Working Remote Philippines held the largest freelance summit last September for aspiring and current remote workers in the country. At the event, various experts talked about matters related to sustainable careers that can be done anywhere around the world.

We at Remote Workmate took the opportunity to broaden our knowledge on tools, techniques, emerging technologies and the present state of the burgeoning industry. Here are some of the highlights of the summit:

The Digital Jobs PH initiative

The summit opened with Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin, director of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s ICT Industry Development Bureau. Emmy Lou discussed the government’s Digital Jobs PH initiative, which aims to create IT-related jobs in socio-economically disadvantaged areas in the Philippines.

If you’re a remote worker and would like to know how to qualify for the program and increase your employability online, visit http://digitaljobs.ph for training details and more.

Working on Self-Actualization

Certified life coach and veteran TEDx speaker Myke Celis talked about how a person can become the best version of themselves. He explained that possessing knowledge isn’t enough to be truly successful. Confidence is also key on the road to your #BestMeEver.

Do More in Less Time

Becoming a virtual assistant is currently viewed as a lucrative online career, but it requires top-notch time management skills to earn international rates. Jason Dulay, the founder of Virtual Assistant Bootcamp, shared some ways to better plan your day and be laser-focused on your task.

Some productivity approaches that Jason covered include the Deep Work Hypothesis, Kanban Method and Pomodoro Technique. He ended his talk with the idea that producing more in the least amount of time empowers you to relax and have more time for your family.

Life Without Limits

Billie Bautista sought to inspire persons with disability to help them achieve their ideal lifestyle. Despite facing discrimination for his own physical impairment, Billie encouraged the audience to learn to fall forward. He said that there are no limits and that we’re capable of achieving success.

Social Media Marketing is the Future

Nix Eniego, the founder of Social Media Academy, focused on the future of social media marketers in the Philippines. If you’re interested in learning the trade, Nix provided a number of concrete steps to forming your own agency:

1. Identify your ideal audience.
2. Perform a social media audit to get their attention and show what you can do for them.
3. Start making money from clients (aim for the international ones).
4. Build your own team so that you won’t have to do everything yourself.
5. Work whenever and wherever you want.

You can learn the nitty-gritty of these steps in Nix’s free course.

Personal Branding on LinkedIn

LinkedIn Trainer and VB Consulting founder Virginia Bautista gave a useful talk on personal branding, specifically on LinkedIn. She discussed a number of ways to stand out on the platform. Her top suggestions are as follows:

1. Specialize in a niche.
2. Tell your story, but connect it to the brand you want to project.
3. Write valuable articles and share them on LinkedIn.

Upgrading Your Well-Being

Cindy Burdette, CEO and co-founder of ALLCARE, emphasized that virtual workers need to pay attention more to their health and wellness. She talked about the four elements of wellness:

1. Holistic health.
2. Balance.
3. Self-accountability.
4. Proactivity.

Cindy also shared ways to achieve wellness, including eating healthy, spending time to recover, moving and exercising, securing yourself, and focusing on what truly matters in your life.

To help virtual workers achieve and maintain wellness, Cindy’s ALLCARE offers a yearly membership that comes with life insurance, gym memberships and health insurance.

Thriving Digital Nomad

How does one balance being a digital nomad (i.e. remote workers who travel to different locations) while taking care of one’s family? Karissa Javier, a perennial traveller and entrepreneur, shared useful tips. She said you need:

1. The right mindset.
2. Hustle.
3. People who invest in you.

Karissa focused on how one can build a fulfilling career while travelling the world. She then shared her own experiences.

Working Remote PH is a Success

For those who want to become a freelancer or remote worker, you’d be happy to learn how the industry is growing and how there’s an abundance of opportunities to turn your dream of working from anywhere into a reality.