The Future of Work

What is the future of work? It’s the virtual office. There, I answered the question. And a good place to setup your virtual office is through oDesk.

But before virtual offices become mainstream, business owners should be encouraged. They should know how to take that first baby step to go virtual.

This video is from oDesk and they are encouraging business owners and netrepreneurs to get started with an idea, get a team and create your business. Tell them your “big idea” and get $250 credits so you can hire your virtual freelancers and get started.

Pretty good marketing strategy and reflects one thing that is quite common for most people, which is this -

It is very easy to think about starting something but so hard to execute.

• What’s stopping you?
• Why haven’t you started yet?
• How long will you let your idea be just another.. idea?

My Own “Big Idea”

Being a social media assistant for almost two years had given me ample knowledge on freelancing life. The ups and downs, ins and outs. There is a story to tell and each freelancer or web worker I know has their own wacky stories.

Somehow, I wanted to be able to help out the newbie freelancers through this idea, this venture, this business. There are lots of business ideas that I narrowed down to those that I was interested in. You should be working in a niche that you love after all.

My own idea is creating a helpful site for freelancing Filipinos.

I have received lots, countless of inquiries on the how, why, what, where’s of a freelancing career. Usually, I just keep mum because there are LOTS to explain about freelancing. I want to change that. I want to answer their questions through this site. This will be for freelancers who took off with their careers and are now willing to help out newbies in their quest to join the ranks of online earners.

What about you? What is your “big idea”?

I received this newsletter from ChangeThis. It talks about how we become a slave to WORK and in the process create a separate, distinct Work You and the Real You. And it struck me thus convincing me to the fact that this is not a disadvantage after all – being a Juggler.

You might be one of these people too. I am. At first, I realized I can do bits of lots – Jack of All Trades, Master of None. Sounds familiar?

But Juggling is not just about doing more than one thing. It’s about being multi-dimensional, in letting our passions inform and shape our work identities. When you become a Juggler, you are driven by instinct and curiosity, where your best plan is a non-plan. How can you attempt a five year personal career plan or similar business plan in this current climate? You need to stay openminded, forget a traditional career ladder, evaluate opportunities on a hunch and become an ‘accidental executive.’

Taking the Juggle route can be an exit from the boredom of your job, an escape from your corporate mediocrity. It’s not a question of quitting your job, but reframing it so that work is not a chore, but a reflection of who you are. That has an enormous benefit to your quality of life, as you feel reinvigorated and stimulated by the variety of a mixed-up portfolio. There’s no room for boredom when you mix everything up.

I was hesitant at first and was thinking I should NOT be this. I should learn and master PHP. In fact, I should be certified. I should learn all about SEO – a rockstar! I should focus on blogging and writing – this is a hobby! I love it! I should focus on… Focus! Focus! Focus!

Now I learned that Jugglers = Survivors. With the recent recession of the global economy, only the Jugglers will keep it all balanced – money in their pockets, well-fed family, clothed backs, and balanced well-being.

1. Forget Specialism, discover the value of being across more than one discipline. Sticking to just one thing limits your potential, Place no limits on what you do and become more fulfilled.
2. Be passionate about all you do. Let your passions and desires inform and shape your work life.
3. Be adept at gear-shifting, from segueing from the huge to the tiny, from work to play.
4. Make time for play. Being a successful juggler is about working hard but also mixing up work and play, and using playtime as your inspiration and stimulation.
5. Be a chameleon, flexible and adaptable. Re-think all you do, be happy to change the rules again and again. Don’t stay entrenched in rigid ideas of how things should be done.
6. The best plan is a non-plan. Success in the knowledge economy is about making it up as you go along. Be The Accidental Executive or The Accidental Entrepreneur.
7. Use your instinct (every time); in making decisions, in deciding what to do, and what not to do.
8. Re-define personal success not by a salary package alone but by more important currency, such as: did you get to see your kid’s sports day, do you work with a decent bunch of people, did you take enough holiday this year?
9. Go beyond a job title and carve out a unique You-role. Take control, do it your way, be authentic.
10. Develop a personal brand to unite and communicate your strengths.
11. Work hard, but work smart. Whilst success relies on you working hard, it’s also doing what you love; and when you do what you love, it doesn’t feel so much like work.
12. Have lots of self-belief and self-confidence. You must have a positive outlook, be an optimist.
13. Be a pioneer, with no fear of the unknown. Be happy to learn new stuff and embrace new ideas.
14. Have purpose in all you do. Focus on making a difference and leaving a legacy.

