Do you know?

Often times we're so caught up with what's going on in the world today, that we miss out on what we've really done. What we've really accomplished.  And I think we should take a moment and get drunk celebrate.  Don't you?

For me, one year ago today is when I took on my first "real" Copywriting client (despite counting the previous 15 YEARS I was "writing copy" without even knowing it).  Fully stepping into my role as a "The Kick Ass Copywriter" it's fun to look back and see how it all started without any loans.  Investing any real money (debt).  And how scared shitless I was rapidly it took off without knowing how the frig to run any kind of business like this.

Looking Forward

For me, I love to do that by understanding how I can save more time.  Add more value.  And make more fashizzle of an impact on businesses like yours.  To the point that if I were to build and sell one of the following three products, I was hoping to see which you would most likely buy through your feedback here, and submitting your vote (it'll only take a few seconds).

Once done, I hope to bribe you with know more about what you really want – versus what you don't. Just like this blog, if a TON of people want it, it continues.  If not, it doesn't.

So did you have a chance to think about where you were (one year ago today)?  I was…

Testing It All

Seeing if anyone would hire me for my "kick ass copywriting" abilities, I posted something on my last blog and an individual took me up on it.

Then I just asked that person why they hired me.  What made me different than everyone else.  And looked at the type of person they were (sex, age, occupation)… using it to search for more people just like them to hire me.

I Was Networking

Finding meetups to meet people who needed my kind of service – NEVER meeting with other people who did what I do.  I still don't.

Looking At Myself As A Business (NOT A "Freelancer")

Being someone who's sensitive to certain words, I always look at the word "freelancer" as someone jumping around from job-to-job looking to sign up on another crowd sourced website competing for bullshit slave wages and…

Need I say more?

Getting An Attitude

I realized that wasn't good, nor was it getting me business – in fact it hurt a ton of previous business relationships I had (slowly killing me).  So I went back to the basics of what my original mentor had told me (and what worked for me).

"Be the kind of person other people want to be around."

Probably costing me about $20,000 in lost sales just this past year, that's hasn't happened in about 3 or 4 months – as I'm sure you've seen.

Focusing On What Was Working For Me (Versus What Wasn't)

If you can't already tell, at this very moment I'm not too concerned with "building an online audience."

Why?

It does't necessarily excite me as much as talking to you in person (or over the phone).  It doesn't always play to my strengths (blogging).  And it doesn't work as well for me – as it does for others.  Will it change?

I'm still trying to decide.

Ditching Unsupportive People

I'm talking about blood relatives.  People whom I had to always convince that what I was doing was "good enough" (besides the "you need a good job with great benefits and a 401k" BS of yesteryear).  Now I don't convince anyone anymore.  I just do what I do, because I have to.

Sounds like a great line for a song, huh?

"I just do what I do, cause I have to."

Stepping Into The Business Side

Being the LAST person on the planet to enjoy running the "business side" of things (sales, contracts, etc)… you know anything that has to do outside of actually writing copy, I didn't like, but had to embrace.

Realizing that 30% of my business is actually getting paid to write copy, I've really learned to enjoy it. To enjoy the marketing. Enjoy the meetups.  Enjoy working with an eclectic bunch of businesses from all walks of life (in every aspect of the world). And enjoy building meaningful relationships with other people like you, who actually care about their business.

Charging Less Than I Was Worth

It was a great learning experience though, and perhaps the greatest mental challenge I've had to overcome.  But now, I've really come to find a real comfort in what I charge.  Increasing my rate 4 or 5 times over the last year to something that currently suits me a lot more (for the kind of service I'm used to providing)…

I've always come to deliver 2 to 3 times more value that what I charge – and believe I have always done so.

Realizing that the level of people that can now afford my service are the people whom I like to work with most, the opposite of that is also true.  The less you charge, the more shady people you'll work with.  And fortunately for me, I have only dealt with one "shady" character so far.

Overcoming The Hardest Time Of My Life

Kelly, my girlfriend of the last four years was back in California paying off the last of her debt (Bailey – our Corgi was there too).  I was in a new place.  Knew no one.  And couldn't get any real employer to hire me.

Looking back, I now understood how that had to happen.  Otherwise nothing would've.

Strange, huh?

So that's just bit about where I was – a year ago today.  You?

QUESTION: Do you love your business, but know you shouldn't be the one writing for it?  Or perhaps you may even feel you could ruin the reputation you've spent so long in building?  Heck… maybe you're just way too embarrassed to even share it with anyone because you know deep down inside that whatever you write, doesn't accurately represent who you are and what your business is really about.