Ever set your mind to make a change (like, oh, say buying a course?), ready to dig in and go full steam ahead and then …
… find life getting in the way?
That was the start of Crystal’s journey.
But, she kept seeing fellow Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students posting wins in the student-only Facebook group. She knew life was always going to get in the way—and change was always going to feel uncomfortable.
So, two years later, she’s back with tactics she’s learned from her PhD program in Applied Behavior Analysis—and she’s sharing them with us.
On this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Kate and Nicki had the privilege to chat withe Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student Crystal about her story.
Plus, she’s sharing her top tips for making progress on even your biggest goals—even when life gets in the way.
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Prefer to watch the episode? Hit play below (plus, hit “cc” to toggle on closed captioning)!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[04:10] Applied Behavior Analysis works for everybody. It’s for all ages. So, when you apply that to yourself, you’re really digging down to find your why and making sure that your motivation is high enough because if the work is too high for the reward, you’re not going to finish.
[05:26] When Crystal bought the CCA course two years ago, she at a point where she was frustrated, but she knew she always wanted to write.
[06:42] Where is that disconnect between what we think we want to do and what we actually do? It’s that behavioral connection between “I’ve got this idea and I really want to do it” and what it is going to take to get through the steps to make it actually happen. Finding that motivator and finding your why and making sure that WHY is strong enough to push you through.
[07:20] Make a vision board and stick it up and make sure that you can really see what your goals are. That can help push you through and get you in the right mindset.
[09:10] It is safe to be complacent, even if you’re not happy. It’s what you know. You need to find that point of balance to get through everything and keeping your safety net but not being so afraid to step off of it.
[13:21] Give yourself scheduled time. Know yourself and whatever is going to motivate you. Having a support system is also really important. You need that extra person who is checking in and saying things like, “Hey, how’s this going?”
[17:24] People who do track their progress are more likely to keep up with their progress. It’s that reward of self-fulfillment where you’re like, “I did this” and you can see it. You can start to see those little boxes getting checked off.
[20:30] Crystal shares that the Action Sheets workbook is helpful because having something physical to make it feel more real. It helps guide you and make it a little bit more real and helps push through.
[22:20] People find different types of motivation as they work through their to-do list. Crystal is a list maker so she writes out a list and then puts it somewhere she can see. The reinforcement of checking it off makes her feel just another step closer.
Must-Hear Takeaways
As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:
“There is no perfect time to start anything new. Whether it’s starting a copywriting career, whether it’s having children, whether it’s moving across the country, any of those things. Life is always going to get in the way. So what are the daily steps that keep us moving forward in spite of the fact that life keeps happening if we’re lucky.” Nicki
“Set SMART goals: specific measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals. Pick that goal so you can say, I’m going to work on the modules for 30 minutes before I go to work and then I’m gonna work on it for 30 minutes when I come home.” – Crystal
“Tell somebody else your goals so that they can really help try and guide you there. It’s one thing to do it by yourself … but if you have a whole support system, you’re more likely to try and achieve those goals.” – Crystal
“One of the best ways to approach getting through to-do list is to experiment a little bit. To learn how you do things best. To experiment with what your motivation is. To experiment if there is a punishment element or, an experiment with what gets you to follow through on the commitment to do it.” – Nicki
Mentioned in the Episode
Related Links
- Episode 158: Set Your Future Self Up for Success Right Now
- Episode 143: Business Builder or Time Waster?
- When You Need to Get Down to Work: The 5 Second Rule
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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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Last Updated on April 23, 2025
