bag. But sometimes, people add their twist to it by adding fruit bits or sweet beans. Samalamig. Before the world was introduced to boba drinks, we already had a version of it. Samalamigis a chilled drink commonly sold by street vendors. It comes in different fruit flavors and typically has chewables like nata de coco, tapioca pearls, gelatin, coconut meat, and sugar palm fruit at the bottom of the cup. It’s are refreshing drink and snack in one package! <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b5851566-7912-a4ec-75ab-c4a07668e52c.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474228" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/b5851566-7912-a4ec-75ab-c4a07668e52c.jpg" /> By Judgefloro - Own work, CC0, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61283444" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61283444">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61283444</a> -------------- My son is about to leave for the Philippines for 2 years to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People have already told him about the Halo-halo and the Sorbetes. John |
What I'm about to say is totally optional for you. But it's also really good. I give my workers at Onlinejobs.ph additional pay for insurance premiums. I pay for their PhilHealth, health insurance, and SSS. Because I don’t have a business entity in the Philippines, I can’t pay for these benefits directly. I reimburse after they’ve made their payments. How do I know if they really paid for these benefits? Specifically for PhilHealth and SSS. Do they just tell me they’ve paid for it, and I just send them the money? Of course not. We reimburse them after they send in their receipts. As I mentioned, Filipinos are mostly honest and will be glad you're paying for these premiums. They'll be happy to get those receipts to you. If they send bogus receipts for those and ask you for the money, they are cheating themselves more. By not paying the premiums, they’ll miss out on the protection and benefits of government-mandated insurance. You can also ask for their transaction records if they didn’t keep the receipts. Filipinos can access their Philhealth (<a href="https://memberinquiry.philhealth.gov.ph/member/">https://memberinquiry.philhealth.gov.ph/member/</a>) and SSS (<a href="https://member.sss.gov.ph/">https://member.sss.gov.ph/</a>) transaction history through their websites. It’ll show the record of their contributions, loans, etc. John PS. on my ride today I broke my bike saddle. We snobby people who ride bicycles seriously don't call it a "seat", we call it a "saddle". Mine is (was) all carbon. I got careless with where I leaned my bike and it fell. Carelessness...such a curse. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/a3a95534-cc9f-f0fe-44dc-5053c31d66cd.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474380" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/a3a95534-cc9f-f0fe-44dc-5053c31d66cd.jpg" /> |
You’re ready to hire another OFS for your team. Should you delegate that process to your OFS? That’s the question Corey asked in his email. John, Gotta confess - most of the time I can't stand people's weekly emails and usually unsubscribe. Your emails haven't met that fate yet! Honestly, I find them insightful and helpful. So I'm writing with a question I'd love you to address. What do you think about having your longtime, trusted Filipino VA hire someone else for you on Onlinejobs.ph? I originally hired my VA at your website YEARS ago. She's been fantastic and I like to think we have a great working relationship. Now, I need someone with a certain specialized skill set and thought of having her source this position. Good idea? Bad idea? Or somewhere in between? Thanks in advance for your guidance.Blessings,Corey I'd say YES...but it also depends. I understand wanting to delegate this process. It’s one less thing on your plate. If this new OFS is working with your current OFS, you’d want them to get along. The good thing about Corey’s situation is he already has a loyal VA. She knows Corey’s business and management style. She’s not going to take this task lightly. She’ll want to bring in someone she can work with and make the business better. What I've seen from my OFS over the years is that if they're hiring someone: 1. they want to make sure the person does a good job because the new person's work reflects on your current OFS 2. they're hesitant to recommend someone they aren't SURE is going to be good 3. they take responsibility with the new person. They work to solve problems. It’s good if: - The current OFS knows exactly what you need for that position and - They have a wide enough network to source this person from. This network can include OnlineJobs.ph. Ask your OFS if they're comfortable doing the hiring for you. For the final decision, if the person is working for me directly I make the final decision. I'll still interview. If the person is working directly for my current OFS, I let them make the final decision. If you don't have an OFS, the best solution would be to hire one yourself. I can teach you to find an OFS that will fit your business and your personality at <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/">OneVAAway.com</a> John |
We have superstitions here in the US. - Don't walk past a black cat - The number 13 is bad luck (Friday the 13th, most high rise buildings don't have a 13th floor...) - Don't walk under a ladder There's more of this in the Philippines. Julia (my content OFS) writes: ------------ Even though a lot of us aren’t that superstitious anymore, it’s deeply rooted in our culture here in the Philippines. Take the greeting we use when we enter someone’s home, “Tao po”. When you enter a Filipino’s home, we use the traditional greeting “Tao po” as we’re knocking on the door. Tao po literally means, “I’m a person.” It’s a habit. We don’t really think much about it when we say it. But we use this greeting because of the pre-colonial pagan belief that elemental creatures walk among us. They play tricks like hiding your things or knocking on your door. Saying “Tao po” is reassuring the homeowner that we’re humans, not spirits. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/65c55a99-ac3f-a233-c4d3-3655b55a2b62.jpg" width="480" height="270" data-file-id="474260" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/65c55a99-ac3f-a233-c4d3-3655b55a2b62.jpg" /> We also believe these elemental creatures live in large, old trees, rocks, and mounds of earth. So it’s considered good manners to say, “Tabi-tabi po” (excuse me) when you pass by places with them. Announcing your presence shows that you respect these creatures, so they stay out of your way. If you fail to do this, the creatures can curse you. Everybody has a story about how one of their family members got sick because they weren’t polite to the spirits, so being rude just to spite them isn’t worth it. I don’t believe this, but I still say “tabi tabi po” because I don’t want to risk it. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/94172273-3305-ea14-3255-a9ee8b0efa3f.jpg" width="480" height="800" data-file-id="474272" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/94172273-3305-ea14-3255-a9ee8b0efa3f.jpg" /> Image from <a href="https://filmfreeway.com/TabiTabiPo" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://filmfreeway.com/TabiTabiPo">https://filmfreeway.com/TabiTabiPo</a> Superstition is even a cottage industry in the Philippines. In front of a lot of churches, you’ll find fortune tellers and faith healers. You’ll see people selling folk medicine, talisman, and charms beside rosaries, candles, and religious statues. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/317a8273-58f2-c454-ffae-dc217d40e19d.jpg" width="480" height="270" data-file-id="474256" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/317a8273-58f2-c454-ffae-dc217d40e19d.jpg" /> Some places even showcase these beliefs as part of their tourism campaigns. Obando, a municipality in Bulacan (21.7 km from Manila), is renowned for its Anitist fertility festival. Childless couples dance in a procession every May to honor Tagalog fertility gods and Catholic saints. It’s said that they will grant you a child if you offer chicken eggs to the church altar (for the saints) and dance with all your heart (for the deities). <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/58a64465-6428-5399-6571-20617fc3c5f6.jpeg" width="480" height="270" data-file-id="474264" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/58a64465-6428-5399-6571-20617fc3c5f6.jpeg" /> Image from<a href="http:// https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/17/thousands-expected-to-join-fertility-dance-2022-in-obando-bulacan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http:// https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/17/thousands-expected-to-join-fertility-dance-2022-in-obando-bulacan/"> https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/17/thousands-expected-to-join-fertility-dance-2022-in-obando-bulacan/</a> <a href="/my-ofs-living-in-cebu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/my-ofs-living-in-cebu/">Mark, one of our developers</a>, is from Siquijor. Siquijor is a magical island because of how prevalent witchcraft and traditional healing are. People flock there to get their fortunes told, for healing, or to hex people. The practice is so widespread you can even buy love potions and folk remedies as souvenirs! <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c11bf6f4-e800-3cbb-4a33-145c89e0d59a.jpg" width="480" height="266" data-file-id="474268" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c11bf6f4-e800-3cbb-4a33-145c89e0d59a.jpg" /> Lizards and tree barks are used to make potions. Image from: <a href="https://dumaguete.com/siquijor/witches-and-healers-in-siquijor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://dumaguete.com/siquijor/witches-and-healers-in-siquijor/">https://dumaguete.com/siquijor/witches-and-healers-in-siquijor/</a> ----------- When I lived in Brazil for 2 years as a missionary I remember some of their superstitions. - If you drink cold water when it's hot outside you'll get sick - A 2 liter bottle full of water on top of your homes power meter will lower your electricity bill |
When it comes to outsourcing your business (or yourself!) to the Philippines, there’s definitely a learning curve. Here are 6 ways you can guarantee failure for yourself : (Hint: Don’t do these things!) 1. Try To Hire Someone To Do Everything Here’s an example of an email I’ve gotten from business owners over the years. Hi John! I’m looking for someone to help me in by business. I need a VA who can build and design my website, create a database from my products, write a weekly newsletter and blogpost, make videos for social media and make product images for me. Is there someone like that on your website? So wait…you want a programmer, graphic designer, video editor, webmaster, fluent in English and likes to write, who can write sales copy, autoresponders, forum posts, ebooks, and reports. Haha! Yeah, right! Hire someone to do a specific task. Then train them to be able to do everything. 2. Hire A Project Manager Don’t try to hire a project manager first along with 6 others, and expect that “project manager” to manage those other 6 and get things done. They don’t know how. YES! They’re very capable of being project managers. But you're not going to turn everything over to someone right away. 3. Hire Someone And Ignore Them This is in line with #2. Someone isn't going to step in and run everything without significant help from you. You have to train people. You have to provide feedback. If you need help with training, we got you covered with <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a> 4. Ask Someone To Do Work Before You Offer Them A Job This is my favorite. I get an email that says: Can you please tell me why I can’t successfully hire someone, they all keep disappearing. Here’s the email I send them: I want you to start by doing a trial task. Write 20 articles, submit them to article directories, do a bunch of directory submissions for me, build me a website and write all the content for it. Then, I’ll evaluate your work and see if it’s going to work out. Yeah, right! They’ll only do work AFTER they know they have a job working for you. If you are giving a test task, pay them for their time and effort. 5. Demand Immediate Results This is a long-term proposal here. I’ve been doing it for 17 years. You’re not going to see the same results in 17 days. Don’t expect it. 6. Search and Search and Search For The Right Person, Then Email Them Hey John, I searched for 3 days and I found the perfect candidate. They can do everything you said wasn’t possible back up in #1 on this blog post. Why won’t they respond to me? Why? Because they already have a job and they’re loyal to their current employer. Instead of trying to find the perfect person up front, try contacting 20 potential fits, see who responds, then sort through them. These aren’t hard things to avoid…you just have to know about them to avoid them. Now, hiring an Online Filipino Specialist will be much easier. See how easy it is to find the best person for your business at <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a>. John |
I’ve mentioned how Filipino homes are small, how they clean their homes, and how they use tsinelas. All these topics revolve around Filipino homes, and I just realized I haven’t talked about the actual houses yet. I will fix that today. The most iconic architectural style for homes in the Philippines is the bahay kubo. It’s a home made of natural materials like coconut lumber, plywood, bamboo, nipa (mangrove palm), and coconut leaves. It's often built on stilts for ventilation and prevent animals from going in the house. This style is usually found in rural and coastal areas. It’s easy and cheap to build and move. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d6ee6de1-15bc-612a-78d8-6c17de575a9e.jpg" width="480" height="324" data-file-id="474328" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d6ee6de1-15bc-612a-78d8-6c17de575a9e.jpg" /> When I say move, I mean you can literally have people carry your house to move it to another location. If you need to move to be closer to other family members, avoid bad weather, or be closer to a water source and you're only moving a couple of blocks, it's sometimes easier to just move your entire house than build it from scratch. To move their homes, they'd ask their neighbors for help. It's a lot like asking your friends to help you move, but in this case, you're asking them to move your whole house. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7a42cfdb-1c42-f7b9-4db5-0243439f4909.jpg" width="480" height="320" data-file-id="474360" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7a42cfdb-1c42-f7b9-4db5-0243439f4909.jpg" /> Another common style in the Philippines is the bahay na bato(stone house). This style became popular during the Spanish colonial era, so you'll see them in many heritage sites in the Philippines like Vigan, Intramuros, or Dapitan. It’s usually 2 stories high, the first floor built mainly from stone, and the 2nd floor could be built from hardwood. The second floor would often have wide windows that wrap around the whole house to allow as much light and ventilation as possible. To show off your wealth, the home can feature expensive and intricate details like ornate carvings on the banisters and capiz (a light, iridescent shell) on the windows. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/60b47074-9d43-3345-7345-60959810f502.jpg" width="480" height="306" data-file-id="474324" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/60b47074-9d43-3345-7345-60959810f502.jpg" /> These homes were built mainly for the Spaniards and wealthier Filipinos. They often surround the town plaza where the church, schools, government offices, and businesses are often located. Both the "coconut house" and the "stone house"are suited to the tropical climate. They both have a lot of ventilation. The stone house can withstand typhoons, while the coconut houseis easy to rebuild when it does get damaged. That's why these styles still exist today. But the problem with both these house styles (which the Americans found out the hard way when they came to the Philippines) is the lack of indoor kitchens and plumbing. So when the Americans started building bases here, they introduced the tsalet(chalet) home. It's still built with ventilation in mind, but they also introduced concrete as a building material. Unlike the coconut and stone houses, the tsalethas indoor kitchens, plumbing, and parking. They started out as template houses for US soldiers and officers in US bases like Baguio and Pampanga. Below is a popular example, the Bell House in Baguio. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ea2506cf-7954-d5e6-305c-6827421e6d79.jpg" width="480" height="306" data-file-id="474364" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ea2506cf-7954-d5e6-305c-6827421e6d79.jpg" /> It looks like a typical American house, right? But what differentiates the tsaletis it was specifically designed for mountainous tropical terrain. It's cooler in the mountains, but it can still get really hot and humid, especially during the summer. So the tsalet has a lot of windows for ventilation. Since they're in the mountains, they're also well insulated to keep the heat in. Some even have fireplaces! The Filipino builders and carpenters they hired to make these homes shared the knowledge, and tsalet became the standard after World War 2. Those are the older homes in the Philippines. The newer houses are more generic. Most city houses now are ramblers, townhouses, and condos made of concrete, steel, and glass. Cookie cutter homes or ultramodern styles that look like every other housing development. Similar to what you see in suburban USA...typically just smaller. Often they find ways to still integrate the old styles into modern homes. Like, if you have a yard, you can buy a miniature kubo where you can hang out or eat outdoors. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/fe69e3c3-6891-0490-893e-634bf4f9385a.jpg" width="480" height="480" data-file-id="474368" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/fe69e3c3-6891-0490-893e-634bf4f9385a.jpg" /> John PS. Would you prefer this newsletter in a podcast? I record these as podcast episodes, often with more detail. <a href="/podcast/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/podcast/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">/podcast/</a> |
Jonathan emailed me an interesting question that I think is relevant to everyone hiring OFS. It will give us some good insight into what banking is like in the Philippines. Hey - do you have a post on banking? One my OFS doesn’t have a bank account and says there isn’t a bank on their island. They primarily use PayPal. However, we process all of our payments through Gusto which aligns our accounting nicely, I’m not going to deviate from that. Do you have any articles that might be helpful? Thanks,Jonathan I asked one of my OFS, Jam, to answer this. He used to work for PayPal and is familiar with banking protocols. ------------ If the VA is living in a rural/agricultural area or a small island, the only bank available would likely be a small rural bank or a cooperative. Most small banks are not connected to the network with international banking access, which means the bank would not have a SWIFT code, making international bank transfers impossible. The advantage of using PayPal is it would also allow him to transfer funds from his PayPal account to GCash. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCash?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCash?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">GCash is like our Venmo</a>. We can use it anywhere, and it can easily be converted to cash. Another reason why the OFS is asking for payments through PayPal is because Filipino workers have learned to mistrust employers who "pay" using direct bank transfers. It’s widely circulated among the VA and freelancing communities that some scammers will say that they will send a bank transfer to pay for work, and there was none. The scammers will then send a fake screenshot showing the alleged "bank transfer successful" receipt. As a result, many have recommended avoiding employers that "pay" using direct bank and wire transfers. Using PayPal protects the worker because they get to see if the transfer did go through. But looking at Gusto, it’s understandable that paying through PayPal would be difficult. I recommend asking the VA to create an online savings account instead. A BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) or CIMB (Commerce International Merchant Bankers) savings account can be created through the GCash app. They can also open an online UnionBank account. They don’t go to an actual bank to do this, and these banks have active SWIFT codes. ----------- Thanks Jam! This means basically anyone in the Philippines can get an online bank account connected to their GCash. Any payment system should work with these online bank accounts. We have people all over the country. Urban (in Manila) and super rural (no bank close by). We pay them all with <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/easypay?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/easypay?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">EasyPay</a>. John |
