Guarantee Your Freelance Success
Cindy Cyr here with the ONE BIGGEST thing you can do right now, today, that flat out guarantees your freelance success …
So, let me tell you about a friend of mine … I’ll call her Samantha …
Last week, I spoke with Samantha about the travel website she’d started several months ago.
“How’s it going?” I asked.
“Not so good. I think I’m going to try photography,” Samantha told me.
As she continued excitedly about her new photography business, I didn’t have the heart to tell her I didn’t think she’d succeed.
It’s not because she isn’t capable. She’s got a great eye. Knows a lot about taking pictures. And, even has experience selling her photographs.
She owns AWAI’s Turn Your Pictures Into Cash photography program that will show her exactly how to do it. Plus, she’s good at marketing.
She has many people who will support her, encourage her, and even give her business.
But odds are, she’ll fail.
I’m not saying this to be mean. But, having watched her start and stop at multiple businesses, I can tell you she’s never taken the one crucial step necessary for success.
And, it’s crucial to your success, too.
It’s the secret behind every person who has ever built a business from scratch.
For example, it’s how Henry Ford built Ford Motor Company after going broke five times.
It's how Walt Disney created an empire that makes billions today from theme parks, movies, and merchandise despite a rough start. He was fired from a newspaper because his editor said, “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He then failed at several businesses and even filed bankruptcy.
Dan Kennedy says if it hadn’t been for him doing this one thing, he’d have quit well before he ever succeeded at his copywriting business.
And, it’s the same secret used for losing weight and saving money, too.
So, what is this one thing already — which is the BIGGEST and most important thing you must do?
Make a decision.
Decide right now that you are going to be a highly-paid freelancer and you are going to succeed at your freelance business, no matter what.
Eliminate your thinking that tells you, “I’ll give this a try and see what happens.” Or “I’ll give this a test drive for six months.”
Why? Because if you haven’t made the decision to succeed at all costs, it’s too easy to quit whenever you hit a “speed bump.” And for some, that bump doesn’t have to be a big one.
Rejection from a prospect, criticism about your writer’s life dream from a family member or friend, or not making as much money as you’d hoped in your first year … all can “support” your “I’ll give it a try” thinking that says, “this must not be working out, time to quit.”
However, once you’ve firmly decided you are going to live the writer’s life no matter what, those setbacks become mere hiccups that slow you down from time to time. But, they never stop you, not even for a minute.
Frederick Speakman, a well-known author of illustrated guides to English forests who was a pioneer in childhood environmental education said, "Decisions determine destiny."
So, if you want to guarantee your writer’s life destiny, take a minute today and decide you WILL be a wealthy freelancer, no matter what.
Don’t be like my friend Samantha who hasn’t committed to what she’s doing and continues to bounce around like a rubber ball — hoping something will “stick.” You can succeed, if you’ll just decide.
Did you make a change today and decide to live the writer’s life? Let me know by posting a comment below.
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I SO agree. I think we give up easily for two reasons:
1) The move wasn't right for us in the first place, and so when we hit a bump, we're ready to throw in the towel;
2) Fear/lack of faith that we can actually do it
Melzetta Williams – November 16, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Oh, I know this one in and out! Been doing this myself for a while, and realized about a month ago that my lack of success wasn't because I'd picked the wrong thing, but because I had let the kinds of hiccups you talk about throw me into doubt and onto a new path when I'd only begun to explore the path I was on. One shift I made has been a good one, though. No more generic 'marketing' for me - I'm loving pursuing the 'writer's life', and I WILL be a wealthy freelancer! :-)
JulieW – November 16, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Cindy, you are SO right. When I decided, absolutely, that I was going to be a successful web writer, that was it! After my AWAI web writing course and web intensive, I plunked down some money for a business coach (after hearing Joshua Boswell talk about his success from business coaching and being in a mastermind) and realized that you do need help along the way. Those 2 decisions have made a world of difference for me. And led me along the road to success. Thanks for your great article today.
Guest (Jan Schochet) – November 16, 2011 at 8:29 pm
I am in this for the long haul. I gave up a part-time bookkeeping job almost two years ago to become a freelance writer and I have not looked back. Sure it gets frustrating at times and the pay isn't the greatest yet, but I have faith it will get better. I will be releasing another book in my series within the next three weeks and am anticipating several sales due to the nature of the book. My advice to others; don't give up.
Diane Ziomek – November 17, 2011 at 1:53 am
I always like the soul you deliver your blogs with, Cindy. It's so real.
Sometimes these roadblocks are good too. Like a job offer that will fetch you a pay check now, but take your dreams and wealth away. I choose to dare; I dare to succeed; today, I decide.
talktoiyke – November 17, 2011 at 1:58 am
Cindy, this touches a nerve. I'm been intending without committing. Thanks.
We met at Bootcamp back in 2007 and it's great to see you're powering ahead as writer.
Mohan, London/UK
Guest (Mohan) – November 17, 2011 at 2:19 am
So good to see you all making the decision to succeed no matter what. I know you will. Melzetta--I think you are right on. Julie, I love it--and you are right about your decision--personally that was a turning point in my career--so good for you! Jan--you sound like you've made some really smart moves. Diane, good luck with your book--that sounds exciting! Talktoiyke--I love what you said. Mohan--I remember meeting you! I hope to see you at the next bootcamp--listening to your success story.
Thank you all for your kind words. It really is helpful to know what you find helpful.
Cindy Cyr – November 17, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Great article! It's what I needed to hear about making a decision. I am committed to my writig career. I have big wall to get through seeing how I am unemployed and little to no money to work with but I am determined. Thank you for encouraging words, keep up the good work.
Guest (Angelo) – November 18, 2011 at 7:19 am
OMG, Cindy, you are SO RIGHT! After 3 years of fits and starts, I finally made the decision at the gut level to just do it, and started to brush up my website and get ready to roll. The weird thing was that once I made the decision it was like the floodgates opened up. Now (less than 2 months later) I'm on retainer with 2 companies with the work flowing in. I'm convinced that all along it was only my attitude and lack of self confidence holding me back.
Guest (Anne Michelsen) – November 18, 2011 at 7:24 am
Anne--Congrats on making a break-through and thank you so much for sharing your success here--I think it's helpful for others to see that often times it's as simple as shifting your mindset--which costs no money to do--to break through and live the writer's life.
Angelo, Thank you for your compliment. One of the advantages of being unemployed is that you can devote time to getting clients. Use some of the free methods outlined on AWAI's site (there are lots of them), have confidence and believe in yourself and go get some clients. You can do it!
Cindy Cyr – November 18, 2011 at 11:36 am
Cindy, thanks. You are right. I started on the Accelerated Copywriting programme a year ago then "life" got in the way and I stopped. In July after a bad experience at work I decided to change my life and get my freedom. I went back to my programme. It's a slow process as I work long hours on my day job but this time I am determined. I'm not making any money yet but I feel that I'm on the right track - I'm now on the second assignment and this time I'm not stopping.
Guest (Monica) – November 21, 2011 at 1:18 am
Monica--way to go! Don't be shy about reaching out for encouragement from your AWAI family when you need it...that and your determination to succeed will definitely help you get your freedom and live the writer's life.
Cindy Cyr – November 28, 2011 at 12:58 pm