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Feedback to the Feedback – Monetization, Virtual Assistant Program Management and More

This video is a feedback to the feedback to the feedback. In this video Francis reviewed the conversation between him and his virtual assistant where they had a detailed discussion on the website monetization, virtual assistant management program and other topics. Finally, Francis took the initiative to provide the feedback through a video.

 

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Finding a Solution for Internet Interruptions of my Filipino Virtual Assistant

by Francis

Jomvie catches up lost hours on the weekend - This is the exception
Jomvie catches up lost hours on the weekend – This is the exception

Internet connectivity problems, power outages, other incidents – my full time VA from the Philippines, Jomvie, has his share of troubles.
It’s important as an employer to be understanding when there is nothing you can do.

But it’s equally important to be creative and resourceful to find solutions when the situation is not unavoidable.

For a Virtual Employee – Inform your Employer of any Problems

Your Employer is planning on your work output. He has his projects in mind and hopes most of all on things going smoothly. Even though you might be troubled with a situation, it’s still important to squeeze in some time to let your boss know. Else, he is likely to make some wrong assumptions.

Here is what Jomvie wrote to me yesterday:

Hi Francis,

I wasn’t able to finish my shift yesterday due to a combined inevitable event yesterday. There was a very heavy storm that brought heavy rain and flooding and a power shortage. So, I can’t really go out to finish my shift.

Hoping for your kind consideration.

Best and Thanks,
Jomvie

For an employer – think of alternative tasks that can be done offline and of backup plans

Jomvie and I have discussed backup solutions for internet outages many times. From going to an internet coffee to considerations of a secondary internet connection. We also discussed issues of general power outages in the past.

Both are problems that come up regularly in the Philippines.

In my experience, only a minority of virtual assistants from this country try to use this as an excuse. But it’s hard to prove it either way because the productivity of an offline virtual assistant is hard to track. Although there are (paid) solutions for that.

Finding a solution together – for both employers and VAs

I believe you will profit from this discussion, if you are a VA or plan to hire one. Even if you (a VA) come from another country, you can still learn from this.

Different levels of calamity / problems

To you as a VA:
Dependent on how big the problem, you need to react differently.

  1. Really dangerous crisis:
    A taifun is flooding the streets. Houses are broken. There are causalities. What to do? Save yourself! Nothing more important than that. (I tell this because there is a story of a filipino VA who was sitting on the roof of his flooded house, writing to his employer from his laptop which he saved first, that he couldn’t take care of his shift today. That might be a bit extreme)

  2. Unable to work, unable go out:
    Heavy storms and rain make it dangerous or really difficult to go out. Your stuff or your house risks to be damaged. Getting a Taxi would be a big challenge. What to do? Stay put! Make sure your infrastructure is OK, and take care of important phone calls. When you just sit there and there is nothing you can do, work offline and take note of what you do. Log that time as offline time with a short explanation in your daily update later. (I touch on the importance of daily updates here.)

  3. A plain internet deconnection, no other problem:
    Try to get back the internet connection. If that’s impossible, assess how much longer you would need to work today. If it makes sense, go to a backup place or solution for getting internet. Let your employer know (for example via mobile phone).

In all of these cases, when the problem is over, be sure to reach your employer. He might already be worrying about you.

Let’s open the discussion!

There are many other aspects to this situation, but I want to open the discussion to Jomvie and all you readers. Feel free to jump in with your own opinions any time in the comments!

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Typhoons—A Part Of Life for Virtual Assistants from the Philippines

by Jomvie
(Francis’ Full-Time VA)

It was taken during the height of the onslaught of the storm (Glenda) going out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last August 1, 2014.
It was taken during the height of the onslaught of the storm (Glenda) going out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last August 1, 2014.

This is an audio recording of my thoughts regarding typhoons here in the Philippines. I find this topic relevant for employers outside of the country and never have been in this part of Southeast Asia. I hope this article will give an idea about the geographic attributes and weather conditions in the Philippines.

I just want to start by describing that this kind of natural occurrence is common here in our country.

The Philippines is hit by an average of 15-20 typhoons per year. And people, especially from the northern parts like the Luzon area as well as in the middle part, the Visayas area, are practically expecting typhoons to hit their area any time during the months of June to February.

Luckily, I live in the southern part, in the southern island of Mindanao wherein our place is rarely a landing point of typhoons.

In the last couple of years, I think, there were just a couple of typhoons that hit our area, but still it was considered to be a rare event here.

Because basically, when typhoons start in the Pacific ocean, they usually hit our country in the north-eastern parts of Mindanao, which is about 10 hours away from where I live; and it goes through the Visayas area and then to the Luzon area – where it also will be exiting the country going to Taiwan and the eastern part of China.

Now, going back to the experience of having such natural events here in our country, typhoons (particularly), I would say—in describing a typhoon you can imagine a really, really bad weather with strong winds which is mostly accompanied by heavy rains.

So, basically, when the typhoon hits inland, it is pretty much sure to say that a large area would be destroyed or devastated and it is expected to have some casualties.

Considering our country is an archipelago and we are pretty much surrounded with bodies of water; like the majority of areas in our country. These bodies of water could get elevated whenever a typhoon hits and strong winds are extremely strong where homes, buildings, and even natural structures could be destroyed causing landslides and widespread flooding.

A certain percentage of the population will surely be affected whenever a typhoon enters the country’s Area of Responsibility. Here in the Philippines, we are practically prepared and expecting that kind of natural disasters will hit our country anytime. Nevertheless, casualties keep on coming whenever typhoons hit our country.

Comments for Typhoons—A Part Of Life for Virtual Assistants from the Philippines

Aug 15, 2014 They don’t know or they don’t care
by: Lanber Some employers can’t seem to empathize well with this. When a typhoon hits not only do we lose power and Internet connection, we lose water supply too.
Aug 15, 2014 I’d bet most employers don’t know
by: Francis Hey Lanber, thanks for leaving your comment!I personally don’t believe employers consciously choose to ignore the issues typhoons definitively cause for people in the Philippines, namely the many virtual assistants that work there.But I do believe every employer should inform themselves stronger about the backgrounds from their VAs, especially if they work together long term.

If you expect loyalty and the going-beyond-the-expected attitude that makes working with the best VAs so magical – then it’s only fair that an employer has an interest on the conditions of living of the VA in return.

However, I didn’t read much articles online about this topic. Even after hiring many people from all over the world, there is little amount of – prominently – written and promoted materials of “looking behind the scenes”.

That’s why I try to let my assistants “speak their mind” on my website as often as they like to.

By mastering building effective working relationships with your VA that go beyond just calculating your return of interest, you can get even better results as an employer.

To all Virtual Assistants from the Philippines who happen to read this:

Talk about your situation to your employer. Ideally, before an issue comes up (else the employer cannot be sure if the story is true, unfortunately).

And be sure to join in the comments here to tell every reader (future employers or fellow assistants) how the reality with typhoons look like for you, your work life and your living conditions.

Do you believe in building bridges between different people based on mutual trust and respect? Do you think doing this will allow both sides to draw the maximum from each other, and reach a win win situation? Where you win, and the other person - like a virtual assistant -also wins? If you do believe this, like I do, I think we should meet :)

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