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On those days I feel like a whiny ass baby....

by shawnlebrun
7 replies
Like most people... I do my fair share of complaining.

My wife will vouch for that.

But ever since I was 20 or so... I've tried to make it my personal mantra to NOT complain about shit that I have no control over OR about stuff that I won't try to fix.

I just feel that if you're going to complain about something... at least take the steps to try and change it.

And I can assure you, if you're in this copy biz for ANY length of time... you WILL have stuff to complain about.

Whether it's clients, the work, the pay, the schedule... there's a whole heaping of shitty in this biz.

But like I've always done... I never complain about stuff without taking massive action to CHANGE what it is I'm complaining about.

I hear a LOT of newer writers complain about how they can't get writing gigs... or that the pay sucks, or that the client sucked, etc...

I've been through all of these, and complained about all of these... but have also taken the steps to change each and every one.

If your clients suck, find better clients. Set up your platform (blog, site, Facebook, twitter) so that you ATTRACT the kinds of clients you mesh well with.

If you just don't like working with clients... use your copy skills to create and market your own products. Personally, I feel that every copywriter should be doing this.

If the pay sucks, get better and produce more winners... filling your schedule and kicking in the old "supply and demand" pay raise.

If your schedule sucks... set it up the way YOU want it to be.

Remember, this is YOUR business and YOUR gig. YOU set up the parameters according to how YOU want them.

And if you DO complain about something... do what I do after I bitch about something... immediately look at WHAT is causing it and then take the steps to change it so it doesn't keep happening.
#baby #days #feel #whiny
  • Profile picture of the author TaraCarson
    Someone once told me "You are where you are because of the choices you make, so if you're dissatisfied with your post in life evaluate the choices you made that got you there and start making different ones."

    I used to complain that I couldn't compete against "cheap foreign content writers". I was half-right. I can't compete on price but I can compete easily on quality. Some customers will never care, they just want cheap content to feed search engines. Simple solution, I stopped going after "SEO" customers and started going after ones that wanted writing for purposes other than SEO. Like product descriptions, press releases, and other important pieces that were meant to be read by humans and not machines. Much better pay.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
    Amen Shawn! :-)

    When you take absolute responsibility for your results and your client results, good things happen.

    I know this sounds sappy and corny, even unlikely given the widespread client-bashing that goes on... but I genuinely love my clients.

    They respect me. I respect them.

    We move forward with unrelenting forward motion to put cash in their pockets. And their success begets my success.

    --- Ross

    P.S. Effort is always fully under your control. We can always point to 1,000 reasons why things can suck. But no-one gives a sh*t. Clients certainly don't give a sh*t. And why should they. They are paying for results and that's what they should be delivered. If you advertise yourself as a results-getter, God dammit man (!) you better get those results. That's why I'm often at the Starbucks doors, in the dark, in the cold, when they open up at 5.30am. The key to success is often as simple as just actually giving a sh*t.
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    • Profile picture of the author shawnlebrun
      Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

      I know this sounds sappy and corny, even unlikely given the widespread client-bashing that goes on... but I genuinely love my clients.
      Not corny at all Ross, hell, some of my clients are like family to me. They come over and cook for me, do my laundry, etc...

      Just kidding.

      But seriously though, I've kept many a client near and dear to my heart... because they're PEOPLE and PEOPLE are what matter.

      I've found that if you treat clients with respect, you get it back.

      Some of the best clients I've ever had in my 13 years online have come right here from the Warrior forum... just good, good peeps.

      Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

      We can always point to 1,000 reasons why things can suck. But no-one gives a sh*t. Clients certainly don't give a sh*t.
      No truer words have ever been written my friend.

      That's simply the way it is, we all think about US and what's right for US.

      The best case is when you're both looking out for each other... and it's win-win.

      But seriously, how many times have you been around someone (usually family in my case) where they just DRAIN you because of why life sucks for them.

      Bottom line, we're pro writers so complaints should really never come up in terms of personal shit.



      Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

      That's why I'm often at the Starbucks doors, in the dark, in the cold, when they open up at 5.30am.
      I do that too, but with me, it's Victoria's Secret at the mall. And for some reason... my wife calls it "creepy"
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
      Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

      P.S. Effort is always fully under your control. We can always point to 1,000 reasons why things can suck. But no-one gives a sh*t. Clients certainly don't give a sh*t. And why should they. They are paying for results and that's what they should be delivered. If you advertise yourself as a results-getter, God dammit man (!) you better get those results. That's why I'm often at the Starbucks doors, in the dark, in the cold, when they open up at 5.30am. The key to success is often as simple as just actually giving a sh*t.
      Agreed.

      If I'm going to accept money from someone, I'm hustling to give them what they deserve.

      Growing up poor...

      I have a deep appreciation when someone pays me their hard earned cash - even if they're rich off their ass.

      Giving a shit matters.

      Likewise...

      Working with clients that you genuinely want to help matters too.

      Don't take on clients you fail to resonate with. It's depleting.

      Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
    Most people don't fundamentally understand that for your results to change...

    ...you have to change.

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author max5ty
      Originally Posted by Mark Pescetti View Post

      Most people don't fundamentally understand that for your results to change...

      ...you have to change.

      Mark
      That's a powerful statement...I love it.
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