1% Will Make a Difference in Your
Freelance Career
It’s Julie Hassett for The Writer’s Life, and I’m back with a final tip for making your transition to a “double life” with a thriving day job and freelance career as easy as possible.
I know it’s easy to get sidetracked by life outside of work. There’s always so much to do! But, if you get distracted from your dream of the writer’s life for too long, you can lose momentum. If that happens, or if you get overwhelmed by working a job and building a freelance career, I have a foolproof formula for success. You can use it to keep your momentum, motivation, and sense of fulfillment soaring.
No matter what life throws at you, just get 1% better every day.
Over time (and more quickly than you’d imagine), your daily progress will add up to your becoming great at your chosen profession.
What are some things you can do to get 1% better each day?
- Do one module of an AWAI program — It could be either the Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting or something in your niche
- Read one chapter of a classic copywriting tome — Here’s a great list of suggestions on the AWAI website
- Update your blog or another page on your website — When learning something new, your blog is a great place to relay your newfound expertise to prospects
- Join a peer review group — Get quicker at writing better copy by rating the work of your fellow copywriters and having yours rated in return
There are so many ways to get 1% better every day. And they only need to take about 30 minutes to an hour. I’d love to hear from you in the comments. What are your favorite ways of raising the bar by 1%?
Before we go, here’s one more practical tip to help you stay productive and on-point.
Prioritize your to-do list. Your brain gets the same adrenaline rush whether you check off “Write two tweets” or “Cold call five new clients.” Even when we know which items will yield the greater potential results, we sometimes fool ourselves into a feeling of accomplishment by tackling the least threatening, most familiar tasks first. If you can only do 1% each day, make it count.
The AWAI Method™ for Becoming a Skilled, In-Demand Copywriter
The AWAI Method™ combines the most up-to-date strategies, insights, and teaching methods with the tried-and-true copywriting fundamentals so you can take on ANY project — not just sales letters. Learn More »
Julie, I have really enjoyed your series this week and especially this one. I have actually been doing the 1% and it does keep me motivated. For example, last night I organized all my loose papers (and there was a lot) into binders and made some updates to my website. I get so excited about doing things that I have to make myself stop. I have really been utilizing lists and I love to check things off. Thanks. Sandra K.
Sandra Knight –
1% every day is a great idea. And Julie is very right, let's make that effort really count.
Write a great headline for a company that you've got your eye on, put it out there on your social network and then use that as a reason to cold call that company and bring your great work to their attention.
1% is all about packing as much learning, strategy and business building into every action that you take as a copywriter.
And, it's a kick! Enjoy:)
Jeremiah Magone –
Could you please elaborate on the "tomes" you are referring to in your Writer's Life article of August 2? Thanks.
Joanne
Joanne B –
Hello! This is my first time contributing to AWAI and I thought I would be notified when readers commented. I see that's not what happens, so I apologize for the late replies!
@Sandra - I am a to-do list nut, so I am with you there! I started a Weekly 1% blog at my website if you want to subscribe for a once a week dose of this same kind of thing at www.hassettcopy.com. Thank you!
Julie Hassett –
@Jeremiah - You are right about "learning, strategy and business building". Perfect trio. My accountability partner and I have three things we send to each other each week: what we're learning, writing and marketing. It's great to break it down into categories like that. 1% in each adds up fast.
Julie Hassett –
@Joanne - Thank you for pointing out that the link after that sentence does not direct you to a list of classic copywriting reads! Here are a few of my #1 suggestions...
"Changing The World is the Only Work Fit for a Grown Man" about Howard Luck Gossage
"Ogilvy on Advertising"
"Hey Whipple, Squeeze This"
"The Robert Collier Book of Letters"
"Scientific Advertising"
I know there is a really comprehensive list somewhere on AWAI as well, but for now that should get you started!
Julie Hassett –