Get Paid to Review Music - Do it Through Slicethepie

What is Slicethepie? 

Slicethepie is an online community of new artists and music fans, which both share benefits from the web-based service. It was founded by David Courtier-Dutton back in 2007, and as of to date, has grown to more than 9,000 artists and 50,000 scouts.

First of all, if you’re an artist, Slicethepie a great place to sell yourself and your music. Slicethepie is designed to help new artists (amateurs and unsigned singles, bands, groups) kick off their careers. Through Slicethepie, an artist can raise funds from music fans to literally finance their album recording and releasing. It also offers much needed marketing and exposure. It’s also a great place for music fans to find new songs and new artists. 

Next, we’ve mentioned the term “scouts.” Users or “scouts” are the ones who listen to tracks, rate music, and post a written reviews about what they have listened. Now here’s the punchline: Scouts get paid for their music reviews.  

In other words, Slicethepie.com is really an online money making opportunity - a get-paid-to-review-music site. New artists signup and create their own account where they can upload their music (The name of the artist is not disclosed by this time) then scouts get the chance to listen and review them.

Note that scouts are expected to post quality reviews - just a few lines will do. You cannot, of course, cheat on this by just copy-pasting, Slicethepie can easily check plagiarism. And while Slicethepie encourages an honest feedback, you can opt for a constructive criticism instead rather than giving out indecent comments and have your account terminated.

For scouts, there is also a rating system. You can improve your status by writing quality, constructive reviews and scouting actively or regularly. The better your status, the higher your rate for each review you give. 

Minimum payout is only £5, and you can withdraw it via PayPal. Note, your first £5 must be invested in your chosen artist though. 

What’s more, not only does Slicethepie allow every music fan to play like talent scout, it gives ordinary users the opportunity to be investors as well for their favorite artist.  

If you know the trade in the music industry, you know you’ll definitely earn from this. Users as investors rely on their own judgment (and instinct) on finding which artist had the potential to be a future success. The catch is that, fans can then invest (for a minimal amount) and later get a share of profit. 

Among the thousands of new artists on Sliecethepie’s listing, the top 2% (who gets the best reviews) are put upfront for 2 weeks to raise more funds. How can fans help out their favorite artist? They can buy backstage passes at £5 (investment) each or buy contracts for as low as £1.50. If the artists reached the sufficient amount of £15,000 from fans’ contributions, they’re now ready for the album recording, releasing, and contract signing. 

Under Slicethepie, formal contract period is 2 years. Payout for investors depends on the number of albums and singles sold. Royalty of £2 goes to Slicethepie for every album and 20p for every single. Artists, in return, keep all copyrights and the sales from the backstage passes. 

So just how big is Slicethepie now? By 2008, it already has financed more than 11 artists since its launch in June 2007, reaching £200,000 from fan contributions, and paid back £40,000 to their scouts. Also in 2008, Slicethepie has had $2 million investment coming from Bob Holt (Mear’s CEO), Mark Taylor (Microsoft’s UK director), and Gavin Breeze (Datacash founder) for site improvement.

 

 

Thank You for Joining the PinayProject Community

There are actually three things that I am thankful for today. Among the three, the PinayProject Community is the one that I am most grateful for. 

Here goes...

It's been almost a week since the PinayProject Community started. I would like to thank all those who joined. To those who have not joined yet, please feel free to join and share and discover more work from home ideas. We are open to suggestions that will make PinayProject a productive and learning experience. 

Next, my blog has been reviewed recently. I am just thankful that despite the fact that PinayProject is just a month old with just a few number of posts, I didn't realize that there were people who have seen the potential of this blog to grow (I am actually surprised that this was realized at this point in time, considering that I still have a Pagerank of Zero - hahahaha). More than anything else, I am just happy that people envision PinayProject as a good resource that will benefit those who want to successful in working from home.

Last, I'm glad that there were quite a number of people who joined oDesk recently. Some of them took the time to email and thank me for sharing oDesk with them. Some of them already started their first gig, while others who just joined a few days ago are still waiting. I wish them the best of luck and I hope that the tips I have posted previously would help them.  To those who have not joined yet, you can join by clicking on this link.

