July Check-in From The Diary!
Half of 2025 gone, but still grateful. Life happened, sickness came, rest took priority and that’s the beauty of remote work: freedom to adjust, pause, and pick up again. Here’s my little check-in! We’re still here, still growing, still sharing real stories….
When Pleasing Everyone Leaves You Empty: A Wake-Up Call for
You don’t have to be everything to everyone. You just have to be whole for yourself. Let’s stop glorifying burnout. Let’s start normalizing boundaries….
15 Years — And Yes, That Matter.
So to anyone who thinks longevity is boring or irrelevant: Let me say this with love — you don’t always know who that message is for….
Dear Pinoy VAs, Please Know Your Worth
Filipino VAs deserve better. Your value isn’t based on your location. It’s your skills, sacrifices, and output that matter. Know your worth, stand tall, and don’t settle for less. The right clients will see your value….
Am I Living ‘The Dream’?
“Live Your Dream” is about building a life you love. From chasing passion projects to blending motherhood and career, it’s redefining success on your own terms with heart, with courage, and with joy….
Why Live Your Dream?
“Live Your Dream” isn’t just a podcast title. It’s the story of how remote work changed my life. From helping my family to raising my son while earning from home, it’s a reminder that building your dream life is possible….
When Opportunities Are Taken for Granted
When someone gives you a chance, show up. Ghosting is never okay! Respect, communication, and gratitude matter more than skills. Opportunities are bridges. Walk them wisely….
Why You Can’t Focus (And What You Can Do About
If you’ve ever sat down to work, opened your laptop, and ended up cleaning the fridge or spiraling into a deep dive about how baby pandas are raised… hi, you’re not alone….
Go-To Productivity Hacks as a Virtual Assistant
Welcome to the beautiful, chaotic world of working from home. Productivity hits different here. So today, let me share a few of my tried-and-tested productivity hacks. The ones that have kept me sane, focused, and still smiling after 15 years in this industry….
July Check-in From The Diary!
Half of 2025 gone, but still grateful. Life happened, sickness came, rest took priority and that’s the beauty of remote work: freedom to adjust, pause, and pick up again. Here’s my little check-in! We’re still here, still growing, still sharing real stories….
When Pleasing Everyone Leaves You Empty: A Wake-Up Call for Virtual Assistants
You don’t have to be everything to everyone. You just have to be whole for yourself. Let’s stop glorifying burnout. Let’s start normalizing boundaries….
15 Years — And Yes, That Matter.
So to anyone who thinks longevity is boring or irrelevant: Let me say this with love — you don’t always know who that message is for….
Dear Pinoy VAs, Please Know Your Worth
Filipino VAs deserve better. Your value isn’t based on your location. It’s your skills, sacrifices, and output that matter. Know your worth, stand tall, and don’t settle for less. The right clients will see your value….
Am I Living ‘The Dream’?
“Live Your Dream” is about building a life you love. From chasing passion projects to blending motherhood and career, it’s redefining success on your own terms with heart, with courage, and with joy….
Why Live Your Dream?
“Live Your Dream” isn’t just a podcast title. It’s the story of how remote work changed my life. From helping my family to raising my son while earning from home, it’s a reminder that building your dream life is possible….
When Opportunities Are Taken for Granted
When someone gives you a chance, show up. Ghosting is never okay! Respect, communication, and gratitude matter more than skills. Opportunities are bridges. Walk them wisely….
Why You Can’t Focus (And What You Can Do About It Today)
If you’ve ever sat down to work, opened your laptop, and ended up cleaning the fridge or spiraling into a deep dive about how baby pandas are raised… hi, you’re not alone….
Go-To Productivity Hacks as a Virtual Assistant
Welcome to the beautiful, chaotic world of working from home. Productivity hits different here. So today, let me share a few of my tried-and-tested productivity hacks. The ones that have kept me sane, focused, and still smiling after 15 years in this industry….
From Hesitant Beginners to Thriving Virtual Pros
From hesitant first steps to full-circle success, this episode with Ms. Rowie of RN Virtual Solutions is a must-listen for aspiring VAs, especially stay-at-home moms. Real talk, practical advice, and encouragement await….
Meet the Voice Behind the Diary
Meet the voice (and the brains?) behind The Virtual Assistant Diary.. a 15-year VA, Executive Assistant, Digital Marketing Strategist, mom, and writer who’s been working from home long before it was trendy. She shares her journey, her why, and what you can expect from the blog’s next chapter….
