Dear Business-Builder,
Pursuing a copywriting career is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme. It can, however, be the single best idea you ever had.
So whatever you do, do NOT be discouraged. If you need encouragement, just look at how far you’ve come; all the stuff you know now that you didn’t know a week, month or year ago.
Resolve to do whatever it takes in the short term to reap the long-term rewards. Stick with it. Redouble your efforts. Refuse to accept anything but success.
Take my word for it:
The first time a client wires six figures into your bank account to pay you for two weeks’ work, you’ll be glad you hung in there.
In that moment, all the hours you worked to perfect your craft … all the rejection you faced in finding your first few clients … and all the sacrifices you made to build your copywriting business … will all be worth it.
Yes, it’s going to take some effort on your part.
If you think this is easy … if you sleepwalk through your work … if you fail to invest the mental and physical energy required to get the details right … if you resent honest, well-meant criticism … and if you’re going to cut and run the first time the going gets tough, there’s not much I or anyone else can do to help you.
But if, as my high school football coach loved to say, you’re eager to pour 110 percent of your genius, your creativity and your energy into this …
If you’re willing to take the time and expend the energy to do it right … and obsess about the minute details that must be right to bring in every last sale …
If you’re willing to expend every ounce of mental and physical energy at your command … take your best shot … accept the consequences … take a hard, honest look at what you did right and what you did wrong … and learn your lessons …
… And if, when all else fails, you can muster the will to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and do it better next time …
… There’s no stopping you. Whether you’ve made it yet or not, you’re a winner in my book. And someday soon, you’ll find yourself relishing the winner’s rewards.
… Now, it’s time to go to work.
But what if nobody wants to hire you? Or worse: You create the best campaign you know how to create – and it flops?
Look. Let me tell you something that all the gurus out there probably won’t.
It’s not until you begin applying this stuff in the real world that you REALLY begin to learn!
Unless and until you persevere through the rejection that’s required prior to bagging your first real clients … and until you suffer the humiliation of getting your butt kicked – repeatedly and publicly – by real prospects when there’s real money on the line … you’re still just a student.
Students have to pay to learn. Once you begin doing, others PAY YOU to learn.
Sure – you’re going to have to bang the phones for hours every day until you get a client – and those first few clients may not be worth a bucket of warm spit.
You’re going to have to create five, ten, twenty or even more promotions before you get your first huge winner.
Courage – true courage – means being scared to death and then doing what needs to be done anyway.
You can do this. I know you can.
Yours for Bigger Winners, More Often,
Clayton Makepeace
Publisher & Editor
THE TOTAL PACKAGE
P.S. What’s standing between you and the success you crave?
What are you afraid of?
What’s keeping you from sending your writing samples to a client who could make your career and then calling him or her to close the deal?
What’s keeping you from partnering with a copywriter/marketer who could take your company to the moon?
The best definition of the word “courage” I’ve ever heard is … “Being afraid and doing the right thing anyway.”
So here’s your assignment for today: Identify the one thing that stands between you and the success you dream about – the one thing that terrifies you the most.
And then – DO IT.
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How very true your words Clayton.
It does take a lot of work… skull sweat as you would say.
Yet, it’s kind of like riddling a puzzle too… solving a mystery.
Personally I like nothing more than a challenging problem to solve. And when I’m first starting on a promotion I often have no clue what the problem even is until I do some sniffing around rooting out what’s going on in the prospects head.
I have to confess. I’ve never taken criticism graciously until I started writing copy. Now it feels more like an eye popping discovery to see what you couldn’t or didn’t see before. Plus it almost feels rewarding because hopefully you’ve learnt a thing or two that will help you in the future.
Until the rest of us reach your level we all have a LOT to learn. Nothing better than learning from the Big Guy… and a reminder of how far we have to go is a good thing too.
Now when I’m thinking how much I suck I can remind myself I don’t necessarily suck I just have a lot to learn;-)
Thanks Clayton,
I’m printing this out and hanging it by my computer!
Me Too…nuff said. Hands on keys time.
Clayton there is a rumor you are retiring. Is it true? I hope not,your insights are like little gold nuggets. Any one who digs around The total Package can find things that help and inspire. Any way if it is true Good Luck and thank you
Mr.Clayton must first thank you for your generosity.
coming in contact with you has been a mind-blowing
l appreciates but l have one problem or challenging problem and that has to do with deep knowledge of marketing and the ability to write well.
