Let’s face it: Making important decisions is hard. The little decisions—what to wear, what to have for lunch, what to watch on Netflix—are pretty easy. But the ones that matter, the questions about the directions you’re taking your life, can be hard. But they don’t have to be! Or, at least, there are resources you can use to help make them much easier. Here I walk you through … [Read more...]
Is it Better to Be an On-Staff Copywriter or a Freelance Copywriter?
One of the (many) great things about being a copywriter is that it’s a very flexible career: In many ways, you can work for whom you want to and work how you want to. But that much flexibility and so many opportunities can be overwhelming for people, so I often get asked if it’s better to focus on on-staff or freelance copywriting careers. The first thing I want to make … [Read more...]
4 More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
I’m a big believer in continual learning...especially for copywriters who tend to write about a variety of topics. If you ever think you know everything about something, you’re in BIG trouble. And, lucky for us, there are more ways than ever to consume new content and ideas. Podcasts, videos, courses, blog posts—the list goes on and on. But, as writers, many of us still … [Read more...]
Why You Should Love Your Career
How many people do you know who really don’t like what they do for a living? Anywhere from “eh, it pays the bills” to “I fricking HATE it?” Are you one of those people? I was recently reminded of just how many people don’t like their jobs when I talked with a friend. She described all the things she hated about her job and then, when I asked her if she was going to start … [Read more...]
The Most Important Investment You’ll Ever Make
A few months ago, my phone stopped accepting Wi-Fi—it just basically refused to accept that Wi-Fi existed. And, while I have a data plan, I burned through that quickly. I didn’t love shelling out $1,000 for a new iPhone (spread out over several monthly payments, thank you) but I had to. I mean, how could I exist without a cell phone? It’s practically an investment, … [Read more...]
Do You Have the Natural Aptitude to Write Copy?
Likely, you're here because you like writing—you’re a good writer and you’ve been thinking that maybe you’d like to make a living with it. But, as one writer to another, I know that knowing you’re good at something and having confidence that you can DO something are two different things. I want to address something really quickly that may be coming up for … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Getting Down to Your Copywriting Work
I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that once you start taking copywriting clients, it’s not going to somehow get magically easier for you to focus and work. Sure, sometimes you’ll get right in the flow and feel like you’re plugged into a divine download. And, it’s true that you don’t have to deal with a blank page, and that makes everything easier. But…the urge … [Read more...]
The Real Secret to Business—and Life—Success
As long as I’ve been in this business, and especially in the decade that I’ve been teaching copywriting to would-be copywriting pros, I’ve gotten this question a lot: “What’s the real secret to being successful?” Well, I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that there absolutely is a secret. Well, wait—let me put quotes around that. There is a … [Read more...]
12 Business Books and Podcasts for the New Year
Here are six podcasts and six books you should consider checking now. Each one has been chosen to inspire you and/or educate you as a professional and as a business owner. Enjoy! 6 Podcasts to Listen to Now Mind Your Business Podcast with James Wedmore Breakthrough Success How I Built This with Guy Raz The DREAM THINK DO Podcast Do It Scared with Ruth … [Read more...]
You’re Most Secure When You Take Control
A few years ago, I was talking with a friend who’d lost her job. It wasn’t her fault at all; they were restructuring the company and downsized her role. She kept saying, “I was so loyal to that company! I can’t believe they did this to me.” Here’s the thing: The most important thing for a business is the survival of the business. And that’s not just because they’re … [Read more...]