We’re Back! The Virtual Assistant Diary Is Live Again..
I’m bringing The Virtual Assistant Diary back. Not as just a blog, but as a growing ecosystem of resources, mentorship, and heart-led conversations for those who are ready to thrive in this digital world….
The Virtual Assistant Diary Journey to 15
2010
The Birth of The Virtual Assistant Diary
The Virtual Assistant Diary started as a simple WordPress blog (it was a free wordpress.org site back then), but I barely wrote anything because I was still working full-time and figuring out the VA world. This was the year I discovered remote work as a side hustle, though I had no idea it would eventually change my life.
2011
Taking the Leap
After months and years of contemplating, I finally resigned from my job at an international software company with a base here in the Philippines to explore home-based work opportunities. It was a scary but exciting step, and I started documenting my journey on my blog, embracing the dream of working from anywhere.
2012
Finally .com official
The VA Diary became more than just a side project when I purchased my first official domain and migrated my blog from WordPress.org to WordPress.com. This was the year I started taking my online presence seriously, turning my experiences into something that could help others.
2012
TVAD to EBO
EBO started it’s course but eventually had to pause due to personal matters.
2013
Virtual Assistants Philippines
To solidify my career, I registered my VA business as JMT Administrative and Marketing Services in the Philippines, making it official. I also attended the first-ever Philippine Virtual Assistant Conference in Manila, where I also had the opportunity to speak as a guest and share my VA journey. Meeting fellow VAs for the first time made the experience even more meaningful. It made my journey feel a little less isolating and a lot more exciting, knowing there were others out there on the same path.
2014
TVAD to Staff Outsource
I attempted to start an outsourcing company, Staff Outsource, but it didn’t align with my expectations, so I decided to step away from it.
2014-2018
Growth & Hustle
These years were intense with client work, pushing my blog to the background while I focused on growing my VA career. TVAD was hacked twice, but I kept rebuilding, proving that setbacks wouldn’t stop me from thriving in the remote work industry. During these years, I had the incredible opportunity to travel across different parts of Asia, all while bringing my work with me, a true testament to the freedom that remote work provides. It was more than just a career; it was a lifestyle that proved the world could truly be my office.
2019
Life & Priorities
This was a year of transition as I got married, got pregnant, and started slowing down, stepping back from projects to focus on myself and family. I let go of some clients, took a step back from the blog, and began embracing the idea that success isn’t just about work. For me, success is about answering my calling and finding true contentment in what I do.
2020
The World’s Turning Point
The pandemic changed everything, accelerating remote work and bringing a massive wave of new Virtual Assistants into the industry. While I took a personal hiatus to focus on my newborn son, it was clear that more people needed guidance in navigating the VA world.
2021
The Relaunch
The VA Diary made a comeback with a fresh design, a new look, and a free starter kit to help beginners get started with remote work. It was the first step toward building something bigger than just blog posts but a structured learning space.
2022
Reset and Redirection
I took the blog offline again to reassess its purpose, knowing that the VA Diary needed to be more than just content. It needed structure. This was the year I created The VA Diary Learning Framework, breaking down VA success into four levels of learning. It was also my first attempt to launch a podcast.
2023
A New Vision
Selah. I started rethinking the VA Diary, realizing it could be more than just a digital diary, it could be a platform to educate and mentor aspiring VAs. Slowly but surely, I started mapping out how I could teach, guide, and create real impact in the industry.
2024
Creathink Digital
CD Marketing was launched to support The Virtual Assistant Diary’s mission.
2024
Loss and Foundation
At the start of the year, something happened that wiped out everything. That includes my work, my business, my professional projects, even personal files. It was heartbreaking, and I had to slowly rebuild, retrieving what I could piece by piece. But in the midst of that, it became a time of deep planning, refining my vision and laying the foundation for The Virtual Assistant Diary as a reliable source of information.
2025
Course & Mentorship + New Chapter
Celebrating 15 years in the remote work industry, I’m launching my first-ever structured online course and mentorship program. But this isn’t just another relaunch, it’s a commitment to a clearer, more intentional path.
2025
Personally, I’m back to working full-time, but this time, with a renewed focus on balance. No more overloading myself with endless projects or taking on more than I can chew. My goal is simple: to help more VAs build sustainable careers while staying true to my principles- prioritizing my health, well-being, and the things I love.
I’m choosing quality over quantity, impact over hustle, and success that doesn’t come at the cost of my time, my family, or my peace. And through this next chapter, I hope to help others do the same.