The best (and fastest) way to succeed with outsourcing is to get stuff off your plate and outsource the things you know how to do. That way, you know what to look for. You know what looks good and what looks terrible. If your OFS needs help, you know how to help them. But what about a job that you don't know how to do? Can your OFS do this for you, or should you hire another OFS? It depends. If: - it's a small task - there's training available for it (you can check <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>) - it's something your OFS has time to do, and they've shown interest. It might be better to give this task to your OFS. This is how I got my team to do things like social media, things I have no idea how to do. I check if there's someone on my team who would be interested. If so, and they have some experience, I get training for them. I read through the training, so I know what to expect. My OFS goes through the training and implements what they learned. I ask them to provide me with a summary of what they learned and what they will do. This way I have a pretty good idea if they understood the training and if what they're about to do is right for my business. There's a learning curve but I prefer doing it this way because I'm giving this new task to someone I already know and trust. It's easy for us to talk through the process. They're learning how to do this task by doing it, and I'm learning based on the feedback they're giving me. This is why we created <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>; I wanted training that could be instantly handed off to an OFS and they could summarize it for me and start implementing. I didn't want to have to sift out the pieces that were intended for the CEO (almost all trainings assume the business owner is the one taking the training). This process doesn't work for all tasks! So what about something that you can't have someone on your team do? What about hiring someone technical? How do I do this? The first thing I do is research. I ask someone I know who understands that thing to point me in the right direction. If I can, I'll ask two people. "Hey, I'm looking to get X done. What kinds of skills should I be looking for?" Once I have enough information, I start looking for qualified people at <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">Onlinejobs.ph</a>. It's amazing what looking through profiles will tell you about the qualifications you need for your job. Then I post a job with as good of a description as I can. I've even found it helpful to say in the job post "I don't really know how to do this so I'm looking for you to direct this project for me." When choosing who to hire, if you don't know how to tell how good someone is going to be, go with experience and pay. - More experience is almost always going to yield a better result for you. Ask how much experience they have with X thing. - More experience almost always means higher pay. Last, ask them how they'll solve your problem. Like, ask them for a plan. If you don't understand their plan, or don't like it, it's probably not a good fit. John |
Many of you have been asking how much I pay in benefits per year per person to my team. I did some back-of-the-napkin math, and here’s what it looks like. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c7371ceb-8d92-6a2a-bb36-a478a57cc658.jpg" width="480" height="184" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c7371ceb-8d92-6a2a-bb36-a478a57cc658.jpg" data-file-id="474428" /> Your OFS can pay more to their SSS (since they are paying as voluntary members, not under a company). The bigger the premiums they pay, the more their benefits increase. Things like loans, maternity leave, and eventually, their pension. Some of my OFS pay their Pag-IBIG fund contributions. At Php 200 a month (less than USD 4), they can take a home loan from this government fund and withdraw their contributions with dividends after 20 years. A good rule of thumb is, if you want to contribute more, you can contribute a maximum of 13% of the salary to the SSS and a maximum of 4% for Pag-IBIG. The amount we pay for our OFS' health insurance would depend on the provider. Most of my OFS got <a href="https://valuecarehealth.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://valuecarehealth.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">ValueCare</a>, and they gave us a $400 yearly quote. This was the one we ended with initially because it gave our team the most coverage for their locations. But depending on your team’s needs or budget, you can get less or more. The cheapest plan we saw was around $150/year, but they don't have a lot of coverage. You can compare plans using this site: <a href="https://mariahealth.ph/individual/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://mariahealth.ph/individual/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://mariahealth.ph/individual/</a> We pay their health insurance twice a year. We pay quarterly or monthly for the other benefits, depending on how often they send in their receipts. Our new-hire OFS do not get these right off the bat. We usually wait around 2-3 months after they've started. When we’re sure the person is a good fit, we start paying for benefits. If you want more details on these benefits: <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/how-to-compute-for-filipino-va-benefits?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/how-to-compute-for-filipino-va-benefits?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/how-to-compute-for-filipino-va-benefits</a> PS. My oldest son started his missionary training recently. He's on zoom classes all day long for 2 weeks at home. Then he'll move to the Missionary Training Center in Provo. Then on to the Philippines. We won't see him for nearly 2 years. Not looking forward to that move! <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/486b3089-8052-8384-aecb-9170884dde28.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474396" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/486b3089-8052-8384-aecb-9170884dde28.jpg" /> |
I hate FB...but you already know that. I've said it multiple times. I don't have it on my phone. I don't login to the website. I didn't see the news that blah blah blah... So how do we run so many FB ads? To be completely honest, I don’t know. I mean, I know in general how it’s done. I just don’t know how it’s posted. Or what website to go to. Or what buttons they push. I don’t need to know that because I have a fantastic OFS team to do that for me. Here’s our process. It starts with brainstorming. We look at what our marketing objectives are. I work with my team to come up with concepts. If I have an idea, I just record a bunch of videos and send them to the team. Sometimes they come up with ideas, and they send me a script. I tweak the script, shoot the videos and just send them to my team. Once my team gets the video: My video editor grabs them and edits them. Sometimes I give feedback when some parts don’t work. But for most cases, the videos come out great. Once he gets the green light for them, the videos are sent to the writer. My writer watches the videos and writes several titles and captions per video. After a grammar check, they’re sent to the FB ads manager. The FB ads manager tests the ad, schedules, and monitors them. The best-performing ads stay on. The worst of the bunch is deleted. My FB ads manager also monitors my social media for posts that do well. She boosts a post if she sees it getting a lot of views and engagement. That’s the simplified version. I want to point out that the ads are just part of an overall marketing strategy. The team tweaks the messaging depending on what part of the marketing funnel they’re working on. That’s how we create and run a lot of ads. I don’t need to know how to do it myself because I got a team of specialists to help me. Do you want your OFS to learn how to run FB ads for you too? We have training for that at <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. John PS. How we train OFS isn't super different than how I'm teaching my little kids to ride mountain bikes. We ride a bunch of times. Then I pay other people to teach them. Here's my daughter learning to brake properly at a skills clinic last week. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1fe37973-00fd-eab7-9fea-a74ae95c45c8.jpg" width="480" height="296" data-file-id="474400" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1fe37973-00fd-eab7-9fea-a74ae95c45c8.jpg" /> |
Just giving you guys a head’s up that Aug 29, 2022 (Monday) is a regular holiday in the Philippines. A "regular" holiday is like a bank holiday in the US. The holiday is National Heroes Day in the Philippines. It’s celebrated every last Monday of August and was enacted in 1931. The day was meant to commemorate the Cry of Pugad Lawin, the first revolt that kicked off the 1896 Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire. What is the Cry of Pugad Lawin? <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/94af717a-2a90-cd06-4d80-1b98cd3a8960.jpg" width="480" height="247" data-file-id="474388" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/94af717a-2a90-cd06-4d80-1b98cd3a8960.jpg" /> Here’s the story. Pugad Lawin (trans: Eagle’s Nest) is a place in Quezon City. It’s said that in August 1896, a group of Filipino revolutionaries (Katipuneros) gathered for a meeting to discuss starting a revolution against Spain. During the meeting, as a symbol of their defiance, the Katipunerostore up their cedulas(community tax certificates) and cried out "Viva la Independencia Filipina" (Long live the Philippines). This was a big thing because these cedulaswere essentially IDs, given by Spain as receipts when you pay your taxes. They refused to recognize Spain’s authority. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bf762668-5f65-c81d-4cd1-8cbd0bb5c42c.jpg" width="480" height="252" data-file-id="474384" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bf762668-5f65-c81d-4cd1-8cbd0bb5c42c.jpg" /> Technically, this wasn’t the first time Filipinos revolted against Spain. But this was the first organized revolt with the clear goal of independence, not just reform. Born from the Cry of Pugad Lawin was the formation of an insurgent government, a constitution, and organized attacks against Spain from different parts of the Philippines. Why is it celebrated on the last Monday of August? Well, nobody remembers exactly when this happened. Those present gave conflicting accounts of when it happened. The only thing they agreed on was that it happened in August 1896. They just settled on the last Monday of August to make it easier. If you want updates on the latest Philippine holidays, subscribe to our <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">holiday calendar</a>: <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila</a> John |
I'm not a big movie guy. I'm also not a big superhero guy or superhero movie guy. I haven't seen the latest [insert any superhero movie name here] movie. But Julia (and most of the world it seems) is. So here are some Filipino superheros according to Julia my OFS: ---------------- I’m excited whenever a new superhero movie comes out. We’re big fans of superheroes here in the Philippines. Our love for superheroes started during the golden age of Philippine comics, which began in 1946. American GIs stationed here in the Philippines would share or leave behind comic books. We fell in love with superheroes so much that we started creating our own. Some were adapted from American superheroes. Some are uniquely Filipino. Below are just some of them. Darna. Darna is our biggest and most famous superhero. She’s so popular that she has several movies and TV shows that have been rebooted and played by several actresses. She looks like Wonder Woman and has similar powers like super strength and flight. But unlike Wonder Woman, she wasn’t born with superpowers. Darna is, in fact, Narda, an orphaned, disabled young woman. Because of her kindness and a strong sense of justice, the deities gifted her with a magic pebble. When she swallows this magic pebble and shouts out “Darna,” she transforms into a superhero. She shouts her name and spits out the rock to change into Narda. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/6a9dcf1a-251a-2d03-0782-75e84a7136a2.jpg" width="480" height="687" data-file-id="474348" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/6a9dcf1a-251a-2d03-0782-75e84a7136a2.jpg" /> Image By "Darna Art Galleries." Mars Ravelo's Darna. Retrieved 2008-11-18., Fair use, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20270854?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20270854?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20270854</a> Captain Barbell. Captain Barbell is inspired by Superman and Thor but has a similar backstory to Darna. A deity gives Tenteng (nickname for Vincent) a barbel or a medallion (depending on the movie/TV). He turns into a superhero when he shouts, “Captain Barbell.” <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/516eefde-0eac-e56c-3501-35e03efb788c.jpg" width="480" height="845" data-file-id="474332" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/516eefde-0eac-e56c-3501-35e03efb788c.jpg" /> Image By <a href="http://www.geocities.com/capsulezone/cap-barbell.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.geocities.com/capsulezone/cap-barbell.html</a>, Fair use, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21204891?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21204891?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21204891</a> Panday. Panday (blacksmith) is one of the first superheroes we have that wasn’t inspired by an American superhero. Panday (alter ego, Flavio) is a blacksmith who gained power when he forged a sword from a magical meteorite. He doesn’t have superhuman abilities, but his sword can emit energy bolts and cut through anything, which is helpful because he usually fights demons and flesh-eating beasts. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/421420bd-3417-65e4-7c39-20204e890e41.jpg" width="480" height="632" data-file-id="474352" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/421420bd-3417-65e4-7c39-20204e890e41.jpg" /> Image By Philippine Postal Corporation - From the phlpost.gov.ph website: Archived 2016-06-24 at the Wayback Machine, Public Domain, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80529551?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80529551?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80529551</a> Pedro Penduko. Pedro Penduko is a lot like Spiderman because he’s young, easygoing, and quippy. Pedro started as a cowardly teen. But when he gains an amulet that turns into a magical sword, he’s forced to fight monsters that terrorize his hometown. My daughter is such a big fan of this one. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1ff5979b-4c14-26a7-c7e8-e2d093ba416e.jpg" width="480" height="642" data-file-id="474344" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1ff5979b-4c14-26a7-c7e8-e2d093ba416e.jpg" /> Batang X. Batang X is like the X-Men if they were all kids. Instead of a kind mentor like Professor X, they were kidnapped by an evil alien (Dr. Axis). I loved this show growing up. It was so popular, McDonald’s helped produce it and gave out Batang-X comics (see below) as part of the Happy Meal. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/6307b34f-ea1f-feb9-6cb5-e88b98351640.jpg" width="480" height="483" data-file-id="474336" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/6307b34f-ea1f-feb9-6cb5-e88b98351640.jpg" /> Trese. This is our most famous superhero, thanks to Netflix turning the graphic novel into a show. (Check it out! It’s terrific!) Alexandra Trese is a healer/warrior responsible for maintaining the peace between humans and elemental creatures. In the world of Trese, elemental creatures live among humans; we’re just unaware of it. The creatures have an uneasy truce for their survival. Alexandra’s family is responsible for investigating and delivering justice for creatures breaking this truce or harming humans. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/16115055-c7bf-3737-62f3-0d2591f26cc2.jpg" width="480" height="712" data-file-id="474340" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/16115055-c7bf-3737-62f3-0d2591f26cc2.jpg" /> Image By Netflix/BASE Entertainment - NetflixGeeked Twitter, Fair use, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67799777?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67799777?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67799777</a> And that’s just off the top of my head! Special mentions include Kumander Bawang (Commander Garlic, he fights vampires), Kapt. Pinoy (our version of Captain America), Pandakekoks (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, except they’re frogs), ZsaZsa Zaturnnah (LGBT Wonder Woman), Super Inday and the Golden Bibe (a goose gives young woman superpowers). ------------- For me, my wife is superhero enough. John |
Tropical storm Florita is the 6th typhoon that entered the Philippines this year. I'm letting you know about this storm because it’s really strong. It’s causing a lot of rainfall in most of Luzon, increasing the risk for landslides and flooding. In case you don't know Philippines geography (I'm still learning) Luzon is the big island in the Philippines. Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Makati, and a lot of other big cities are on Luzon. Most of them are having flooding. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/30020c85-51b6-3f37-f398-f9b10f3afbc6.jpg" width="480" height="393" data-file-id="474436" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/30020c85-51b6-3f37-f398-f9b10f3afbc6.jpg" /> Source: <a href="https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tropical-cyclone/severe-weather-bulletin/1?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tropical-cyclone/severe-weather-bulletin/1?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tropical-cyclone/severe-weather-bulletin/1</a> It’s so strong that the Philippine government canceled work and classes along the storm's path. They also issued a storm warning, banning passenger boats and fishing vessels from going to sea. If you have OFS in Luzon, you may want to check on them. If you have OFS in Visayas or Mindanao, they should be okay. John |
I started using Basecamp to manage projects in like 2005. It was just me. I didn't have anyone working for me. It was my organization and task list. Things to get done soon and ideas for later. Since then I've gotten super comfortable with how project management software fits in our work flow. Are you new to project management and want an example of how someone else does it? If you’ve never done project management, it’s best to keep it simple. To start, all you need to do is ask yourself the following questions: What’s the project, and what’s the end goal for this project? Who are the people that I need to get this project done? What are the different steps that need to be done to complete the project? All project management software revolves around these three questions. The rest are just details. Most project management software will ask you for the project name and details. That’s what the first question is going to answer. The next step in creating a project usually involves adding the right people for the project. That’s why you need to answer question #2. Question # 3 is where you start thinking about the tasks. I don’t usually put in the tasks right away. Sometimes I brainstorm with my team first on what these tasks should be. Once we know what they are, they often automatically assign these tasks to themselves. Sometimes, I know exactly what I want them to do. So I just create the task, assign it to the right person (or persons), then talk about the details in the comments thread. That’s all you need to get started. You can start adding details as you get used to it, like deadlines, files, milestones, etc. This is how we implement with Basecamp: <a href="https://youtu.be/co6y4GF0SlY" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://youtu.be/co6y4GF0SlY"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7cf29cfc-e674-8cd8-731d-9490f26d5f65.jpg" width="480" height="268" data-file-id="474448" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7cf29cfc-e674-8cd8-731d-9490f26d5f65.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://youtu.be/co6y4GF0SlY?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://youtu.be/co6y4GF0SlY?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://youtu.be/co6y4GF0SlY</a> John |