Now, as my way of expressing my heartfelt thanks to you all, I have added an email subscription form to this blog. I know this is something common to all blogs, but it is an indication of my commitment to YOU. In the next coming weeks, expect more ideas and insights that will make your work from home experience more rewarding.  

Stay tuned!

How to Become an oDesk Freelance Provider

Ever since I started my freelancing career with oDesk, a lot of people have been asking me how they should go about the registration process as a freelance provider. I figured it may not be as easy as registering for an email account that I decided to post oDesk's registration instructions here.

So, to you folks out there, this is for you:

1. Click on this link to go to start your oDesk registration

2. Click on the 'Create an Account' link in the upper right hand corner of the oDesk homepage.

3. Select Freelance Provider - I want to earn money as an independent contractor.

4. Fill out the form that appears. Double check all your entries before you click the continue button.

NOTE: Pay special attention to the Username box. It will be automatically filled out by oDesk (usually, it will be a combination your first initial and last name). You will not be able change your username after your account has been created.

5. You will see the 'Post your Profile: Checklist'. You have to complete all four sections before you can start applying to jobs.

6. Check the email address you provided in step 2 above. Look for an email with the subject: Please verify your email address. Click the link in the email, or paste the URL into your browser. When the page loads, press 'Click here to continue.'

7. Fill out your contact information. You must provide a Yahoo Messenger ID (for interviewing with buyers), phone number (in case oDesk needs to contact you about your account), City, Country, and Timezone. Although not required, we would appreciate your letting us know how you heard about oDesk - please be as specific as possible. Double check all your entries before you press the Save and Continue button.

NOTE: Be especially careful when selecting a country. It will not be user-editable in your profile (you'll have to contact oDesk support if you need to change it).

8. Now you are ready to complete the initial setup of your oDesk profile. Select the job categories you are interested in. Check the box next to Job Alerts if you want to receive job listing updates via email (you'll be able to set up an RSS/Atom Feed later, if you prefer). Select a Primary Role (the job title that sounds most like what you're looking for). Set the Hourly Rate to display in your profile (buyers will see the calculated total). Select your availability (between 5-40 hours per week). Fill in a title for yourself, and try to make it sound interesting. Double check all your entries before you press the Save and Continue button.

9. Review the oDesk Marketplace User Agreement. You may click the Printable version link for a file you can save for your records. After you've reviewed the User Agreement, you will need to check the box to indicate that you agree to our terms, conditions, and policies. Then press the Save and Continue button.

10. Now you should have a green check mark next to all four steps on the profile checklist. Press the Post my Profile button to officially list yourself as an oDesk provider.

11. You'll be taken directly to the Profile & Settings portion of the My oDesk tab. You should begin to fill out the rest of your profile right away.

All oDesk providers must pass the oDesk Readiness Test. You cannot apply to job openings unless you are oDesk Ready. This open book test is designed as a tutorial to help familiarize users with oDesk policies and practices. (effective June 4, 2008)

That's it! Congratulations! You're on your way now to earning dollars weekly! If you still have questions on how to go about the process, you are free to email me: jc.wfh.888 (AT)gmail(DOT)com.

Good luck and Happy oDesk Gig Hunting!

Related posts:

Tips on How to Get That First oDesk Assignment

Earning from Home

Fortemall: A New Way to Teach and Earn Online

We've been hearing a lot about online teaching lately. From teaching programming skills to online students to teaching English to Koreans. While teaching online alone is already an enjoyable and rewarding experience, Fortemall has even made it better. With Fortemall, you can now sell your specialized skills, knowledge and know-how more effectively by listing your courses through ForteMall. All you just need to do is sign up. Don't worry, it's for FREE.

Here's to give you more idea about Fortemall:

(taken from Fortemall's About Us page)

Founded in 2007 and launched in April 2008, ForteMall, Inc. created a new way to learning/training marketplace. This new creative marketplace connects many of people around the world, empowering them to explore new opportunities and innovate together.

