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Embrace that sh*t...

by shawnlebrun
12 replies
As a marketer, I try to study people, and love to people watch.

Hell, spending an hour in Walmart, to me, is just as entertaining as
watching Breaking Bad or the Walking Dead. It's amazing what you learn from
watching people.

And it's so true regarding what John Carlton writes about... how most people
just walk around each day, like zombies, in an "awake" sleep.

In other words, most people tend to live boring, mundane lives.

So, as a writer... you want your ad to be that ONE thing they read during
the day that perks them up and spruces up their day. Make it exciting for them, at least so they are energized enough to get off the couch, grab their wallet, and order what it is you're selling.

But more importantly, if you're a freelance copywriter and you work for
yourself, from home... embrace the fact that you're free to do what you want, when you want, where you want.

Embrace the fact that you can grab your laptop and go to a coffee shop.
Embrace the fact you can work from anywhere, at anytime, and basically spend your day how you want to.

I love the fact I can work out anytime I want, or go have lunch with my wife or son at his school.

I love the fact that I can enjoy a nice, leisurely walk in the sun, while most of the people I know are stuck inside some windowless office.

I embrace that sh*t everyday.

Now, I understand that some people do copywriting part time, and have a full time job.

And I get that some are often worried about landing clients and paying bills.

But don't let the fact slip away, that we have a lot of freedom in what we do.... freedom that a LOT of people would kill for.

so enjoy it.

A good book I read a few years ago was the Power of Full Engagement by Tony Schwartz.

Anyways, he talks about how we're not set up, physically, to sit and work
for hours at a time.

that your work day should more resemble a roller coaster of 90 to 120 minutes of really focused work... followed by a rest time to just relax, hang out, and re-energize.

So, that's a great time to enjoy your freedom you have during the day.

I'll work for an hour or two in the morning, then take a nice long hour off to go do whatever I want.

Then I'll work for another hour or two, followed by another hour.

I just repeat the pattern until my work done is done... but at the end,
I'm not tired, i'm not stressed, etc.... because i weaved in a lot of breaks.

In other words, I embrace the freedom I have as a marketer/copywriter and
try to use it to the best of my advantage.

I don't take for granted, one moment, that I could be stuck in a tedious and boring 9 to 5 office job.

So, I'm curious... do others here work for long periods of time, say 6 to 8 hours straight?

or do you sprinkle time off throughout your day, and work in "periods" where you can take a lot of breaks?

Just curious....
#embrace #sht
  • Profile picture of the author Mark 99
    Amen to that Shawn. I find it impossible to write for more than 2 hours at a time so my day is sprinkled with focus for a few hours then a bit of a relax and then back into it... other jobs I guess you can do 8 hours on the fly, but writing can be intense and drain your energy so a stop start day works much better for me. Environment makes a big difference too, the local Starbucks and people watching does wonders for my creativity.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
    I tend to work about 4 hours a day.

    If you're inspired; if you're in the flow;

    It shouldn't take too long to write copy that crushes it.

    I just got back from a trip to Eugene OR., which has an abundance of hip coffeehouses.

    Two nights ago, I was listening to folk music at The Wandering Goat, while writing a complete video script in just a half hour between about 9pm and 9:30pm.

    That's what the freedom to write copy is all about.

    And if you're not taking advantage of that freedom; if you're trying to convince yourself to follow the broken 9-5 model of working, what's the point buddy?

    Likewise...

    If you don't have your own products out there, making yourself some necessary passive income, so you can turn down projects when you feel like it, you're insane. (Heck, you can just write copy for yourself and not take on clients at all...)

    If you're as good as you think you are, creating multiple streams of residual income for yourself is a necessity.

    There aren't any excuses.

    I guess the question is:

    Are you taking advantage of the freedom that comes with being a copywriter?

    Mark

    P.S. The answer to that question is the dollar amount in your PayPal or bank accounts.
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  • Profile picture of the author shawnlebrun
    Awesome Mark... very cool that you whipped up a letter in such a cool place. Love it.

    I remember reading how Gary Halbert used to write some of his ads in an airport.

    Heck, wherever inspiration strikes or an idea hits... run with it. That's why i always try to have either a paper and pen or a recorder with me, in case a headline comes to mind.

    You know, we all have sh*tty days.

    But then Mark writes something that reminds us all that we CAN sit in a coffee shop, listen to cool music, and make more money per hour than most people walking the earth.

    Very cool, if you're aware of how lucky we are.

    I mean, there aren't a lot of jobs out there that provide this freedom and high pay...

    And I agree Mark, 4 hours is a good balance.

    I find that if I sit down to write copy and I don't really feel it's gonna happen or it will be that good, I just get up and go do something else.

    But the flipside is, it could be 1:00am in the morning and I might be stoked about writing.

    So, I go WITH the flow in regards to writing when I feel best suited. I don't force myself, I just try and let the writing flow when I'm feeling it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce Wedding
    I work Frank Kern style, meaning I work like a dog for weeks or months at a time then totally screw off for a few months in Cancun or where ever.

    I do tend to take a lot of breaks but I'm not the type that can get anything constructive done at a park or coffee shop. There are too many distractions for me and I get knocked out of the zone.