One of the things I regularly outsource to my OFS is writing. It’s not that I can’t write. It's that I hate it. And it's super time consuming. When I started my online business, one of the things I did was regularly write articles and submit them to article directories. I wrote blog posts, landing pages, sales pages, and squeeze pages. It wore me out mentally and physically (so weird that typing can wear you out physically...) So naturally, it was one of the first things I outsourced. Immediately I was so relieved. I didn't have to force myself to write anymore. It gave me time to go into detail on topics I wanted to cover, but which I didn't have time or mental energy for (an example of this is the <a href="/why-your-ofs-sometimes-work-mindlessly-and-how-to-change-it-2/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/why-your-ofs-sometimes-work-mindlessly-and-how-to-change-it-2/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">long blog post I wrote about mindless work</a>). Removing the pressure to write made writing more enjoyable and less of a chore. Because I'm not bound to it anymore, I can step back to look at our marketing overall and not just the content creation side of things. Win Win. Even if you're the type of person who enjoys creating content for your business, you can still benefit from having an OFS for content creation. Having a creative person on your team gives you another person to bounce ideas with. Somebody to help you flesh out ideas if you're stuck. They can work on topics that you don't have the time for or you're not interested in. They can contribute their ideas to a certain topic. They can contribute new ideas. The next step for me was to make sure the content we create is really good, and I have to admit, it took a while for us to get there. One of the things I often had to work on with my OFS is getting them to write like me. Filipinos tend to be more formal, and I’m more conversational. I made them read a lot of the stuff I wrote. I also send a lot of feedback videos. This email that you're reading right now went through several feedback videos just to get it right. (hint: I didn't write this). Another issue we encounter at times is when Filipino mannerisms and idioms get into their writing. I've had them eliminate phrases from their writing like "to avail" or "if ever"...phrases which make sense, but which don't sound natural to me. If I don't understand it, I have them rewrite everything. It usually comes back better when I point out that I didn't understand it. When I saw myself doing a lot of proofreading and editing, I delegated that to someone else. I got them a Grammarly account to help with the proofreading. I implemented a system where two pairs of eyes have to go through the content before it gets to me. So when the content gets to me, all I need to do is approve it or give feedback. That’s exactly how things work with my newsletter right now. Sometimes I write the emails. Or I give Jamie (my OFS) a few ideas and she’ll write the emails. Sometimes the ideas come from her. All the email drafts go through editing and QA before she makes a draft on Mailchimp. Once they’re there, I go through them and schedule the ones I like. I email her if there are drafts that are lacking or don’t feel right. The fact that she’s doing most of the work for me is why we can send out emails four times a week. Want to know how I find great writers? Go to <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a> John |
I mentioned briefly about paying attention to the exchange rate when <a href="/the-impact-of-inflation-in-the-philippines/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/the-impact-of-inflation-in-the-philippines/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">I talked about inflation</a> a few weeks back. When I first started outsourcing to the Philippines in 2005, I had no idea what the exchange rate was. I just paid this agency $750/month and I had a full-time person working for me (Joven). When Joven left the agency and came to work for me, I paid him $500/month, which was double what the agency was paying him. Win-win. Then, a couple years in Joven emailed me and said: "Sir, I don't know if you know this or not but the Peso is at Php 38 to 1 USD. When you started paying us it was at 50. We've had a 20% pay cut because the dollar is struggling." I had no idea and I felt terrible! They were struggling financially because of the US economy crash of 2007. I started paying them more to make up for the difference. I also started paying attention to the exchange rate. Global inflation has made the exchange rate more volatile over the past 2 years. Before the pandemic, the Philippine peso to US dollar exchange rate was between Php 50 to Php 52 to 1.00 USD. Now, it fluctuates between 47 to 56 pesos per dollar. That difference of 2 or 9 pesos is nothing for us. Nine pesos is roughly worth 20 cents. You can’t buy anything for 20 cents. But in the Philippines, a dollar that costs 47 pesos and a dollar that costs 56 pesos is a big deal. Let’s say you have an OFS, and you’re paying that person $600. Let’s convert that using the lowest exchange rate between the Philippine peso and the USD in the past 5 years: Php 47 to 1.00 USD. At that rate, their take-home pay comes out at Php 28,200. Now let’s convert that $600 USD using the highest exchange rate so far (Php56 to 1.00 USD), which comes out to Php 33,600. Php 28,200 vs Php 33,600. That’s a difference of Php 5,400, worth around $100. That’s 1/6th of their income. That’s $100 that could have gone to pay for this month’s internet, water bill, or groceries. Some employers get around this by paying in pesos instead of dollars. The problem with this approach is that you really have to pay attention to the exchange rate. What I do is just monitor for big changes in the exchange rate. If there’s a really sharp dip, that’s when I send a little more. My team tells me they also monitor the exchange rate to get the most out of every dollar. Like, for the past few weeks, the dollar has been really strong, so my team is actually getting more even though I’m not paying them more. As I write this, USD is at 56 Php. But if or when the Philippine peso strengthens in value, that situation could change. Look, I'm not saying you need to look at this every day. It's just something to be aware of. You can always see the exchange rate by searching "USD in PHP". John |
Here’s a quick lesson on Philippine Geography to make it easier for you to identify what part of the country your OFS is located in. The Philippines is subdivided into 17 political regions, Regions 1 to 13, plus four regions that don’t have numbers in their name. Region 1 is in the northmost part of the country; then it goes down to 13, which is in the southmost part. These regions are distributed among the 3 island groups: Luzon (north), Visayas (center), and Mindanao (south). <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/48e7a03a-7c56-537a-74e8-9ce17a006a99.jpg" width="480" height="648" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/48e7a03a-7c56-537a-74e8-9ce17a006a99.jpg" data-file-id="474452" /> You can tell what part of the country a region is based on the number. Regions 1 to 5 are in Luzon, the biggest island group in the northern part of the Philippines. Also, in Luzon are 3 of the 4 regions that don’t have a number to their name: the MIMAROPA region, the National Capital Region (also called Metro Manila), and the Cordillera Administrative Region. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e7f027ea-f62a-09fc-27c1-fb4b4a99b5bc.jpg" width="480" height="480" data-file-id="474408" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e7f027ea-f62a-09fc-27c1-fb4b4a99b5bc.jpg" /> Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), and 8 (Eastern Visayas) belong to the Visayas, the smallest island group in the middle of the country. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d72e2a4c-7420-8f91-9070-fe23812657fc.jpg" width="480" height="480" data-file-id="474416" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d72e2a4c-7420-8f91-9070-fe23812657fc.jpg" /> Regions 9 to 13 belong to Mindanao in the south. Also included is the only other region that doesn’t have a number in its name: BARMM or the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/5615ee02-c4f5-ce8b-2740-74409eb1a1f9.jpg" width="480" height="480" data-file-id="474420" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/5615ee02-c4f5-ce8b-2740-74409eb1a1f9.jpg" /> Why do you need to know the different island groups? So you know whether your OFS is affected by a natural disaster. I talked about a <a href="/magnitude-7-earthquake-hits-northern-luzon/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/magnitude-7-earthquake-hits-northern-luzon/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">major earthquake in Northern Luzon</a> a few weeks ago. It made national and international news because of how strong it was. But because it happened in Luzon, my OFS living in Visayas and Mindanao were unaffected by it. I didn’t have to worry about my entire team, just those living in Luzon. Learning about the culture also helps when working with an OFS. I talk about Philippine work culture in detail in my book, <a href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">The Outsourcing Lever</a>. John |
"My Filipino worker just disappeared!" I've heard this quite a few times from other business owners, especially those just starting out. This usually happens in these 3 situations: 1. You just hired a new person, gave them their first task, and then they tell you they have to resign. 2. You’ve had someone working for you for a bit; they’ve done great work, then suddenly you don’t hear from them for a week. 3. You’ve had someone working for you for years, and they stop responding to your emails and don’t email you for a month. In over 90% of the cases I’ve seen, the cause is that the person is embarrassed that they don’t know how to do whatever you’ve asked them to do. They either don’t know how to solve something, don’t understand something, or can’t figure something out. The natural Filipino reaction is to shy away from it because they don’t want to disappoint you. Unless you want to lose an employee (or lose months of productivity like what happened to me a couple of times), you need to do a few things. You need to provide training. On-the-job training is ingrained in Filipino work culture. You can create the training or use the ones we have at <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. Email them and tell them you know they have a problem. Tell them that you’d like to know what the problem is so you can help them solve it. The first step will literally save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches. Numbers 2 and 3 will help you gain their trust. When they’re confident about their skills and know they can trust you, they’ll run out of reasons to disappear. Usually this is when someone starts to go above and beyond what you've asked them to do. John PS. Meet Milo: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bee760a1-1fa7-87aa-c04b-8c0ecab26c66.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474468" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bee760a1-1fa7-87aa-c04b-8c0ecab26c66.jpg" /> He's 19 and running a web design agency. He just got back to the US after living in American Samoa for 8 months because he saw a business growth opportunity. It worked. On his way home, he flew through Salt Lake City, so we met up for a hike. The kid is a rock star. |
When I hired my first full-time Filipino worker, it scared me a little, not going to lie. Can I afford this? Can they actually do good work for me? Can I keep them busy full-time? How will I create tasks for them to do? How will I have the time to train them? I'm responsible for paying this person...what if I can't? Eventually, I took the leap because I realized I couldn't just keep working the way I was. To grow, I had to do something different. After a couple of years, I finally realized something: Hiring someone full-time forced me to think. I had to look at my process. Which ones have value? What tasks waste our time? What can I have him do to grow the business? It wasn’t an automatic process. It took me a while to figure out what tasks were worth our time. But the good thing about having a full-time Filipino worker on your team is that they can do so many things. Once you figure out the tasks and processes you need for your business, you can just outsource those to them immediately. Want to know what other employers are outsourcing to their OFS? I asked employers around the world what their OFS do for them. We came up with 221 tasks. <a href="https://www.ofstasks.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ofstasks.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OFSTasks.com</a> It’s completely free. John PS. Despite the brutally hot summer, I'm still out riding bikes with my wife. It's something we love. I feel rejuvenated after riding so I can be effective at work. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f74c9040-67a2-d964-3ceb-94413e757068.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474472" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f74c9040-67a2-d964-3ceb-94413e757068.jpg" /> |
You found an Online Filipino Specialist who’s really good. You like their work. You’re getting along great. You’re just about to hire them when they tell you, “By the way, I have another job. Is that okay?” It's not ideal, but sometimes hiring someone already working may be your only choice. This usually happens when: Situation #1: You’re hiring a technical specialist, and your options are very limited. Situation #2: You just need someone part-time, but that OFS needs a full-time salary to support themselves. First and foremost, the fact that they’re honest about their situation is a good thing. This shows that they don’t want to lie to you. They don’t want to be hired under false pretenses. They know that you may not like the situation, giving you a chance to walk away. If you still decide to hire an OFS who’s already working for someone else, here’s how you can make this situation work. If you’re in situation #1, it’s going to be hard to expect them to go above and beyond for your business if they’re also working for someone else. The best you can get is that they meet your expectations. They'll likely still be very good; just be aware their first priority is their full-time employer. You and your OFS have to negotiate and agree on things like: - How many hours a week should they be working for you? - What’s the expected output? - How quickly can you expect them to respond to your messages or feedback? Situation #2 is a little trickier. Nobody can survive on a part-time salary. Expect them to need a full-time job. If you’re hiring part-time because you want someone who’s super experienced and can’t afford their rates, there is another option. You can <a href="/the-case-for-hiring-newbie-workers/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/the-case-for-hiring-newbie-workers/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">try hiring someone inexperienced</a> and give them the job full-time. If you’re worried about giving them training, we have you covered on that (<a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>). Some of the best people on my team started out as newbies. If you give them a chance, they just might surprise you. If something isn't working, the first thing to do is ask them. Say something about their productivity and ask why. Often people think they have time to take on a second job only to find out it's more demanding than they thought. John |
We all have little things in our house to make it homey and comfortable. It can be pictures on the wall or a nice comfy rug. In the Philippines, one of those things is the banig. The banig is a traditional handwoven mat. It’s usually made from dried palm leaves or reeds dyed in a variety of colors. These reeds are then woven into plain or intricate geometric patterns. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/445a8d6c-f4f5-20c4-e799-a671780649ff.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474460" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/445a8d6c-f4f5-20c4-e799-a671780649ff.jpg" /> In past times, the banig was used mainly as a sitting and sleeping mat. Like in other Asian countries, pre-colonial Philippines homes didn’t have chairs or mattresses. When they were eating, doing chores or resting at home, they sat on a banig on the floor. Before they go to bed, they would roll out the banig they use for sleeping. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c208116d-627a-71e7-0427-6704caf27115.jpg" width="480" height="320" data-file-id="474456" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c208116d-627a-71e7-0427-6704caf27115.jpg" /> But even after most Filipinos stopped using the banig for its intended purpose, they keep finding ways to bring it back. Nowadays, you’ll see the banig used mainly as carpets, wall decoration, room dividers or picnic blankets. You’ll see a lot of banig in handicrafts like bags or decorative boxes. Below, you’ll see it being used as a headboard and focal point for a bedroom. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ab257fcc-2ea4-e82f-c146-af02e7e195d5.jpg" width="480" height="641" data-file-id="474464" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ab257fcc-2ea4-e82f-c146-af02e7e195d5.jpg" /> Even though most Filipinos use mattresses, you’ll still see some of them getting a banig and using it as a sleeping mat. They say it’s because a banig stays cool, even on hot, tropical nights. Julia, my OFS, tells me that when they go camping on the beach, they’d bring a banig and put it over the sleeping bag because it’s more comfortable. Some use the banig as a mattress liner. You can even buy a mattress lined with banig if you don’t want the inconvenience of adjusting the banig when putting on a bedsheet. John |
The Philippine government just released the official list of holidays for 2023, so we just updated the Philippine Holiday Calendar to include them. If you haven’t subscribed to that calendar yet, you’ll see them below: For PC: <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=bGN2azRxY2pnajI5OW1scXM3YjAyYjdwbWtAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=bGN2azRxY2pnajI5OW1scXM3YjAyYjdwbWtAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=bGN2azRxY2pnajI5OW1scXM3YjAyYjdwbWtAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ</a> For Mac: <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics">https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics</a> Regular Holidays January 1 (Sunday) – New Year’s Day April 9 (Sunday) – Araw ng Kagitingan April 6 – Maundy Thursday April 7 – Good Friday * April 22 (Saturday) - Eid'l Fitr * * June 29 (Thursday) - Eid'l Adha * May 1 (Monday) – Labor Day June 12 (Monday) – Independence Day August 28 (last Monday of August) – National Heroes Day November 30 (Thursday) – Bonifacio Day December 25 (Monday) – Christmas Day December 30 (Saturday) – Rizal Day Special Non-Working Days February 25 (Saturday) – EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary April 8 – Black Saturday August 21 (Monday) – Ninoy Aquino Day November 1 (Wednesday) – All Saints' Day November 2 (Thursday) - All Souls' Day December 8 (Friday) – Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion of Mary December 31 (Sunday) - Last Day of the Year Looking at the 2023 calendar, you’ll notice a couple of changes. Change #1: No more special working holidays. Now, it’s just two types of holidays: regular and special holidays. The difference between regular and special only matters if you have a legal entity in the Philippines because there’s a pay difference if they work during the holidays. If you want to offer paid time off during these days, you can choose to offer it only for regular holidays or both. Offering both would be nice, especially for families, because special holidays are also school holidays. This will let them spend more time with their kids. Change #2: Inclusion of Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha are Islamic holidays (the dates with the asterisks) considered regular holidays under Philippine law. If you check the official list sent out by the Philippine government (<a href="https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/nationwide-holidays/2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/nationwide-holidays/2023/</a>) those holidays are not included because they have to wait for declarations from Islamic officials. The dates are usually declared just 2-3 days ahead. It’s really short notice. There are approximate dates for when these holidays would be. So instead of waiting for the declaration, we included those dates in the calendar and just modify them once the official dates are announced. When I saw the list of holidays above I thought "that's a lot!" so I looked up the number of US holidays in 2022. There are more US holidays than "Regular Holidays" in the Philippines (13US vs 12 Philippine)! But when you add in the "Special Non Working Days" the Philippines has more. At OnlineJobs.ph we also give Dec 26-30 off...but that's mostly because I don't want to work those days. John PS. My daughters are now into their mountain bike racing season. Race 2 just happened. It was hot (95 degrees at 6500 feet) and hard. Taking second place (both of them) made up for the struggle. Here's Addie at the finish line: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9b39e4ad-a1e1-29c4-5b15-28822fb39956.jpg" width="320" height="480" data-file-id="474488" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9b39e4ad-a1e1-29c4-5b15-28822fb39956.jpg" /> |
