How to Start Even If You Feel Behind Everyone Else
- Lisa Sabala
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 16
You know that sinking feeling when you scroll through your feed and see people getting promoted, launching side hustles, posting on facebook about their wins… while you’re sitting there thinking, “Juskolord. I should’ve started years ago. Uwahi na jud ko!”
Yeah. I’ve been there. More times than I care to admit.
But here’s a little truthbomb:
Being “behind” is just an illusion.
Time doesn’t actually leave you. You just haven’t taken the step yet.
So if you’ve been stuck in that spiral of “too late for me,” let’s break that wall today, okay madi? Salig lang!
Here are 5 brutally honest but empowering ways to start even if you feel like everyone else already got a head start in freelancing or virtual assistance.
1. Stop Comparing Your Chapter 1 to Someone Else’s Chapter 20
You see that freelancer earning six figures online? That didn’t happen overnight. You’re seeing the shiny highlight reel, not the messy behind-the-scenes. You didn’t see their awkward first client call, the typos on their first resume, or the panic they felt on their first day juggling multiple tasks.
The problem with comparison is it tricks you into thinking you’re late… when in reality, you’re just starting at a different time. And guess what? That’s okay. It’s okay to suck at first. (I know I did!)
Every VA, freelancer, entrepreneur, and changemaker started with one thing: zero experience. You’re not behind. You’re just at your own starting line. And that’s powerful… because once you stop comparing, you free up energy to actually build.
2. Pick One Thing. Just One.
The most common mistake I see with beginners? Trying to learn everything all at once. Canva. Social Media. Email Marketing. Project Management. Copywriting. Data Entry. SEO. Video Editing.
Before they know it, they’re drowning in tutorials, PDFs, and 100 browser tabs that lead to nowhere.
Here’s the truth. You don’t need to be good at everything. You just need to be good at something.
Pick one skill. Hone it like your life depends on it. Be that person who can do it well, consistently, and without drama. When you master one thing, you create a foundation strong enough to stack other skills later on.
You don’t climb a mountain in one jump. You take one step. Then another. And another. Ayaw hakupa kay ma overwhelmed ka…even the mountain is overwhelmed of itself.
Relax lang. Focus on one thing at a time.
3. Embrace the Ugly Start
Let me tell you a secret. My first client call? Total disaster. I said “uhm” about 17 times. I remember saying “kanang” and the client interrupted me…”Huh? What does “kanang” mean?”
Oh no! Bloopers pa more. 😣
And guess what? I still got the job. 😅
People love to romanticize success… but the start? The start is usually messy, awkward, full of “wait… what?” moments and a lot of Googling at 2AM.
Your first gig won’t be perfect. Your first resume might look like it was made in 2012. Your first message to a client might sound stiff. But the only way to get better is to start ugly.
Messy action beats perfect hesitation every single time.
4. Turn “I’m Too Old” Into “I’m Ready”
I know what some of you are thinking.
“But Lisa… I’m in my 30s. 40s. I’m not techy. I’m too far behind.”
No, you’re not. You have something 20-year-olds don’t… real-life skills. Grit. Common sense. The ability to not cry over a slightly mean email.
I’ve worked with clients who value reliability more than fancy jargon. They want someone they can trust. Someone who actually follows through. Someone who knows how to communicate like an adult.
Your years of work, parenting, caregiving, or even surviving tough seasons are not weaknesses. Those are assets.
This isn’t a race against time. This is a race against your own excuses. Don’t let your excuses win!
5. Leap First. Learn Fast.
Here’s the catch: you’ll never feel “ready.” That magical day when all the tutorials are finished, your confidence is at 100%, and the universe gives you a thumbs up… doesn’t exist.
The people you think are “ahead” didn’t wait for permission. They leapt. Then they learned mid-air.
You don’t need to know everything to apply for your first gig. You just need to be willing to try, make mistakes, and grow.
Because guess what? Clients don’t hire perfection. They hire people who show up.
And the longer you wait, the further your dreams get from you. Not because time is running out… but because you’re not moving.
Final Warning: If you didn’t start yesterday, do it today!
Starting late doesn’t make you weak. It makes you brave.
It takes guts to walk into a world where others have already started and say, “Hey. I’m here now. Let’s go.”
There’s a business owner out there right now… looking for someone exactly like you. Your voice. Your skills. Your work ethic.
But they’ll never find you if you keep staying in your head.
Take the leap. Apply for that job. Build that resume. Say yes to yourself.
Because no one is ever really “behind” when they finally decide to move forward. 🤗
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