    My favorite part is, I work the hours I want. I'm a night owl/late riser. I often work from 11am to 2am, with lots of breaks and errand running in the middle. I love working late at night when things are quiet and I seem to concentrate better. And I equally love not having to get up early in the morning. It's just not my thing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeremey
      I'm kinda like Bruce, in that all the distractions get in the way of writing. I have to write in my office without music, preferably without Facebook, Reddit, or Skype running in the background

      My schedule is pretty much dictated by the kids, though, so my writing is done throughout the day in brief jags...Up at 6:30, finally free to work about 9 AM. Then break around lunchtime to 2 PM...Work 3-6 and then break for dinner and bedtime for the kids...Then back at the computer from pretty much 8 PM til whenever. Back up at 6:30 to do it all again!

      Breaking up the day like that is conducive to writing with a couple of rugrats still in preschool & Kinderegarten, but one thing I must have is at least 2 hours to get any kind of writing done. If I only have an hour or so it's pointless to try and sit down and write copy, so that's when I'll catch up on emails and get the busywork done.

      My nightmare scenario is these freaking snow days they've been having all year though. Not a nice surprise to wake up at 6 AM with a whole day of work ahead of you, only to find out the school district shut down Kindergarten because it might get cold that day.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
    Keep in mind...

    Sitting down for prolonged periods of time - day in and day out is about as healthy as smoking a pack of cigs everyday.

    In other words...

    It's not healthy.

    Copywriters have the ability to break up their work days so blood doesn't pool in the big leg arteries and cause major health problems like heart disease.

    No joke.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve The Copywriter
    Yes you do need to walk around and get some exercise, stretch your legs and help stop any aches in your back if you've been hammering away on the typewriter - I mean MacBook.

    I can't write in coffee shops - as Bruce said there's too many distractions. I do carry around few "classic" ads and if I'm on my own I read them.

    Or pick up a paper and start deconstructing the Ads.

    You'll often find an Ad that needs a bit of work - no harm in contacting the advertiser.

    I just tell them what could be improved - no real pitching - and amazingly a good percentage get in touch.

    You certainly can get great gigs from having a brew in Starbucks or your preferred coffee house.


    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author rise_more_and_more
    Originally Posted by shawnlebrun View Post

    .. how most people
    just walk around each day, like zombies, in an "awake" sleep.

    In other words, most people tend to live boring, mundane lives.

    .
    and you, instead, are special, interesting and so different from everybody, aren't you?
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
      Originally Posted by rise_more_and_more View Post

      and you, instead, are special, interesting and so different from everybody, aren't you?
      Wow, who pissed in your cheerios?

      I'm not going to speak for Shawn, but rather my own observations.

      I've had soul crushing 9-5 jobs. I've also had not so 9-5 but just as soul crushing jobs (You think working Saturdays and Sundays for a little over minimum wage is fun?)

      I've also been blessed enough to work with real entrepreneurs (I'm not talking IM guys, I'm talking real brick and mortar businesses run by true entrepreneurs.)

      There is a huge difference in how you behave when you're doing something you love and getting paid what you feel you're worth, compared to waking up every day and punching a time clock "for the man."

      I would dare say the man who shapes his own destiny and took his own path is "special" "different" and "interesting." Don't believe it? Go to some social event, preferably a party with a bunch of office drones. Inevitably when making small talk someone is going to say "So, what do you do for a living?" Watch as pretty much anyone within ear shot gravitates to you as soon as you say "I am a freelance writer" or "I am an entrepreneur" or I "am an advertising consultant" or "I am a freelance copywriter" however you want to word it.

      Why does it bring attention? Because almost everyone wants to quit their job (I think the statistic is only 5% of people surveyed actually enjoy their J-O-B.) Most people locked in an office will find anyone who works for themselves much more interesting. If not be a little jealous. In fact, you'll probably at that point, start hearing things like "yeah, I'd like to start my own business some day...." or a variation.

      Very few people actually follow their talents and their passions, and as soon as you do that, you truly are different, special, and interesting.

      It's sad when you consider most people in office jobs are in a career their 18-22 year old self picked for them. Now, that is sad.

      I just can't even believe this post exists, I am in disbelief at the snark and the obvious lacking in understanding of the essence of what Shawn wrote. I, for one, would appreciate you take your negativity elsewhere.

      With an attitude like that, you won't last long in any endeavor you choose to tackle. However, either way, I wish you the best of luck, because you're going to need it.
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    • Profile picture of the author shawnlebrun
      Originally Posted by rise_more_and_more View Post

      and you, instead, are special, interesting and so different from everybody, aren't you?
      Believe me, I definitely don't think I'm better than anyone else, not a soul.

      But after being successfully self-employed for 14 years, I do know I'm different.

      Because for me, personally, if there's ANYTHING at all in my life I don't like, I try to immediately take action to change it.

      I don't complain about something... and not take the steps to change it.

      From being here on Earth for 40 years, I can assure you, many people complain about sh*t but don't try to change it.

      Me? I feel I don't have the right to bitch or complain about something in my life, that I've created... unless I'm also willing to take action and change it, and improve it.

      I'm a HUGE believer in action... in fact, I think it's what separates those who are as successful as they want to be. It's the DOING.

      So no, I'm not better than anyone or anything... just different in the fact that if something is not where i want it to be, I take action to try and change it.

      Immediately.

      Maybe it's why I've had successful businesses for 14 years, been happily married for 7 years, have kids that I'd die for, have all the stuff I could ever want, and most importantly, I'm able to do what I want, when I want.
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  • Profile picture of the author shawnlebrun
    Jason,

    What you wrote sums up EXACTLY what I was saying... in fact, you probably said it better than I did!
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