The Rockstar VA Podcast

Freelancers are no strangers to some of its "downsides". After nearly a decade of working from anywhere, here's how you can deal with some of the mental health issues in freelancing specifically--isolation and stress. Original music by Vlad Gluschenko (@vladest_art) — Meadow License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Stingers by: Drae Cerna

I have always admired #neurodiversity, but in reality, some people's brains are wired too much on the meticulous side that it can get frustrating 😤 So here's my spilled straTEAgies on how I have been able to power through fussy clients and anticipate the nit-picking! Original music by Vlad Gluschenko (@vladest_art) — Meadow License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Stingers b...

Thanks to the concept of creating a "Digital Garden" introduced by MIT Tech Review, I have built my business from the ground up with this as a mantra in mind. Tune in how I have applied it in my career as VA! Original music by Vlad Gluschenko (@vladest_art) — Meadow License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Stingers by: Drae Cerna

FACT: Technology will create new jobs that will require new skills. The question is: Are you ready for it? Here's my take on how we can future-proof our careers along with the rise of artificial intelligence and automation. Original music by Vlad Gluschenko (@vladest_art) — Meadow License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Stingers by: Drae Cerna

"Where do I find clients?", "How do I keep clients for the long-term?" or "Why don't I have clients until today?" -- These are burning questions that often intimidate or frustrate Virtual Assistants. But a decade into this business, I realize one edge that has worked and continues to work for me either when new clients come in or why my current clients want to continue working with me. Tune in! Or...

“Ms Shiela, how did you become so fluent in English?” As flattering as this question is, I did not make it overnight and surely, it would have declined over time if I did not consciously do something about. It only takes some E.T.C. Tune in!

How fast do you respond to your clients' tasks/messages? Here's my take on Response Time for VAs and Freelancers and why it is important, why it is necessary for your remote clients, how it affects your relationship with your client, and how you can be more responsive without sacrificing sleep and quality time with your loved ones! Tune in!

Why do 80% of professionals who switch to be Virtual Assistants and Freelancers after a year or two quit? Why do some thrive well in this industry and some fail? I see one big problem. If you’re one of those VAs who are frustrated from the countless rejections, no response, or worse, no shows. Tune in! About Shiela Pialago: https://shielapialago.com/ The Rockstar VA Podcast with Shiela Pialago is...

What once was just a random convo on art and personal perspectives on choreography at the gym, now turned out into an amazing conversation in this episode on self-discovery, creative blocks, and dealing with the "honest" feedback. Happy to have Coach Jjay sharing how he's fuelling his creative skills into an actual professional career. Tune in! About Shiela Pialago: https://shielapialago.com/ The...

"When I start a partnership with a new client, I either end up with a lesson learned or a new me." Here's a little confession of how I gracefully let go of a client and the ultra-clear signs of what made me do it. Tune in! About Shiela Pialago: https://shielapialago.com/ The Rockstar VA Podcast with Shiela Pialago is a show made for Rockstar Virtual Assistants (VAs) and Freelancers and done by a R...

I met Ivy in one of the job interviews I held recently and along with her unique story and warm personality, she shares her journey on being a former call center agent, the advantages of being in the call center industry, and how she found her way to virtual assistance and freelancing, especially in the social media niche. Tune in! About Shiela Pialago: https://shielapialago.com/ The Rockstar VA P...

What do you want from your career? Do you believe that you can love what you do and make money doing it? My special guest, Ezra Hilary Ceniza, a licensed and certified EFL teacher based in Vietnam, deep-dives into > Career shifts and choices > On shifting from law school > Going abroad independently > Using your "strongest suit" > Overcoming the obstacles of going after what you wan...

"Imagine they were able to mimic my client's tone of writing..." Phishing is not news. But when these scammers actually take the time to get to know you, "do their research" per se, let alone impersonate the people you work with a.k.a. your clients, things become a little chair-gripping. If you're a virtual assistant or freelancer who basically spends all of your time and energy on creating a care...

