The Secret Sauce of Outsourcing

Hosted by John Jonas

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Episodes

473

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Dedicated to making you better at outsourcing. Tips, tricks, advice, and stories on how to get work off your plate and be more efficient. I do things differently. I don't hire "freelancers". I don't pay hourly. Those are for the masses who are struggling to figure out how outsourcing works well. Hundreds of thousands of employers have used what I do to find great outsourced workers and over 1.5 million Filipino resumes are in my database.

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June 3, 2026Episode 47317 min

Why You’ll Never Get Better at Delegating Until You Hire Someone

“Just practice delegating” is not real advice.I know that sounds harsh, but it’s true. You can’t practice delegating unless you actually have someone to delegate to. That’s why hiring comes first.You don’t get better at delegating by reading about it, thinking about it, or hoping someday you’ll be ready. You get better by hiring someone, giving them actual work, making corrections, and keeping going. That’s how it works.Otherwise, the alternative is you keep doing exactly what you’re doing right now: stuck in the business, too busy to grow it.If you’re overloaded, doing everything yourself, and telling yourself no one else can do it right, this episode is for you.We’ll talk about:⚠️ Why “just practice delegating” is terrible advice👥 Why hiring first is what forces you to build the skill📈 Why 70–80% as good as you is often more than good enough🧩 How one small delegated task can turn into a whole system🔁 Why taking work back and redoing it yourself creates bigger problems later📹 How feedback, not perfection, is what actually makes delegation work🛑 Why not delegating is one of the biggest reasons businesses stay stuck⏳ How Filipino VAs can help you get real work off your plate and free up your timeThe goal isn’t perfect delegation on day one. The goal is to stop being the bottleneck in your own business.▶️ Hit play if you’re tired of being the bottleneck in your business.💬 What’s one task you know you should delegate, but still haven’t? Tell me in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire a Filipino VA and start getting your time back? Go to OnlineJobs.ph.#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #HowToDelegate #DelegatingBetter #DelegationSkills

May 27, 2026Episode 47222 min

Why So Much Advice About Filipino VA Compliance Is Wrong

I think the internet is making Filipino VA compliance sound way more complicated than it actually is.And the crazy part is, the bad information looks really good.It looks reliable. It looks authoritative. It sounds like the kind of thing a cautious business owner should listen to.I asked ChatGPT about it, started reading the sources, and for a second I thought, man, have I been wrong about this for 20 years?But when I started digging into where that advice was coming from, the pattern was obvious: a lot of the people teaching compliance are really trying to sell you an employer of record service you probably don’t need.Even AI is getting this wrong, because it’s been trained on a lot of that same fear-based content.So this episode is me walking through what I’ve actually seen over the years, what attorneys have told me, how accountants have handled this, and why I think so many business owners are getting spooked out of making a really good hire in the Philippines.We’ll talk about: ⚠️ Why so much compliance advice online is designed to scare you 🧠 Why AI keeps repeating bad outsourcing advice 📄 What actually matters when deciding contractor vs employee status 💸 Why paying for an employer of record may be completely unnecessary 🧾 How Filipino VA payments are usually handled for taxes 🚫 Why you generally do not file a 1099 for someone in the Philippines 🇵🇭 What Philippine rules actually seem to care about 📉 What can really get you in trouble, and what probably won’t 🇦🇺 The one Australia exception I’ve seen, and why it still looks like an outlier 🤝 Why this really comes down to paying people fairly and treating people wellWhat matters here is not just compliance. It’s confidence.Because when business owners get flooded with scary, badly incentivized advice, they freeze. And when you freeze, you delay hiring, you stay stuck doing work you shouldn’t be doing, and you miss out on the kind of long-term help that could really change your business.▶️ If compliance confusion has been keeping you from hiring in the Philippines, hit play now. This episode will help you think a whole lot more clearly.💬 What’s the worst or most confusing advice you’ve heard about hiring Filipino VAs? Tell me in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire a great full-time Filipino VA? Go to OnlineJobs.ph and get started.#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #FilipinoVACompliance #OutsourcingCompliance #FilipinoVATaxes

May 21, 2026Episode 47115 min

How Much Should You Pay a Filipino Virtual Assistant in 2026?