ForteMall Inc. does this by providing the Internet platforms of choice for global learning/training market, payments and communications.

Company Narrative

Over the past 10 years, the Internet has expanded, and so has humankind's relationship with it. More and more of our day-to-day activities are conducted online. The Internet continually enhances our ability to connect with the world around us.

Knowledge is powerful. People around the world need the knowledge, skills, and know-how to make human life improved. People seek fulfillment of learning fundamental needs in their day-to-day activities. Despite differences in language, culture and economic status, people are united in their fundamental need to learn.

ForteMall's original vision was to create the world's first global learning/training marketplace. We saw a "knowledge market" in which anyone in the world could sell or buy any course for a flat way.

We will continue to innovate and integrate the technologies and policies that make these day-to-day learning/training activities even more trusted, fair and efficient than they are today.

Many of people who use ForteMall today are already experiencing this new way to learn and teach. ForteMall Inc. will make it so easy and rewarding to engage in Social Education that we believe more people will participate. And this next generation will bring with them new services, ideas and opportunities for everyone.

Happy Online Teaching!

Clickbank Now Available in the Philippines

Yes, that's right.  I just registered with Clickbank and I have seen it with my own eyes that it has now included Philippines as one of its participating countries. Ain't that great or what? 

You can now choose from a wide array of products in the marketplace then sell them! Commissions range from 30 to 75%. Just remember though, NO SPAMMING! Try to be creative in selling the products of your interest. Remember that YOU represent the product that you are selling. So, before you think of your own commission think about your customers, too. Last, try to carefully pick the products that you're selling. Not only should you consider if the products are of your interest, but also try to "dissect" if the product is worth selling. It pays to choose wisely.

Happy Selling!

Work from Home Job Sites for Filipinos

A lot of my friends have been asking me where they could apply for jobs that will allow them to go freelance or work from home. I remember receiving an email two weeks ago asking about sites for online jobs. Although I replied with helpful answers, I thought it would be best to come up with a list of Filipino job sites for telecommuters and post it here. 

1. Bestjobs.ph 

They really live up to their name. This is where I was able to get most of my gigs in the past. For most people who want to try to work from home, Bestjobs.ph is one of the many freelancer sites that you can visit. They offer the basics of every freelancing site like free registration, job postings and bids. One unique thing about them though is they allow their users to create a web address for future employers to view. To filter home based or work from home jobs, simply type the keywords "home based" or "work from home" and it will give you the results that you need.

2. Filipino Freelancers 

Site specifically designed for Filipino freelancers which offers a wide array of jobs from Account to Instructor, from Marketing Specialist to Translator. Tabs include a page for Employers, Freelancers and Job postings. 

3. Pinoylancer 

Pinoylancer.com is a decent place to get quality freelance job. Site interface is clean and easy, and registration is free. Gigs are sorted through different categories although the site cannot really boast of an extensive pool of job offers. 

4. Bayanweb 

Bayanweb.net is a site for freelancers to look for jobs, post their resume, learn new skills and be a part of a community with “growing potentials.” Articles ranging from basic and to intermediate level tutorials are developed by senior Bayanweb members and by the site as well. Skill evaluation is also offered, as well as task “level up” where you care given more challenging tasks from time to time. 

5. Writers.ph 

Writers.ph is a website that would allow people, who have chosen to work from home as a freelance writer, decide if it’s really the job for them. Users can choose on the genre that they want to use, and their area of expertise. Registration is free and payment scheme is very flexible. 

6. Essays.ph 

Philippine’s Premiere Online Writing Community. Most of the assignments taken are based on provider’s preferred time and availability. While working at home is an option, working in their office is preferred to “manage you better.” Promotions, salary increase and other perks are available for providers who will work long term. 

7. Careerjet.ph 

The site, in effect, does not really offer the jobs posted but are actually jobs searched from different job finder’s site, collated and categorized, and presented or displayed on the page. While freelance jobs in the Philippines is a rarity, you can filter your search and include Asia or World-Wide in your search to start searching for freelance jobs outside the Philippines. 