School’s back. For some, it's the first time in 2 years. For others, it's back after summer vacation again. It’s the same in the Philippines. Their kids are going back to school. They haven't been in person for 2 years and they're in the back-to-school shopping rush. Only this time it's worse. Julia shares what back-to-school shopping is like in the Philippines. ------ I’m one of those parents who enjoy back-to-school shopping because I love shopping for school supplies. But even I can acknowledge that it can be exhausting and frustrating. If you want to get the best supplies at a good price, you have to do your research, make price comparisons, and shop early to beat the rush. I think the excitement of going back to school is getting to everybody because everybody was shopping early this year. These past few weeks, all the malls and bookstores were full of people. School supplies were running out of stock. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9e9b93c7-ffa3-50a6-6568-765651c6a846.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474476" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9e9b93c7-ffa3-50a6-6568-765651c6a846.jpg" /> My husband and I went to 3 different stores just for index cards. Index cards!!! I barely used index cards when I was a student. But for some reason, it’s now the hottest stationery of the year! Because of the pandemic, some school supplies were harder to get now than before, not just index cards. I think it’s partly due to the global supply chain issue and partly because more people had to buy new school supplies than ever before. School supplies can be expensive. If there’s anything that can be reused, we’ll reuse it. Many of us would carefully unwind ring notebooks so we could gather the unused pages to make new ones. We would share extra or unused school supplies and books with friends and family. That way, we don’t need to buy new supplies every year. During the pandemic, we didn’t have to buy school supplies, but many of us did use up whatever we had in stock. So when they announced that face-to-face classes were back, we needed to buy more. A big example of this would be school uniforms. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c7f27858-19ef-cbd7-a365-c8488874e618.jpg" width="480" height="256" data-file-id="474480" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/c7f27858-19ef-cbd7-a365-c8488874e618.jpg" /> Here in the Philippines, all students wear uniforms regardless of whether they attend public or private school. Pre-pandemic, we find ways to make our school uniforms last. We usually buy or have a seamstress make the uniform a little bigger so the uniform can last for at least two years. And when our kids outgrow their uniforms, it can be passed on to younger siblings/relatives/friends. But now, the kids have all outgrown their uniforms. We’re all in a rush to buy uniforms or fabric. There’s a shortage of uniform material and a long waiting list (at least 4 weeks) if you want a tailor-made uniform. Despite all that, I am happy that the kids are going back to school. They need social interaction. ------------ Our kids were in person at school last year, so this was back to school after summer for us. Only, we pulled them out of school 10 days early so we could go ride our bikes across Europe. It felt like the longest summer ever. Still not as long as 2 years of at home school like the Philippines. John |
When hiring an Online Filipino Specialist, there’s a big chance you’ve had applicants from Manila. If you know any Filipinos, it’s also likely that they’re from Manila as well. Is Manila that big? Why do so many Filipinos live there? First, let me correct some misconceptions about Manila. Manila isn’t a mega city. The actual city of Manila is just about 17 square miles. When people say they’re from Manila, most refer to Metro Manila (also called National Capital Region). Metro Manila is made up of 16 cities, including the city of Manila, Quezon City, Pasig City, Mandaluyong City, Caloocan City, etc. All of those cities combined cover an area of 239.22 sq miles, just slightly smaller than Tucson, Arizona. The total population of Metro Manila is about 14.4 million people, that's 13% of the entire Philippine population. All these cities are highly urbanized. This is where you’ll find their government head offices, most popular universities, and multinational corporations. Despite that, Metro Manila isn’t a big place. Just to give you some context of how small Metro Manila is, here’s a map of the Philippines. That tiny red spot there is Metro Manila. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1b145f90-ce71-3285-4460-568c6a3bebc4.jpg" width="480" height="698" data-file-id="474484" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1b145f90-ce71-3285-4460-568c6a3bebc4.jpg" /> Because most schools and jobs are in Metro Manila, many Filipinos live or commute there. It’s the 2nd most densely populated region in the country and the 5th most densely populated place in the world. Living there is expensive and crowded, but people go there because Manila offers so many opportunities. 36% of the country’s GDP comes from Metro Manila. If you’re looking for work, to many, Metro Manila is the place to go. Metro Manila is a great place but has its share of problems. Traffic, urban poverty, and lack of affordable housing are just some of the reasons why many Filipinos would rather go back to the provinces if there are opportunities available there. For decades, the Philippine government has been developing cities far and away from Metro Manila to entice people to move back home. They created economic zones to encourage companies to invest outside of Manila. They set up the infrastructure and enticed companies with lower labor costs and less competition for talent. This is one of the reasons why you’ll find call centers all over the Philippines now instead of being concentrated in Manila. I’m proud that online work has also played a role in this. When we did a series where we interviewed Filipino workers, most of them credited <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">Onlinejobs.ph</a> for helping them move back home. I have people on my team who moved away from Manila as soon as they found online work. The Philippine government has even contacted me a few times to talk about this. They told me how <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">Onlinejobs.ph</a> has helped small towns grow by encouraging people to stay in their communities and spend their income there. The people are clamoring for and getting better internet because they want to work from home. Ultimately, I’m saying that when you’re hiring, keep an open mind. You don’t have to limit yourself to Metro Manila. There’s talent all over the country. Their internet and electricity infrastructure has improved dramatically over the years. There is an OFS out there who’s right for you. John |
In my newsletter, I post regular updates on typhoons and earthquakes in the Philippines. Some of you might be worried if outsourcing to the Philippines is worth it, given that they go through 30-something typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes every year. Yes! It's definitely worth it. Once you find the right Online Filipino Specialist (OFS), it’s going to change your life and your business. How can you improve your situation in case of a disaster? 1. Insist on workers having laptops and/or portable hard drives. A laptop is easier to carry and save than a desktop in an emergency. But if your OFS uses a desktop (most developers and designers would probably use a desktop for work), then insist that they have portable hard drives where they can back up their work regularly. A portable hard drive is cheap (about $40 for a 1TB capacity); it's something you can provide for them. It's super easy to grab and carry in case of emergency. 2. Invest in cloud storage. Another way to ensure that none of your OFS’ work gets lost in natural disasters is to invest in cloud storage. This makes it easier for them to return to work or pass them on to someone else if needed. In our case, we save our work in Google Drive. Actually, we do most of our work on Google Drive. Writing happens there, spreadsheets happen there, and files get stored there. 3. Get their emergency contacts to ensure continued communication. Ask your OFS for emergency contacts that you can call if they’ve been affected by a natural disaster. Ideally, this should be a relative or friend that doesn’t live in the same place but has the resources to find or contact them. Get phone number and email. 4. Set up a small emergency fund. If your OFS pays their SSS (they should), they can take out a calamity loan to help recover. But that can take time, especially if everybody in their area is also getting a loan. You can help your OFS by setting up a small emergency fund they can borrow from to help them get back on their feet faster. The size of this fund depends on your means. A couple hundred dollars is usually sufficient. We've done this dozens of times for people and have never had a problem getting paid back. If you haven’t hired an OFS yet (check out my hiring process at <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a>). You can consider hiring from places in the Philippines that are less affected by natural disasters. Western Visayas and Mindanao are the places least affected by typhoons. The province of Palawan in MIMAROPA, Cavite in Region 4, Isabela in Region 2, Cebu in Region 6, and Bohol in Region 7 don’t have any active fault lines, making them less likely to experience earthquakes. To know where these places are, check out my newsletter on <a href="/philippine-geography-basics-luzon-visayas-and-mindanao/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/philippine-geography-basics-luzon-visayas-and-mindanao/">the basics of Philippine geography</a>. A last word of advice. I say to hire from specific regions as an option. I've never done it. It's not that simple (we don't have a geography filter at OnlineJobs.ph). More important is to hire the right person, wherever they're from, and start working together. A natural disaster may only affect them once every 5 years. And...Filipinos are really good at recovering. John PS. Where I live, the only likely natural disaster is an earthquake. We expect a really big one at some point. We have a lot of food stored for this emergency. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f2cab79a-a37b-8084-4d46-efc3a8fec07e.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474500" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f2cab79a-a37b-8084-4d46-efc3a8fec07e.jpg" /> |
When I first started outsourcing to the Philippines, their internet wasn’t really good. Like, 256Kbps wasn't uncommon. That's "K" - Kilobits. Not "M" - Megabits. 5Mbps was really fast! For years, the Philippines had the dubious reputation of having the slowest internet service in Southeast Asia. Fast forward to now, and their internet has gotten so much better. It’s so good that I didn't notice that they used mobile data when working until they told me about it. Case in point, my OFS, Jam, sent me a picture of his work set-up. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/_compresseds/a1ff7bd6-b7c2-17c8-4652-de2f9ec69483.jpeg" width="480" height="480" data-file-id="474496" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/_compresseds/a1ff7bd6-b7c2-17c8-4652-de2f9ec69483.jpeg" /> He’s currently working in a school parking lot. He drives his daughter and a couple of other kids to a school far from home. Rather than drive back home to work, he set up a workstation at the back of his car. He’s using mobile data for internet. I initially thought that this was an isolated case. Maybe Jam was just working in a place where the internet was really good. But then I started asking around. I found out that even my developers sometimes use mobile data because it’s gotten to the point where it’s good enough that they can use it for work. I know this doesn’t apply to the entire country, nor would this work for all jobs. The internet in rural areas with underdeveloped infrastructure still isn’t enough. Mobile data isn’t as fast or stable as a fiber connection. My video editor/graphic designer rarely uses mobile data because he usually handles big files. He’s always uploading or downloading something, so mobile data is never enough for him. But the trend is really good. The country’s mobile internet median download speed is now at 21.41 Mbps, and its broadband median download speed is now at 68.94 Mbps. We see improvements in internet speed every few months. Musk’s Starlink was also approved to operate in the Philippines this year, so even the most isolated places in the Philippines are expected to have an internet connection soon. The fact that several people in my team can work anywhere means that YOU can hire anywhere. You don’t need to worry whether or not their internet can handle the work. Their internet can handle it. Just focus on finding the best Online Filipino Specialist for your business. Finding the best OFS for your business doesn’t have to be painful or tedious. I’ll walk you through my easy and painless process at <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a>. Want to know what tasks an Online Filipino Specialist can do for your business? Go to <a href="https://www.ofstasks.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ofstasks.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OFSTasks.com</a>. John |
Let me preface this by saying I am not an accountant or a tax attorney. I’m simply sharing how we’ve been dealing with taxes and our OFS for years. This is how 5 different accountants have dealt with it for us. Also, my OFS Jamie is not an accountant. What she shared about taxes is based on her experience paying taxes as an online Filipino worker. YOU SHOULD NOT LISTEN TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY. Don't take it as legal or financial advice! I got an email from someone recently saying they have two concerns about hiring an OFS (Online Filipino Specialist). One is the taxes. They think hiring an OFS means they’d have to pay taxes because I call my OFS team my employees and offer them benefits. Their second concern was whether the OFS is an employee or an independent contractor. Even though I call my team in the Philippines my employees, they are independent contractors. I don’t pay their taxes. These are the only things I need to do tax-wise with my OFS: 1. I have them <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/simplified-taxes-another-way-outsourcing-saves-your-business">fill out a W-8 BEN</a> and 2. <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/simplified-taxes-another-way-outsourcing-saves-your-business">declare them in my 1120S</a>. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-8-ben" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-8-ben">*2021, The IRS updated the W-8 BEN form</a>. I've explored this. I've talked to accountants. I've talked to attorneys. I can't figure any way you could consider an OFS an employee by normal "employee" standards. You can't give them a w2. They don't have a US tax ID number. You can't even give them a 1099. Having said that, DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY! Consult your attorney and accountant! On the Philippine side of things, I asked Jamie about this because she’s been paying taxes as an online worker for years. When she registered as a taxpayer, I remember she asked for a day off because she spent hours in lines just to get her paperwork filed. They (your OFS) are registered as independent contractors when paying their taxes. They pay a local tax (~1% gross) yearly and national taxes quarterly (~8% over Php25,000). From what Jamie tells me, they can do most of the filing and payment online. John PS. don't over complicate this. |
JANUARY 2023 UPDATE: We have updated this to reflect the slight increase in the monthly contributions as issued by the SSS Every time I mention SSS I get tons of questions. Here we go. First, this is completely optional. You don’t have to pay for it. But if you can afford to, it’s a nice thing you can do for your OFS. - SSS stands for Social Security System. It's a state-run social insurance program where non-government Filipino workers are expected to contribute. - Businesses with legal entities in the Philippines must contribute to the SSS. If you don’t have a legal entity in the Philippines, paying your Filipino’s SSS premiums is optional. - If you want to give your OFS a benefit and can only afford to give one, I strongly recommend SSS. It’s one of those benefits that can help your OFS in so many ways for a long time. - When they sign up for SSS, they also get a government-issued ID called UMID (universal multi-purpose ID). My team tells me it's one of the few IDs recognized everywhere. Having a UMID would make it easier to open a bank account, verify their identity online, get a credit card, passport, or driver's license, etc. - When your OFS pays into it, it creates a pension fund they can use when they retire. This is also where they can get maternity, disability, and calamity benefits. (more on these in another email) - SSS is also a way for Filipinos to take out easy loans. Most Filipinos take out an SSS loan first to establish credit. This SSS credit record is something that they can show to banks if they want to open a credit card or take out a bigger loan. - Because you don't have a business in the Philippines, you can't pay directly to SSS. Your OFS must pay it themselves. When they do, they declare their contributions as “Voluntary” because it's not associated with a Philippines business entity. - So, how much do SSS premiums cost? The premiums should be about 14% of their salary, but they can't be more than Php4200 (~ USD $76) per month. To make this simple, multiply your OFS monthly salary times 0.14. That's their contribution amount. If your OFS makes more than $543/month, they should make the maximum contribution of $76/month. (14% of $543 is $76, and $76 is the max they're allowed to contribute each month) - You can pay for the entire contribution or just a portion. For Philippine companies, the standard practice is to pay for two-thirds of the contribution, and the worker pays a third. That means you would pay the worker an extra $51/month for SSS. They would pay $25 out of pocket for SSS. Total = $76. - They take the money you give them and pay it to their SSS account. Since this is voluntary, they can pay monthly, quarterly, or annually. At our company, we just add it to their monthly salary. <a href="/reimbursing-your-ofs-philhealth-and-sss-payments/">We ask them for a receipt</a> when they've paid it, so we know where the money is going. Another option is to ask for a screenshot of the member's data record, they'll find this in the SSS member's portal. - The amount they contribute determines the amount of benefits they're eligible for. The bigger the contributions, the more money they'll get for things like their maternity benefit, disability benefits, or pension. - They can keep track of their contributions, apply for benefits and get loans through the SSS member portal or through the SSS mobile app. - We have instructions for how your OFS pays their SSS. We provide this to them in their account on OnlineJobs.ph John PS. More info coming on other potential benefits in future emails |
I get asked this question a lot. Recently, I got an email from Karen and I wanted to share my response for people who have the same question. My business partner is concerned about hiring an OFS directly instead of using an agency out of concerns that this is going to be classification as employee vs independent contractor. Is there a service that we can use as the main employer instead of hiring someone as an employee? We don't offer this service, but here's what I can tell you. The Philippines doesn't have a treaty with the US to make this person an employee. I've talked with probably 5 different accountants about this over the years. Not one of them has found a case for making them an employee. I've had hundreds (thousands?) of customers come to me with this question. Not one of them has ever returned to me saying "here...look at this...it makes them an employee." There's just no way to consider this person an employee causing US employee requirements. What would you do with them? Submit a W2? You can't even submit a 1099 for them. They don't have any US tax ID numbers. THEY ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS! I cover this at <a href="http://www.OnlineJobs.ph/taxes" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.OnlineJobs.ph/taxes">www.OnlineJobs.ph/taxes</a>. Now, on the Philippine side, you can’t make a person an employee unless you have a legal entity in the Philippines. This means your business has to be registered in the Philippines for you to hire an employee. Your business isn't registered in the Philippines so they HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. They pay taxes as independent contractors, which means they don’t need to declare an employer when they file. Even if you offer them <a href="/5-benefits-you-might-pay-for-your-ofs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/5-benefits-you-might-pay-for-your-ofs/">benefits like SSS or Philhealth</a>, their contributions would be considered voluntary. They can’t be employee contributions because you must be a registered business in the Philippines to be considered an employer. If you've been putting off hiring someone because you were worried about them being an employee, now you know the real situation. Get started hiring at <a href="https://www.OneVAAway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OneVAAway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">www.OneVAAway.com</a>. John |
