Odds of Becoming a Successful Freelance Copywriter

What are your odds of becoming a successful freelance copywriter?

What are your odds of becoming successful at anything?

Here's the way I see it:

Only about 5% truly succeed in any endeavor. Doesn't matter if it's a job, a new business, whatever.

These odds mean you have to fail a lot.

• I failed at MLM.
• I failed at running a vending business.
• I failed at becoming a financial planner.

Looking back, I've failed so many times. But I succeeded as a freelance copywriter. The reasons I finally succeeded are too many to share. Nevertheless, I will share...

An Easy Way to Improve Your Odds!

There is an easy way to improve your odds of success. That is, burn your ships.

When you have no other choice but to make things work, you are much more likely to succeed. Your brain works overtime to bring you success... because... you can't go backward. You can only go forward.

April 19, 2005, exactly one month after my second child was born, I logged my last day on the job. Then I set out to become a financial planner, which, as you already know, didn't work out.

With only two weeks of money left--and no source of income whatsoever--I launched my freelance copywriting career. The date was June 13, 2005.

Miraculously, it all worked out. (Praise God!)

Is it easy to burn your ships? No. It's not. But if you have the guts to do it, success will be that much closer. Let my testimony be an example.

Comments

[Tracey "Word Doctor" Dooley]

Thanks for sharing that, Ryan. I can't believe in less than two years you are as successful as you are (or make out - tee-hee!)...

This has come at the right time for me, as following a broken back I have found myself really struggling to keep going (I've hit one of those infamous 'freelance lulls' that seems never-ending)...

But onwards and upwards I shall strive!

There's a fantastic quote by Calvin Coolidge, I believe:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race...”

[Christine OKelly]

I completely agree! I launched my business the same way it sounds like you did! I knew that if I threw myself in without a life preserver that I would have to either sink or swim, and failing is not an option.

I wouldn't recommend this "technique" for everyone, but if you believe in your abilities and believe in the power of taking risks, throwing yourself into something without the possibility of turning back is a good way to make things happen. :)

[Dave Coyne]

For the first four years of operating a copywriting business, I struggled with the usual problems: not enough clients, cash flow issues..etc.

A few months ago I realized that I was always picturing in my mind that I was struggling copywriter. And the result I always got: more struggling.

When I changed my pictures to positive images of being a financially successful copywriter, my business turned around, I'm almost at point where I'm turning away work because I'm so busy.

Call it the law of attraction. I don't claim to know why and how it works, but it's made a huge difference in my life. And I'm usually pretty skeptical of this kind of stuff.

So now matter how bad things are going business wise, never imagine yourself as "a struggling copywriter." Change that image...and see yourself as successful even in the tough times.

I read somewhere an interesting quote: "Beliefs don't have to be true (or tied to current reality) to empower you."

Dave Coyne

[Shaune Clarke]

Hi Ryan,

Excellent!

I just interviewed the author of "The MillionaireMaker" -- a client -- and he was very clear that one of the principles for becoming successful is to be sure you have no other choice, but to succeed.

When I look at those who have suceeeded the best with my coaching program -- yourself and John included -- it's those that "had to have it."

From those with above average skill to those with average skill -- the common denominator is...

"There's no turning back."

Simple to say -- not so easy to do but...

Why do anything else?

: )

Shaune

PS: Anyone who would like a copy of my MillionaireMaker interview -- it is phenomenal -- my best yet -- just email me at shaune@dynamicresponsemarketing.com

[Joseph Ratliff]

Ryan,

Amen, Amen, Amen.

It all boils down to one word in my opinion, focus.

And you can't focus unless you have cut all the reasons not to focus out of your business life.

Tough reality, but very true. I have seen quite a few who tried to "do it part time, just to be safe."

They are still doing it part time.

Does that mean the "leave it all behind and focus" method will work for everyone...nope.

As a matter of fact, about 95% it doesn't.

Joseph Ratliff

[Chris O'Byrne]

I just have to chime in and say that I completely agree with all of you! This is exactly what I did with my own online business and I can honestly say... it works!

(Ryan, I left a trackback on my blog at: http://snipurl.com/1lgye. Hope I'm the first one!)

[Ryan Healy]

Chris - Thank you. I just sent you an email with some clarifications.

The book I'm giving away is for the first person who sends a Trackback to the post that will be published tomorrow morning, May 22, 2007.

The title will be "Ladders to Climb."

More details are in the email I sent you.

[Chris O'Byrne]

hee hee... oops!

[Carmen]

I agree completely. My "life preserver" (going part time for the law firm I worked for for 10 years) has just been snatched away! I knew it would happen because last fall I had the audacity to tell one of the partner attorneys that he should do his job. Oh well, it's sink or swim now.

Carmen

[Sharron]

Your answers are all really inspiring, I am interested in copy writing, did any of you do any courses or was it a case of reading and researching and just doing it?

[Ryan Healy]

Hi Sharron - I started with the AWAI Six-Figure Copywriting course.

You can also read the classics, many of which are listed on the right-hand side of this blog.

Claude Hopkins, David Ogilvy, Eugene Schwartz, Victor Schwab, etc.

[Tony Wormer]

Ryan, in your opinion which copy writing course would you subscribe to if you were to do it over again?
Shaune Clarke or Brian Keith Voiles. I can't stomach AWAI's persistent up selling to the likes of me who are just,just getting their feet wet.
Tony