8. Sulit.com.ph

Sulit.com.ph provides its users a free web space to post jobs and products to sell while interacting with the entire Sulit community. Site also offers paid banner ads but registration is free. 

9. Applyna.com 

If you are a job seeker and you want to find jobs “specifically catered to Filipinos,” you might want to give this site a look. Job categories include marketing, tourism, healthcare, manufacturing and a lot more. They also have a resume wizard to help people get started with their resumer. 

10. http://ontue.com 

The site’s distinct feel lies on the fact that it is specifically created for Filipino teachers. If you are a teacher, you can post your resume here and have prospective students search you by age, gender, city, major and webcam availability.  

Happy Job Hunting!

Earn From Your Blog Through Google Adsense

This blog is barely two weeks old. I would be a hypocrite if I told you that my only intention was to share good information and insights about earning from home. Of course, I also wanted to earn from it --- through Google Adsense.

I'm no guru on Google Adsense. As a matter of fact I just learned about it two weeks ago. Before I decided to put Google Ads on my blog, I had to research day in and day out on how I could make it work for me. There were forums that were helpful enough to set my expectations that making it big with Google Adsense does not happen overnight. All of them have even said that when you are just starting, there will really be days when you would just earn 1 cent or even nothing at all.  So, here goes...

I decided to place ads on this blog as early as Day One of Work from Home: A Pinay's Project. I figured it was worth giving a try since Google Adsense is still a form of passive income that a lot of people has looked up to. 

So there...One ad unit on top, another one on the left side and another one at the bottom of the page (Google does not allow more than three ad blocks per page), clicked the Save button then waited...

24 hours has passed and I only earned 0.01 on my first day - something that I already expected. I figured if I just waited again after uploading my second post, I might just end up with another cent or  nothing at all. 

After simultaneously working with both my creativity (for my content) and logic (for my adsense strategy), I was finally able to come up with a list of action items on what to do next to up my adsense game. I carried it out as early as Day 2, then to Day 3... Day 4...Day 5. It was after a week that I realized I was already averaging 50 cents a day - not bad. At the end of the first week, I have already earned $5 - not too much but at least it's better than 7 cents.

Now that I have tested it, I have decided to list down my top 5 and share it with you:

1. It pays to have a lot of traffic to your site. The reason why I wasn't surprised to only get 1 cent on my first day was I still didn't know how to generate traffic to my blog. One good way to increase traffic is by submitting your site to directories.

2. Ad placement plays an important role in increasing the chances for your ads to be clicked. The ads below my blog title are so far my best players. It wouldn't hurt if you try the same thing with your ad placements. If it doesn't work for you, change it. 

3. Blend your ads with your page. It's already obvious - they're ads. You wouldn't want them to be "shouting out loud" that they're ads. Try to blend and match it with th color scheme of your page (it worked for me).

4. Use channels. Channels are a means for Google to generate reports that are drilled down per page or per ad block or per date. They help a lot in improving your adsense game. It's good to know how you can still make your strategy better through the use of channels. 

5. Most important of all, build GOOD CONTENT. Although there are keywords that need to be considered in order for your site to be optimized, always remember that you are writing for your audience, not for Google's crawlers.

There are still a lot of tips out there which might just also work for you.  Check out this video to find out:

Working from Home and Being the Boss

Work from home opportunities is not a rarity anymore. It’s actually “the trend”.

You are your own boss. You don’t have to commute or deal with traffic or dress up. No office politics, no recession, no lay-offs. Best of all, you can build a rock solid income around your schedule while working at the comfort of your home. Working from home is actually being embraced by more people as economies dwindle and job security is become vague.

Now, if you could just give me 2 to 3 minutes of your time, I can share with you how you could make great money and build a profitable business from home.

The Global System of Automatic Information will teach you how to live, work and make money under the same roof. It’s a tried and tested system that will allow you to start your own business and work from home risk-free. The Global System of Automatic Information is actually a system strategy which is very profitable, easy to operate, and uses technology in a very user-friendly way.