The 13th month payment is coming up in December. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions. Is the 13th month required? For you, it is optional. You don’t have to give this. BUT it’s best if you do because it’s a really effective motivator for Filipino workers. It encourages loyalty. Filipinos are more likely to stay with businesses that offer 13th month because it tells them that the business is stable and they care for their workers. Plus, Filipinos often depend on the 13th month. They'll use it for planned large expenses, home repairs, and to buy gifts for family for the holidays. For companies with a registered business in the Philippines, the 13th month is not optional. When is the best time to pay the 13th month? The 13th month is to be paid in December. The earlier in the month, the better. Are the 13th month and the Christmas bonus the same thing? No, the 13th month is NOT considered a Christmas bonus. It’s just part of their annual salary (they budget for it). If you want to give a Christmas bonus, that’s separate and always very much appreciated. How do you compute for the 13th month? It's 1 months salary as extra pay. If they didn't work for you the whole year, add up the total amount you paid them through the year and divide by 12. “I hired my VA in September and she just finished her training period. Do I start counting the months to compute her 13th month? When I hired her or when she finished her training?” It’s mostly up to you. You can start on her hire date or when the training period has ended. The important thing is that both of you know when you started counting. Typically though, it starts when training is finished. Also, someone is eligible for the 13th month if they have worked for you for 3 months or more. “I had to let go of my VA this year. Should I still give her a 13th month bonus?” Because the 13th month is optional, whether or not you give the 13th month when you let a VA go depends on your agreement with your workers. For Philippine companies, they are obligated by law to give the 13th month bonus if the employee has worked for at least a month during the year. “I pay my VA by the hour or on a per-project basis. Do I need to give them a 13th month?” You don’t have to, but it’s still a good idea. You can compute for 13th month by adding up the total you paid them through the year and dividing by 12. For us, we: 1. always pay the 13th month 2. also give a Christmas bonus. $25-$50. John |
I've talked about SSS quite a few times recently because people keep asking. I want to reiterate that this benefit is OPTIONAL. It would be nice if you can give this to your Online Filipino Specialist, but you don’t have to. In this email, I’m going to list what your OFS can get when they sign up for SSS and regularly contribute to the fund. When your OFS signs up to become an SSS member, they get a unique SSS number. When they get their SSS number, they must also get a UMID (Universal Multipurpose ID) from the SSS. UMID is the ID you want to keep in your wallet because you can use it anywhere. It makes it easier for your OFS to open a bank account, apply for a credit card or loan, get a driver’s license or passport, or get verification for payment sites like PayPal or Payoneer. When your OFS contributes regularly to the SSS, they’re entitled to the following benefits: - Sickness benefit - A daily cash allowance paid for every day that your OFS cannot work due to sickness or injury. - Maternity benefit - A cash allowance paid to your OFS when they give birth or have a miscarriage. This is equivalent to 2 and half months' salary - Disability benefit - It’s a cash benefit they can get as a monthly pension or lump sum if your OFS suffers a permanent (partial or total) disability. - Retirement benefit - This is their pension fund. Your OFS can get this as a monthly pension or lump sum. - Death benefit - The beneficiaries of your OFS (parents/spouse/children) can get this cash benefit as a monthly allowance or lump sum. - Funeral benefit - It’s a cash grant of around Php20,000 (~$350) to help with funeral costs. - Unemployment benefit - This won’t apply to your OFS (because they're considered independent contractors), but it’s one of the benefits that they can get if a Philippine company hires them. Being an SSS member also gives your OFS access to short-term loans called “salary loans.” They’re low-interest loans that need to be repaid within the year. They call it a salary loan because they base how much they can borrow on their monthly salary. The first time you can take out a short-term loan, you can only borrow the equivalent of one month’s salary. The next time you take out a loan, you can borrow twice your monthly salary, and so on and so forth. All the information your OFS needs to get these benefits is available on the SSS member portal and SSS mobile app. We’ll also release a guide for your OFS to show them how to sign up and pay for these benefits themselves. This will be in their account on OnlineJobs.ph. John On my ride the other day we saw the first signs of fall. Beautiful. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1af457f9-ff97-efe1-67ff-f3d16341efaf.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474504" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1af457f9-ff97-efe1-67ff-f3d16341efaf.jpg" /> |
What's preventing you from hiring your first OFS? Why haven't you taken the leap yet? I get an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from employers around the world working with OFS. Every day someone says to me: I love my OFS... My OFS has worked for me for 3 years and it's amazing... I couldn't run my company without them... And so I write my newsletter to help these people be more efficient. But sometimes, regularly, often even! I get a response to my newsletter: "I need to hire someone to do [insert any skill here...lead generation, cold calling, video editing, programming, social media...]. Can they do that? Where do I get started?" Have you ever hired someone in the Philippines? "No" (in my brain) HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!?! And yet, I know it's my fault! I haven't done a good enough job of convincing you that you can find amazing, hard working, talented, loyal, honest people. So I have 2 questions: 1. What's preventing you from hiring your first OFS? Why haven't you taken the leap yet? 2. If you have hired someone, and are struggling with something, what are you struggling with? Simply REPLY (yes, it comes to me). I want to know what's holding you back. Then I want to give you what you need to move forward. John |
First, let me start with what NOT to tell your friends. Don't tell them the name of your OFS...unless you want your OFS to get another job. People are lazy. Nobody wants to do the work of finding an OFS. If you go raving about your OFS to your friends and then you tell them the name of your OFS, they're going to go look them up on FB and offer them a job. I've had it happen to me. Fortunately for you, Filipinos are super loyal, so even if they take a job with your friend they're not going to quit working for you. But...offering a second job to your OFS is never great. So don't tell names. So what DO you say? Rant. Rave. Tell them what they do for you. Tell them about specific tasks they're doing and how good they are. Tell them about the time they're saving you. Tell them where to find an OFS: <a href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OnlineJobs.ph</a> Tell them about help finding a great OFS: <a href="https://www.OneVAAway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OneVAAway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a> <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/affiliate-access" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/affiliate-access">Join the affiliate program for OneVAAway.com</a> and give them your affiliate link. We pay out a 90% commission. No, that's not a typo. 90% I didn't create <a href="https://www.OneVAAway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OneVAAway.com?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a> to make money. I created it to get the word out. OFS are amazing. You know it. I know it. Your friends don't know it... Yet. John PS. You already have an affiliate link for OnlineJobs.ph. It's in your OnlineJobs.ph account. Just login and scroll down. It's in green. 40% recurring commission. |
After last week's email about <a href="/my-ofs-only-takes-paypal-but-i-want-to-pay-through-bank-transfer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/my-ofs-only-takes-paypal-but-i-want-to-pay-through-bank-transfer/">banking in the Philippines</a>, I got comments on social media about how others handle payments. The great thing about these comments is they came from guys who have been outsourcing for years, so they know what they’re talking about. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d14c145f-fc20-9592-6f57-21d917508882.jpg" width="489" height="197" data-file-id="474508" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/d14c145f-fc20-9592-6f57-21d917508882.jpg" /> Reading these comments, I know some of you might feel overwhelmed by choice. Which system is best for paying your OFS? PayPal, EasyPay, Wise, Remitly? Short answer: IT DOESN'T MATTER You can pay them through whatever system works best for you. It won’t matter much to your OFS because their online banking and e-wallet apps (Gcash, PayMaya, and bank apps) will allow them to receive whatever payment system you use. For e-wallets that allow direct-to-bank transfers (such as Gusto, Remitly, and Wise), they can easily create a bank account online to receive the payment. No need to overcomplicate things. For those of you looking for a slightly more complicated answer. For newly hired Filipino workers, use a payment system like EasyPay, Paypal, or Wise. As mentioned in my <a href="/my-ofs-only-takes-paypal-but-i-want-to-pay-through-bank-transfer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/my-ofs-only-takes-paypal-but-i-want-to-pay-through-bank-transfer/">previous newsletter</a>, Filipino workers have learned to avoid direct bank transfers because that’s how they’re usually scammed. Also, <a href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph/easypay" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OnlineJobs.ph/easypay">EasyPay</a>, Paypal, Wise, and Remitly can send money directly to Gcash. This makes it easier for your worker to get their money quickly. Once trust is established for you and your OFS, you can pay them through whatever system works best for you. Again, not that complicated. I just want to clarify something about the previous email. Gusto is just another e-wallet system designed specifically as a payroll system. The only difference between Gusto and the other systems is that Gusto sends the money directly to their bank account. Gusto also requires that you have a “domestic contractor” added to your Gusto payroll before you can add an international contractor. So to those just starting out and looking for an OFS for their first “employee,” that may not be an option for you. John PS. I mentioned Paypal here a few times because it's easy. Especially if it's your first time paying someone. But it's also crappy for them for receiving salary month after month. Paypal's exchange rate is so much lower than EasyPay or Wise that the amount they receive is significantly different. |
I’m sorry that this email is really late. I was out for an entire week and didn’t have internet. So I just found out about Typhoon Karding and how devastating it was when I got back. With it happening around the same time as Hurricane Ian, last week was a pretty bad week for the Filipinos and business owners affected by these natural disasters. Karding was a really strong storm that affected a big part of Central Luzon (check out my post about the <a href="/philippine-geography-basics-luzon-visayas-and-mindanao/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/philippine-geography-basics-luzon-visayas-and-mindanao/">basics of Philippine geography</a> to know where that is). It destroyed thousands of homes and caused millions of pesos in damage. It was so bad that five rescuers died while they were saving people. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7bbe9147-3721-32f5-cf95-eab754459a82.jpg" width="480" height="470" data-file-id="474524" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/7bbe9147-3721-32f5-cf95-eab754459a82.jpg" /> Here at home, Hurricane Ian caused power outages and flooding in Florida and Puerto Rico. People losing their homes and their livelihoods. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1fb069e7-eeb3-169d-0423-0a903363ebf4.jpg" width="480" height="204" data-file-id="474528" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1fb069e7-eeb3-169d-0423-0a903363ebf4.jpg" /> I know it seems bleak, but this is one of those times when the best of humanity shines. Let’s just help each other. Help your neighbors. Help your friends. Help your Filipino team. When we help each other, that’s how we can get through anything. John |
I got this really interesting email from Jared after I sent out the disaster-proofing email. Can you provide more details on your emergency fund? How is it set up? how they 'apply' for it? I also heard of some employers providing generators or other means of backup. is this something you tell them you'll reimburse them and they provide receipts? My OFS has 2 ISPs, but can they get more? Things are going great, but sometimes it'll be silent for half a day and I'm not sure if there is some service interruption or personal emergency or just checked out without telling me. WOuld love to hear more on these topics or point me to any articles if you've covered it in the past. I'll try to answer all of his questions here. Can you provide more details on your emergency fund? How is it set up? How do they 'apply' for it? The emergency fund is just an account I’ve set aside if they need to borrow money quickly. If there’s an emergency, my OFS will email me to ask to borrow a certain amount and tell me why they need it. They would also tell me how they plan to pay it back in that email. Like last year when one of my OFS borrowed $600 (one month’s salary) to help pay for their parent’s funeral expenses. He asked to take $100 away from his monthly salary until the $600 was paid off. Sometimes, we don’t ask them to pay it back if it’s a serious emergency. Like when <a href="/my-ofs-living-in-cebu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of my developers lost their home in Cebu</a>. I knew it was bad because I saw it in the news, my team in the Philippines was talking about it, and I knew they were directly affected by it. My business partner, Dan, and I saw that he really needed it, so we sent him some money as soon as possible. He didn’t ask for help, and we didn’t wait for him to ask. We also told him he didn’t need to pay us back because I knew it would be a long recovery process. I also heard of some employers providing generators or other means of backup. Is this something you tell them you'll reimburse them and they provide receipts? My OFS has 2 ISPs, but can they get more? A generator is something that we have considered before but my team has never asked for it. You can consider it, but blackouts in the Philippines are less of a problem now than they were a few years ago. Regarding having your OFS get another ISP, that is a good idea BUT it would depend on where they live. Some areas in the Philippines have access to only one ISP provider; some have access to all four. I wrote about the different ISP here: <a href="/what-internet-options-exist-in-the-philippines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/what-internet-options-exist-in-the-philippines/">/what-internet-options-exist-in-the-philippines/</a> If they have access to good mobile internet (and they can work using that), giving them an internet data allowance can be an option. My OFS (Jam) told me that when they’re having issues with their primary ISP, he has a prepaid internet account that he just reloads when needed. Sometimes it'll be silent for half a day and I'm not sure if there is some service interruption or personal emergency or just checked out without telling me. - Service interruption or personal emergency. This is possible. One way to get around that is to give them many ways to reach you. My team has email, Basecamp, and Slack. They can also contact each other. In case they don’t have internet, they can text their teammates. My project manager has my number, so even if they can’t contact me directly, they can reach out to Joven and relay that information to me. Either way, a few hours or half a day just isn't uncommon. - They checked out. When I sense that this is the case, this is what I do: <a href="/my-filipino-worker-just-disappeared/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/my-filipino-worker-just-disappeared/">/my-filipino-worker-just-disappeared/</a> John PS. Backpacking in Glacier National Park last week and we had a small glacier right next to our camp site. We went inside! <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/430ee5c2-5eea-ec3f-07b3-021c8f1643dd.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474536" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/430ee5c2-5eea-ec3f-07b3-021c8f1643dd.jpg" /> <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e2eeac58-5f8c-6d65-3d02-a3984c617d16.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474540" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e2eeac58-5f8c-6d65-3d02-a3984c617d16.jpg" /> |
One of the benefits you COULD give to your OFS which I mention in my emails, videos, and blog posts is the Pag-IBIG fund. The Pag-IBIG fund, also known as the Home Development Mutual Fund, is a government-owned and controlled corporation mandated to help Filipinos get affordable home financing and set up a savings fund. Filipinos who want to buy their own homes contribute to this fund because it offers lower rates, longer payment periods, and access to their catalog of houses from people who defaulted on their loans. You don’t need to be a Pag-IBIG member to buy a home. Some residential property developers don’t even accept financing through Pag-IBIG. But, many Filipinos still contribute to the fund because the fund also offers home improvement loans, short-term loans, and a savings fund that offers a higher interest rate than banks. Being a Pag-IBIG member also entitles you to have a Pag-IBIG ID that you can present as a government-issued ID. They can also use that ID as a discount card for a lot of places like restaurants, salons, grocery stores, etc. That same ID is also an ATM card where the loaned amount is deposited and can be used as a personal bank account**. **While the banks that issue these ID/ATMs are connected to SWIFT, we CANNOT confirm as of this time if they accept SWIFT transfers to these accounts. How much does a Pag-IBIG contribution cost? The minimum required contribution is around Php 100 (USD ~$2) per month. Philippine companies are required by law to remit this contribution with an additional Php 100 employer’s share per employee to Pag-IBIG as a benefit. That's a total of USD ~$4/month. If the worker wants to contribute more, they would do it on their own. Like with all benefits I talk about, this is optional. You don't have to pay it. I didn't pay it for years after having VAs and OFS work for me. But, it's also a super simple and affordable benefit to give. How? Just tell them you want them to contribute to Pag-IBIG. Tell them how much. Then add that to their salary and ask them to provide you a receipt of their contribution. That's it. John PS. It's fall, and in my mountains the fall colors are out. It's beautiful! Yesterday I rode ~38 miles with 4000ft of elevation in my local mountains. I just can't help but keep riding because of the colors. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/dbbbf36a-ce56-6b9e-6a7f-09c975925f15.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474544" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/dbbbf36a-ce56-6b9e-6a7f-09c975925f15.jpg" /> |
I found this comment on my benefits newsletter from Jacqui Hi there, I went back and re-discovered this blog post because I want to offer my OFS healthcare. My OFS is expecting twins in March next year and I would like to provide her with the best (but most affordable/good value) that there is out there. I don’t have a big agency so it will be a very large commitment for me, but Lea has been exceptional in the time we’ve worked together. I sent the email to my OFS (online Filipino Specialist), Jamie, and this is her answer: ---------- Regarding finding the best healthcare for Jacqui's OFS, it would depend on: 1. where she lives 2. what hospital/doctors she has access to. Jacqui will need her OFS's help with this as she will be the one who'll be benefiting from it. I suggest that Jacqui instructs her OFS to ask her doctor and the hospital administration what health insurance providers they're currently accepting. The OFS can then go to this website: <a href="https://www.mariahealth.ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.mariahealth.ph/">https://www.mariahealth.ph/</a>, ( a directory for all the health insurance providers in the Philippines) search for the health insurance providers, find the plans available, and show you the ones that best suit her needs AND your budget. The OFS can also download this guide to help them figure out which plan(s) would best suit their needs: <a href="https://www.mariahealth.ph/contact_us/?reason=health-basics-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.mariahealth.ph/contact_us/?reason=health-basics-guide">https://www.mariahealth.ph/contact_us/?reason=health-basics-guide</a> Regarding the cost, the cheapest we found around that time would cost around $150 a year, but we're not sure if it would cover maternity expenses. But for more information about overall cost, John wrote about that here: <a href="https://www.mariahealth.ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.mariahealth.ph/">/whats-the-ballpark-cost-for-ofs-benefits/</a> I think the best option for the OFS (and Jacqui, the employer) , given how close her due date is, would be to make sure that the OFS is up to date with her SSS and Philhealth benefits (if she has them). SSS covers maternity benefits (2 and 1/2 month's salary) if she's paid at least 3 contributions. <a href="/the-sss-benefit-for-your-ofs-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/the-sss-benefit-for-your-ofs-explained/">/the-sss-benefit-for-your-ofs-explained/</a> <a href="/what-can-your-ofs-get-with-their-sss/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/what-can-your-ofs-get-with-their-sss/">/what-can-your-ofs-get-with-their-sss/</a> Philhealth covers hospitalization for the mother and the baby if she has paid at least 9 contributions <a href="https://ph.theasianparent.com/philhealth-maternity-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://ph.theasianparent.com/philhealth-maternity-benefits">https://ph.theasianparent.com/philhealth-maternity-benefits</a> <a href="/philhealth-vs-health-insurance-whats-the-difference/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/philhealth-vs-health-insurance-whats-the-difference/">/philhealth-vs-health-insurance-whats-the-difference/</a> Health insurance could take weeks to process and might not offer maternity benefits immediately after signing up. The OFS can sign up for SSS and PhilHealth within the week and catch up on her contributions within the year. She'll be able to avail of them by the time she gives birth. ----------------- Jamie (my OFS) is so smart! John |
