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At Parallax, we put our users at the forefront of what we do. Our story began when Mika, our CEO, was driven by the challenges she and her freelancer friends faced with international payments—sky-high fees, snail-paced transaction times, and overall confusing experiences. Today, we share the journeys of our users and their experiences with Parallax.
We start with a valued member of our community, a fellow Filipino and a Parallax friend. Read more about her journey in freelancing and how she found Parallax.
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Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do?
I am a freelancer for an agency called Virtual Workmate PH. What I like about them is that they are Filipino-owned and they have hands on training, plus a dedicated staff to train and assist you for tasks which makes the job easier and more fun. Since i started with this client, it doesn’t feel like work - because it is so fun and they feel like family.
Before your current job, what career or job did you have?
Before becoming a [freelancer], I was working for the call center industry for almost two decades. It was my bread and butter right after graduating college. I started from the very beginning position, and eventually became a team manager. When I was working there, I never felt happy because I was working so hard that I was sacrificing time with family.
And then the pandemic happened – I didn’t want to be the reason why my family became infected and not everyone had the privilege to be offered [work from home] so I resigned from the corporate world.
I made a business but there was so much competition. At this time, I saw a lot of people freelancing. So I was interested but I thought to myself – what if I get scammed? I didn’t know how to do it.
So what made you decide to pursue freelancing?
I saw a TikTok of BloggyMary – her story inspired me, since I was a mom as well. Our path wasn’t the same but it was very similar. She took a leap of faith, so I said why not give it a try.
From there, I started teaching myself. It was hard to look for an agency so I got as many free resources to teach myself, and BloggyMary was offering a lot as well. So I taught myself and come December, I got my first client.
➡️ Haven't signed up for a Parallax Account yet? Sign-up here.
And how did that make you feel?
It felt surreal because I didn’t think I would get a client. Since I was learning on my own, with no one teaching me and only using tools from free online resources, I needed to have the right mindset and commitment to succeed. Nothing in life is easy, and not everything is free. You need to work hard for it.
How did that first client work out?
When I started, I was sending applications and kinda felt it wasn’t for me. Because I had to send out many applications, sending out my resumes, CVs, etc.. I started studying freelancing September of last year but I got first client in December, and [that client] was my first ever client. It was hard, acquiring my first client was difficult. I didn’t even realize I had a client.
But comparing my first client vs my client now – I felt that I was working for my client instead of working with them. So it’s very different, there was a cultural difference. Aside from the time difference, feedback was different as they were a different nationality. But I am glad i had the experience to interact with other nationalities because it actually helped and eased up the feedback given.
So how is that different from clients you have now?
Aside from the cultural differences and the time zone, I was really looking forward to having a client that could cater to the morning shift or, if possible, allow me to work on my own flexi schedule.
It's also very seldom that you would actually be able to get a VA company that actually gives you hands on experience with their clients themselves. This makes you feel proud and like you are truly part of the company, rather than just a talent or freelancer they pay.
So I'm very grateful that I found that [with my new client].
Were there any other challenges you faced?
A challenge I was facing was how I was going to get paid and receive my earnings from my client, who was going to pay me on a weekly basis. My concern was the charges. I tried a different platform, Payoneer, but I wasn’t happy because the charges were high.
So thankfully BloggyMary shared these platforms - and that’s how I found out about Parallax.
➡️ Haven't signed up for a Parallax Account yet? Sign-up here.
And how was the Parallax experience for you?
When I was researching payment platforms, I found around five options, and four of them had the same approach – they only showed how much you would get (the conversion amount from USD to PHP). But with Parallax, I saw how much I could save.
If you are a person who works 8 hours a day, it’s disheartening to see a specific amount being deducted. So, if you look at how much you save due to the low charges, it’s uplifting. When I checked the charges, they were incredibly low; every centavo of what you work hard for really counts nowadays. So, for Parallax to consider that is important – it shows your love (to your customers)
What I also really liked about Parallax is the customer service. Working as a customer service representative, you deserve to receive love as well – and that’s what you did.
If I send out a message, as a Parallax baby [newbie], when I had questions, and I didn’t know what to do, Parallax replied and helped right away. You feel and understand people as well, and it was an instant connection, from how you interacted with people.
If any other payment platform was able to make that statement, not just for filipino VA, but for people who want to receive their earnings - I’d consider them. But I haven’t seen anyone else that charges very low and replies to each and every concern.
Lannie’s advice to freelancers
Always have a meeting with yourself. Start the journey and seek His help. Do self-reflection, ask yourself: is this really want i want?
Without that conviction - the me time with myself – bale wala (translation: it’s nothing). There’s saying “malayo pa, pero malayo na” (translation: Still a long way to go but have already gone a long way)
Also, whatever small win you have, celebrate it. Celebrate it and share it with others, share it with your community. Be grateful.
Lastly, upskill yourself and don’t wait for other people to tell you what to do or what you need. You should know it yourself, that's why it is important to have a meeting with yourself.
Anything else you'd like to share about your experience with Parallax, as well as freelancing in general?
I am forever grateful for Parallax. Wala akong nakikitang pangit (Translation: I don’t see anything bad/ugly [with Parallax]). I even like the candid way that you reply to questions, it never feels you are scolding [even if the questions become repetitive].
Also, I firmly believe in the fish philosophy.
The fish philosophy was inspired by a fisherman village, in which they do the same exact thing everyday – they catch fish, sort the fish, and sell it. Until one day, a fisherman decided to play around when it came to selling the fish. They started laughing, doing different kinds of things to sell the fish. They were making friends with the consumer and they were having a good time.
That is what Parallax does. When there is fun in something that you do [even repetitively], you get more good results and you will definitely have more positive community members.
And there you have it! We hope you liked Lannie’s story.
As we continue to grow, stories like these remind us why we started Parallax in the first place. Our mission is to simplify international payments and empower freelancers and businesses worldwide. We're honored to be part of our users' journeys, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Thank you for being part of the Parallax community. If you're inspired by these stories and are looking for a better way to manage your international payments, we invite you to join us at Parallax. Together, we can transform the world of international payments and create more success stories, one transaction at a time.
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