Up Against "Tamad" Problem: What it Takes to Become a Successful Freelance Creative with Pex Reyes

Do you think that you have what it takes to do freelancing as a creative, but you cannot take the leap because of the environment you’re in?

Do you suffer from ‘tamad’ problems, having it squeeze all your potential from within?

Even those freelancers who have already achieved a lot go through phases where they just feel so tired. Remember, it’s a human thing to feel; it’s a human phase to be in.

But the question here is are you really just going to sit there and let that feeling win?

In this episode, I talk with a freelancer who once went through the same thing. Learn from his story and take action to succeed. 

Pex Reyes is the founder of JVR Design Multimedia where he helps businesses get More Eyeballs to stay top of mind with Video Strategy.

In this episode, Pex sends us back to the life that led him to freelancing as he shares why a good mindset is a must in doing business.

 “Isipin mo ‘yong Law of Averages kung bago ka pa lang. ‘Pag ginawa mo siya nang many times, makakakuha ka ng average kung ilang beses kang nananalo, ilang beses kang nakakakuha ng client. Para sa akin, ang pinakaproblema mo ‘pag bago ka pa lang is leads. Kung makakakausap ka ng sampung clients araw-araw, imposibleng ‘di mo pa rin ma-gets. May matsa-tsambahan ka ro’n eh, kahit isa lang. So kung mas marami kang nakakausap, mas marami kang chance manalo. So mas maganda na marami kang nakakausap kaysa aral ka lang nang aral.” 

– Pex Reyes

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• Understand the importance of saving money for the rainy days, especially when you’re still new in freelancing;
• Discover why it’s a must for you to have a portfolio if you’re a creative, as well as how your environment affects your work and mindset; and
• Find out why you should be responsible for taking actions necessary to lead you and your business to success

Topics Covered:

03:30 – Going Back: Pex shares how he used to live life until the moment he got introduced to freelancing

09:05 – Life in Qatar: How it’s like, spending years in a country with a completely different culture

13:12 – Doing More, More, and More: What were the challenges Pex went through when he started freelancing?

15:57 – Mind, Not Hours: What “overwork” means in Pex’s own words + What he does to distress

20:43 – Things to Celebrate: Pex shares his biggest wins as he talks about his dream apartment

22:39 – The Rollercoaster of Client Hunt: “Ngayon, alam ko na ‘yong gagawin ko. It’s a question nalang kung gagawin ko ba o hindi.”

25:45 – Meeting the Chief: Listening to podcasts, investing on courses, then later on having John Pagulayan as a mentor

29:41 – “Kulang Ka Pa”: Joining the Tribe and realizing that he still has lot to learn

31:58 – On Facing Challenges: Pex as a person who is driven by competition

36:35 – Learn from Pex: Giving out tips for those who also aspire to become a freelancer

44:10 – Pex’s Business: What the JVR Design Multimedia is all about

45:51 – Connect with Pex and check his group VidProd Society

46:34 – The story behind his name “Pex”

47:46 – Pex’s own definition of success

51:26 – If Pex didn’t become a freelancer, what would he be now?

Key Takeaways:

 “Hindi dapat ‘yong oras mo ‘yong mahalaga. Para sa akin lang ‘to ha, [pero] dapat ‘yong decision-making mo ‘yong binabayaran, hindi  ‘yong labor mo sa oras mo sa ginagawa mo.” – Pex Reyes

“Kung nakikinig ka rin naman talaga ng mga podcasts, ng mga success stories ng ibang tao, lagi rin naman nilang sinasabi ‘yon eh. Mag-save ka ng pang-emergency mo. Kapag hindi mo ginawa ‘yon, parang bingi ka ro’n eh. Lagi kong naririnig ‘yon; hindi laging pasko. May part na susubukin at susubukin ka nyan, kaya kailangan, kahit papa’no, may ready ka nang pang-support kung bumagyo man.” – Pex Reyes

“Dapat meron ka talagang portfolio kung creative ka kasi ‘yon ‘yong binebenta mo. Dapat kahit papa’no, meron kang ganon. So do’n ka muna mag-start. Kasi kapag hindi mo nagawa ‘yon, ibig sabihin, hindi talaga para sa’yo ‘yon, kasi madali lang gawin ‘yon; sobrang dali lang gawin no’n. ‘Yong website mo, portfolio mo, demo reel – isang araw [lang] kaya mong gawin ‘yon. So ‘pag hindi mo magawa ‘yon, ibig sabihin, hindi para sa’yo ‘yon.” – Pex Reyes

“Hindi sila makapagstart, lalo sa freelancing, kasi ‘yong mga kasama mo sa bahay, hinahatak ka rin nila sa negative energy nila. So kapag napapansin mo na negative ‘yong mga kasama mo, ‘wag mo nalang pasyadong pakinggan. Mag-headset ka nalang. Lumayo-layo ka nang konti kung maliit lang bahay niyo. Gumawa ka ng sarili mong fortress na hindi ka nila mapapasok. Saka mo pasukan ng mga positive na gusto mong ipasok sa isip mo. Dapat labanan mo ‘yon. Kasi kapag mas marami sila, wala ka, mahihirapan ka rin.” – Pex Reyes

Connect with Pex Reyes:

•  Website: https://joelvallereyes.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pexreyes
• LinkedIn: https://ph.linkedin.com/in/joelvallereyes/