You Don’t Need to Be ‘Techy’ to Start Working Online as a Virtual Assistant
- Lisa Sabala
- Oct 14
- 5 min read
Every time I tell someone I work as a Virtual Assistant, they’re always interested in how they can become one too. But there’s also that next line that comes out like clockwork…
“Ay Lis, di man nako kaya na. Dili ko techy like you.”
And every time I hear that, my soul whispers… “Here we go again.”
People have this idea that working online means you have to be some kind of Silicon Valley prodigy who eats coding for breakfast and hacks into mainframes before lunch. Like you need to have ten monitors, wear blue light glasses, and speak fluent programming language. But no. That’s not what most online work looks like. Layu ra jud sa tinu-od. Pramis!!!
When I started, I didn’t know what half the buttons on a project management tool did. I just clicked on them, figured it out, and asked Google like a normal human being. You don’t need to be a genius to start. You just need to stop convincing yourself you’re too behind to even try.
The “I’m Not Techy” Myth
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
When people say “I’m not techy,” what they really mean is… “I’m scared.”
Scared to look stupid.
Scared to mess up.
Scared that everyone else knows more than you.
The trust is, everyone started from NOT knowing. Even the most seasoned freelancers you see posting their “I hit 6-figures!” milestones online… they once didn’t know how to attach a file on an email too. Yup. That’s the dirty little secret.
So when you keep telling yourself you can’t because “techy” is not your personality, you’re not being honest. You’re not scared of the tools or the apps or the new platforms to learn. You’re just scared of trying.
Truthbomb: You Already Use Tech Every Day
Let me guess.
You know how to scroll through social media, right?
You’ve probably sent a meme to your barkada at 2 AM.
You’ve uploaded a selfie or two.
You’ve navigated group chats, Viber threads, maybe even argued with your tita on Facebook about politics.
Congratulations. You’re already using tech.
The platforms might change, but the concept is the same. If you can figure out how to tag your ex on a meme without looking obvious, trust me… you can learn how to use online tools for work.
I know people who can’t figure out how to pay bills online but can edit a face card on their phone with 5 different beauty filters. Girl. That’s skill. That’s familiarity with tech. You just didn’t label it as “work skill” yet.
Your Real Edge Isn’t Tech
Let me tell you something most gurus don’t say out loud. Clients don’t hire people because they can click buttons fast. They hire people who can make their lives easier.
Tech skills can be learned. But the way you understand people, communicate, solve problems, organize chaos, or bring energy into a team… that’s not something they can teach in a YouTube tutorial.
I know VAs who are earning more than people who can code. Why? Because they’re RELIABLE. They are CONSISTENT. They show up. They communicate clearly. They give a damn about the work. In short, disiplina lang talaga.
If you can bring that kind of human skill to the table, the tech part becomes background noise. You’ll pick it up as you go.
The Fear of “Too Late”
This part hits home for a lot of people in their 30s and 40s. You’ve spent years building a career that maybe doesn’t pay enough anymore. Or you’re in a job that doesn’t give you joy, growth, or the flexibility you need to actually live your life.
You scroll through posts about freelancing and online work. You get curious. Then you say to yourself…
“But it’s too late for me.”
No. It’s not.
You’re not behind. You’re just starting a new chapter. I know VAs who started at 45 and are now out-earning their corporate salaries. You know what they all have in common? Not a single one of them was “techy” at the start. But they had grit. They had a reason to learn. And they stopped letting fear boss them around.
Let’s Be Blunt
If you keep waiting for the day you feel “ready,” you’ll never start.
If you keep convincing yourself others are more qualified, they’ll keep getting the jobs meant for you.
If you keep hiding behind “I’m not techy,” then you’re choosing fear over opportunity.
And honestly… aren’t you tired of holding yourself back?
You’ve survived way harder things in life. If you’ve raised kids, worked under a toxic boss, dealt with noisy neighbor, and navigated adulting without a manual, then believe me… you can handle learning a new tool.
Every Skill Was Once a “First”
Here’s the fun part. Once you take the leap, the things that used to scare you will eventually become boring routine. The tool you think is complicated right now? You’ll be clicking through it while drinking coffee half-asleep one day.
The fear fades. The confidence grows. But that only happens if you actually start.
Someone Out There Needs What Only You Can Offer
Yes. You.
You have stories. Perspective. A way of solving problems that’s unique to you. Maybe you’re great at writing clear messages. Maybe you’re a whiz at organizing things. Maybe you’re the kalma friend everyone runs to during chaos.
There’s a business owner out there right now who’s overwhelmed, stressed, and praying to find someone with exactly your kind of magic.
But they’ll never find you if you keep hiding behind “I’m not techy.”
Your First Step Isn’t Mastering Tech. It’s Saying YES.
You don’t need to know everything to start. You just need to say yes.
Yes to learning.
Yes to trying.
Yes to making mistakes and figuring it out as you go.
Yes to backing yourself up when self-doubt tries to drag you down.
You can sign up for a free tool and just tinker with it. Watch one short tutorial. Join a beginner-friendly VA workshop. Or simply click around and explore. That’s how everyone starts.
Your Future VA Self Will Thank You
The version of you six months from now… the one with clients, flexibility, and a better income… will look back at this scared version of you and whisper, “Thank you for taking the leap.”
Because that’s how change happens. Not in giant, perfect steps. But in small, shaky, powerful ones.
You are not too old. You are not too late. And no… you don’t need to be techy to make this work. You just need to be you.
And that? That’s already enough.
Clients can teach you tools. They can train you on tasks.
But they can’t train someone to have grit, initiative, and heart. (That’s you!)
You already have what it takes.
So stop saying “I’m not techy” like it’s a death sentence. It’s not. It’s just fear pretending to be a fact.
Say yes. Start learning. Get ready to be found.
Your future VA story starts here.
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