Less Stress … More Cash, Part II

“When you need a shoulder to cry on, when you get so sick of trying,
hold on tight to your dreams … ”
– Electric Light Orchestra (Hold On Tight)

In Issue #214

Guest Essay: Less Stress … More Cash, Part II
by Tony Palmer

In last week’s article, we took a look at how stress … seated on the three-legged stool of fear, worry and doubt … can derail us from optimum performance. We also covered how we can temporarily regain our mental edge by singing some of our favorite songs.

Now, let’s explore three techniques to more permanently put stress and its “ugly cousins” out of sight and out of mind. Here goes …

Deflate fear by Committing To Your Unique Life Goal. Remind yourself of what your end game feels, looks and tastes like. Find pictures that capture your vision and plaster them all over your office.

It’s a great way to stay motivated … and shove fear to the rear.

Victor Frankl, who was imprisoned and regularly beaten during the Holocaust, was the master of this technique.

Frankl toiled in freezing weather digging tunnels with worn out tools and scraps for clothing. Fellow prisoners died of malnutrition and lost hope. Yet he survived this nightmare in the concentration camps of the Holocaust.

And he went on to become the most highly-respected European psychiatrist of his day. The details of his victory over this mind- numbing experience and the mental toughness techniques he used to survive are revealed in his classic work: Man’s Search for Meaning.

Frankl credited his survival to the goal he set on his first day of imprisonment. To rejoin his wife and live out their years in freedom. He held long conversations with her in his mind as he struggled against his daily circumstances. Fueled by her image, Frankl would not allow fear to derail him from his picture of the future.

Embracing your life’s goal can do the same for you. Remember daily that you are on this earth to achieve your own unique destiny. Believe that your God, Supreme Being, Higher Power or Inner Voice is directing each step that carries you closer to your dreams.

Recognize fear for what it is … an insidious attempt to weaken your resolve. When powered by your goals, fear becomes a nuisance and is robbed of its impact.

Keep Worry In Check. To worry is to be human. But excessive worry is unhealthy … and unnecessary.

I mentioned last week that studies show that up to 95 percent of our worries focus on things that never happen or are outside of our control. Such worry is wasted mind time. A solution? Each time a 95 percent worry pops into mind, hit your mental “delete key” while saying “wasted time.” If that worry returns, repeat “delete key, wasted time.” Sooner than you think, that worry will give up and go away.

And what about that other 5 percent? There’s a good chance that there’s some work to do hidden in there. Take action and your worry becomes just another step towards success.

Worried about something financial? Take action. Balance the checkbook, compile a budget, look at expenses. Seek guidance from professionals. When possible, get your partner to work harder and bring in more cash!

Worried about your health? Take action. Schedule a check-up. Eat healthier foods and give up that chocolate cake or second martini. You get the picture.

Neutralize Your Doubts. Wondering if you have what it takes to really make it in life? Uncertain that you’ll ever make the A-list as a copywriter?

Try looking at it this way. What accomplishments and contributions, no matter how small, exist in your past? Inside each, and often forgotten in the face of new challenges, is proof of your unique talents, skills and abilities.

Victor Frankl used skills learned from past achievements as a psychiatrist to help fellow inmates persevere in terrifying circumstances. In the midst of digging ditches, he was able to share mental survival techniques and provide life saving encouragement.

With these day to day successes, his sense of destiny grew stronger as any doubts about survival grew weaker.

So take apart your past accomplishments. List the skills, talents and abilities that allowed each to happen. Post the summary where you will see it daily. Doubt will run for cover.

Use these three techniques as necessary to disable fear, worry and doubt. Commitment, action and confidence will take their places. Armed with a clear and focused mind, client getting copy that brings home big bacon is just around the corner. While frying it up, remember to celebrate with a favorite song or two!

Tony Palmer brings 30 years of business writing to his emerging copywriting practice targeting the self-help, alternative medicine and financial markets. He lives in Atlanta with his wife (Chief Copy Editor), 4 children and 13 grandchildren. He can be reached at tonypalmer@mindspring.com.

Resource Referral: Use Your Skills To Become Self-Sufficient

A lot of beginning and intermediate copywriters worry about whether they’ll ever make the A-list as a copywriter. They also worry about finding enough clients to stay busy. If you worry about either one of these things, realize that there are other options. Options that allow you to make a good living as a copywriter whether you make the A-list or not..

One of the most attractive options is to start your own online information products business.

There are several programs out there to help you get started, but the simplest and least expensive one I’ve found is The Internet Marketing Retirement Plan by Bob Bly.

Bob shows you how to run your entire information products business in three simple steps.

He actually followed these three steps to start his own part-time, six-figure information products business.

The Internet Marketing Retirement Plan costs less than $100 and it comes with a 90-day guarantee. Following Bob’s three-step process, you can be bringing in enough money within two years to eliminate the need to ever work for an employer or client again. Sound interesting? Give it a shot—you’ve got three months to preview it with no risk.

Quick Business Tip: A Skill Worth Cultivating by Krista Jones

Although I sometimes fall short, I work hard at being responsive to my clients. When they send an email, I respond as soon as I read the message. If I miss a phone call, I return the call right as quickly as possible. I also try to be as available as possible for phone calls or anything else the client needs.

If you’re building your business, make sure you put responsiveness in your copywriting toolkit. Although it won’t affect the quality of your copy, your clients will notice and appreciate your efforts.