Most business owners asking about Filipino VA salaries are asking the wrong question.They’re asking, “What’s the cheapest I can get this for?” or “If I pay more, do I automatically get the best?”That’s not how this works.I’ve seen salaries as low as $100 a month and as high as $20,000 a month in the Philippines. Both are real. But neither one tells you what you actually need to know if you’re trying to make a smart hire.When you get pay wrong, everything gets harder. You attract the wrong people, set the wrong expectations, or miss out on someone really good because you’re just guessing.To clear up the confusion around Filipino VA pay, here’s what I break down in this episode:💵 What Filipino VA salaries really look like today📉 Why minimum wage is not a useful benchmark for hiring great people🎯 Why the real sweet spot for most VAs is around $4 to $7 an hour⚠️ Why paying $10 to $15 an hour can actually attract the wrong kind of worker🧠 What kinds of skills and experience you can expect at different pay levels🏡 How fair pay in the Philippines can let someone stay with their family and build a real career🤝 How the right salary helps you find people who want to stay, grow, and contribute💻 When it makes sense to go above the normal range for specialized roles like programming or AIThis is not about being cheap. It’s about being smart and fair. When you pay the right amount, you can find really talented people in the Philippines who do great work, stay loyal, and help you grow your business.▶️ If you’ve ever wondered what you should really pay a Filipino VA, this is the episode to watch.💬 Have you ever struggled with pricing, overpaying, or wondering what’s fair when hiring? Tell me in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire great Filipino talent? Go to OnlineJobs.ph and start building your team.#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #FilipinoVASalaries #VirtualAssistantPay #OutsourcingTips

April 17, 2026Episode 47024 min

What 20 Years With the Same VA Taught Me About Hiring

My first VA started with me in February 2006… and he still works with me today.20 years.And the crazy part is, when I hired him, he knew basically nothing.He wasn’t some polished “top 1%” rockstar with a perfect resume. He was young, hungry, willing to learn, and willing to try.I taught him what I knew. He kept showing up. And over time, he became one of the most valuable people in my business.That one hire changed everything for me.It’s actually why OnlineJobs.ph exists.This episode is me telling the story of Joven, my first Filipino VA, what I got right and what I got wrong.What I got with Joven was not some perfect hire.What I got was loyalty, effort, patience, and someone who just kept getting better.And looking back, here’s what that one hire taught me:🔥 One VA can become the foundation for something way bigger than you expected💡 Young and hungry can be way better than “experienced”🛠️ Training the right person can change your whole business🤝 Filipinos are incredibly loyal when you treat them well🚫 Paying more does not always get you a better hire🎯 The best hires are not always the flashiest hires🧠 A lot of outsourcing problems are really employer instruction problems🌴 Flexibility, trust, and respect matter more than most employers realizeOutsourcing does not have to be a headache. Hiring does not have to be a revolving door.When you find the right Filipino VA and you’re willing to put in a little effort, you can build something really, really good.Maybe even something that changes your business for the next 20 years.▶️ Hit play now if you want to learn what 20 years with the same VA can teach you about hiring.💬 Have you ever had one employee completely change your business? Tell me about it in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire a Filipino VA? Go to OnlineJobs.ph and find someone who can grow with you.#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #LongTermHiring #YoungAndHungry #TrainableTalent

March 27, 2026Episode 46917 min

Why Your VA Thinks Double-Checking Is “Wasting Your Money”

I’ve hired people in the Philippines for 20 years… and this week I learned something I honestly can’t believe I never considered.When you get “obviously poor” work back, your first assumption is usually:😒 They didn’t care.😒 They were lazy.😒 They rushed it.But what if the real problem is the exact opposite?What if they’re rushing because they’re trying to be good… and they’re operating with a value system you didn’t even know was there?Because that’s what hit me after Mary emailed me about her video editor.The editor did the tasks… made the edits… and posted it… without re-watching it.Why?Not because she didn’t want to.Because she believed re-watching the full video would be “falsely adding hours”… and basically wasting her boss’s money.That one sentence made my brain do a full reset.So I took it to my whole team (55+ people), posted the story, and asked:Have you ever felt like you shouldn’t spend more time on something because I’m paying for that time?And the responses were exactly what you’d expect once you understand the mindset:📌 They wanted to look efficient.📌 They didn’t want to look lazy.📌 They didn’t want me thinking they had another job.📌 They wanted to check boxes.If you’ve ever looked at a VA’s work and thought, “How did you not catch that?”… this episode will make it make sense.Here’s what I break down in this episode:✅ The value system conflict that creates “checkbox work”⚡ Why some VAs equate speed with being trustworthy😬 Why slowing down feels like “looking lazy”⏱️ How to give them permission to take time (and raise quality fast)🧾 Why titles & responsibility create real ownership✨ The “impressive work” standard that changed my team🧠 How “seek to understand” fixes problems you can’t fix with anger🤝 Why the longer you work together, the better they getIf you’re outsourcing and you keep thinking, “Why would they send this like this?”…You’re going to hear this and go, “Ohhhhh. THAT’S what’s happening.”▶️ If you want better quality without micromanaging, hit play now💬 Have you ever had a VA rush something “to save you money”? Tell me what happened in the comments.🚀 Need a loyal, full-time Filipino VA? Hire direct at OnlineJobs.ph#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #QualityOverSpeed #RemoteTeamManagement #CulturalDifferences

February 27, 2026Episode 46812 min

What Kinds of Filipino VAs Can You Hire (Low, Mid, High)?

