When Providence Moves

“By persisting in your path, though you forfeit the little, you gain the great..”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson, author, poet and philosopher

In Issue #129

When Providence Moves
by Krista Jones

On November 5th, I started a 56-day journey that focuses on a different topic each week. Led by 14 mentors, I’m discovering how to find my purpose. How to achieve astounding results. How to be well. How to feel liberated. And more.

I’ve only completed 30 days and already I can tell you the experience is even better than I had hoped for.

The program itself is extraordinary. The catalyst for what will ultimately change my life. But the program would be useless if I hadn’t been paying attention.

You see, this isn’t the first time I’ve enrolled in a course or program wanting to live my best life. (Shocking, I know.) But in the past, I just went through the motions. I didn’t commit the appropriate level of energy, focus, and attention to the program of the day.

This time, however, I surrendered. I allow the experts to lead me through the process, and I take the full actions that are asked of me each day. I spend an hour to reflect and complete unusual exercises. Regardless of what I have to forfeit to do so. And now, after four weeks of engaging in these activities, I can literally feel things starting to shift.

This inward journey reminds me of the one I took while changing careers back in 2001. And it occurred to me during one of my daily exercises that my level of wanting is the common thread that is woven throughout both processes.

Like I mentioned a moment ago, this isn’t the first time I’ve wanted to improve the quality of my life…

Back in 1996, I thought about becoming a paralegal. Then in 1998, I started on a course to become a life coach.

But the real change for me came in 2001. That’s the year when I didn’t just want or choose to do something different. I committed to it. And in 2002, I began my new life as a freelance copywriter.

As you make plans for 2008, spend some time thinking about how much you want to reach your goals.

We all want things—to be successful, to contribute, to be wealthy. But until we fully decide to be, do, or have those things the likelihood that we’ll achieve them is slim.

However, your chances for attainment go way up when you truly commit to your goal.

“I commit to launching my business by May 2008.”

“I commit to finding three A-list clients by December 2008.”

“I commit to doubling my income in 2009.”

Try saying those things (or whatever it is that you truly want) to yourself and see what comes up for you. If it feels empowering, terrific. If it feels scary, that’s terrific too.

The beauty of commitment is it doesn’t matter what feelings bubble up when you say or think about the goal. Because as explorer W.H. Murray once wrote:

“…the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”

One of my exercises last week involved looking back over my life and examining the times when I’ve achieved the most spectacular results. It was one of the most enlightening exercises I’ve ever done. It’s when the truth of the words above really hit home.

It clearly revealed to me that each time I’ve committed to something—which unfortunately has been a far too rare occurrence—the universe has bent over backward to support me.

With that I’ll leave you with one question. Are you ready for it to unleash a stream of unforeseen events in your favor?

Resource Referral: Where Do I Start?

We received a couple of e-mails last week from readers who are interested in becoming copywriters. Problem is, they weren’t sure where to start. With so many different programs available, I can certainly understand the confusion.

So here’s the deal: If you don’t have any prior training in copywriting, you should start with AWAI’s Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting. This program is “Copywriting 101”—it covers all the basics. Then once you have that foundation, if you choose you can take the Masters Program to learn more advanced skills.

And if you’re interested in a specific niche, order Secrets of Writing for the Catalog Market, Secrets of Writing for the Christian Market, Secrets of Writing for the Fundraising Market, or whatever market you’re interested in. Starting your copywriting training with any one of these niche programs would be like starting your education in high school before attending elementary and middle school.

I hope this helps if you’ve been—as one reader so aptly put it—wondering where to jump onto the carousel of copywriting.

Scroll Call #2: Developing a New Glory Skill by Laurie Cauthen

We included a short essay from aspiring copywriter Laurie Cauthen in CP Issue No. 125. Here’s Laurie’s second installment of her chronicle of her experiences as she immerses herself in the copywriting program and starts taking steps to get her business off the ground:

I remember as a kid admiring how my older brother could throw a football with a great spiral, high-straight, and right into the hands of his intended receiver. I wanted to learn too so I asked him to teach me his technique.

It took lots of practice, lining the laces up just right under the base of my fingers, then taking aim and letting the football roll off my fingertips into the air.

At first, it was difficult to throw perfect spirals because, being only 12 at the time, my hand was small compared to the size of the football. But I wanted the “glory skill” bad, so I wasn’t about to let my “little hand” get in the way of mastering that coveted skill.

I adapted my style of throwing by gripping the ball closer to the smaller tip end. Before long the neighborhood boys hailed me “a good spinner, for a girl.” I earned their respect and gained a new skill for my effort. (In fact, I can still throw a pretty good spiral to the delight of my son who thinks “Mom is cool.”)

Today, I’m using the same kind of adaptive strategies in copywriting. Although it’s going to take a lot more personal dedication and desire to master my “new glory skill,” I’m excited about this new copywriting “ballgame.” Only this time I’m gunning for the big leagues.

Like learning to throw a spiral, the more I practice this new skill, the better I get. So I’ve set some initial goals:

I’m currently working on all four of these goals. It looks like I will complete the first two very soon. I’m doing research on the last two now. I can’t wait to see how they all turn out. I’ll keep you posted.

Until next time……

Attention Georgia Copywriters: If you live in the Atlanta metropolitan area and are interested in networking over dinner once a quarter with Krista Jones and myself, please e-mail me at cauthen614@charter.net. Thanks!