Here's a fun piece of Philippines culture. What comes to mind when most people talk about convenience stores are places like 7-11. They have 7-11s in the Philippines too, but the purest version of a convenience store looks nothing like a 7-11. In the Philippines, a convenience store is a sari-sari store. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/87e6ca9d-4c49-eb0d-cdac-5776dcdd0478.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474516" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/87e6ca9d-4c49-eb0d-cdac-5776dcdd0478.jpg" /> The store gets its name from the Tagalog word sari-sari, which means "variety" or "sundry". You can buy anything in a sari-sari store, from canned food to mobile data and everything in between, in small convenient packs. You also buy things per piece, like candy, gum, razor, and female hygiene products. Another reason a sari-sari store is more convenient than your typical 7-11 is that you’ll find a sari-sari store anywhere in the Philippines. Whether you’re staying in a crowded metropolis or a remote island, you can always count on the fact that there will always be sari-sari within a few blocks. You can find sari-sari stores everywhere in the Philippines because they’re so cheap and easy to set up. You don’t need a lot of capital to start, and most of what you need to sell can be bought in large groceries or big box stores. You don’t even need to build a store to have a sari-sari store. Just set a table in front of your house, display your items, and boom, you have a store. Sari-sari stores hold a lot of social and economic importance in Filipino culture. It’s where most people gather and get their basic needs like food, first aid, and even banking. It’s also something people can rely on when times are hard, thanks to its low prices and most store owners' willingness to let people buy on credit. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/384487c2-9f44-7722-1918-b82edd0254f6.jpg" width="480" height="320" data-file-id="474520" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/384487c2-9f44-7722-1918-b82edd0254f6.jpg" /> The sari-sari store is also the most common type of business in the Philippines. Sari-sari stores account for 70% of sales of manufactured consumer food products. It also contributes Php 1.3 trillion to the Philippine GDP. Many successful business owners in the Philippines learned how to run a business by opening a sari-sari store. Technically, you’re supposed to register your sari-sari store as a business with the government. Still, they often tolerate unregistered sari-sari stores because they contribute greatly to the local economy. A successful sari-sari store can encourage competition from neighbors to build their own stores, or they can build other businesses that complement the store, like barbershops or food stalls. In some cases, it can even transform the neighborhood into a commercial area, forcing the existing businesses to register and pay taxes to the local government. This isn't unique to Philippines culture, but it's different than most places in the USA. John |
Next Monday (Oct 31) is my second most dreaded day of the year: Halloween. The worst day of the year of course is April 15. Tax day. But this isn't about Halloween, it's about All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, two Philippines holidays coming up next week. November 1 (All Saints’ Day) is a special non-working holiday. November 2 (All Souls’ Day) is a special working holiday in the Philippines. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e5b75761-1c27-eaca-d58c-f25285b6bb64.jpg" width="480" height="317" data-file-id="474552" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e5b75761-1c27-eaca-d58c-f25285b6bb64.jpg" /> I know the special holiday thing in the Philippines is kind of confusing. They got rid of the special non-working holiday for the 2023 calendar, but it’s still in the 2022 calendar. Just think of special holidays as school holidays to make things easier to remember. All Saints and All Souls (collectively referred to as Undasin Filipino) are the days when Filipinos honor their dead loved ones by going to the cemetery. Most schools schedule a break around this time, so students and teachers can participate in the tradition. I talked about this in greater detail in this blog post: <a href="/upcoming-all-saints-and-all-souls-day-holidays/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/upcoming-all-saints-and-all-souls-day-holidays/">/upcoming-all-saints-and-all-souls-day-holidays/</a> This year, travel restrictions have been lifted. This means most Filipinos, including your OFS, might ask to take a leave of absence on these days. With November 1 being a Tuesday, they might ask to also take their leave on October 31, which falls on a Monday. That way, they have a four-day weekend to join the tradition. **Update: A few days after we wrote this newsletter, the Philippine government just declared October 31 as a special holiday. They decided to add this as a holiday because they knew people will ask to take a leave on that day anyway. <a href="https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186390" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186390">https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186390</a> Whether you approve of this leave or not, it’s up to you. Only November 1 is recognized by the Philippine government as a special non-working holiday. But if you can afford to give them days off around this time, they’ll really appreciate it. Part of the All Saints and All Souls Day tradition is caring for the graves of their loved ones. They clean up the gravestones and do some light gardening. The pandemic has put this tradition on hold for two years, and I’m sure many of them are eager to do this for their loved ones again. I wish we celebrated Halloween like Filipinos celebrate All Saints' Day. Honoring the dead is so much better than begging for candy. John |
Last time I asked about how I don't like Halloween. What I do like is Thanksgiving -> New Years. Everyone is nicer. People are giving. The world is a more enjoyable place when people are looking to help each other. I know it's still October, but let's talk about the holiday period. My business partner, Dan, and I let our team take paid time off over the holidays and unlimited leave because our business doesn’t have a lot of time-sensitive tasks. This system works for us, but I know a LOT of businesses where this won’t work at all. I know the holidays are some of the busiest times for dropshipping, e-commerce, and freight businesses. Some of you might have hired seasonal workers to cover that extra work. In the Philippines, <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=lcvk4qcjgj299mlqs7b02b7pmk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia%2FManila">most holidays are at the end of the year</a>. Starting at the end of November, there’s a holiday practically every week. Because of that, most of your Filipino workers might ask to take their days off during this time, which makes this problematic, especially if this is the time you need them the most. So, what can you do to ensure that your business is covered even during the holidays? Here are some things you can do: 1. You can create a “leave” calendar where you mark the days they CAN’T take their leave. Let your OFS know they can take their leave on any other day except those days. Make sure to label the calendar with the correct time zone to avoid missed work schedules. 2. One thing that call centers do in the Philippines is alternate holiday scheduling. Half the team can take Christmas eve and Christmas off. The other half can take their New Year’s Eve and New Year off. It’s not a perfect solution, but it ensures that you have people working and your team can still enjoy the holidays. 3. For our customer support team, we offer half shifts during the holidays. Instead of 8 hours, they only need to do 4 hours on those days. We usually have two people per 8-hour shift, so they talk amongst themselves about what hours they would cover. This way, there’s always someone online for email support. 4. Our dev team and site administrator don't work on any new projects during the holidays but are on call and monitoring to ensure that the websites are working properly. There are no rules or standard practices here. It's whatever you want to do with your business. Just because we give everyone Dec 24 - Jan 2 off doesn't mean you need to. Do you have other ways of covering holiday shifts with your OFS? Let me know by emailing me at [email protected]. John |
I got this really good question from Debbie about pay raises Hi John, I’m about to do a review with my assistant who has been working for me for 4 months, and would like to reward her work with a pay rise. She still has quite a bit to learn in her role so I want to do it in a way that’s sustainable I don’t want to create unrealistic pay levels that my business may not be able to sustain going forward as her knowledge (and pay) levels increase, as I’d like to keep her as a long term team member. She is part-time (20 hours/week) by her choice, which suits me perfectly at the moment. Is it more beneficial to her to offer to pay her SSS or PhilHealth instead of a weekly pay increase, then do a pay increase at a later review point? Or some other combination? We don’t really have a formula for pay raises. We don’t tell our team how much they can expect for their pay raise. We give raises yearly, but the amount depends on their performance. The amount is also determined by what we feel is sustainable. My OFS team doesn’t know how much of a raise they’ll be getting every year, but they know that they can expect a raise if they perform well. Here are my general thoughts and how I've done raises over the years. - As a standard we give a $25-$50 per month raise each year. - If someone is amazing, we give a $100-$200 per month raise that year. - Sometimes, we start someone lower than what they'd like to be paid. After 3-4 months, if they're good and helping the business grow, we'll put them closer to what they asked for in the beginning. - One time I doubled someone's salary because they were so amazing. - This year, we'll consider inflation. - This year, we'll also consider that USD is super strong so they've already gotten a 15% pay raise throughout the year just with the exchange rate (because we pay almost everyone a set USD amount and the Peso went from 50:1 to 58:1 this year). - We won't use the strong USD as the pay raise. At some point, USD will decline. Then they're taking a pay cut. Regarding benefits, that is something that you can put off until you can afford to give it regularly. Here at <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">Onlinejobs.ph</a>, it took us years before we started offering any sort of benefits. We waited until the business was profitable enough, and we didn’t offer all the benefits at once. We just kept adding them when we were able to afford them. We'll be releasing a complete guide to benefits soon. But I also talk about other things like management and work culture in my free book, <a href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.outsourcinglever.com/freebook?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">The Outsourcing Lever</a>. John |
I’m proud that when there’s a disaster, my team will come together and offer to help right away. When the pandemic started, my team donated and distributed groceries to people who couldn’t leave their homes, mainly seniors and families with babies. They started this project on their own, with their own money. When we saw in the news how dire the situation was in the early days of the pandemic, we sent them funds so they could help more people. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0eee7306-0738-3943-5573-208b9ecbda68.jpg" width="480" height="387" data-file-id="474564" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/0eee7306-0738-3943-5573-208b9ecbda68.jpg" /> But even before that and until now, there’s this sense of camaraderie. They check on each other. They send help to one another and help other people. Some volunteer regularly. I even have <a href="/my-ofs-second-job-volunteer-firefighter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/my-ofs-second-job-volunteer-firefighter/">an OFS who is a volunteer firefighter</a>. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1e2ea075-69fa-d516-70b4-2a7e5dce5c3e.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474560" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/1e2ea075-69fa-d516-70b4-2a7e5dce5c3e.jpg" /> I think this happens because when you help people together, it creates a bond. It strengthens your work relationship. This is not unique to my OFS (Online Filipino Specialist) team. Steven also noticed this when 4 of his OFS were affected by Typhoon Karding. When Karding hit 4 of my 100+ people were affected. So after collecting information on how bad the damages were for each, I sent out a form to all employees. We ask them to donate whatever they would like to help these people out. I front their donations and let them pay it back as deductions from their weekly salary. Often I give them a few different options for that, so they don't have too much of an impact on their daily and weekly expenses. Typically I also match the total donation we as a company raised. This really solidifies our "family" culture and makes people feel good that they were able to help others in need. We have done this for multiple disasters, funerals, etc. Basically, whenever people are in serious need. Disasters are horrible. But the silver lining to this is it does bring people together. When you help your OFS in times of need, it shows them that you care. When the time comes that you’re the one who needs a lot of help, you can count on your team too. John |
I sometimes get comments from people about how much turnover there is in the Philippines. The TLDR of my response is, “turnover is a management issue.” I know that answer is hard for a lot of people to hear. Nobody likes to be told they’re horrible managers. I know that most of us don’t get into outsourcing to be bad bosses. But sometimes, it’s easy to forget to be nice when you don’t see the people you’re working with face-to-face. When we’re so focused on productivity and milestones and getting things done, we forget that the people doing the work aren’t perfect. Sometimes they make mistakes. My OFS (Online Filipino Specialist), Jamie, found this in the Facebook group we manage for jobseekers. This explains perfectly why I think turnover is a management problem AND what you can do to be a better manager. “Hello everyone. I would like to ask your insights and also to seek out more advice. I am thinking to drop my work(full time) that pays me 25-30k/month but my mental health is at risk. It triggers my anxiety. My client doesn't have empathy. She doesn't accept her mistakes and worst she will pass the blame on me. She actually maltreated me. This is pureely based on what I have experienced. I have a second work (part time) that pays me 16-17k per month. I am enjoying my work, my client is very clear with his instructions, the culture of my work is great. He knows how to appreciate my work. I am still confused on what should be my decision since I'm almost the breadwinner of my family, and also the inflation right now is crazy. I also think of the ways if I will drop my first work with high pay, I will continue to upskill, apply again and again.” It’s not that hard to be a good manager. The OFS who wrote this just listed down all you need to do: - Create a good working relationship (you do this by building trust with your OFS) - Give clear instructions (an easy way to do this is to use screen recordings) - Show appreciation (a thank you email or a small bonus goes a long way). Another way you can be a great boss is to <a href="/how-to-easily-provide-training-to-your-ofs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/how-to-easily-provide-training-to-your-ofs/">give your Filipino worker on-the-job training</a>. You don't need to make that training yourself. You can buy the training you need at <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a> and give that training to your OFS. John |
At <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">Onlinejobs.ph</a>, we strongly advocate for Filipinos only to have one full-time job. But I know that there are a lot of jobseekers who have multiple jobs on the site. It’s usually one of these scenarios. 1. They’re not making enough money from their part-time job. That’s why they’re looking for more part-time work. 2. They’re not making enough money from their full-time job. Most of these workers would say they’re only available for part-time work. If you want to know what a good starting salary would be for your OFS, check out our salary guide: <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/filipino-virtual-assistants-salary-guid" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/filipino-virtual-assistants-salary-guid">https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/filipino-virtual-assistants-salary-guid</a>e 3. Newbie Filipino workers underestimate how much work it takes to maintain a full-time job. They keep applying for jobs and eventually get overwhelmed by the amount of work. 4. They're maintaining and doing work for multiple clients. In my opinion, #1 and #2 are circumstances you can work with. It is hard to live on a part-time salary. If you’re hiring someone part-time, it’s almost impossible to expect them to work for you exclusively. I think an OFS having a couple of part-time jobs is okay as long as they manage their time, they deliver on their work, and they don’t overwhelm themselves. Issue #3 is usually a result of the cheap or free “VA Training” that’s proliferating in the Philippines right now. It preys on desperate Filipino job seekers and creates unrealistic expectations about online work. That’s why I created <a href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vasmadeeasy.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">VAsMadeEasy.com</a>. It shows your OFS what the work would really be like. It has the added benefit of building trust because the training comes from you. With #4, the best way to figure this out when hiring is to ask in a neutral way. "What other jobs do you currently have? Or, what other clients do you have? What do you do for them?" With that type of question, maybe you're hoping they're doing other work for people? Maybe you're not? It's better if they're honest. If you suspect your OFS has taken on another job after you hired them, talk to them about it. Ask. Ask why. You might find they just need more money to live. Or the work you're giving them isn't filling their time. Filipinos will want to work for you if you create a great working environment. Your OFS will want to stay. John |
I want to share this email from Danielle because I know many of you might be having this issue too. I’ve had my OFS for 10 months and it’s great :) However, I need a little advice. Sometimes grammar or wording can be an issue. Some of her tasks include writing social posts, newsletter drafts and email drafts.…We have tried using grammarly and even had an AI (Jasper subscription) but I’ve noticed it still misses many simple errors.… I want to keep my OFS for a long time and want to invest in her English abilities in writing in particular. What kind of solutions have worked for you and your team? Thank you,Danielle First, I asked my team how to improve English. They gave me nothing. Like, they didn't have anything to say about learning to speak better English. They only had tools and processes to talk about. Here's our experience: Grammarly is a good tool for checking grammar and spelling mistakes. We use it regularly. When I sent this email to my OFS, 2 of them said "Grammarly is really helpful to me in my writing." I also edit and explain to my OFS what’s wrong with their writing on occasion. I did this a lot when I first outsourced writing. But I eventually realized that when I do all the editing, it creates a bottleneck. It becomes my responsibility to spot the mistakes that just doesn’t work for me. It makes it so I have to oversee everything, which I don't want to do. I know my OFS can do better. They have the tools. When the blog post or the caption comes to me, it should be perfect or close to perfect. So we changed some things in our process. Before the output gets to me, it must go through at least two pairs of eyes, checking for spelling, grammar, and content. We adjusted deadlines, so the writer has time to go through what they wrote. This is something they told me has helped them improve. Giving them time to re-read and edit their work. They run it through Grammarly before it reaches the editor. The editor reads through it and makes (or tells the writer to make) changes or corrections. Last, it goes through our QA guys to ensure it’s on brand, the links work, etc. In Danielle’s case, if she only has one OFS this process will be hard to implement. But I think giving your OFS time to edit their work will greatly improve their work and your process. It’s your OFS's responsibility to deliver the best output possible. Provide feedback and point out the mistakes. But make it her responsibility to fix those mistakes. Now...what I think Danielle was actually after...I don't really have an answer to: "How do they improve their English" My thoughts are just your thoughts. Ask them to read English books. Ask them to watch TV in English, not dubbed in Tagalish. Pay them to do these things. I don't really have a better answer. John |