I hate the term “virtual assistant.”Because it makes you think you’re hiring one type of person.And you’re not.This week alone I got emails that reminded me how wildly different the people are that you can hire in the Philippines.This episode is basically me showing you three real people I interacted with recently:🎥 The “okay” video editor who turned into an A-player because he was coachable📚 The abandoned kid with a 10th grade education who learned QuickBooks and changed his life✍️ The writer with a master’s degree who thought she was dreaming when she got a solid offerAnd the point is simple: the Philippines has a full spectrum of talent, from low end to middle to high-end specialists.When you understand that, you stop thinking “I need a VA,” and you start thinking, “I need this skill at this level.”And hiring gets way easier.▶️ Hit play if you want to understand the real range of talent you can hire in the Philippines (and why the “VA” label messes people up)💬 What role are you trying to hire right now, and what level do you think you need? Drop them in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire direct? Go to OnlineJobs.ph and find your next full-time Filipino hire#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #HireInThePhilippines #HireSpecialistsNotVAs #DirectHirePhilippines

February 25, 2026Episode 46724 min

VA Productivity Dropped? Don’t Start With Time Tracking!

If you’re tempted to slap a time tracker on your VA because “something feels off,” let me save you a bunch of frustration.I’ve done that. Multiple times.Did it work? No. It didn’t work at all.It just made it worse, because time tracking turns the relationship into “you vs. me.” And Filipinos don’t work well like that. They work well on trust.Here’s what I’ve learned after 20 years of hiring in the Philippines:When a VA’s productivity drops, the problem usually isn’t “they’re lazy.”The problem is almost always that something isn’t right, and you’re trying to solve it with the wrong tool.If you’re sitting there thinking, “They were amazing for 3 weeks… and now they’re slipping,” this episode is for you. I’ll walk you through what’s usually going on, and what I do to get productivity back on track:📉 How to keep productivity steady after a great first few weeks✉️ The frank email I send when something’s not right😬 How to bring it up when productivity drops, even without proof🇵🇭 Why Filipino VAs usually want the job more than you think⏳ Why “low productivity” is usually a symptom, not the problem🧠 The cultural misunderstanding that creates sloppy work and careless mistakes🗣️ Why your VA won’t start this conversation, so it’s on you✅ Why feedback alone can fix the slump, even when nothing “bad” is happening🚀 How one conversation can turn a slump into A-player performance💰 Why you shouldn’t underpay, and why you shouldn’t overpayIf you want Filipino VAs to go above and beyond, you can’t manage them like a freelancer on Upwork. You manage them like a long-term employee you want to keep for years.And when something dips, you don’t tighten the leash. You open the conversation.▶️ If you’ve ever thought “my VA got lazy,” hit play. This episode will save you weeks of frustration.💬 What’s your default reaction when productivity drops, time tracking, warnings, or a conversation? Let’s talk in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire a full-time Filipino VA the right way? Go to OnlineJobs.ph and post your job.#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #VAProductivity #TimeTracking #TrustBasedManagement

January 28, 2026Episode 46620 min

8 Hiring Mistakes Filipinos Can’t Afford to Make on OnlineJobs.ph

I’m going to say something that surprises people: I don’t usually hire the most qualified person. I hire the one who stands out.I’ve been hiring people in the Philippines since 2005. My very first hire is still with me today. That’s 20 years. And after two decades of reading applications, interviewing, and making both great and terrible hires, I’ve seen the same patterns over and over again.This episode is different. For the first time ever, I’m talking directly to workers on OnlineJobs.ph.But if you’re a business owner, don’t skip this. Because what I’m really doing here is pulling back the curtain on how employers actually think when we’re hiring.There are way more applicants than jobs. That’s just reality. So if you’re doing what everyone else is doing (mass applying, generic cover letters, leaning too hard on AI), you’re invisible. And invisible people don’t get hired.What does work is simple, but not easy. It’s about intention. Effort. Honesty. And yes, standing out in ways that actually matter.Here’s what I break down in this episode 👇🟢 Why “stand out” matters more than experience📩 Why mass applying is the fastest way to get ignored📌 How following instructions instantly filter you to the top🔍 Why knowing who you’re applying to changes everything🎯 How using more apply points signals real intent🧠 Where AI helps and where it absolutely backfires⚠️ Why faking skills leads to bad reviews and short-term work🤝 How being yourself leads to long-term, loyal hiresAt the end of the day, employers aren’t looking for perfect resumes or AI-written answers. We’re looking for real people we can trust, train, and build with long-term. When you get that right, everything changes on both sides.▶️ If you want to understand how real hiring decisions are made, hit play.💬 What’s the hardest part of hiring or getting hired right now?🚀 Ready to build a long-term team? Visit OnlineJobs.ph and hire direct.#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #GettingHiredOnline #StandOutToGetHired #HiringMistakes

