Life After BPO: How Dice Found His Better Balance

For over a decade, Dice and his wife worked in the BPO industry, spending long hours commuting and adjusting to unpredictable schedules. While the steady income helped their finances, it came at the expense of quality time with their young son.

“It was more about the practicality and the quality of life it offers. I wanted to be at home and spend more time with my family, especially my son. For over a decade, my wife and I worked in the BPO industry, often commuting long hours and reporting to work at odd schedules just to provide for our family. While it helped us financially, it also meant sacrificing precious time together. Becoming a Virtual Assistant allows me to continue building my career while being present for my loved ones, supporting them without missing the important moments.”

When Dice joined Summit, he found himself stepping into unfamiliar territory. This wasn’t just a new job, it was a whole new industry, filled with processes, tools, and expectations he had never encountered before. The adjustment wasn’t easy, but it was an opportunity for growth that he embraced wholeheartedly.

“My biggest challenge was starting from zero, knowledge-wise. The training was truly an eye-opener — I was introduced to new teams, timelines, and tools that were all essential to the job and the industry. At first, it was overwhelming, but I approached it with humility and a willingness to learn. Over time, I absorbed the knowledge, adapted to the processes, and built my confidence. Looking back now, I truly appreciate that experience because it shaped the foundation of the skills I have today.”

Now that he’s settled into his role, Dice’s workdays are full but purposeful. He moves between tasks that require attention to detail and moments where communication and collaboration are key. His focus remains on keeping operations smooth, no matter what comes up.

“My typical workday revolves around supporting the Summit rosters in all aspects of their tasks and roles. This involves close collaboration with the admin team and consistent communication with the roster to gain clarity on any matters that require attention. Throughout the day, I handle client escalations, address inquiries, process bonuses, and manage schedules and attendance. By staying organized and proactive, I ensure operations run smoothly and productively from start to finish.”

Balancing competing priorities is a reality in any fast-moving environment, and Dice has learned to approach it with strategy and intention. His method keeps him efficient while ensuring nothing important gets overlooked.

“I approach balancing multiple projects by prioritizing based on urgency and impact. Most administrative tasks require immediate action or response, so I address those first to maintain smooth operations. For long-term projects, or tasks with more flexible timelines, I schedule them strategically throughout the week. This ensures consistency, efficiency, and steady progress without compromising the quality of work.”

Over the course of his VA career, there have been moments that fueled his motivation and reminded him why he chose this path. Positive feedback from colleagues and clients made a lasting impact, reinforcing that his efforts matter.

“Before joining the Admin Team, one of my proudest moments was receiving positive feedback from my client, manager, and colleagues. It was an incredible confidence boost and motivated me to set even higher goals for myself. Now, as part of the Admin Team, my pride comes from overcoming the daily challenges we face. Successfully resolving issues, closing out hurdles, and ensuring smooth operations bring a sense of accomplishment that I truly value.”

One experience, in particular, stands out as a defining memory. In a meeting filled with seasoned industry professionals, his work was recognized in a way that made him feel both valued and validated.

“One memorable moment was during a meeting with trainers, staff, and admin personnel from a brokerage managing over 300 agents. My client — both a realtor and a trainer — openly praised my organizational skills and the practical workarounds I had introduced. Hearing such recognition in a room full of industry professionals was both validating and motivating, reminding me that my contributions made a real difference not just to my client, but to the entire team.”

Of course, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. At times, Dice faced demanding workloads where some tasks depended on factors outside of his control. These moments tested his patience and resilience, but they also taught him a valuable lesson about focus and productivity.

“One of the toughest challenges I faced as a VA was managing heavy workloads when I had a client. While rare, there were situations where multiple tasks had to be completed before we could move on to the next step, and some of those dependencies were beyond my control. It was frustrating at first, but I learned to focus on what I could accomplish instead of dwelling on what I couldn’t. By letting go of things outside my control, I was able to stay productive and keep momentum on other priorities.”

Beyond the work, the impact of becoming a VA has touched every part of his life. The freedom to create his own schedule has transformed the way he spends his days, giving him more opportunities to connect with his family and enjoy shared experiences.

“Being a Virtual Assistant has given me more time to focus on my family and provide for them in ways I couldn’t before. The flexibility in my schedule allows us to spend more quality time together, and we’ve been able to travel more often, which has been a great stress reliever for everyone. It’s truly improved both my work-life balance and our family life.”

Along the way, Dice has developed skills that go far beyond what he expected when he first started. These abilities not only make him more effective in his role but also help him guide and support others.

“Through this role, I’ve developed strong problem-solving, communication, and mediation skills. Handling both VA tasks and admin responsibilities can be challenging, especially when switching from completing tasks myself to guiding other VAs through theirs. I’ve learned to provide clear, concise, and relevant instructions, ensuring they get the support they need. As an admin, I’ve also learned the importance of being decisive yet professional — striking the right balance to maintain positive relationships with both clients and VAs. This often means finding creative and convincing solutions to resolve issues, working closely with my teammates to ensure all parties are satisfied.”

When asked what advice he would give to others just starting their VA journey, Dice’s answer reflects both practicality and foresight.

“My advice would be to remember that timing is everything. Don’t just focus on having the right skills, training, or ability to complete tasks — those are important, but they’re only part of the picture. You also need to consider the bigger spectrum: your readiness to adapt, manage your time, handle challenges, and balance work with your personal life. Being a VA isn’t just about doing the job — it’s about sustaining it and thriving in it.”

From starting with no industry knowledge to becoming a VA Supervisor at Summit, Dice’s story is more than a career success, it’s proof that a well-timed change can create space for both professional growth and personal joy.

He hasn’t just achieved work-life balance; he’s found true fulfillment in his family and personal life, making every day count in ways that matter most.