Sir Janou immediately became my “go to” person whenever I have career or life questions and his advices have been much precious. He is one person that I consider my mentor. And although he gives very good advices, oftentimes, I do not follow them for reasons good for another blog post.

He has recently greeted me over YM and asked me how life was treating me so far. I could tell it again and again: Life has never been better. Surely, I have jumpstarted the year and looking forward to making this a good one.

I have previously ranted on “Is oDesk a part of your New Year resolution?” and mentioned oDesk to be a a huge part of my life. This is one reason that I am looking forward to a good year.

First of all, 2009 started with me offered a rather high hourly-rate job, twice as much as what I could earn in my previous company. This is an interesting opportunity for me and I am looking forward to working long term for them.

I am currently working for a rather great team from the US and with boss Goran. They are super and I am hoping this will be a longterm business relationship with them. But I also have several offers for maintaning Social Niche sites and another one for SEO-written articles. These are rather great opportunities and will try to see if I can squeeze one in on my daily tasks.

This is rather a fun experience and I truly am happy I am able to work at home at the same time monitor my kid’s progress as he is already two years old and growing up so fast. Good times!

I have just received a comment from Tara of Lijit and yes, I already changed the CEO’s name from Tony Vernon to Todd Vernon. I was very sleepy when I wrote that one so.. Excuses.

Thank you so much Tara for catching a glimpse of my post on this side of the world (wide web). I am very much pleased and excited and overwhelmed by the “wonderousity” of Lijit that I posted the article I wrote here. So is it legit? I guess it’s a no.

I am blabbing about my last post, an article about Lijit that can be found here. I am writing this to disown, disclaim, deny my ownership of that article. So here goes..

I do not own that article. The article is from CrowdsourcingLinks and although I wrote it, the rights belong to my boss Goran van Hese. He is such a wonderful person and he deserves all the credit he can get.

It’s almost Christmas! This is the time of the year to make wish lists. Have you made yours? Does it include toys too? Can you show me what toys you want?
Wine dogs like me deserve some pampering too you know. So I have started making mine too and guess what? I have added this dog toy on my list.

I know you want to get one for me (please do!) so here is where I found it: The Toys! See how adorable I look with this toy.

“Woof”

It just keeps coming. I had asked for a C# book from Mom and lo! She immediately purchased it for $60!! She was asking me if I needed somehting else since the other box she’ll be sending to me has LOTS of space in it. So then I asked for a book. I guess she swiped it with her credit card. She was mentioning that she just got one.

I was so glad I would be able to read the concepts on C# programming. Although my next goal would really to get a laptop. I hope Marc gets a job soon.. very soon. I would then immediately start installing VWD and learn .NET/C# etc.

But then I have another dilemma. Woooo…. Arghhh.. I’ll get it off my mind for now. Else, I’ll die worrying about it.

i just had to comment regrading what someone posted. They were, yes, discussing about Cancerian humor.

As you can see from my “notes” below this blog:

Entertainers and Comedians:

Bill Cosby, Phyllis Diller, Robin Williams, Terry Thomas, Redd Skelton, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Bozo the Clown, Mel Brooks, Cheech Marin, Buddy Rich, Milton Beryl, Don Knotts, Anna Moffo, Pat Paulson, Dan Rowen, John Goodman

Well that’s off-topic. Anyway, the comments were:

the people who actually laugh with me and *get* my humor are true friend material. it’s true not everyone does.

omg yes! I see things as funny that other people just don’t “get.”

And people who can make me laugh, and can laugh with me seem to end up being my best friends.

For me, this is so true! Well not necessarily the “best friend” part. I usually call it vibe. Like when we laugh at the same jokes and he or she “gets” me. I usually place them on my “close friend” list.

My officemates that are in this list because of vibe are Jade Cimafranca and Jessie Carl Mabalhin.

I also have friends in Iligan City (and am truly missing them) with which we have this “vibe”. They’re Joel (i forgot his family name waaaa!), Robert Anthony Ong, Iking Dy and Ian Cesar Ramos.

Yes, we have the same humor. But then these people are not Cancerian. :p I just get to choose them.

