What Color Belt Are You?
What “belt” level are you?
Michael Masterson floated this idea in a recent Early To Rise:
“It occurs to me that I should establish some sort of belt-ranking system for copywriters, something like the one we have in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
- White Belt: You are a beginner. You are writing, but little or none of what you are writing is getting used.
- Blue Belt: You understand the basics. You can write short copy: briefs and insert ads.
- Purple Belt: Your copy is getting stronger and more sophisticated. You have written one or several successful long-form promotions.
- Brown Belt: You can write a full array of formats (from seven-word teasers to 160-page bookalogs) in your field. You have written at least one blockbuster promotion and several more controls.
- Black Belt: You have done it all. Moreover, you know you can repeat it at will. You generate, or can generate if you wanted to work 50 hours a week, at least half a million dollars a year in fees. You understand the principles of copywriting and are interested in teaching them to less-experienced writers.
“That would be pretty cool. We could establish an industry-wide association headed by a small group of Red Belts – writers like Clayton Makepeace and Bill Bonner who have been writing at a black belt level for at least 20 years.
“These Red Belts could hand out other belts to their protégés. Once a writer rose to the level of black belt, he himself could hand out lower belts to his students.
“To attain a belt ranking, you’d have to prove that you know certain things (knowledge) and can do certain things (skill) – just as you do with BJJ.
“To go from White Belt to Blue Belt, it might take 1,000 hours of practice – and another 1,000 hours to go from Blue Belt to Purple. Then 1,000 hours to Brown Belt and 1,000 to Black Belt. Five thousand hours in all. And 5,000 hours, as you’ve heard from me before, is the time I say it takes to master any worthwhile skill.”
What do you think of this idea? What color belt are you? What are you doing to get to the next level? Leave a comment and let me know.
How to Land Clients in 21 Days with Just Your Computer
How do I land my first client? It’s a question every aspiring freelancer asks eventually. Now, there’s a proven system for landing clients that removes the guesswork. Best of all? No cold calling. Learn More »
“I’m no longer stuck in a 8-5 job in an industry in which I have little interest, for an average salary, with very little time with my son. Copywriting’s made all the difference in the world.”
If yes, you could be in big demand, earning big money, writing just a few hours a day from anywhere in the world you choose to be.
Get Nick Usborne’s step-by-step system for creating money-making information websites.
In just 6 hours and 35 minutes, you can be in business earning $60 – $150 an hour writing simple resumes.
Learn the secrets behind succeeding in this in-demand career.
The work is plentiful … the pay scales are generous and the competition is scarce!
Get the answers to the hundreds of questions and concerns commonly asked in specific, step-by-step details.
Use this eight-step plan to make the leap from aspiring copywriter to professional copywriter this year.
Let your fellow AWAI members show you firsthand the easiest, most powerful way to land your first client … BEFORE you finish the program.
Writing for the web is a huge opportunity for copywriters. Let web expert Nick Usborne show you how to write blockbuster web copy in record time … even if you're a complete internet “rookie”!
It’s an opportunity to make $50,000, $75,000, $100,000 a year or more … working just a few hours a day.
A once complicated profession is now something you can do on a standard computer – even if you have little or no “artistic” ability.
It’s one thing to have a website. But if your website can’t be found by the search engines, it may as well not exist.
The Internet creates new income possibilities every day. The biggest among them: online video marketing.
Get the very techniques top-performing copywriters use to rattle off one groundbreaking control after another.
In his new book, Michael Masterson teaches you his very own formula for powerful persuasion and how to apply it to direct mail sales letters as well as online promotions.
Intriguing idea to say the least. A simple way to encourage commmitment, provide accountability, and bring about community for copywriters. Love it!
RamonaCinTN – September 10, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I think this is an excellent idea! I have over 25 years as a paid writer/publisher and marketing/branding copywriter under my belt so I suppose that qualifies me for a black belt!
Katherine Phelps – September 12, 2009 at 3:49 pm