It’s Time: Move From Goals To Action
By Mindy McHorse

There’s a myth among writer-wannabes that creative people can’t be methodical.

They believe good writing comes from creative bursts of spontaneous genius, not from planning ahead.

I’ve noticed a lot of copywriters have the same problem when it comes to setting goals. Too many say, “Hey, I want the writer’s life!” And then they wait for it to happen. And wait … and wait …

They don’t recognize the value of a methodical approach when it comes to achieving that goal.

Compare the following …

"I want to be a freelance copywriter and live the writer’s life.”

Versus …

“I want to be a freelance copywriter and live the writer’s life so I have complete freedom and unlimited income which I’ll use to travel the world. I’ll start by earning $50,000 my first year. I want to specialize in web writing, so I’ll set aside a month to learn about writing for that industry. The following month, I’ll set up my professional website and will use it to land my first client.”

The difference between the two goals is specificity.

The first goal is just a surface goal. Sounds nice, but how will you get there? Why do you want it? What will you do to get it?

The second goal is a solid plan for success. The core motivation goes deeper than money (the desire to travel). It includes a specific income target and timeline, along with precise actions.

My first two years of copywriting were more like the first goal. I wanted the writer’s life, but I didn’t map out a way to get there. My income stayed meager (barely $21K the first year) and my frustration was high.

Last year was different. I set a personal life goal that motivated and excited me. I added an income target ($100,000) and gave myself a timeline (12 months).

Then, I went public with it and told all my fellow copywriters.

Putting yourself out there like that is both scary and intrinsically rewarding. It’s more than just an action. It’s an attitude. It becomes your lifestyle. Your mantra.

Incredibly, I hit my six-figure goal by the end of 2010. More importantly, I’m now living my personal life goal, which was to have enough money flowing that I could cut to part-time and enjoy daily laughter and regular vacations with my young family.

Imagine realizing your own goal, whether it’s to …

•  … never again feel like a “worker bee” tied to someone else’s schedule
•  … send your kids to private school or even college
•  … vacation in exclusive resorts
•  … pay off every monthly bill that haunts you
•  … enjoy a daily two-hour lunch
•  … have more time to exercise and care for your health
•  … easily take time off for family commitments
•  … retire years before you thought you could

There’s no better time than right now to stand up and declare your goals. Then, plan out your steps and give yourself a timeline.

If you’d like to declare those goals out loud and share them with your fellow members and me, I invite you to post them below.

And if one of those goals includes becoming an online copywriter, I highly recommend the Web Intensive Home Study Program. It’ll definitely give you the skills you need to move forward at the quickest pace possible.

P.S. If you’d like more guidance in goal setting, take a look at Nick Usborne’s Profitable Freelancing program. It’s a thoughtful guide that walks you through the hurdles of getting up and launched as a successful freelancer, one step at a time.