Thursday, July 25, 2019

Jump into the Unknown

For the past 10 or more years, I have been a slave to the corporate world - if you call BPOs as a corporate world.  Most people do not really treat the BPO industry as 'corporate' - I don't know for what reason - but let's just keep it as it is.
My point is, I go to work, I go to an office to earn a living.
I have officemates, co-workers, colleagues - whatever you want to call them.  I have a boss, a super boss, my boss's boss and all other ranks higher than my position in the office.
I belong to the "hemline" in the corporate world - a mere rank and file who "faces" customers.
Life is routinary.  I work, I go home, I sleep - and the same cycle again the following day.  On weekdays, I look forward to weekends, and on Sundays, I dread when the clock strikes 12 midnight because it is Monday again.
I'm sure a lot of people can relate to that situation.
About 3 or 4 months ago, I decided to make use of my free time after office hours to be productive and become time spent to earn instead of watching Korean dramas and series.  I bumped into the freelancing world where my office colleagues shared success stories from different people who are into freelancing.
Jump.
I jumped into the bandwagon - if this is called a bandwagon.
I started to join free online seminars and joined Facebook groups dedicated to freelancers, and I became a silent lurker - reading posts and envying on those success stories of people who were into it ahead of me.
I created an Upwork profile - and was rejected - and found ways to be approved and finally got in.
I applied for different job posts and got no replies.
I tried.
2 months.
Out of boredom and a little desperation, I applied into a Virtual Assistant job - well - in lay man's term - an online secretary.  You all know what a secretary does.
I took advantage of the skill I learned from my BPO experience and created a simple, out-of boredom application letter (or in freelancing, we call it "proposal").
I got a spot for an interview.  I got the job. 
The day after my interview - I started my first freelance job as an Assistant.
A few months on - I am still working for the same client.  Same job. 
I am still employed at the moment.  Oh yes, double job.
Worth it?
Yes. And no.
Yes - I needed to choose one.
I let go of the corporate world.
I choose you - online job.
This world is literally unknown to me. I do not know what to expect after 6 months, 10 months, in December, next year - everything is a blur.
I keep thoughts of those success stories I read on those Facebook pages I joined related to this field. I am hoping that their success story will also become my success story.
This is my unknown at the moment.
But I choose to jump into the unknown.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I am doing something that I do know about - and all I have are hopes and aspirations of becoming successful.
I know I will, I know I can - and I claim it.
On August 14, I will walk the halls of my office for the last time.  My next office is my humble abode.
My freelancing journey will officially begin.