You will get an e-book that will show you how the Global System of Automatic Information works. It will show you a step-by-step instruction which will allow you to decide if working from home is right for you.

With the package also comes The Secret of Success by William Walker Atkinson ($19 value), How To Talk To Anyone - 92 Little Tricks For Big Success In Relationships ($22 value) and The Report Marketing Strategy's Biggest Secret by Jay Abraham ($34 value), all absolutely free. With the package and the freebies, the recipe for success is already within your reach.

You just have to say “YES, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK FROM MY HOME AND BE MY OWN BOSS.”

Is the 3 minutes up already? Oh, I didn’t notice…

Earn While You Are Sleeping

In these economically hard times, everybody is looking for ways to earn extra cash and while many sites tell you how to earn it, very few are actually worth trying while some are actually earning.

This article while tell you how to earn cash literally, while you sleep.
The answer is: eBay. I am sure you’ve heard of it. But have you ever wondered how some people earn money on eBay? Some earn from it by selling stuffs but majority of the people who profit from it, do not sell their own products on eBay. Its true. And if you keep reading, you will discover how to tap on eBay without investing any money or products. Just in case you are wondering, THIS IS NOT A SCAM.

The Paradise Success Kit for eBay will show you an easy, step-by-step program to have your own home-based business, including an eBay store full of new and quality products without any cash involved. The Paradise Success kit for eBay is a downloadable program. You can be up and running your eBay store in less than one day!

Included in the package are two bonuses:101 eBay Secrets and Special Report: "eBay Dropship Profits”—at a combined $20 value, it’s yours absolutely free! As if that wasn’t enough, the Paradise Success Kit for eBay also includes Resell rights so you can sell it again and again and keep the profits for yourself.

A 30-day Money Back Guarantee? Agreed! So if you’re still not earning within a month, you can refund your payment. It’s a win-win offer. No losses. You don’t have to be computer guru, you just need the right information and the right program to set up your own store and auction on eBay.

Then, sleep the day away. When you wake up, you’ll be nth-times richer than you were before your slumber.

Sweet dreams.

Earning from Home

I know I haven’t been able to go into the details of how I’ve been earning from home during my previous posts. Not that I intended to do it. I’m saying this because some have actually emailed me saying, “When are you gonna give us the juicy part of earning from home?” Sorry if I have kept you in suspense.  I have really allotted a lot of time to gather all the good stuff so I could give it to you blow by blow.  Besides, it would defeat the purpose of getting you guys geared up first if you’d eventually be at a loss when you decide to immediately start earning. Believe me, it’s more financially rewarding if you’re able to have the right mindset first.

Let me give you a glimpse now of the so-called “juicy part” of earning from home:

Freelance Job Sites. There are hundreds out there, but the most that really give me one gig after another is a site called oDesk.  Payout is every week thru either Paypal or Payoneer (although there are other methods of payments, these two are the best ones for me)

oDesk was also the same site who sent me one reject email after another when I was just starting… It really pays to be patient (literally). 

By Earning from Blogs.  Just exactly what I’m doing right now with this site.  Those ads can work wonders in giving you another means for earning from home. With just a little SEO and proper ad placement plus some strategy to drive traffic, you’re on your way to making a second source of (passive) income.  

Below are my money makers as of to date:

Google Adsense

Chitika

Bidvertiser

I’ll leave it up to you to choose which of the above earning from home options work for you. If you ask me, it wouldn’t hurt to have one active and one passive income ;-).

Related posts:

Tips on How to Get that First oDesk Assignment

How to Become An oDesk Freelance Provider

 

The Essentials For Freelance Work

Efficiency = Skills + Discipline + Reliable Technology.

This is what I call my work from home formula. My toolkit. My mantra.

Discipline

While it may be true that freelance work or working from home gives you more freedom than when confined in an office with people monitoring your activities all the time, it should be noted that this kind of freedom should still be coupled with discipline --- twice the discipline that you once had when you were still reporting to an immediate superior.

