Question: Hi Dan, My husband and I are talented writers who
produce enormous amounts of great content on a regular basis. I
would desperately like to know how we can streamline our efforts
and creativity into tons of well-deserved moolah.
We know how to create, to work hard, and to gets jobs done -- we
just don't know how to stop reinventing the revenue-stream wheel.
We're making a lot of changes in 2005 - I want to make sure they
involve working smarter, NOT harder.
I can totally relate to your situation because I’ve been there
myself! The turning point of my life...what Oprah Winfrey would
call a 'light bulb moment'... is when I stopped thinking of
myself as a writer and started thinking myself as entrepreneur.
As a writer, or any profession for that matter, you get what I
called “earned income.” You do a job; you get paid a buck. If
you want another buck, you have to do another job in an endless
cycle of more work for more money. It's exhausting!
What you need to do is to create multiple streams of income in
your life...or more specifically, multiple streams of passive
income, income that will keep coming in without much constant
effort or supervision.
When people ask me, “Dan, are you a professional copywriter?”
I always said, “Yes and No.” To me, writers are broke and
entrepreneurs are rich.
I am an entrepreneur FIRST, a marketer SECOND, a copywriter
THIRD.
Writing is a skill I HAVE, but I never look at myself as only
a copywriter.
Marketing is a skill I HAVE, but I never look at myself as only
a marketer.
What I really am is a professional businessperson. I am involved
with quite a few companies owned and operated by other people,
besides running two companies of my own.
And frankly, the reason I am doing hell a lot better than other
writers who might have 10 or 20 years more writing experience
than me isn't because I'm a better writer, a more creative
writer, or a genius at writing...it's because I'm a genius
at business and a much better businessperson (and with a
well-developed ego, too!)
I surround myself with smart people. I know how to build a team.
I know how to build businesses. I know how to leverage other
peoples money and other peoples time.
Plus, I am a pretty good public speaker and leader so I can
motivate and influence.
I don’t mean to brag here, but I am trying to make a point:
Most writers know NOTHING else, except writing.
So the $64,000 question you gotta ask yourself is, “How I can
leverage off my skill sets to create multiple streams of income?”
Can you use your skills to sell other products besides selling
your own services? Do you have the ability to sell online and
offline? Can you use your skills to write for entrepreneurs get
a percentage of the sales generated?
You see what I mean? The minute you stop thinking like a writer,
the sky’s the limit.
But I gotta warn you, the transition from a writer to an
entrepreneur is NOT easy. And its definitely NOT for everyone.
You’ll have to take risks... and that can be scary.
You’ll have to be willing to delay gratification and that can
be tough in the age of 'I want it NOW.' But be prepared, when
you’re selling a product, you might not see profits for months
and months.
And there will be moments when you'll feel like giving up and
going back to the same old, same old. You'll want to pull the
covers over your head, curl up into a fetal position, and go
back to your warm, familiar comfort zone.
Don't do it! If you can 'tough it out' and if you're willing
to take the first step, you will be that much closer to your
ultimate goals.
So the short answer to your question is to use your writing
skill to build a business. Start a business in your spare time.
Develop other essential skill sets that will make you a better
entrepreneur.
And you'll always have your writing to 'fall back on' while
you're building your empire!
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