Remote work has given online workers more freedom to explore possibilities beyond conventional office jobs. It allows for greater flexibility regarding location, work hours, and lifestyle choices. It has enabled people to find the type of employment that sparks the most joy.
There’s no traffic, no queuing for long hours at the bus stop or train station, and no risking your life to report to the office during extreme weather or when the streets are flooded.
Working for clients online has also increased the potential for Filipino VAs to earn a higher income without leaving their families to work abroad. This is especially true if you’re getting paid in US Dollars. The Dollar-to-Peso exchange rate is at an all-time high, which is an even bigger motivation to seek online employment from foreign clients instead of local businesses.
As the digital landscape expands, the temptation to juggle multiple clients increases. After all, more clients mean more money, right?
While this may be true in the short term, it can lead to a host of problems that may ultimately hinder your career growth. Let me use my own experience as a cautionary tale.
The Hustle and the Heartbreak
Like you, I was hooked on freelancer ‘success stories.’ More clients, more money, more freedom! The sky’s the limit!
Or so I thought.
I was working full-time as a virtual assistant for a New Zealand-based client when I took training on optimizing my Onlinejobs.ph profile. After that, the offers started streaming in. I eventually landed a second client as a full-time admin assistant for a US company. The pay was incredible, and the possibilities seemed endless.
Blinded by the promise of a six-digit monthly income, I clung to the illusion of “having it all.”
I did not let go of the first client, who paid a much lower monthly rate. I was convinced I could easily manage both workloads. After all, I knew their businesses inside and out and was very familiar with the tasks. I thought I could easily switch from one client to another if I managed my time well.
I was so wrong.
The Downward Spiral
The US role demanded a grueling schedule – 9 PM to 6 AM Philippine time. This left me just a few hours after 6 AM to squeeze in work for the NZ client. Initially, I powered through, fueled by sheer determination. But cracks began to appear.
As tasks piled up, quality slipped, and my commitment to my first client began to fade. I used to give his business my full attention. I had no problem exceeding the 8-hour workday to complete a task and give the business the best possible chance of succeeding.
That commitment and focus slowly dwindled to less than one hundred percent until almost nothing was left.
The Lies I Told Myself… and the Clients
As my task deadlines loomed, panic began to set in.
I started resorting to desperate measures. I made up tasks to justify my lagging performance. The guilt and shame of underperforming ate me up – it still does to this day.
But the pressure to maintain this unsustainable path was immense. I had to make it through and continue earning that coveted six-figure income.
And I did. I was living the dream!
My wake-up call came when the US client finally let me go, but with a parting message: they would pay me for the last week’s work even though I had done nothing worth paying for.
The NZ client was much kinder in letting me go. He stopped assigning me tasks, no matter how often I asked him on Slack. The Trello board remained empty. After four years of relying on me for almost every aspect of his business, he had lost trust in me – which hurt more than if he had said anything.
But Wait! There Was More…
The relentless pace of juggling two full-time clients, plus full-time motherhood to elementary-aged kids, took a toll on my physical and mental health.
Due to working late nights and early mornings, I was often sleep-deprived. I was in a constant state of brain fog and struggled to concentrate, which led to more mistakes at work. I was no longer the eager-beaver VA who constantly thought of innovative ways to improve business processes.
I also had to rely on other people to care for my kids, which defeated the purpose of working from home in the first place. On top of that, the constant sleep deprivation made me cranky, significantly affecting my relationship with my loved ones.
The initial excitement I felt for working from home was fading. It was quickly being replaced by disillusionment.
This wasn’t the dream I signed up for. The money wasn’t worth the constant stress, compromised quality, and toll on my integrity.
It was a harsh lesson, but a valuable one. Working online can be an amazing path, but success hinges on finding balance and setting realistic boundaries.
Failing Once Didn’t Stop Me from Trying Again
The hectic shift with two different clients in different time zones didn’t work out.
So, I created a new strategy: I borrowed a friend’s old, unused laptop and went on the prowl again for new full-time clients. This time, I looked for clients who didn’t require me to be online at a specific schedule as long as I completed the work. I worked during the daytime, turning the time tracker on for one client on my laptop while simultaneously working for the other client on the borrowed laptop.
I assumed I could easily multitask by switching between these two computers. I thought multitasking was the key to keeping me on that six-figure pedestal. I just had to learn to multitask better and manage my time and resources.
Boy, was I wrong!
The Myth of Multitasking
Most of us believe that managing multiple clients simultaneously is a sign of efficiency and increased income. But the reality is far different. The widespread idea of multitasking is largely a myth and can be particularly detrimental to our progress.
Studies show that our brains don’t truly “multitask.” Instead, they rapidly switch between tasks. This constant switching, known as context switching, incurs a significant cognitive cost. Each switch requires our brain to reorient itself, remember where we left off, and refocus.
For me, this meant constantly shifting gears between different client briefs, brand voices, and task requirements. This constant mental juggling led to:
- Increased errors
- Reduced efficiency
- Mental fatigue
It all led to the same end result: diminished work quality. I became less creative in my outputs, missed important details, and started missing deadlines.
I was back at square one.
More Clients, More Money? Not Really
If you are active in any online community for remote workers, you may have heard or seen posts about earning a six-figure income.
Six figures! That’s at least a hundred thousand pesos. That’s enough to give you and your family a comfortable life.
You get to pay off your credit card debts.
You don’t have to borrow money from friends, family members, or even your partner to replace broken equipment.
You can pay your insurance premiums religiously.
