Virtual Ms. Mariam

Happy Sunday, Facebook fam 🤍

We’re having something interesting today inside my community 👀✨

Today’s session is on:
“How to Make Money from Surveys”

Yes, you can actually earn online just by sharing your opinions, and we’ll be breaking it down step by step.

It’s completely FREE!

If you’d like to join us, send me a DM or click the link below to join 👇🏽

https://wa.me/message/6WOUG23OWVBBF1

Let’s learn and grow together

It's been a while

Long time no see Facebook Fam!

For some weird reason, this App keeps suspending my account.

But let's hope it's all good, because I’m here for the connections and to share amazing/valuable content with y'all ☺️

Happy Weekend

Time for gist…
But this one is serious👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Yesterday, on my way back home, I overheard something on the radio in my Uber.

A UK-based doctor came on air and was literally begging Nigerians in the UK to take care of themselves.

He sounded frustrated. And honestly… sad.

He said he’s tired of handling cases of Nigerians collapsing, having strokes, dealing with high blood pressure at very early ages. People working 60–70 hours nonstop just to make ends meet.

And he was begging them to slow down.

I was like… kilodeee 😟

Now listen.

I know Nigeria is hard. Let’s not lie.
This country can be funny.

Bad network.
No stable amenities.
Buying fast Wi-Fi just to do your job.
Running generator.
Trying to build something and it feels slow and frustrating.

I know.

And I genuinely respect young Nigerians who are pushing, building, creating something meaningful despite everything. Because here? You really do have to push beyond normal to break through.

But here’s where I’m going with this…

If travelling abroad is going to cost you your health…
If you’re going just to “hustle” without a proper plan…
If you’re going to work yourself into the ground just to survive…

Pause biko.

Please travel with a plan.

Either:
• You’re going for school with proper support.
• You’re funded or on scholarship.
• Or you already have a structured job that can actually sustain you.

Not just because you feel you’ll “make it faster” there.

Personally, I don’t believe there are zero opportunities here.

In fact, I strongly believe there is money to be made in this country, in so many ways😁

For example, as a virtual assistant, I always say this:

I would rather earn my foreign currency while sitting in Nigeria than move there to earn the same and lose half to tax and high cost of living.

Please note that this is my personal opinion😁

Anyway…you know why?

Because when I convert it, it makes sense.

You can sort out gaps — like no light — with an inverter.
It’s about strategy.
It’s about positioning.
It’s about placing yourself to earn globally without destroying your health locally.

So if you’re here and you still have time to build… please build.

Learn a skill. In fact, learn skills.
Use what you already have.
Look around you, find a problem, offer a solution.
That’s how value is created.
That’s how money is made.

And please…
Use your social media properly.

Your LinkedIn.
Your Twitter.
Your Instagram.
Your Facebook.
Your TikTok.

Stop using them only to scroll.
Start building around what you do.
Start offering value.
Start gaining visibility.

Especially LinkedIn.

Most people think LinkedIn is just where recruiters post jobs.
Yes, it’s that.

But it’s also:
• Your online CV
• Your professional identity
• Your digital reputation
• Your visibility platform

Even creators and business owners are now moving there because of the quality of audience.

But I also know something…

When it comes to LinkedIn, people overthink it.
You don’t know what to post.
You don’t know how to start.
You don’t know how to stay consistent.

So you don’t start.

But here’s why you should:

• Visibility creates opportunity.
• Consistency builds authority.
• Posting positions you before you even need the job.
• Recruiters search before they ask.
• Your network grows before your need does.

And that’s exactly why I created the 30-Day LinkedIn Challenge.🥁🥁🥁

It was designed to guide you step-by-step on:
• What to post
• How to post
• How to position yourself
• How to stay consistent without overthinking

Because whether you stay in Nigeria or travel abroad, your positioning matters.

So, If I were you, I would grab this opportunity.

Drop a comment or send me a DM and I’ll share the details.

And please… share this with someone who needs it

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁.

They fail because they start the wrong way.

Before you begin your remote work journey or decide to become a Virtual Assistant, understand this:

Remote work is 𝗡𝗢𝗧 ust about:
• Wanting flexibility
• Buying a laptop
• Watching tutorials

Those things are helpful.
But they are not the foundation.

Here’s the mistake:

𝗧𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹.

Before you put yourself out there, pause and ask:

👉🏼 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲?
👉🏼 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁?

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀.

For example:

If you are:
• Patient
• Calm under pressure
• A strong communicator
• Comfortable speaking with people

Customer support could be a great fit.

Your service should align with your strengths, not just what looks popular online.

Here’s a simple exercise:

Go on Google and search:
“𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.”

Then ask yourself:
• Which of these do I already have?
• Which ones do I need to improve?

Sometimes we feel incapable.

But often, it’s just that the role we’re applying for doesn’t match our current skill level yet.

And that’s okay.

That doesn’t mean quit.
It means grow.

Instead of forcing a role, you have two options:
1️⃣ Improve the missing skills
2️⃣ Choose a service that fits your strengths (for now)

Both paths move you forward.

Remote work is not about pretending.
It’s about preparing.

This isn’t to discourage you.
It’s to save you from wasting months applying for roles that don’t align with where you are yet.

Skills can be improved.
Confidence can be built.

But alignment must come first.

If you’re serious about remote work, start with clarity, not pressure.

