What we’re doing here…

Posted on March 28, 2008
Filed Under Assess, FREElance Survival Training, Planning |

Hopefully you read my post on Maslow and the Hierarchy of Needs. So, what does that have to do with this site?

Well, As I said, the first needs are survival, and they must be met before you can focus on any higher-level needs. From a copywriting perspective, that essentially means that you must believe that you can actually make money doing this. That is why I recommend you start off with the “10 Days to Paid” and “Boot Camp” ebooks.

Next, you’ll need to achieve the “safety” level. For our purposes, that meas that you will need to start develop a little regular business coming in. Boot Camp will help with this, as will some of the posts here on the site. Plus, the FST prompts start building routines that will build the skills you need to run your business over time.

After Safety, comes Connection. That is, you need to develop a sense of community. This takes place in several areas: connection with other writers, with other business service providers, and even within your local, regional, even national business communities. Connection is essential in truly growing your business, but it will not come naturally until you feel SAFE in your new role as copywriter…which, in turn can’t happen until you have the exxentials you need to survive.

See how each level doesn’t just build, but DEPENDS on the level before? And does that help explain why, at this point,  you don’t like to do cold calls? Why you don’t like networking in your local business community? Deep down, it has nothing to do with the fact that you don’t like sales. It’s that you either don’t feel safe in this new role yet, or you don’t yet believe you can survive.

So work backwards, try to make five calls in the morning, and five calls in the evening. If you still can’t bring yourself to do even that, then you need to work through “10 Days” again…maybe you need to strengthen your portfolio. Maybe you need to read up a little more on just what it is copywriters DO, or the businesses you’re pursuing. Or maybe you just need to get on Guru or Elance and get a few small jobs under your belt, to prove to yourself that you can do it.

But once you get to where you’re comfortable at the connection level, you’ll find you business starting to thrive. You’ll feel like a true colleague to your clients, rather than just another vendor.

Then you’re ready for the Self-Worth stage…you believe you’re not just capable of making it as a freelance copywriter, but you’ll realize you deserve top dollar for your work. You quit looking to outside sources to justify your rates. You no longer feel nervous asking for $75, $85, $125 an hour for your work. In fact…you don’t ask at all. People ask you, and you tell them how much it will cost. Very matter-of-fact.  They’ll pay it, or they won’t, and you’ll move on to the next client.

And finally, you reach the stage of self-actualization. Creativity kicks in and possibilities open up before you. You approach clients you never thought you would…and get a yes. You realize…hey, I know how to promote a business…I think I might just promote a side business or two of my own! You realize you have time and money…and you no longer have to trade one in order to have more of the other.

Now…if all this sounds great, but you’re just rolling your eyes and saying “yeah, right,” that’s perfectly all right. Because you’re not at that self-actualization stage, yet. But all of the information I’m giving you is designed specifically to help move you through these stages as quickly as your own pace allows.

It will take some longer to get out of the survival or security phases, because they have more fear and inexperience to work through. And that’s fine…you can still get paid while  you work through them. You don’t have to reach the top before you can be successful…but you do have to be there before you can enjoy it to the utmost.

Which is why I specifically set out to push you in some places. It’s why I tell you to make 20 calls a day in “Boot Camp.”  First, it forces you out of your comfort zone, which is the only way you’re going to grow. Second, while you’re stretching, your setting the stage for the work to come in, which will help you transcend Survival that much faster.

It’s why Connection is an essential component of Son of a Niche (as you’ll soon see), even though it is primarily designed to instill the concept of safety. That way, while you create safety, you are priming the pump for the connection phase.

The point here is not “read this book, and make money…then read the next book and make money.” The point is, “do this to believe you can do it…then do this to create a security blanket…then do this to create an incredible network…then do this to understand how much you rock…then to this to realize your full potential as a writer and business person.” Each writer will have his own pace with each step…but here you’ll get specific tools to help you do it. And maybe to understand your own growth process at the same time.

Look at the things (doubts, fears, emotion, etc) holding you back from the things you SHOULD be doing.  Ask why, in terms of the Hierarchy, and see where you are in the process. There’s nothing wrong with being in survival mode…only with being complacent and staying there.

So, let’s get going!

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