Cash in on Summer Vacation
By Steve Roller

Steve Roller here …

Yesterday, we talked about the antidote to the lazy days of summer …

I gave you four ways to combat the "summer shutdown" mentality that happens to many of us every year from June through August.

And today, I want to show you how you can make your hot summer vacation pay you cold, hard cash!

My thoughts on summer productivity go back to high school.

I was a pretty respectable cross-country runner, but not the best runner on the team by any means. In cross-country, the top five guys on the team count for scoring, and I was usually the fifth guy on our team.

But for about two killer weeks each year at the end of August, I was the top runner on the team for one simple reason.

I spent my summers running.

Either a long run, hills, or a track workout. Every day. At noon. In 70-degree temperatures or 95. I ran hard every day.

And it paid off at the beginning of the season when I kicked some serious butt on my teammates and competitors.

Now, by the end of the season, my times only improved a little, while the next four guys improved dramatically and passed me by. But nevertheless, I was king of the hill every year around Labor Day.

How would you like to be king of the hill on September 5, 2011?

All you have to do is be a little different from the rest and capitalize on some unique opportunities.

First of all, I know that summer can be extremely distracting.

And it may be the one time a year you really do kick back and take a vacation. Or at least let up a little and take it easy.

Even if you take it back a notch, I think summer is a great time to …

• Launch your new marketing plan
• Write a free report or other lead-generating piece
• Decide (once and for all) on a niche
• Redo your website
• Write a bunch of blog posts and space them out post-dated throughout the rest of the year
• Dive into a course that you've been meaning to get around to (Take it out back on the patio, grab some iced tea, and you can knock out some courses in one day.)

Copywriting gives you an edge

The cool thing about being a copywriter is that you can apply your writing skills to a lot of other areas.

While others are tanning on a chaise lounge, you can "sharpen the saw" and increase your income while building a nice sideline business.

In fact, today kicks off AWAI’s Annual “It's Your Summer of Money” Challenge. It's their summer program designed to put cash in your pocket by the time September rolls around.

Each day, you’ll learn about a new writing business that can be set up by the time Labor Day arrives.

The idea is that by the time summer ends, you'll have an ongoing business generating income for you, month after month.

Today's business involves writing copy for a very important client – yourself.

Check out “It's Your Summer of Money” Challenge to get all the details.

And if you have any summer success secrets to share with other AWAI members, tell me about them by posting a comment below.

Whatever you do this summer, make it fun, productive, and profitable!