You ARE Making a Difference in the World

So, something crazy happened to me the other day.

I was walking into our local Albertson’s store to pick up a last-minute gallon of milk before heading home. I stopped at a card table set up just outside the entrance, where a young man was selling his “art” to passersby.

The young man was in a wheelchair and obviously severely disabled. His mother, who was helping him sell his artwork, had apparently seen hard times. In fact (judging by their appearances), they were in the trenches of “hard times.” I took what cash I had out of my wallet, bought a few pieces of “art,” thanked them, and continued on my way. I almost forgot my milk.

Then I got into my SUV, and I cried.

Freakin’ cried.

And as I was sitting there, desperate to do something more to help this family, I became overwhelmed thinking about the needs in my hometown…and then I started thinking about the needs of families all over the world. There is nothing like sitting in the Albertson’s parking lot, crying like a baby, wanting to save the world, and not knowing where to start.

Now, I don’t know how many of you have embarrassed yourself in front of your kids like I did (they were with me, and couldn’t seem to understand what made me cry). But I would guess that each of you, at some point or another, has felt that urge to help someone in need.

The need to help others unifies us. It’s part of what makes us human. And for most of us, it never goes away.

But there are SO many roadblocks to any form of philanthropy, especially for a small business owner! The desire is always there, but it’s overwhelmed by thoughts of:

• “I’m running a business and I don’t have time to help, but I will one day.”
• “I can barely handle the stress of my own business and family, how do I manage humanitarian work too?”
• “I want to help, but I have no idea where to start or how to begin?!”
• “I’m running a small business and funds are tight, I want to help, but how can I afford to give money away?”

I’ll let you in on a secret. To make a difference:

You DON’T have to travel to Africa to dig wells.
You DON’T have to sell your time and soul to a non-profit.
You DON’T have to give away thousand-dollar tips at the Waffle House
And you DON’T have to be Gandhi!

You only have to go as far as your computer.

When you hire Filipino workers with OnlineJobs.ph, you are changing people’s lives!

You’re supporting hard workers in a third-world country. That’s right. The Philippines is a third-world country. And you’re not just giving your money away to a foundation that “supposedly” builds churches and orphanages. You are supporting a hard-working mother or father as they continue to develop skills and provide for their families.

That’s right. You’re not paying a snot-nosed, entitled kid who’s still on his parents’ insurance and cell phone plan. The money you pay Filipino VAs goes toward the basic needs of life for their families, not the latest “Call of Duty” game or a $200 pair of Nikes. When you employ with OnlineJobs.ph, you’re keeping the lights on, putting food on the table and funding basic shelter needs. That’s noble. And there are hundreds of outsourcing entrepreneurs who agree. Rebekah Campbell, creator of Posse.com and NY Times boss-blogger shares some great insight on helping families through outsourcing to the Philippines.

When you outsource to the Philippines, you’re also giving opportunities to those who would otherwise have zero. Free enterprise, capitalism, and room for growth are all things we take for granted in developed countries like the US. It’s easy to forget that almost half the world (over 3 billion people) live on LESS than $2.50 a day! AND they’re working exhausting jobs with no opportunities for raises or advancements. You are changing that. You’re not only giving them opportunities to work from the comfort of their homes but opportunities to grow with you and your business. There are some naysayers who would claim that small-business outsourcing is exploitation. I would venture to say they’ve never experienced it first hand or witnessed the possible influence for good it has in virtual workers’ lives.

There are some naysayers who would claim that small-business outsourcing is exploitation. I would venture to say they’ve never experienced it first hand or witnessed the opportunities it opens to virtual workers. Yaro Starak, a successful businessman and veteran outsourcer, shares interesting introspection on outsourcing to the Philippines and the idea of “fair pay for fair work.” Did you know that $450 a month is considered a comfortable living in some countries? In some cases, it’s more than three times the national average pay!  Your employment of Filipino virtual workers gives them financial opportunities that wouldn’t be available otherwise.

You are also literally perpetuating ‘global education’ when you hire with OnlineJobs.ph. As you train and work with your VAs, they’re developing skills for a competitive business world.  And formal education is extremely important in the Philippines (which is part of what makes it so great for outsourcing). Chances are, the Filipinos you employ either have a college-level education or they’re current students. Your paychecks can help pay for their educations. And like any good parent, they are probably setting aside a portion of your payments to go toward their kids’ education funds. You should feel good about that.

You’re making a difference for families. Many jobs in the Philippines require grueling hours and long commutes. Thousands of employed Filipinos and current job seekers on OnlineJobs.ph are young mothers. When you employ them, they can quit the tedious commute and awful hours. You make it possible for them to be home with their children while they work for you from their computers.

When you employ Filipino workers through OnlineJobs.ph, you are feeding children, helping to fund housing, contributing toward further education for your employees and their children, the list goes on…

We’ve recently compiled some testimonials from Filipino workers who were hired through OnlineJobs.ph, and their gratitude and enthusiasm were overwhelming!

YOU can make a difference for a handful of people.

And when you employ those people through OnlineJobs.ph, they’ll make life easier and more profitable for you too. And you’ll never be caught crying like a baby, feeling helpless in an Albertson’s parking lot.

Because you ARE doing your part to make a difference.

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About Shelane
Shelane Tuttle is a full-time mother and part-time writer. She loves music and reading, is a terrible cook, and thrives on learning/teaching others about new things, like outsourcing.

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