January 23, 2026Episode 46517 min

The 7 Benefits of Outsourcing to the Philippines

I used to think outsourcing to the Philippines was about cost. Like, I’m just saving money.What I didn’t know was it was actually about freedom. And the weird part? I didn’t lose control. I got more.Back in 2005 I hired my first person in the Philippines. At first, I had to teach him everything. But after a few months it was almost like there were two of me, and it was one of the most liberating experiences of my life.Fast forward to today: I’ve got about 55 full-time people in the Philippines, nobody in the U.S., and we run an 8-figure business like that. Not by “sending work overseas,” but by bringing people into the company as real staff.Because when you hire the right way, you’re not losing control. You get to spend your day thinking like a CEO instead of getting interrupted every 10 minutes.Here’s what I break down in this episode: 👥 Why outsourcing the right way feels like cloning yourself 🎯 How hiring staff (not freelancers) keeps you in control 🌙 What really happens when work gets done overnight 💸 Real salary ranges and why this isn’t “cheap labor” 🎓 Why Filipino workers are thinkers, not task robots 🤝 How loyalty changes everything about training and turnover 📈 Why scaling stops feeling risky when talent is easy to accessIf you’ve been scared outsourcing means chaos, miscommunication, and losing your grip on the business, you’re thinking about the wrong model.Don’t “send stuff overseas.” Bring someone in. Train them. Trust them.That’s when the business starts running without you doing everything.▶️ If you want more freedom and more control, hit play.💬 What’s the #1 thing you’re afraid to delegate right now? Drop them in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire? Post a job and start talking to Filipino workers at OnlineJobs.ph#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #OutsourcingToThePhilippines #HiringInThePhilippines #RemoteTeamBuilding

January 22, 2026Episode 46410 min

Why AI Isn’t Replacing VAs — It’s Making Them 10x Better

I’ve had a bunch of people ask me lately, “Is AI replacing virtual assistants?” And the simple answer is no — not even close.What we’re actually seeing is the biggest increase in demand for Filipino VAs we’ve ever seen. Month after month, employers keep hiring more.And the crazy part is… VAs are getting better at their jobs because of AI, not worse.My team in the Philippines uses AI every single day. They use it in our social media, our SEO, our design, our programming, our video editing — everywhere.And they’re better now at almost everything they do than they were before AI showed up. It lets us create better products, better marketing, enter new markets, and do things we’ve struggled with for years.And the other big surprise is that AI didn’t just make the work better — it made the hiring better too. I had to rethink how I evaluate applicants. I assume every cover letter is written by AI now, so I just focus on the signals that actually matter.At some point I realized AI could help me evaluate all those signals without taking the human element out of the process, so we built OnlineJobs.ph’s AI matching system around them.When I started actually using it, it blew me away.It handled all the data instantly. It rated people the same way I would — just without me spending hours doing it. It filtered out 80–90% of the wrong applicants right away and pushed the best ones straight to the top.And honestly, it solved the biggest hiring problem of all: wasted time.Here’s what I’m seeing:⚡ VAs using AI are doing better work than ever before📈 Demand keeps growing — no slowdown at all🔍 Most cover letters don’t matter; real signals do🚀 AI instantly filters applicants so you skip the bad ones🧠 Better data = better decisions = better hires💼 You can hire fewer people and still get more done🌏 Now is actually a great time to hire in the PhilippinesThe truth is, AI is making everything better — hiring, working with your VA, the quality of the work, the speed. All of it is improving because of AI.And if you’re thinking about hiring someone in the Philippines, this is a really great time to do it.▶️ Hit play and see why hiring a Filipino VA just got 10x easier💬 Got questions about hiring or AI? Drop them in the comments.🚀 Ready to hire? Head to OnlineJobs.ph and find your long-term Filipino teammate#OnlineJobsPH #TheSecretSauceOfOutsourcing #JohnJonas #FilipinoVAs #OnlineFilipinoSpecialists #AIAndVirtualAssistants #OutsourcingWithAI #AIHiringTools