My writing journey
In May of 2019, my first day back from vacation (this is how it always happens right?), I found myself considered irrelevant.
Wait…what??
The company I worked for many years had hired a much younger HRO who I was now reporting to. She wanted a younger, fresher team that consistently reflected her viewpoint. I can’t say I blame her, it’s her call and what she envisioned for my department was changing course. I “thought” I was evolving as she wished, but now it was evident, I was wrong. So, I was offered early retirement.
For 12 years I had put my heart and soul into my job. I had received many accolades for my work over the years. But now I was considered irrelevant?
It hurt, it stung, it almost broke me.
I still had things to say and do!
I was just as passionate about learning, teaching, creating learning journeys as I always had been.
How did I become a dinosaur??
Now What?
After processing this change of plans for several weeks, I knew I couldn’t live with my current internal view of being “incapable.” I knew I still had relevant skills and experience to offer that could be useful and appreciated by someone. I just needed to find what specifically those skills were and who needed them.
Early one morning, as I was drinking my coffee and reading emails, I noticed one from a company called AWAI. It was long and took a while to read, but it painted a picture that stirred something inside me.
To be honest, it changed my life.
I had been writing for years! I could do this!
My career was spent writing, it was just called something else. It was curriculum and training courses, training documents. All designed to take the recipient on a learning journey. It was to motivate, inspire, and inform in order to teach one common goal – how to sell.
What AWAI wanted to teach me was the same thing, only they called it persuasive writing, or copywriting. They painted a rosy picture of sitting on a beach with a laptop, typing away and collecting big checks. It seems too good to be true, and the big money maybe, but it still offered me a path to follow my passion and create income.
There were five things I KNEW was passionate about:
- Contributing to my community
- Helping businesses thrive in a quickly changing landscape
- Helping dogs and cats live happier healthier lives
- Create a sufficient income
- Be able to work from anywhere so my husband could fulfill his dream of traveling in our RV
AWAI offered me the possibility of meeting all my goals.
From that day, I set out to learn the art of copywriting.
The journey began…
Since that day, I’ve taken several courses from AWAI, including their flagship course Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting. I’ve read every book I can find on copywriting from the industry leaders. I’ve poured through forums, dissected every ad or email I can find. I watched and followed forums and articles on the subject. I’ve been a sponge…
Time to Jump
Finally, I think I’m ready.
It’s been a long-ish road, and I continue to struggle with imposter syndrome because I’m an introvert when it comes to selling people on ME. I hear and read that everyone has it, but the voice in my head is the loudest one I hear.
There’s always a new shiny thing coming in my email or my social media suggesting a better or an easier way to find clients, land projects, or make big money. Too many times I’ve strayed from my path wondering if I’m going in the right direction or should I look deeper into my skill set. But, I always conclude that hard work is uncomfortable, but it pays off.
After many stalls and restarts, I always come back to writing. It’s what I’ve done throughout my career and what I’m comfortable and passionate about continuing.
Can I get over my imposter syndrome? Possibly, and with time, the demons will quiet down. But until then, I’ll continue learning and searching for clients because I have thoughts to share, I have life and business experience that may help others. And, more importantly, I want to be able to control where my passion and capabilities lead me.
Writing about business, about pets, about gardening or home projects makes me feel alive, joyful, and capable.
I’m excited to see where my journey takes me.