Are you a “jump and the net will appear” kind of person?
Personally, I like to have some sort of net.
But, as this this week’s guest on the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast taught me, you can get creative with that net.
CCA student and copywriter extraordinaire Daniel is sharing how five days after he quit his sales job, he moved to Thailand.
I know, you’re like, “But Nicki, you said he had a net.” 😱
Trust me, Daniel wasn’t willy nilly about changing careers.
He knew his cost of living would be lower in Thailand, allowing him to live comfortably while he built up his client base.
And, phew, did he build a client base!
While he’s not in Thailand anymore (you’ll have to listen in for more on his digital “slow-mad” lifestyle), Daniel is working 25 to 30 hours per week, earning a cool six figures per year.
Yeah. I’m inspired by his career path and I think you will be, too.
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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
[01:50] Back in 2017, I was working the typical nine to five. I was stuck in a sales job that didn’t excite me. On lunch breaks, I kept ending up in Barnes & Noble until one day I grabbed The 4-Hour Workweek, and that book cracked something open.
[02:30] Five days after quitting my job, I packed up and moved to Thailand on a total whim. I figured the lower cost of living would buy me time to learn a new skill and copywriting became the spark.
[03:40] While in Thailand, I even published a book about how creativity fades as we get older. Copy let me channel that creative energy into something that also pays the bills. I’ve always been drawn to creative expression and copywriting felt like a practical extension of the things I already loved.
[06:26] I went through three or four other programs. I think that this community does a good job of just being more real and human, especially in a very AI-dominated world.
[07:30] The early fear of AI “taking all our jobs” never really resonated with me. What I see now is a flood of AI-generated content that feels robotic, repetitive, and emotionless. I compare AI to a GPS, it can guide you or lead you off a cliff. The human layer is still the quality control.
[11:17] My first client came through Facebook groups, long before referrals became my main source. In the beginning, the mental resistance was real, and pitching felt overwhelming. I think it really just comes down to building a system so it doesn’t feel like it’s such a like laborious task.
[12:31] I learned discipline early through sports, but adulthood taught me that motivation fades, habits carry you. I build my day around three non-negotiables: exercise, a Thai language lesson, and writing copy. Even on low-energy days, these small commitments keep me aligned.
[16:59] Even if you don’t have clients yet, write about what triggers you, what excites you, or what frustrates you. Emotion fuels connection. This is what makes writing feel human.
[18:18] I call myself a “digital slow-mad,” staying long enough in each place. I’m mostly based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Mexico is next on my list. The freedom in my schedule feels normal now, not radical. We were taught one playbook growing up, but this lifestyle proves there are many ways to build a career.
[22:54] When I was starting and wasn’t making money at the time, my motivation that made me feel I had to make this work is What am I willing to do today to get closer to what I said I was going to do and when I quit my job? Continue to pitch, continue to make things work.
[24:09] I’ve been with my dream client for three years, media company startup. That stability still feels surreal. I write mostly for B2B brands, marketing, sales, leadership, even HR. Turning “unsexy topics” into interesting stories has become one of my strengths.
[26:07] I work 25–30 hours a week and stay comfortably over the six-figure mark. The real luxury is choosing whether extra income matters more than extra freedom. Most days, freedom wins.
[31:02] This isn’t something that is a get rich quick opportunity. It’s a high income skill and success, however you define it, is achievable if you collect the right field tested beliefs and copywriter habits, which you can find plenty of on this podcast and in the community.
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:
“What I liked about the Filthy Rich Writer community in general was just like the whole humanness behind it.” – Daniel
“Information without emotion won’t be retained.” – Daniel
“The best area to start building discipline and realizing that what takes you from one level to the next are the areas that give you friction.’” – Daniel
“It’s the uncomfortable things we need to lean into that make us better.” – Nicki
“You can’t plant a hundred seeds and not expect to grow a flower at some point.” – Daniel
“It doesn’t move people if it doesn’t connect with them.” – Nicki
“Somebody else has done your version of success before so there’s shared DNA you can borrow and that’s probably the best place to start.” – Daniel
Mentioned in the Episode
- The 4-Hour Workweek
- Daniel Reece LinkedIn
- 5 Ways to Vastly Improve Your Pitches to Would-Be Copywriting Clients
- How to Get Copywriting Referrals
Related Links
- Ep. 95: Hitting 6 Figures As a Copywriter in 6 Months – Stacy’s Story
- Ep. 79: Hitting 6 Figures as a Copywriter & Cookbook Author – Kristin’s Story
- Ep. 214: Replacing a Corporate Job Salary with a 6-Figure Copywriting Business – Tori’s Story
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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.
