For all the moms and dads out there building a copywriting business alongside raising a family, this episode is for you. Peta, who was originally in charge of administering exams, joined the CCA in the middle of 2020 when schools in the United Kingdom stopped exams. She shares how she got into copywriting, as well as how she balances being a mom and building her copywriting business.
From mom guilt and being intentional about where you spend your time to communicating and compromising with a partner, Peta shares lots of practical tips for balancing work and life. Whether you’re a parent or not, you’ll walk away from this interview with tons of tips you can implement right now.
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Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Check out the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[2:10] Nicki and Kate welcome Peta as she talks about her background with writing, being a mom, and building her copywriting business.
[4:34] Peta notes how she started a blog called Second Time Around. She uses this blog to talk more about her past experiences and what she has found helpful. Peta also mentions how people finding her blog and asking her to write for them, was the first time she realized that she could actually be paid for writing.
[11:31] Peta talks about when she works best creatively, and how she approaches the limitations on her time. She mentions that she reminds herself to be realistic with herself about the time she has, as well as how she deals with mom guilt.
[14:15] Nicki mentions that the busier you are, the more guilt there is about how much time you’re spending on everything: kids, partners, work. Peta mentions that her experience as a youth worker has helped her immensely, in that she can tell herself that her worth doesn’t lie in what others think.
[16:44] Peta mentions how helpful it is that the CCA Facebook group has a mix of people who are working multiple jobs, or are moving at a slower pace. Comparing yourself to others on social media is so easy, but knowing that everyone is going at different paces can help you see how well you’re actually doing.
[19:10] Someone else’s success is not your failure, it’s just more success. Nicki mentions how it is so tempting to see how you stack up against other people, but not comparing can be incredibly helpful.
[20:38] Kate asks Peta how she balances all of the things competing for her attention. Peta mentions how audiobooks and podcasts help her manage time, because she can listen and learn while she’s doing other things. Communication is also huge for her because it allows her to be realistic about the time that she has with her family and clients.
[25:18] Peta also talks about how her and her husband communicate and balance daily responsibilities with their children, as well as with work.
[27:10] Nicki notes that it’s not the quantity of your work that equals your professionalism. You can be a professional, skilled, thriving copywriter and work with only one or two clients at a time. It’s also not the speed of writing or the amount of time it takes from when you begin your business to landing your first clients. None of that equates to being a more professional copywriter.
[30:05] Peta mentions that you should be able to work from wherever you feel like. Working from the kitchen table, or working in the park. She notes that it feels narrow minded that the only way that you could be taken seriously as a professional is if you compartmentalize your life in a way that where the two areas never meet.
[34:00] Nicki talks about how a current trend is seeing personal things as having less value during the business day. No matter who your client is, they don’t have the right to say that you need to be on a call right now. Especially if you’re not in a physical office. They can request it, but we all have constraints on our time that are all equally valid.
Mentioned on this episode
- Peta’s Portfolio
- Peta’s Blog
- Instagram: @allwordsbypeta
- Facebook: @WordsByPeta
Check Out More Stories From Moms Who Became Copywriters
- Copywriting Lets This Mom Live Life on Her Own Terms
- From Financial Professional to Copywriter—Chaundell’s Story
- Using Copywriting to Build a Second Business—Karen’s Story
- Building a Copywriting Business as a Mom
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
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Ep. 46: Are the Best Copywriters Introverts or Extroverts?
Last Updated on December 13, 2023