Hello Clayton,
Thank you for your kinds words and sage advice.
Reminds me of what my grandpa used to say when I hurt myself or did something foolish … and when I did something very right … “Do it again”.
Eventually we learn …
Have a wonderful day,
Angela
Hey Clayton,
Thanks for posting this. Just what I needed to hear today.
Best,
Angel
Clayton,
I’m definitely a believer in divine intervention now. I’m working on my first ‘real’ assignment, trying to beat a control. Doom, gloom and doubt snuck in the backdoor and have been hitting me in the knees with baseball bats trying to knock me down and give up. But I hadn’t…yet.
Then I open this e-mail and it’s like Superman swooping out of the sky and saving the falling victim inches before sure death.
Thanks for writing this. Now I have to go write a killer headline.
Dana
Hi Clayton,
I love reading your posts. I find them easy to read
and very informative. (Ok…enough sucking up
to the big guy.)
I have a few questions:
1) Why clear out the store?
2) Will there be any new products?
3) Are you coming out with a book?
(I seem to remember awhile back that you
were coming out with a new book to be
released by a major publishing house.)
4) What is your grand master plan regarding
The Total Package for the next 2-3 years?
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.
Steve
From the deepest part of my heart, Ahsante sana, however one BIG request.
Kindly give the future an opportunity to have a place, an online store where those who never had the opportunity to purchase your priceless products can do so. That favor might just produce the next Clayton Make-peace 50years from now and who knows, a direct descendant of yours might be a beneficiary from that.
Whatever action you take do not forget this crowd here, the crowd filling this space with response.
Thank you Clayton,
for those encouraging words…
I decided to pursue a copywriting career seven months ago.
Since, I’ve been reading and learning from Top Copywriters like Gary Bencivenga (Gary’s Arsenal), Dan Garfinkel, Eugene Schwartz (127 Winning Headlines), and YOU…Still I have a lot to learn.
It’s always good to hear those kind words, and advices from experienced copywriters like you.
…especially with all the hype nowadays
Sincerely,
Alex
Hi Clayton,
I love reading your posts. I find them easy to read
and very informative.Thank you for your kinds words and sage advice
OK Clayton, I’m only just seeing this and, fine I get it. I have given up on this copywriter career so many times that I don’t even feel like bothering to write this. But, if there is even a miniscule possibility of success on my part, I WANT IT. So, I’m going to take your word. Here goes…
Great inspiration. Many thanks, Clayton.
Cheers from Charlotte.
Scott Martin
WOW! That was a great post! I’ve done a few spec assignments in which I haven’t gotten any response from. I’m going back to try and perfect each skill one at a time, starting with Headlines then Leads and so on. Thank you for the wonderful article it’s been very insperational.
Apparently most people are sold the idea that copywriting is one career where you harvest money within weeks. That could be true if one is ready to put 110 hours a week into this craft. But if all you invest is 3 hours a day, it may take a few years.
In addition, people are either not aware or don’t believe in the 10,000 hours rule. One must put in these many hours to excel in any craft. Whether you are a billionaire’s daughter, or you live on a dollar a day; whether you are Stephen Kings’ son or a man learning English today for first time, there is no escaping this rule.
Ever since I got serious, I started an excel sheet that I put the number of hours I work each day. I am now looking at 1320 hours. Meaning I have another 8700 hour to go. However, I have started seeing improvements. Suddenly people are now telling me ‘your copy is excellent.’
From my estimates I expect to hit the 10,000 hour mark before the end of 2013. At this point, no doubt, I will command copy fees unimaginable at the moment.
The best definition of the word “courage” I’ve ever heard is … “Being afraid and doing the right thing anyway.”
This is going to be cross posted and retweeted – the simple things are at times the most difficult.
Thanks for what you do! I have NO WRITING experience at all but would love to learn … There’s no stopping you. Whether you’ve made it yet or not, you’re a winner in my book. Love it!
Clayton,
I miss The Total Package soooo badly.
It is just not the same anymore.
I am writing this Feb. 2012 and I still can’t get used to
being without your Total Package.
I wish you would write a little something once in a while.
First Gary Bencivenga, then YOU.
I am going nuts!!!
Sadly,
Tammy
Thanks for the pep talk.