If you live in a rural area where the cost of living is relatively low, you may even have a lot of money left over for travel, leisure, and emergency funds.
But at what cost?
Earning a six-figure income is an understandable goal, but it’s most likely impossible to obtain with just one client—unless you have a highly specialized skill. These include:
- Software Engineering – app developers with expertise in niche technologies or who possess a strong track record.
- Digital Marketing – experienced digital marketers with a proven portfolio of driving substantial results for the businesses they’ve worked with.
- Design and Creative Services – specifically those specializing in UI/UX design or 3D modeling.
- Financial Analysis – VAs who possess a strong understanding of complex financial models and data analysis.
Notice the keywords here: portfolio or track record and specialized skill.
If you look closely at remote workers posting about their six-digit incomes, you’ll notice a few things.
First, they have been in the industry for at least five years, usually more.
Second, they have specialized skills. This might not be visible at first glance, but if you dig deeper, you’ll see they are experienced digital marketers, SEO copywriters for highly profitable niches, and so on. The bottom line is none of them are beginners or entry-level VAs.
If you are a beginner or mid-level VA, you are unlikely to have a solid online portfolio—at least, not yet. So, if you want to earn more, you’ll have to rely heavily on your negotiation skills to get just one client to agree to pay your asking price.
The Power of Focus: Why One Client Can Be More Profitable
It’s undoubtedly freeing to know that all your bills are paid and that you have enough left over for leisure activities and savings. This gives a certain level of peace that only the truly financially secure can understand.
But it’s not worth it if it costs you your mental, physical, and emotional health.
Instead of spreading yourself thin across multiple clients, consider the benefits of focusing on a single, high-value client.
By dedicating your time and energy to one client, you can:
Build a Strong Relationship
By focusing on just one client, you gain a deep understanding of their needs and preferences. This is key to delivering exceptional results. You start to see patterns in the business and provide feedback on improving processes.
You become an indispensable asset.
Negotiate Higher Rates
After my multiple-client debacle, I was lucky to find a new full-time client.
This time, I gave that business my undivided attention. The result? Six months after starting with that client, I was able to negotiate a higher rate by:
- Reviewing my skills and the services I provided against industry standards.
- Highlighting my contributions to the company’s growth over the previous six months.
There’s so much to be said about being indispensable. You know the team can’t function well without you. This builds your confidence in your skills and ultimately serves as a stepping stone for better salary negotiations.
Gain More Specialized Skills
Focusing on just one client allows you to hone your skills and become an expert in a specific niche. You gain industry-specific knowledge and access to trends and best practices that help you improve.
You can’t drill down on these things if your attention is divided.
When I was juggling multiple clients, I relied heavily on SOPs when using work tools. Whenever problems arose, I didn’t have the time or patience to address them.
But when you’re focused on just one client, you also have the time to learn the details of specific tools instead of blindly using them just to comply.
There are so many specialized niches you can go into as a Filipino virtual assistant.
You can be a:
- Real Estate Virtual Assistant
- AI Specialist with expertise in using AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, Midjourney, etc.
- Automation Specialist as an expert on tools like Zapier, HubSpot, Marketo, and so on.
- Digital Marketing Strategist as the go-to person for all things related to the business’s digital marketing campaigns.
Before long, you may even find yourself leading a team. Be sure to negotiate for a project manager’s rate once you get to this point.
Achieve Work-Life Balance
The biggest pitfall of juggling multiple clients is the negative effect on your work-life balance.
Focusing on just one full-time employer gives you more time to:
- focus on your family,
- get at least 8–10 hours of sleep each night,
- and even have some semblance of a social life.
This is simply impossible with multiple clients. How do I know? Let’s do some math.
One full-time client requires 40 hours a week. Add another full-time client, and that’s another 40 hours a week. This means you’d be working at least 80 hours a week.
That’s just not humanly possible.
It is, but only at the expense of sleep, social life, and quality time with family and loved ones.
The Choice Is Yours
My story isn’t meant to discourage you. It’s a call to be honest with yourself and prioritize your well-being. There’s a world of opportunity out there for us VAs—but it’s built on a foundation of sustainable practices and self-care.
But I’m not an employee… I’m an independent contractor!
Newsflash: contractors are held to a much higher standard. As a contractor, you enter into a professional agreement with the client. As a freelancer, you’re not bound by the same rigid structures of traditional employment. However, that doesn’t absolve you of professional responsibility. Whether you’re employed 9-5 or working project-based as an independent contractor, the core principle remains the same: you’ve exchanged a portion of your expertise for compensation.
As an independent contractor, you enter into agreements with clients, outlining the scope of work, deliverables, and timelines. These agreements—whether formal contracts or informal understandings—represent a professional commitment. When a client hires you, they’re not just paying for your skills; they’re also paying for your focused attention and dedicated time.
So, by agreeing to take on a project as an independent contractor, you’ve essentially promised to allocate a specific portion of your working hours to that client’s needs.
Proper work ethics dictate that you are responsible for honoring your commitments. This means prioritizing the work you’ve agreed to do and delivering on your promises. Dividing your attention among multiple clients can compromise your ability to fulfill those commitments, leading to missed deadlines, subpar work, and damaged client relationships.
Your reputation as a contractor is based on your word and your ability to deliver. Do not break that trust.
As Filipino VAs, we carry a massive weight on our shoulders. It’s our responsibility to ensure that international clients continue to put their trust in Filipino VAs.
This can only be achieved by maintaining our integrity—keeping our promises, doing exactly what we were hired to do, and going above and beyond whenever possible.
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