Check this out. It made me cry. EJ replied to my All Saints and All Soul’s newsletter because, like me, he appreciated how Filipinos celebrate these holidays. As we talked, it turns out he also gives his OFS team <a href="/2023-philippine-holiday-calendar-now-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/2023-philippine-holiday-calendar-now-online/">holidays off</a> and <a href="/whats-the-ballpa…for-ofs-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/whats-the-ballpa…for-ofs-benefits/">benefits like SSS</a>. In his words, “They all made sense to me and are not very expensive to do. It blew their minds. I'm happy to be able to do it for them.” We take these things for granted here in the US, but in the Philippines, it’s life-changing. Benefits mean you don’t have to worry about getting sick or pregnant. Having holidays off means, you can afford to relax and spend time with your family. When a Filipino worker finds a job that offers these things, they’re happy. They’re content. Even when they’re having problems, they won’t say anything because they’re just thankful they have a great job. This is exactly what happened to one of EJ’s OFS (Alvie). Her computer broke down, and she just kept working. He wouldn’t have noticed anything was wrong until one of his other OFS told him about it. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/93b0736b-8127-3f65-4ab7-d9e6cf12d7c9.jpg" width="480" height="352" data-file-id="474572" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/93b0736b-8127-3f65-4ab7-d9e6cf12d7c9.jpg" /> “This was her old desk top. It looks like a power surge damaged it. But it was very old anyway and she was always having problems. She never told me she had an old computer. It was my lead VA that told me and said she was too shy to say anything. So I decided it would be beneficial to both of us to get her a much better computer. Her laptop is better than mine now. LOL. “ He sent her money to buy a new computer, and the look on her face is just priceless. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/05cd2a3d-90dd-91f1-f681-b77d555318b6.jpg" width="480" height="402" data-file-id="474592" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/05cd2a3d-90dd-91f1-f681-b77d555318b6.jpg" /> For most of us, buying a new phone or computer isn’t a big deal. But for many Filipinos, it can be a rare and special occasion. That’s why, you can see in the photos Alvie even brought along her family, and she was in tears when she finally got her laptop. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/fb84c300-3f1b-dd5d-1e6b-3f07812fe628.jpeg" width="480" height="216" data-file-id="474580" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/fb84c300-3f1b-dd5d-1e6b-3f07812fe628.jpeg" /> It’s the start of a brighter future for her entire family. Yes, you'll change your life when you hire someone. But you'll also change theirs. John |
At this time of Thanksgiving (in the US) I'm thankful for the flexibility my OFS provide me. In our house it's a time of puzzles and Legos and being together. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bf48256c-6166-63ca-f011-b4d9894fcefc.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474604" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/bf48256c-6166-63ca-f011-b4d9894fcefc.jpg" /> I hope your OFS provide you this flexibility too. I got an email about being flexible recently from a long time subscriber: One of my valued OFS sent me a formal resignation letter a few months ago, out of left field! He had to suddenly take over his family business, even though he didn't like the business and he loved working for me. I wasn't ready to lose him, because he is fantastic at his job, and great at communicating! So here's what I wrote to him: “This is very sad news! Is there any chance we can hop on a Zoom call? I'd like to propose some flexible part-time options and I am also open to suggestions. If you don't just don't have any bandwidth, at the very least it would be nice to chat one more time in person (kind of, with Zoom, I guess).” I think he might not have considered that part-time would be an option. Also, he was pretty overwhelmed with his new situation and he was worried about letting me down. Anyhow -- it turned out great! He was very excited to work part-time and we were back on track within a few days. He has been his usual superstar self ever since. He gets so much work done, at such high quality, less hours are not an issue to me. (I probably have more room for flexibility than some employers, since my team has always worked their preferred hours, Monday to Friday.) I experienced something similar years back when one of my developers got this super lucrative job offer in Singapore. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, not just for him but for his entire family. He wanted to take it because it meant better schools for his kids and a chance for his wife to pursue higher education. But he was really reluctant to take it because he had been working for me for years and he loved his job. So he emailed me, explained the situation, and asked if he could keep working part-time. He didn’t ask for a pay raise. Didn’t use the job as leverage. All he asked was the same hourly rate and the opportunity to keep working. I was flexible and kept him. It was great for me. Flexibility can often prevent turnover. John |
My kids are pretty entrepreneurial (at least some of them are). They run a pretty successful local business. They make more than their teachers make. They've also invented all kinds of contracts. Contracts buyers sign. Contracts anyone working for the business sign. If only they weren't so messy and didn't leave their piles of contracts on my workbench! <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ea82d72c-ff82-53b6-6bbb-f56cb3d45cdf.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474596" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ea82d72c-ff82-53b6-6bbb-f56cb3d45cdf.jpg" /> People ask me all the time for an NDA they can use with their OFS. Along with this they ask "Can you enforce an NDA?" The short answer is no. Any contract that involves people outside of US jurisdiction can be hard or impossible to enforce. That includes an NDA or a non-disclosure agreement. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still have an NDA if you want your OFS to sign one. Nor should it put you off from hiring an OFS. If your business has proprietary information, getting your OFS to sign an NDA would be a good idea, even if the NDA isn’t easily enforceable in the Philippines. For your OFS, signing an NDA means a lot to them because of their culture. The Philippines has a very high power-distance index (<a href="/why-your-ofs-sometimes-work-mindlessly-power-distance-index/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/why-your-ofs-sometimes-work-mindlessly-power-distance-index/">/why-your-ofs-sometimes-work-mindlessly-power-distance-index/</a>). They respect authority and contracts with their authority figures. Signing a contract means they’re giving you their word that they will abide by that agreement and they will do whatever it takes to keep that contract. Enforcing is difficult, but just signing the NDA will likely have the effect you want. Also, enforcing a contract in the Philippines is difficult but not impossible. If you hired your OFS through Onlinejobs.ph and there’s proof that they broke the contract, you can contact us for mediation. If they stole information (which is rare), you could contact the Philippines’ Department of Justice. Theft of information counts as a cybercrime that falls under their jurisdiction. We can't give legal advice, but you can pretty easily hire a lawyer in the Philippines from OnlineJobs.ph. You could use them to draft a contract that’s enforceable in the Philippines while following how the law is interpreted in your country. Or use them in prosecuting if someone breaks the contract. Or we have contracts available here: <a href="http://www.OnlineJobs.ph/hiringdocs" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.OnlineJobs.ph/hiringdocs">www.OnlineJobs.ph/hiringdocs</a> John |
I like to keep things simple. Simple = efficiency. I try to do this in all aspects of my life. If you've watched any of my videos you'll notice I only wear single color t-shirts. No logos. Nothing fancy (except for my one green/gray striped shirt...that's my "fun" shirt). <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f1e94267-cf5b-c926-4d13-6b6caa4040d8.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474600" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/f1e94267-cf5b-c926-4d13-6b6caa4040d8.jpg" /> They're all the same style, same brand, same length. It's my way of keeping my clothes simple. Efficiency. Simplicity is especially important when you're just starting with anything, including hiring an OFS. I know some of you have looked at my newsletters, my book, my videos, etc. At first glance, it seems complicated. <a href="/your-ofs-and-taxes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/your-ofs-and-taxes/">Taxes</a>, <a href="/is-your-online-filipino-specialist-an-employee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/is-your-online-filipino-specialist-an-employee/">Employee vs contract worker</a>, <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/holidays-and-pto" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/holidays-and-pto">PTO</a>, <a href="/2023-philippine-holiday-calendar-now-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/2023-philippine-holiday-calendar-now-online/">holidays</a>, <a href="/5-benefits-you-might-pay-for-your-ofs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/5-benefits-you-might-pay-for-your-ofs/">benefits</a>, <a href="/paying-hourly-vs-salary-its-a-commitment-thing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/paying-hourly-vs-salary-its-a-commitment-thing/">hourly vs salary</a>... But the more you pay attention, it gets simpler. Here's the thing, if you focus on every little thing that can go wrong without even trying to hire a Filipino worker, you'll never do it. The safest thing to do, to avoid making mistakes, would be to do nothing. This also means that nothing changes. You're always going to be too busy. You're always going to be overwhelmed. You're always going to have so much to do. Now's the time to take the leap. Keep it simple. It doesn't have to be hard or complicated. That's what I aim to achieve with <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway</a>. It's my step by step way of cutting the complexity from hiring to make it simple for you. Are you going to make mistakes? Maybe. You can do better. At least attempting to hire someone brings progress. And it brings progress towards simplifying your life. John |
I recently stumbled upon this blog post by one of our customers, Ziv Raviv, the CEO, and founder of Kivi Media & Daily Cookie. <a href="https://dailycookie.co/get-faster-results-for-your-business-with-an-ofs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://dailycookie.co/get-faster-results-for-your-business-with-an-ofs/">https://dailycookie.co/get-faster-results-for-your-business-with-an-ofs/</a> I’m really happy about the endorsement but what I love about this blog post is he also shares his process for hiring and interviewing his own OFS (Online Filipino Specialist) team. I like learning new things and posts like this help make hiring better for everyone. This is the ideal result, what I want to see after people learn how to hire an OFS. I want them to take what they learned, adapt it to suit their business and management style, and share it with the world so people can learn about it. What I teach at <a href="https://www.OneVAAway.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.OneVAAway.com">OneVAAway.com</a> is your foundation. It’s what will give you the confidence to hire an amazing OFS. But if you modify it to make it better and more efficient for you, go for it! For me, what matters most is that you hire your first OFS and start changing your business today. What do you guys think of Ziv’s process? Do you have something similar or something better? Let me know! Email me at [email protected] John PS. I came across this while hiking with my wife the other day. I almost never use the word "cute"...but that's what came to my mind. Cute. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/050639eb-0d2c-c213-eae4-1b56ff0c1930.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474608" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/050639eb-0d2c-c213-eae4-1b56ff0c1930.jpg" /> |
If you have a team in the Philippines and they live close to each other, I’m willing to bet this is something they would do as a form of team building. My OFS Julia writes ------- The holidays are here! Now that the Philippines has reinstated face-to-face classes and work, Christmas party planning is back in full swing. In addition to family gifts, we exchange Christmas gifts with friends from work and school. We pick a name from a hat and get that person a gift. We always keep that name a secret until the Christmas party. But buying and getting presents isn’t fun enough. To make the practice even more fun for parties, we needed to add our spin. We call our gift-giving practice “Monito-Monita”. The word monito (or the feminine monita) refers to the person you have to buy a gift for. Monito-Monita is that moment during the Christmas party when you finally exchange gifts. But you can’t just approach your monito/monita and give them their present. You can’t exchange gifts at the same time. The gift exchange is done, one person at a time, while everybody sings a silly song. The song I’m most familiar with has these lyrics: I love my Monito (or Monita)Yes, I do!I love my Monito (or Monita)Yes, I do!I love my Monito (or Monita)Yes, I do!I love my Monito (or Monita)But I won’t tell you! The Monito-Monita is the highlight of a Christmas party and is usually done just before the party ends. I always found it odd that we have to sing this song when giving gifts because people will find out who my monito/monita anyway, even if I tell them. Anyway, to make Monito-Monita more playful (and have an excuse to get/buy more presents), sometimes we would get several mini gifts every week before the Christmas party and secretly give them to our monito/monita. The mini gifts would have to be cheap and follow a silly theme like “White Christmas” or “Something Green.” It’s like an Advent calendar that counts toward the Christmas party instead of Christmas. ------- I'm not a very good gift giver, but how about a gift for my subscribers. I'm looking for video testimonials about OFS and <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OnlineJobs.ph</a> If you've used OnlineJobs.ph to hire someone you love, send me a video testimonial. It can be a simple phone selfie style video. Just tell me how hiring an OFS has changed things for you. I probably won't give a free month's access to OnlineJobs.ph to every single video that comes in because some won't be usable for me, but most of them will get a free month of OnlineJobs.ph Premium to use whenever you're ready to hire. Reply with your video or with questions. John |
A few weeks ago, I talked about how <a href="/how-ej-is-changing-the-lives-of-his-ofs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/how-ej-is-changing-the-lives-of-his-ofs/">EJ helped his OFS get a new PC</a>. If your OFS is thinking of buying a computer (or you’re thinking of buying a computer for your OFS), we just updated our computer buying guide: <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/pc-buying-guide-for-virtual-assistants" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/pc-buying-guide-for-virtual-assistants">https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/pc-buying-guide-for-virtual-assistants</a> We started this guide around 2019. My OFS team pitched me the idea of writing this because November and December are usually the best months to buy a computer in the Philippines. They can get good rates on old inventory that stores want to get rid of, and stores offer big discounts and promotions because they know this is when the 13th-month pay starts coming in. To make sure that they get the right computer for the job and they get the best deal, send your Filipino team this guide. You might be tempted to buy your OFS a computer in the US, thinking it’s cheaper to buy one and just send it through courier. But we’d advise you against doing that for the following reasons: - Private couriers are expensive and might cost more than the computer itself. - Philippine postal is very slow (think several months of waiting with a barely functional parcel tracking system). - Risk of damage or loss during shipment. - Expensive customs fees for incoming parcels (even those marked as gifts). - Warranty may not be honored. - Theft...My team has told me "NO! Don't send it through the postal service, it will get stolen!" You can also use this guide as a reference if you'd like to know what kind of equipment your OFS should have to do their job. John |
Winter is in full swing for me in Utah. Here's what it looks like: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/63fa063f-801d-6fe0-def3-c3167297f2d3.jpg" width="221" height="480" data-file-id="474612" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/63fa063f-801d-6fe0-def3-c3167297f2d3.jpg" /> In the Philippines, it's the holiday season, which means it's time for you to pay your OFS the 13th month. If you don't know, here's a <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/13thmonth" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/13thmonth">full explanation of the 13th month</a>. If you already know about it and just want to know how to compute for it, the simplest method is to add all the money you've paid them through the year and divide by 12. Super simple. If you're going to include a Christmas bonus, now's a good time to send it. We sent both the 13th month and a Christmas bonus a week ago, but I forgot to remind you. John |
I get asked "How do OFS make phone calls to the US?" all the time! Recently, I got this email: Can you put out something on how to allow Filipino VA to make calls to the US and to answer calls from the US (without incurring calling fees ideally)? Jason To answer that question, the first thing you need to do is figure out why you need phone service to begin with. Do you need a phone service so your OFS can make and receive calls for you or just make calls? Do you want these calls to come from your number? Or do you need a phone service for your customer support or outbound cold-calling team? These questions are important because they will determine the phone service you’ll need. If you are looking to have your OFS make calls, there are simple services like Skype and Viber. Skype provides a very simple solution as it provides two services: <a href="https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/">Skype to Phone</a> and <a href="https://www.skype.com/en/features/online-number/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.skype.com/en/features/online-number/">Skype Number</a>. Skype to Phone allows a Skype account to call cellphone and landline numbers. For US-only subscriptions (calling US and US Territory numbers), it’s priced at $2.99 per month. There's also a North American subscription that can call US and Canadian numbers, as well as subscriptions for making calls to other countries (rates vary). Skype allows you to also get a local phone number, which can be set as the Caller ID number. Skype Number can also receive calls from regular phones. Skype Number has a separate fee from Skype to Phone. Viber has a cheap Viber Out feature that allows a Viber account to make calls. The downside is, unlike Skype, you cannot get a different number than the one registered. When making Viber Out calls, the call recipient will see the phone number associated with the Viber account or “Private Caller.” This means a phone call from a Philippine-registered Viber account may get blocked for being an international call or because it’s a private caller. For customer support, you'd want a more robust phone service with some of these features: Voicemail Multiple users IVR (interactive voice response) Custom Greetings Call Forwarding Call Transfers Simultaneous call handling Business Texting (SMS) Virtual Fax We searched for phone services with some of these features and polled our Facebook jobseeker group to know what phone services would work in the Philippines. These are the ones they recommended, but you still need to do your own research to figure out which one best suits your needs. RingCentral - <a href="https://www.ringcentral.com/office/plansandpricing.html#office" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ringcentral.com/office/plansandpricing.html#office">https://www.ringcentral.com/office/plansandpricing.html#office</a> Vonage - <a href="https://www.vonage.com.ph/unified-communications/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vonage.com.ph/unified-communications/">https://www.vonage.com.ph/unified-communications/</a> OpenPhone - <a href="https://www.openphone.com/product/calling" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.openphone.com/product/calling">https://www.openphone.com/product/calling</a> GoTo - <a href="https://www.goto.com/pricing/connect" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.goto.com/pricing/connect">https://www.goto.com/pricing/connect</a> Linkedphone - <a href="https://linkedphone.com/pricing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://linkedphone.com/pricing/">https://linkedphone.com/pricing/</a> Zoom Phone - <a href="https://explore.zoom.us/en/products/zoom-phone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://explore.zoom.us/en/products/zoom-phone/">https://explore.zoom.us/en/products/zoom-phone/</a> Cloud Talk - <a href="https://www.cloudtalk.io/call-center-software" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.cloudtalk.io/call-center-software">https://www.cloudtalk.io/call-center-software</a> Google Voice - <a href="http://voice.google.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http://voice.google.com">voice.google.com</a> Grasshopper - <a href="https://signup.grasshopper.com/plans" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://signup.grasshopper.com/plans">https://signup.grasshopper.com/plans</a> Because these are all business phones; they will have fees. People often ask me for a free phone service. I don't have one and you don't want one. Free (in this case) probably means unreliable. What phone service are you using with your OFS? Is there something you recommend or don't recommend? Let me know. John |