"A hobby is not just something you do when you're bored, it is something you do that will help you improve on yourself." A graduate of Media and Entertainment Management, Dominique Berenguer shares this and more inside wires on being creatively productive, especially in terms of Social Media Marketing (SMM). We all know that SMM is no cake-walk, at least for those who actually see the potential of...

Sound designer and voice-over artist, Drae Cerna, opens up about his struggles with Tourette Syndrome (TS), a condition of the nervous system that causes people to have “tics” and how remote work is currently helping him cope with the physical and mental health challenges. FUN FACT: He is the man behind the Rockstar VA Podcast intro and outro voice-overs! For inquiries about his voice-over portfol...

Whether you're a Virtual Assistant, Freelancer, or a professional pandemically switched to working from home, it's an inescapable fact that remote work has been the most helpful route for us to thrive this year. But in between rapidly changing events and decisions, will this business landscape offer more benefits or challenges for 2022? Also as Finances Online posed, "is Remote Work a viable long-...

Whether you're a Virtual Assistant, Freelancer, or a professional pandemically switched to working from home, it's an inescapable fact that remote work has been the most helpful route for us to thrive this year. But in between rapidly changing events and decisions, will this business landscape offer more benefits or challenges for 2022? Also as Finances Online posed, "is Remote Work a viable long-...

Kimi Brown joins the Rockstar VA Podcast once more to kick off this season! In the second part of her episode, Kimi shares tips on the language of honesty and initiative when it comes to your VA tasks and finding your niche in the Virtual Assistance industry. Tune in! The Rockstar VA Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and on my website as well at https://www.shielapialago.com/the-roc...

Kimi Brown joins the Rockstar VA Podcast once more to kick off this season! In this episode, Kimi gave a mini-workshop on identifying your ideal clients and a few tips on finding your niche in Virtual Assistance industry. Tune in! The Rockstar VA Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and on my website as well at https://www.shielapialago.com/the-rockstar-va-podcast Original music by Vla...

The Rockstar VA Podcast is turning 1! Super grateful to everyone who spared some time to tune in to the show. In this episode, we're recalling the key takeaways of each episode and what I've learned from my guests, and all the insights we've encountered in the past year. Also, I'm dropping in hints of what's in store for you in Season 2! For now, big thanks to all the Rockstars!

"Work should not really feel like work," says Dr. Gay Hendricks in his best-selling book, The Big Leap, but with the expectations and demands on being a Virtual Assistant, how can you consciously make this happen in real life even when circumstances push you to your limits? Tune in and get in the zone! About Shiela Pialago: https://shielapialago.com/ The Rockstar VA Podcast with Shiela Pialago is...

Do you still exhibit qualities of a strong work ethic now that you’re working remotely or virtually? In this episode, I've shared the Top 3 traits that make up a strong work ethic of a Rockstar VA. Also, we will do a self-evaluation at the end to assess how commendable your work ethic is and what you still have to work on! Tune in! About Shiela Pialago: https://shielapialago.com/ The Rockstar VA P...

What is this number 1 stumbling block that discourages your potential clients from hiring you or your current clients from renewing their contract with you? This is where a lot of us (yes, even me!) fall short and it is a process you would not want to miss out on! Tune in! About Shiela Pialago: https://shielapialago.com/ The Rockstar VA Podcast with Shiela Pialago is a show made for Rockstar Virtu...

“Why fit in when you can stand out?” After receiving hundreds of applications from VAs and Freelancers recently, it has been brought to my attention that there's this one key skill that most Virtual Assistants and Freelancers still miss out on! In this episode, I had a great time tackling this one "self-management skill", and turned out to be a key work and life skill in general that you and I hav...

How high are your expectations to yourself and to your clients? How does it influence your work as a Virtual Assistant or Freelancer? I had a wonderful conversation with my mentor last week on setting high expectations. And although, setting high expectations connote some level of stress and pressure, here are my top key pointers on how you can leverage high expectations to your professional benef...