It’s been a year since we launched Weekends With Jan. For the past year, I spent Sundays with you guys talking to some of the most amazing Filipino freelancers in an effort to inspire you with their stories so that you can have the courage and confidence in your freelance journey as well.

That is why for our anniversary special, I picked 2 outstanding guests from our previous episodes to join us to celebrate this milestone.

Joining us in this episode to give you even more inspiring stories including the behind the scenes of their wins are coach Rommel Isla and Gerson Lacdao.

Jump right in as I, Rommel, and Gerson talk about our 2022 experience as freelancers and what we look forward to the most this 2023.

Rommel Isla is an experienced NLP practitioner, Sales closer, and hypnotherapist. He is driven by curiosity and fascination. He takes pride in providing the best sales closing for independent professionals. As a sales trainer, his goals include allowing independent professionals to charge for the value they provide and helping them improve their internal and external way of communicating with others and with themselves. 

Gerson Lacdao is a WordPress frontend developer and web accessibility advocate. He works with non-profits and other digital agencies in creating inclusive websites that are compliant with relevant legislations worldwide. In his free time, he teaches WordPress, web accessibility, and best practices in web development.

In this anniversary special episode, we talk about how our 2022 went as freelancers including both our mistakes and biggest takeaways. We’ll also give you hints on what to look forward to from us this year.

“The credibility of the Filipinos is what I really want to highlight in this show… It’s more for them [the listeners] to deeply understand that us, as service providers, are not just after money or clients. We have deep reasons why we do what we do.” – Jan Briones

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• Learn how to handle the issue of speed, comparison and other limiting beliefs;
• Find out why it is really important that you set your goals early instead of simply “diving” into the opportunities; and
• Acquire valuable tips from Rommel and Gerson on how to start up and how to stay away from bad habits as you go along in the freelancing world

Topics Covered:

03:34 – Introducing our guests for our anniversary special episode, Gerson Lacdao and coach Rommel Isla

04:33 – Kumustahan with Gerson: His life and business lately, and some of his plans for 2023

06:54 – “Learn to step out of your comfort zone”: That one learning from 2022 that Gerson wants to share

08:58 – Kumustahan with Coach Rommel: His life and business lately, and why 2023 has been fast-paced for him so far

10:09 – Corporate life, networking, and initiating conversations: the new things Coach Rommel would try to do this year

13:28 – “I’m more into walking them through… instead of telling them what to do and when to do it”: How coach Rommel makes his students take action 

15:25 – Speed, comparisons, and other limiting beliefs: Coach Rommel’s biggest takeaway from 2022

20:07 – “Be uncomfortable in being uncomfortable”: What fuels Gerson’s desire to step out of his comfort zone

22:21 – “We have the notion that when we do things fast, it sacrifices the quality of the output”: Coach Rommel’s take on working on a fast pace

28:27 – Speed and procrastination: The previous mistakes that Rommel wants to correct this year

33:03 – Business processes and working with teammates: things Gerson wants to improve on for 2023

36:03 – Gerson’s focus for 2023: Collaboration, delegation, and outsourcing

38:53 – “Tumalon lang ako sa opportunity… I did not even have the goal”: Jan’s past mistakes that she wants to correct this year

42:11 – “Create a hierarchy of values”: Rommel’s tip for those who are starting out, and for those who can’t decide what to do next

46:16 – Why it is important for you to hire an expert who can and will help you with your business

49:19 – Web Accessibility: Gerson’s field of work that makes websites accessible to everyone including persons with disabilities

51:14 – The challenges and push backs Gerson encountered as he was exploring the web accessibility niche

57:08 – Watch out! Live, face to face workshop with coach Rommel Isla about communications. Exact dates to be announced soon; and Savage Closing Crash Course still available

59:18 – Word Camp Cebu 2023, Web Accessibility Philippines group, and other things to watch out for this year with Gerson Lacdao

Key Takeaways:

“It’s okay to compare, huwag lang ma-fixate sa results. People tend to compare the results to a point that they become so obsessed or insecure because they haven’t gotten that same result… Compare the process, not the results” – Rommel Isla

“Don’t let fate decide kung ano yung para sa ‘yo this year. You grab it by the hand” – Rommel Isla

“I let opportunities pass by because of the limiting beliefs that I had. Now that I realized it, mas nabibigyan ng fire yung kagustuhan ko to really step out of my comfort zone and be comfortable in being uncomfortable.” – Gerson Lacdao

Connect with Rommel Isla: 

•  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savagecloser/?originalSubdomain=ph 

Connect with Gerson Lacdao: 

•  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gslacdao/?originalSubdomain=ph 

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