I'm not a morning person. I'm not a night person either. I'm a solid 11-7:30 sleeper. If I don't get 8+ hours of sleep my skills (mental, physical, relationship...) go downhill. Last week we went to an in the dark Christmas lights experience with like 10 million lights: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/09fc16ab-52ff-1cf0-d1c7-f1e48b7eba5c.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474616" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/09fc16ab-52ff-1cf0-d1c7-f1e48b7eba5c.jpg" /> It was cold. I made sure we were home by 9pm so I could get my kids in bed on time and I could get to bed on time. Not everyone is like me, but everyone needs to sleep. I’ve mentioned in my previous emails and <a href="/podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/podcast/">podcast</a> how it’s not healthy for your OFS to work nights if they’re not used to it. But sometimes, you need your OFS to work nights, and some Filipinos prefer working that schedule. The health risks of shift work are known. They’re at risk for insomnia, hypertension, diabetes, etc. But there are ways to help keep your night shift OFS healthy. I asked my OFS, Jam, who has been working the night shift for years, for advice. He left the call center industry years ago because he was starting to have health problems. But when he started working for me (and working from home), he was able to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Here are Jam’s suggestions on what you, as an employer, can do to help keep your OFS healthy during the night shift. - Avoid changing your OFS shift schedule too often. Staying awake at night isn’t the thing that causes serious damage to the body; it’s the rapid changes in sleep schedule. If your OFS has a different sleep schedule every day or week or two weeks, it’s harder for them to fall asleep, get a full 8 hours of rest, and wake up. - Give them time to adjust to the night shift by giving them at least three days to adjust to a new work schedule. If you need to change their work schedule, keep the changes to a minimum (like once a month). - Encourage your OFS to take exercise breaks. This helps me stay awake during my shift and gives me the exercise I need since I can’t exercise during the day. I have an elliptical bike at home that I use for at least 10 minutes daily when I’m working. - If you can afford it, give your OFS health insurance or Philhealth. Medical emergencies are unavoidable. Sometimes it can happen while working, which is scary because we know it will be harder to get to a hospital at night. Having Philhealth or health insurance gives us one less thing to worry about. If you don't NEED your OFS to work at night, consider letting them work normal Philippines hours. If you need them available on your time zone, and that means them working at night, be respectful of the difficulties this can cause. John |
You can now send your OFS gifts from Amazon! The Philippines has been able to order from Amazon for decades, but my OFS has never recommended it before because shipping is expensive, and the options are limited. But Amazon recently commissioned several local courier companies for their last mile, lowering shipping costs. Amazon now offers free shipping to the Philippines for orders of more than $49 on selected items. Another reason why sending something from Amazon is better now is that the Philippines’ Bureau of Customs (BoC) is more transparent about its rules regarding Amazon packages. They’ve been sending this information out on the news and on social media to encourage Filipinos to order from Amazon. This move from the BoC also helps to “clean up” their image. The Bureau of Customs guidelines regarding Amazon deliveries is that you won’t run into any taxes or fees as long as the total cost of your package is less than 10,000 Philippine pesos. If the item costs more than 10,000 pesos, you must pay taxes and duties. This video interview explains the process in greater detail: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiUyw0fqgYA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiUyw0fqgYA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiUyw0fqgYA</a> If you want to know how much the customs duties, taxes and fees will be, Amazon will give you an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8VRJ7Y8Z3T5WPV3" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8VRJ7Y8Z3T5WPV3">estimate and add it to your cost</a> but this doesn't apply to all items. You still shouldn't send anything considered regulated or restricted, like CDs, electronics or medication, or anything perishable. We’re still unsure how fast these delivery times will be or if certain shipments will still pass through the Philippine Postal system. One of my OFS bought something on Black Friday. His purchase was shipped under AmazonGlobal Standard Shipping, and it arrived on December 8, which is fast. However, when his package arrived, there was a suspiciously large tear on the box. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ed895555-5d87-659d-f3d6-d4e93187f3db.jpg" width="480" height="640" data-file-id="474620" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/ed895555-5d87-659d-f3d6-d4e93187f3db.jpg" /> He bought a bunch of books, which might be why whoever was looking into his package lost interest. So if you're going to do this, don't send your OFS anything that looks expensive or easy to sell. It's probably too late for something to arrive before Christmas, but even if it arrives in January, your OFS will still appreciate it. John |
Just before Thanksgiving, I got this email from Austin. It was in response to the newsletter I sent about <a href="/how-ej-is-changing-the-lives-of-his-ofs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/how-ej-is-changing-the-lives-of-his-ofs/">EJ buying his OFS (Online Filipino Specialist) a laptop</a>. John, I've read most of the emails you've sent since I first used OnlineJobs.ph in January 2021. One of the VAs I hired is still with me. I've come to rely on her, and I continue to be surprised by how little she asks for. I've had to encourage her to ask for raises, and I brought up the idea of benefits multiple times before she finally agreed. We've got all that squared away now, and we figured out how to make various back payments so she'd even be eligible. All that to say, I didn't realize how acclimated I'd become to the entitlement of local or U.S.-based contractors until I started working with people who are so modest, humble, grateful, and reticent. There are exceptions to the rule in the U.S. (i.e., not entitled), and there must be in the Philippines too. Yet, I keep telling entrepreneur friends: "You're not compromising by hiring in the Philippines. It's not just about the arbitrage of paying less for team members in a country with a lower cost of living. It's about hiring great people who happen to live in the Philippines." Anyway, keep the good stuff coming. Hope you have a beautiful Thanksgiving with your family. Austin That’s how I see my OFS team, great people who just happen to live in the Philippines. When you think of your team this way, it’s easier to communicate with them, train them, manage them, and give them good feedback. It's easier to see them as humans who want to contribute and help your business grow. If you haven't hire someone yet, but you've considered it, go hire a great person! They just happen to live in the Philippines! When you know you have a good hiring system, like <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a>, you can trust that you hired great people. Once you start working with them, you’ll see that you don’t need complicated systems or go-betweens. Treat your team well and they’ll always do their best for you. Merry Christmas. John PS. My kids "Christmas Sing". Listening to 3rd graders (and 1st and 2nd and 4th and 5th and 6th...) sing and try to follow the moves. My kids are always a half a step behind. We're not very musically talented. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e4196bb4-1ae2-d679-30e8-d6e951d43d7e.jpg" width="360" height="480" data-file-id="474664" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/e4196bb4-1ae2-d679-30e8-d6e951d43d7e.jpg" /> |
I hope you have something fun/great/spirit filled for Christmas and New Years. I just want to remind you that the last week of December will be crammed with <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=bGN2azRxY2pnajI5OW1scXM3YjAyYjdwbWtAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=bGN2azRxY2pnajI5OW1scXM3YjAyYjdwbWtAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ">Philippine holidays</a>. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/65bc3740-d2aa-a359-3425-2397fe528de1.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474624" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/65bc3740-d2aa-a359-3425-2397fe528de1.jpg" /> Even though December 24 (New Year’s Eve) and December 25 (Christmas Day) fall on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, expect people to start asking for leaves even before that for travel. Today isn't a holiday...but they're likely to either have asked for it off, or to do little work today. December 30 and 31, 2022, and January 1, 2023, are all regular holidays. December 30, Rizal Day, falls on a Friday, so it will be a long weekend for most of them. If you can afford to do it and you don’t have anything essential tasks that need to be done over the holidays, consider giving them the week between Christmas and New Year off. They’ll appreciate it. If you <a href="/do-you-need-your-ofs-to-work-over-the-holidays/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="/do-you-need-your-ofs-to-work-over-the-holidays/">need them to work over the holidays</a>, talk to them about it ASAP. Even better, iron out holiday scheduling as soon as you hire. Also, FYI, Now isn't a great time to hire someone. They're scared to start during the holidays. I know telling you this isn't very good for my business...but wait until after Jan 2. You'll get a better response to your job post. John |
Merry Christmas. I'm going to keep this short. Right now I find very little expectation in my business. There's little demand from customers and workers. I find I have a bunch of "couch time", which I don't get a lot of during the year. I find this down time to be the perfect time to write up a job post for hiring a new OFS. To me, posting a job is one of the most effective uses of time. It's growing your business, doing important but not urgent work. It gives me a head start for the new year. I find once a job is posted, the ball is rolling and I can't stop it until I hire someone to push my business forward. And it's easy, not thinking about the internal workings of my business, time. <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/employers/postjob" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/employers/postjob">https://www.onlinejobs.ph/employers/postjob</a> I'll post a job this week because it's an amazing feeling in an otherwise unproductive week. If I don't get a great response, I'll post it again in early January. John PS. I said this last week. Don't try to hire someone before the new year. You can post the job and start interviewing, but expect very little response between Dec 30 and Jan 2. Again, I know this hurts my business to tell you not to hire, but it's better for you. |
I was interviewed by Starter Story, and I shared a lot of stuff there that most people don't know about me or Onlinejobs.ph. <a href="https://www.starterstory.com/stories/onlinejobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.starterstory.com/stories/onlinejobs">https://www.starterstory.com/stories/onlinejobs</a> Most people don’t know I started <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">Onlinejobs.ph</a> with just $5,000. It was just me, Dan, and two Filipino workers when we started. I know I talked about this before, but I think most people don’t really understand how much of a fluke Onlinejobs.ph is. I didn’t build it thinking it would get this big (we’ll be breaking 8 figures in revenue this year, we passed 2,000,000 worker profiles this year, we'll pass 500,000 employers next year). I built it for myself. I just wanted a place where I could recruit someone from the Philippines on my own. I remember a while back, one of my O.F.S. suggested that instead of sharing all this content for free, we should monetize it. Put it behind a paywall. At first glance, it makes sense. Why share all this valuable information we gained from years of outsourcing and our research for free? Because I don’t want to add to the problems that most business owners have to deal with. We have enough problems. We can do the most good by providing solutions. I want to show people how amazing it feels to have an extra pair of hands and a capable mind working in your business. Want to know what an extra pair of hands and a capable mind can do for your business? Check out <a href="https://www.ofstasks.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ofstasks.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">https://www.ofstasks.com/</a> John PS. It has been an amazing ski year for me. Best start to the season I've ever experienced. This: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/03708395-08fe-6783-9af8-11e5e986d0ca.jpg" width="480" height="297" data-file-id="474672" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/03708395-08fe-6783-9af8-11e5e986d0ca.jpg" /> leads to this: <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/5981e1db-7258-91a7-c998-6b608380c8a1.jpg" width="480" height="279" data-file-id="474668" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/5981e1db-7258-91a7-c998-6b608380c8a1.jpg" /> |
Christmas in the Philippines starts on September 1. Yeah, it's early. But...for a lot of Filipinos, the New Year celebration is the more awaited day. New Year in the Philippines is a loud, bright celebration that everybody looks forward to, regardless of religion or location. While most Filipinos still choose to celebrate New Year’s at home, more people are going to malls, parks, hotels, and beaches all over the country to party and celebrate. With pandemic restrictions lifted, more people are even determined to go out after being stranded at home for two years. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/20ad74a1-bad6-9d66-69c0-c37e84f87244.jpg" width="480" height="244" data-file-id="474676" /> If you look at Filipino New Years traditions, you’ll see that it’s heavily influenced by Chinese traditions. They follow a lot of practices that are supposed to attract wealth and ward off evil spirits. To attract wealth in the coming year, you’ll see Filipinos wear polka dots because dots symbolize money. Round fruits are in high demand as part of their Media Noche (New Year’s Feast) table centerpieces because they represent money. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/8047f479-8e0f-e820-aec3-1cad0495dbe7.jpg" width="480" height="393" data-file-id="474684" /> To ward off evil spirits, they make a lot of noise. Hence the parties, paper trumpets, videoke sessions, and fireworks. They party hard on New Year and they use a lot of fireworks. Lots and lots of fireworks. The hard-partying also means most hospitals would be on high alert around this time. December to January is when they have the highest incidence of heart diseases like stroke and heart attacks because of all the fatty holiday food like lechon. There’s also a spike in alcohol-related and firecracker injuries during this time. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/cd3404dd-d9ff-89f9-8a5f-872c7f12de85.jpg" width="480" height="336" data-file-id="474680" /> Here’s an anecdote from one of my OFS, Jam: When I was a Red Cross volunteer in my early 20s, we’d ride around the neighborhood every New Year’s Eve and New Year. There’s always someone getting hurt. It’s more convenient for us to just go around to treat minor injuries and transport serious injuries to the hospital. And for this reason, most of your OFS won't work on Jan 2. They'll start back on Jan 3. |
It’s January 2 and I’m sure gyms across the world were packed this morning with people who’ve decided to get in shape as their “New Years Resolution”. I spent the day in the mountains backcountry skiing with my wife. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/9f886cf1-7ce6-cc01-fba2-541ecc8d3119.jpg" width="480" height="360" data-file-id="474688" /> It’s not part of any “resolution”, it’s part of my lifestyle. Here’s why most new years resolutions don’t work. If it’s not strong enough for you to decide to do it December 15th, or October 3, or July 22, why is Jan 2 any different? It’s not. If the desire to change isn’t strong enough TODAY, then a new year isn’t going to give you that desire. BUT THAT’S NOT US! We're entrepreneurs. We push through hard things. We figure out solutions that work. We don’t make “resolutions”, we make lifestyle changes and those things stick for us. My wife got back off sugar this year on December 21. Before the holidays. That’s a winner. That’s a lifestyle change. Here’s a lifestyle change from <a href="https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/one-simple-phrase-that-exploded-my-business-will-change-your-life-forever">Ryan Smith</a>: “You don’t have to be an expert in every area of your business. If you aren’t an expert in a specific area or it isn’t the best use of your time, find someone who is. Hire someone who already is an expert and pay them to build it for you. You concentrate on the high dollar activities that will move the needle in your business.” So many entrepreneurs think “I’m the only one who can do this”. They’re wrong. Make a lifestyle change this year and hire an OFS to help you focus on the high dollar activities that move the needle in your business. My <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/">One VA Away Challenge</a> is designed to help you – hire the right person – in a short amount of time – with the least amount of effort – so you can move the needle <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/">Get it.</a> Make a lifestyle change rather than another “resolution”. |
"Hey John, you should create a job board like OnlineJobs.ph in...." I get a lot of requests from people asking me to replicate <a href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onlinejobs.ph/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">Onlinejobs.ph</a> in their country. No. Why? Because employers have a better experience in the Philippines than anywhere else in the world. Not always. But usually. There's a specific set of cultural differences in the Philippines that I haven't seen anywhere else. They're - honest - loyal - hard working - pleasing - not entrepreneurial - looking for long-term work Obviously not everyone is like this...but generally this is what you find in the Philippines. Yes, there are exceptions. Yes, you might find someone great in India or Mexico or Brazil or Indonesia or Ghana... ...but your chances are just higher in the Philippines. Usually a lot higher. I created <a href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.onevaaway.com/?he=*|EMAIL|*&el=email">OneVAAway.com</a> so you can consistently hire hard-working, talented, and loyal people. They just happen to live in the Philippines. <img src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/5af039bf-f11b-ec3d-8936-ac21b64dc01e.jpg" width="480" height="402" data-file-id="474700" data-cke-saved-src="https://mcusercontent.com/4bdbf922212cd053de282f27f/images/5af039bf-f11b-ec3d-8936-ac21b64dc01e.jpg" /> I think it’s better if people who are passionate about other countries should be the ones to build their job platforms. But you haven't seen that yet. Why? Because it's all about employers having a good experience. And that good experience happens consistently in the Philippines. John PS. It helps that I consistently create content around this. To me, content is king on the internet. But...even that comes back to people having a good experience. I always have something to talk about because there are so many stories of people loving their OFS. |
Subsets and Splits