And if you ever need guidance on how to approach your remote work journey the right way, comment “GUIDE” or send me a DM 🤍

I saw a quote recently and immediately shared it with my WhatsApp community.

It said:

“𝗧𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”

And honestly? It hit home.

Perfection is one of the biggest reasons people procrastinate.

You want to start something, a course, a challenge, a project, anything, and then the thoughts come in:

“I need to put this in place first.”
“It’s not good enough yet.”
“I still need to add this or fix that.”

Before you know it, you haven’t started at all.

Most times, it’s not even about readiness.
𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧.

Fear that it won’t come out nice.
Fear of criticism.
Fear that people will judge you because it’s not your “best work.”

I understand that feeling deeply.
But from personal experience, I’ve learned this:

If you keep waiting for things to be perfect, you’ll keep postponing what you should have put out weeks or even months ago.

Many great ideas don’t fail because they’re bad, they fail because they never leave the drafts folder.

Let me use my YouTube channel as an example.

My very first video?
I was heavily pregnant.
My face was round.
The editing… let’s not even talk about it 😅

But I told myself: “However it comes out, this video must go out.”

And that decision changed everything.

Because once you start, you give yourself momentum.
And that momentum is what keeps you going, even when views are low, even when engagement is small.

𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪.
𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨.

Sometimes, your imperfection is the very reason someone notices you, resonates with you, and decides to grow with you.

This applies especially if you’re planning to offer a service or build something around your skills.

You don’t have to feel “fully ready” before you put yourself out there.
You may not be offering services yet, and that’s okay.

Start building your presence.
Start talking about your journey.
Start owning the process.

By the time you’re ready to offer your services, you won’t be chasing clients, they’ll already know you.

So please, don’t wait for perfect.
Start with what you have.
Do the needful.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙙?

You won't find solution in the past

They are always in front of you

The Best Part About Being a Virtual Assistant for the Past Two Years

For me, the best part of being a virtual assistant is the experience—what I get to learn.

Many people see it as just doing work for clients and getting paid, but for me, it’s much more than that. Especially with my first international client, I felt like I was being paid to learn.

I love challenging myself. Even if I don’t fully understand a task at first, I’ll go out of my way to learn it just so I can deliver my best. And because of this, every new client becomes an opportunity to grow. The knowledge I gain stays with me forever, and I can apply it to future clients who might need the same services.

When I got my first international client, I learned so much. I didn’t realize how much I could write—or how well. I didn’t know I could generate creative ideas on the spot. I also didn’t expect to improve my ability to interact with people. But all of that experience helped me build my social media management skills, which I later used with other clients.

At times, it might feel like you’re doing too much work, but the real value is in what you learn. Because the next client? They’ll pay you for that knowledge.

Every client brings a new experience and a chance to learn something different. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the challenges you face. If you’re serious about growth, look at the difficulties you encounter while managing a client—learn from them, figure out how to overcome them, and in the process, you’ll gain a new skill.

So tell me, what’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced while working with a client?

Let’s learn from each other!

One thing I know for sure is that challenges will always come

But if you face it, you will live to overcome another

The fear you have for tomorrow will come and go

This is your cue to get up and work!

You know you are meant for something greater than this

🎯When Persistence is Not Wrong 🎯

Have you ever pursued something so strongly that you started questioning if you were being unrealistic? If so, you’re not alone. Persistence is powerful—especially when you’re chasing something you truly believe in, something you know you can achieve.

➡️ Persistent in getting a job.
➡️ Persistent in reaching a goal.
➡️ Persistent in leveling up.

Persistence often gets a bad reputation. Some say, “Maybe you should give up.” Others might hint that you’re chasing something beyond your level. But here’s the truth: the things we persistently chase often feel above our level because they’re meant to take us to the next level.

That said—not all persistence is good. ❌ Some kinds of persistence can become harmful. But I’m talking about the kind where you know deep down that you have what it takes. You refuse to settle.

✨Let me share my story.✨

I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. I didn’t have the financial backing or immediate resources to succeed in my field. But I had one thing—a belief that I could do more.

When I decided to become a virtual assistant, I had no international experience, no fancy certifications and no resources. But Instead of focusing on what I lacked, I asked:

🤔 What can I do with what I have?

So I went online. I searched. If I wanted to go on this path, I had to learn from people already doing it. I observed successful Virtual Assistants, immersed myself in learning, watching, and refining my skills, studied their methods, and applied what I learned —even without direct mentorship

And here’s something about pushing to the next level:

💥 It can be frustrating.
💥 It can be disappointing.
💥 You will face rejection.

This is where persistence comes in📌

I knew that if others could land international clients, so could I. And I did. Today, I’ve worked with clients from over six different countries, and I’m still growing.

📍What kept me going?

👉🏼 I believed in myself before anyone else did.
👉🏼 I learned from every failure instead of letting it define me.
👉🏼 I kept showing up—even on the hardest days.

If you’re on a path right now that feels uncertain, know this: persistence isn’t wrong when you’re chasing a goal that aligns with your potential. The journey might take longer than expected, but with the right mindset, constant learning, and unwavering effort, you will get there.

✅ Be persistent.
✅ Pray.
✅ Study.
✅ Observe.
✅ Learn from failures.
✅ Improve every day.

Have you ever persisted in something despite challenges? Share your experience in the comments!