Comments on: The Reality Blog Concludes Week 2: First Income Totals

By: Mindy

Mindy — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:00:36 +0000

Wow Jennifer, thank you for sharing that! I think you hit the nail on the head about activating the law of attraction in my life. I've wondered many times why good things seem to come to me, and after the movie The Secret came out I realized the full power of the law of attraction. I'll be the first to admit I make a lot of mistakes (a LOT of mistakes) – but I guess being idealistic has its perks – I generally just assume things will work out!
Thanks for sharing that website – I really enjoy tidbits of inspiration, so I'm going to bookmark it for a rainy day!
I hope everything you've got your sights on this year starts working out – I can't wait to hear about it!

Thanks again,
Mindy

By: Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:11:45 +0000

Hi Mindy,
I'm reading through all the blog posts today to get "caught up". When you described work, income and changes simply coming to you without you really putting out a concentrated effort, I was reminded of the law of attraction. You have basically activated the law in your life whereby a small effort guided by a specific intention yields huge outcomes. By choosing to do this blog for the next year and taking specific action steps, you have engaged certain laws that will simply begin to assist your efforts. Actually, they've been assisting you all along! Instead of continuing to function on a default setting, which continuously yields the same results, you've taken the reins on establishing a new outcome by creating a vision in your head of what you want in your future. An inspirational website with daily short encouraging thoughts can be found at tut.com with Mike Dooley. TUT stands for thoughts you think and he writes a daily 'Notes from the Universe" which focuses on this entire concept.
I look forward to interacting with you and seeking your wisdom throughout this year.

By: Mindy

Mindy — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:49:30 +0000

Hi Reuben,

What a great way to put it! I like the way you point out the upside to being underpaid. I think for me, a lot of what kept me going was the positive feedback and appreciation from the client herself. I knew she was constrained by a budget that was out of her hands, but she made me feel valued despite that.

This contrasts quite a bit with someone I met a year ago who was interested in having me write for his business, but upon seeing my fees pronounced quite emphatically that I was "overpriced" and there was no way he'd put out that kind of money. Of course, I cut relations right there, but there's a marked difference between someone with that attitude versus someone who can't pay what you want but values what you do.

I appreciate the point you've made about how I can leverage these underpaid client relationships as new opportunities. I admit I haven't given it much thought, but I will figure out how to do that and will get back to you.

Thanks again for the comments!
Mindy

By: Mindy

Mindy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:01:17 +0000

Hi Sue!

Wow, I feel like I could have written your post. The job I left before turning to copywriting was very much like what you described – lots of complaining with little positive action. It was a very stifling environment. When I realized I was beginning to complain just like everyone else, I knew I needed to make a change. I guess I hadn't recognized the same situation could occur regarding a single friend as opposed to a whole office, but – live and learn!

And like you said, thank goodness for forums like what we've got here at the WWW for connection and support – I thrive off of messages like yours! Also, I love what you wrote about making money with very little marketing. That's one of the amazing things about being a web writer – the fact that we can say things like that, because they're true! So I'm right there with you in terms of seeing what happens with serious effort.

Thanks for your comments!
Mindy

By: Reuben

Reuben — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:44:18 +0000

Mindy it is admirable to see that you have the stick-to-it- in you work ethic. Staying with a client or a project that under pays takes confidence and endurance in ones quest to become a master in ones trade. It is encouraging to hear that now you are moving along to finding and securing assignments that will begin to reward you for your skill and expertise. The question I have for you now is, "Have you been asking for referrals or introductions from those lower paying clients in return for your discounted fees?" Consider the trade off and the benefits to ones own practice/business when the fees are lower that desired but the consistant flow of opportunites are being brought through the door by someone who believes in your work as they are paying you month in month out for your services. It is a golden opportunity if you practice the skill of asking for referrals on a regular basis. The question Mindy is, "Will you feel that this will be a fair trade off?"………Continued success to you.

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:41:57 +0000

Hi Mindy,

Thank you for your story. It helped to know that someone else was making money too before really putting their full force behind it. Now I am inspired to put myself out there to see what I can really do. I have been making money with very little marketing.

I can identify with your situation with your friend who is jealous. I just left a really unhealthy job situation to pursue copywriting full time. It is a place where everyone complains and no one will do anything to improve the situation. It turns out that hardly anyone that I worked with will communicate with me so I have moved on to this forum to make connection where I will really find the support.

Thanks for the inspiration.

By: Mindy

Mindy — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:31:46 +0000

Hi Kris,
That's a great story – I love the metaphor of the crabs (though it makes me kind of sad for crabs!). It's been an interesting epiphany, though. For a long time, I felt so challenged and confused with the freelancing life that I wouldn't have dreamed others envied me. Maybe I was naive, but I didn't anticipate someone NOT wanting me to succeed. So you phrased it best – "better to be traveling with those going your way!"
Thanks for sharing, I appreciate it!
Mindy

By: Mindy

Mindy — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:25:30 +0000

WOOHOO Malisia! That's fantastic news! I'm so glad to hear about your first project. Enjoy this moment – it's the beginning of something VERY BIG!! And remember, if you feel like you need a little input as the sales letter comes together, feel free to post it on the forum for peer review.

And thanks for your comments on my "bad apple," as one friend called this experience. You're right… a door closes, but a window opens. Or as another copywriter put it, "The Universe abhors a vacuum." So the hole left in my life has since been filled many times over!

By: Malisia Seabolt

Malisia Seabolt — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:16:45 +0000

Sorry to hear about your friends departure. Reminds when of what the bible says about God opening up doors and closing doors that no man can open or close. Maybe she would have been a big hindrance to you in the future…so God gave you someone else that will encourage you instead of hindering you.

Again I want to thank you for this blog…your an inspiration to me…"hang in their, you can do it!"

Oh by the way some guy accepted a bid I proposed to write a sales letter on Freelancers.com. My first accepted assignment. I'm nervous about it but excited also. I won't know any details until Wednesday.

By: Kris

Kris — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:05:49 +0000

Re: Surprise #3
Reminds me of the story I heard where the crab fisherman is explaining to someone that his crab traps don't need tops, because if a crab tries to climb out, the other crabs will pull it back into the trap. We need to remember that as human beings we can choose to pull others up rather than down.
It's better to be traveling with people going the same direction as you. Congratulations on your success so far. We're rooting for you.