Building A Community of Independents

All one needs to do is declare oneself free and one will immediately feel dependent.
If you dare to declare yourself dependent, you feel independent.
- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

In Issue #209

Main Essay: Building A Community of Independents
by Monica Day

For the first few years I attended bootcamp, meeting new clients and booking projects was at the top of my to-do list. I have often shared that my income doubled every year, as a direct result of my networking efforts – not to mention the overnight improvement I saw in my copy as a result of the sessions I attended.

But not this year.

This year, I will be networking more with attendees than the marketers looking to hire them.

As I find myself – almost accidentally – well into my second year of coaching and mentoring, I’ve become inspired and endlessly curious about what brings people to this industry, and what they decide to do with the opportunity.

And of course, I’m obsessed with seeing the people in our Copy Protégé Mentoring Program achieve their goals – and determined to help them get what they need to go to the next level.

I’ve noticed that we have some common traits. A strong desire for independence – on every level – spiritual, financial, physical. This is the tie that binds us.

But there’s another trait that might surprise you …

Our yearning for partnership and connection that goes beyond the stereotypical idea of networking and glad-handing – or the dreaded ownership model most call employment.

Naturally, as you start to make your way in this business, you develop leads and contacts – and get offers – that you simply can’t fulfill alone. More important, you find that you have talents and passions that hold out far greater opportunity than you thought possible when you humbly wrote your first headline and lead.

One person in my group discovered a passion — and an unbelievable talent – at developing and writing information products … but a serious aversion to marketing them.

Another person revealed this brilliant but under-developed website she started … but she had no idea how to set up her internet infrastructure and make money.

With a little help, and a few connections, each of these people – indeed just about everyone who joins our program – is much, much closer to attaining their goals than they realize.

Alone, we tend to sit on our brilliant ideas because we have no idea how to bring them to fruition. But when we come together, and combine our strengths, we are suddenly empowered to create at the level we are meant to.

I know, I know … you can hear the choir of angels singing “hallelujah” behind me right now … but I’ve discovered my own calling along the way.

To be the person who helps not only identify those gifts and talents and passions … but connects people with their “missing pieces.” To find the marketing consultant my information product developer needs to soar. To shine a light on the best list serve and the easiest blogging tool so my internet marketer-in-training can start making an easy extra grand a month without ever having to land even one freelance copywriting project!

So if you are at bootcamp, please introduce yourself and tell me what you do – your background, your dream, your missing piece. And if you’re not coming to Florida – drop me a line at admin@copyprotege.com.

We want to build a community of independents – and to help all our readers connect with one another to find your “missing piece” – and then hear your tales of how it all came together when you met so-and-so … right here online at the CP.

Resource Referral: It Takes A Village

Bootcamp is like homecoming or high school reunion for both Krista and me. As the date draws closer, I think about who’s going to be there – and I realize there won’t be enough hours in the day or cocktails my liver can sustain, to connect as I’d like.

It takes a village to become successful in this business. Each person who decides to reveal their tricks and secrets that made them successful combines to give you the boost you need to make it, too.

I thought I’d share a couple of the resources I’ve found most helpful – put out by colleagues I’ll be seeing next week:

First, there’s Chris Marlowe – who has put out one of the most useful guides to pricing in the industry:Freelance Copywriter Fee Compensation Survey.

Chris has taken it on as her mission to demystify the world of copywriting for practitioners at all levels. We have talked on the phone – and I’ve been a fan of her products for some time. Now, we’ll finally have that cocktail!

And then there’s Ed Gandia. Krista and I hired Ed for some of his first financial promotions when we were running an online ad agency and hiring subcontractors. We were impressed with him then – knew we had a rising star on our hands.

Sure enough, about four years later, give or take, he shares our commitment to revealing the replicable secrets to his success – so you can get your career into gear, too. Check out Ed’s Copywriting Action Plan.

Know that it won’t be all fun and games in Florida next week! No, we’ll be hard at work, on the lookout for the newest resources out there to bring to you. Oh wow, I just broke a sweat thinking about it!

Special Offer: Four Free Reports From Bob Bly!

My friend and colleague Bob Bly is always one of the biggest hits of bootcamp – he is one of the funniest presenters I’ve ever met.

He also happens to be one of the most experienced – and successful – copywriters I know. In fact, McGraw-Hill calls Bob Bly “America’s top copywriter.”

But bootcamp doesn’t have to be the only time you get a dose of Bob. On a recent visit to Bob’s website, I was blown away by all the valuable content. He is as generous with his advice online and in publication as he is in person. With one catch …

The material I thought would be most useful to you had a hefty price tag on it.

To make a long story short, I twisted Bob’s arm – and he has agreed to give away to my readers 4 of his Special Reports absolutely FREE!

For a limited time only, Bob has agreed to send you, at no cost:

Each report has a list price of $29; total value of this package of reports is $116.

But this week only, you can get all 4 reports FREE when you click on the link below now: www.bly.com/reports.

Hey, it’s bootcamp week – we’re all going a little nuts. I highly suggest you take him up on this offer before he regains his senses.