Here’s the list of schools in Cebu that my bosses asked my to research. Well actually not a complete list for we just need those where we can hire additional programmers and developers:

AMA Computer Learning Center of Mandaue City, Inc.
Door F-K, Northpoint Business Center, MC Briones St., Mandaue City
(032)345-1237

Asian College of Science and Technology Bulacao, Talisay City, Cebu
(032) 253-1628

Cebu Institute of Technology
http://www.cit.edu/

Cebu St. Paul College
Bulacao, Pardo, Cebu City
(032) 272-2985

CEBU STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(SCI.TECH.MAIN CAMPUS)
www.cscst.edu.ph/

Cebu State College/Cebu Normal University
http://www.csc.badette.com/
Osmeña Boulevard
Phone +63 (32) 253 9611

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise ( CITE)
www.cite.edu.ph/
San Jose, Talamban, Cebu City
(032) 346-1611/344-0899

Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion
Gorordo Avenue, 6000 Cebu City
Tels. 76585, 93120

College of Technological Sciences
http://www.cts.edu.ph/

Consolatrix College of Toledo City

Divine Mercy Computer College
3/F Tanchan Bldg., Colon St., Cebu City
(032) 412-1075/255-1622

Don Bosco Technology Center
www.dbtc-cebu.edu.ph/
Punta Princesa. Cebu City
(032) 272-2985

Interface Computer College, Inc.
Osmeña Bldg., Pelaez cor. Colon Sts., Cebu City
(032) 254-2688

Josrika Computer Training Center
729 Bulacao, Cebu City
(032) 273-3265

Saint Theresa’s College
http://www.stc.edu.ph/

Salazar Institute of Technology, Inc.
211 N. Bacalso Ave., Cebu City
(032) 261-0233/261-0235

South Western University
www.swu.edu.ph/

St. Louise de Marillac College of Bogo
6010 Sor. Dorotea, Bogo, Cebu
(032) 471-9259 / 251-2027

STI College Cebu, Inc
Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu city
(032) 234-2267

STI Mandaue, Inc.
520 Meritz Bldg., A.C. Cortez Ave., Mandaue City
(032) 344-9828/346-7321

STI-Labangon, Inc.
F. Llamas St., Punta Princesa, Cebu City
(032) 262-8877

University of Cebu
www.uc.edu.ph
A.C. Cortes Ave., Looc, Mandaue City
(032) 344-0330 / 346-7462

University of Cebu Banilad, Inc.
Banilad, Cebu City
(032) 231-8613

University of San Carlos
www.usc.edu.ph/

University of San Jose Recolletos
http://www.usjr.edu.ph/

University of Southern Philippines
http://www.usp.ph/
Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu city
(032) 232-5932/232-5939

University of the Philippines Cebu
http://www.upv.edu.ph/

University of the Visayas
http://www.uv.edu.ph/

• seminaries
• aeronautics colleges
• high school
• nursing and med schools and colleges

Dang SMARTFtp.. should have started uploading the measly updates I had for the WADES website. Sir Janou called last night. He was in the grocery store with his son and called to check if I had connected to the FTP site. I havent. He was having company for breakfast and went out to buy a few stuff he forget to buy earlier. Heheh.

Currently waiting for WATS Exam results. I know they’ll be in a week long holiday for Independence day of their bosses in Utah. I dont expect much from the results though. I know I didn’t do well on that online exam. It was too hard for my puny brain. A lot of explanations to type-in, loops to decipher, codes to review, snippets to code for just two hours. The easiest part I could remember was the last part.. that was it. -_- And as far as I could recall that was the only part I had reviewed when I studied PHP for just a few hours.

Oochan’s currently playing Diablo 2 again. Whenever we go to Starbits, he doesnt want me playing FreeStyle because I’m too bad I playing it.. I suck! But then who cares. =p

I had to get the site working by July 15 so I can have me salary. Whooopeee! But then, more work, less talking. That’s what my horoscope said. Soooo, gotta go!

Yep. That’s what I should have studied last weekend. But what was I doing? COMPLETING the Laboratory activities. All of it. But then the problem would be the fact that the due date is Wednesday pa po. T__T I should have studied Integumentary system instead. We’re having a Chapter Exam about it tomorrow. So much for setting priorities. I should have known.

Huh? What am I blabbing about? Well, first I enrolled for a summer class in MSH College. I have two subjects – Anatomy and Physiology and Religion 101. Im enjoying everybit of my moment. Thanks to Dr. Egarle. Ang bait ng titser namin.