The reason for employing discipline is simple: We are being paid for our output.

I remember one client of mine, a very nice guy, who had to hire a new set of people (I was part of that “new set”), as he could no longer afford to keep chasing on his former staff for deliverables. It was so ironic that the reason why he hired people was to free up his time and allow him to do more important things for his business, like get new clients, yet only ended up getting tied down because he had to baby sit his staff.

This should be very basic - Discipline promotes productivity and cost effectiveness, both which are essential for your client’s business.

If you want to be a keeper, bear this big “D” in mind. Put quotes about it on your wall, workdesk, or any part of your workplace area. Read it. Live it.

Skills

You need not have a wide range of skills to stay competitive. Just focus on one or two and you’ll do fine. Focus on that one that you are really passionate about.

1. Update your skills. Learn about new technology that could help you with it.

It pays to be aware of the current trends being used. In my case, I do a lot of project management. Although there are a lot of really good project management tools out there, I still would like to know which ones are the most cost effective and more suitable to my clients’ requirements.

2. Build your portfolio.

While a good portfolio gives a client more basis to hire you for your skills, it also gives you a reference of how you continuously evolve in improving your craft. Make every work your masterpiece. Always work as if it were your last.

3. Read and learn from the experts

It helps to learn from the experts. Find out how they started, find out what makes them marketable and learn from their achievements.

Reliable Technology

Take note: Reliable, but not necessarily the latest.

If you’re a newbie, it would be more practical to just get a piece of equipment that would serve its purpose.

1. A reliable PC

Honestly, the first pc that I bought when I started to work from home was just a second hand Pentium IV, and boy I must tell you, it worked wonders for me --- not bad with a 512MB RAM, a 40GB hard drive, and a network card that would allow it to connect to DSL – especially since most of the work that will be done is just admin-related.

2. A DSL connection

Two things to consider: speed and reliability.

Sometimes, we confuse the speed of our PC as also the speed of our connection. On my next blog post, I will show you some tips on how to rule out PC problems and internet connection problems.

Reliability. How many times have you called your ISP complaining about unreliable connection? Honestly, I’m guilty of that. It pays to ask around first before subscribing.

3. A dial-up connection or wireless USB connection

It helps to have a backup in case your DSL connection fails. Take note though that not all of the bandwidth that you use for DSL can be accommodated by these 2 backups. There are times when you have to only use one instant messenger (I’m guilty of using 2 or 3 at a time) for the time being. Nevertheless, these two would still come in handy, unless your other backup is another DSL connection. That’s a different story, of course.

Next post: Stay tuned for tips on how to troubleshoot your pc problems (before calling your local technician).

Having the Right Mindset

You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to have an entrepreneurial mindset.

That’s what I realized when I started to work from home. It’s quite surprising to find out how much you can do when you don’t always have to pay attention on the money that you’ll be earning at the end of the day, end of the week, or of the month. I mean, it’s already a given – you are working for money.

I was on the same boat until I realized I couldn’t always think like I was still employed by someone else – because I’m not (anymore). Besides, I didn’t want to be treated like an employee. I guess if there’s anything that I want to happen along my way – the way I want things done, the way people would treat me, the way I want to achieve my goals - it should always start from me.

And all it’s gonna take is a proper mindset.

So, how can one have an entrepreneurial mindset?

I guess since almost 95% of the population are more into obtaining security and benefits, it would be best if we distinguish first the difference between an employee mindset and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Hey, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with wanting security and benefits as an employee – I’m all for that. I guess the drawback only sets in when one wants to achieve more in terms of financial freedom. I once came across a site where the author said and I quote “Security is useless when you have to sacrifice growth to get it.”

When I started to work from home, I remember the first thing I always did in the morning even before I had my breakfast, was to check my inbox for new emails – specifically from clients who I had followed up on the previous days.

This was actually something I had no time of doing (I even hate doing it at times) when I was an employee.

I remember wanting to have coffee first before attending to any office work. For some reason, work at the office was a vicious cycle for me. I was just going through the motions – all because I had the same mindset everyday – that of an employee. Even if there was an opportunity to be proactive, I still remained reactive. Not that I complained or anything, as being reactive does not always mean expressing something negative. Initiating change, bringing innovative ideas, taking ownership --- none of those were consistently present in my system. In a nutshell, my way of thinking then was “What’s the point?”

It was only in October 2008 when I realized that an instant transition took place. I was literally selling myself – first my credentials, then my skills, then my ideas, then my ideals, then my values. It was not long after when I finally said to myself that this is what I wanted for the long haul.

I read a lot. I would work from 9am till 1am in the morning taking care of my projects and supervising my assistants. At 1 am when all of my assistants have gone home, I would start reading the sites that I bookmarked. Then again at 7:30am just before one of my assistants arrive at 9am I would read another bookmarked site. Then I would continue reading during lunch. It was work-read-work-read for me everyday and it was just addicting. What I have read just validated what my passion is all about--- what my goal in life was all about.

For the past eight years, all I did was work then (try to) save. Work then save – and that’s it. It was only four months ago that everything started to make sense.

There is no period after “save.” At least that was what I did.

Work-save-invest is now the name of the game. There’s nothing wrong with just working and saving. We live in a world anyway of risk takers and safe players. I guess what’s just amazing with applying this cycle is not only does it increase the possibility for one to have financial freedom, but it also paves the way to improve one’s skills, pursue a passion, have a paradigm shift, and change of mindset – now that’s what I’m talking about right there.

Need I say more?

What Started it All

It has been 4 Months, 20 Days and 3 hours since I last stepped into a corporate office.

I used to work as an operations manager for a call center here in the Philippines. There was no problem working in a call center. As a matter of fact, I've been with the industry for almost eight years. Every minute was full of fun and excitement. I remember those days when I would always look forward to spending most of my weekends with my team, somewhere in the countryside just to chill out, relax and just spend time knowing them outside of work... Good times.

Thing is, IT WAS NOT FOR ME.

It was the 26th of October, 2008. I remember waking up one morning in my barely furnished condo unit saying aloud, "I should buy a computer today!" just like that. I said it aloud as if I wasn't worrying about the bills that I still had to pay, to think that my fridge was almost empty and needed to be refilled. Still, that day ended with me bringing a second hand desktop PC as my first piece of "furniture" in my condo's living area. From then on, there was no turning back.

I remember the day when I had my first work from home assignment. I earned $2 and I was so happy about it. I know it was barely enough to even cover the cab fare I spent for bringing home my second hand pc, but it was a start for me. Soon after, I just had to look for more ways to be productive. Only a few days after I got my first $2-assignment, a better one came along and it earned me $70 plus some really good feedback for a job well done. I remember spending at least 4 hours a day, applying for hourly jobs and only end up receving reject emails the following day. Still it didn't keep me from applying for more jobs. It was not long after that I just suddenly realized that I have already earned more than what I paid for my ever-reliable second hand pc. Before my first month ended, I could have bought another PC anytime.

So, on my second month, I bought a laptop instead :)

Now, do you want to know what else happened on the third and fourth month? Please refer to the short list below :) :

3rd month - I got my first assistant
4th month - I got my second assistant

And the list will just continue now that three heads are better than one!


So, what's with this Pinay Project?

It's all about Productivity, Paying forward and being the modern independent PINAY. After months of pondering and figuring out ways on how to be productive and be financially stable, I thought it would be best not to confine my experience within the four walls of my condo. Sharing my experience would be a good start to pay forward whatever I have reaped today.

Thing is, this has been my mindset: Rather than merely treating a work from home setup as an opportunity to spend more time with my family (which I also consider as something very important), I treated it as an opportunity to LIVE more and BE more --- discover my potential, have the ability to think outside the box, and eventually align it with the potential to earn more.

Think about it, my fellow Pinays! ;)

My next blog posts will be all about ways to earn income in the comforts of your own home. So, stay tuned!

Be productive, Pinay!