#27: From Setbacks to Success: The Wild Ride of an Unconventional Entrepreneur
Digest
This episode delves into the speaker's unconventional journey into copywriting. He initially pursued professional snowboarding but realized the need for a more stable career. His father, a copywriter, encouraged him to explore the field, and he began practicing and learning the craft on his own. After graduating, he sought mentorship from a professional copywriter and eventually started taking on freelance clients. He faced a turning point when he landed his first major client, a pre-workout supplement company for CrossFit, and quit his waiting tables job. However, the project didn't succeed, and he found himself piecing together small copywriting gigs. He later worked for a real estate investing company, but the experience wasn't fulfilling, and he was eventually fired. This led him to a period of financial hardship, but he remained steadfast in his belief that God had called him to be a copywriter. He made a bold decision to send out 100 letters with a six-sided die to local and national nonprofits, hoping to secure a client. This unconventional approach backfired, resulting in postage owed for many recipients. Despite the setback, he remained committed to his faith and decided to reimburse the recipients for the postage. This act of faith, though seemingly irrational, led to a turning point in his career. He started receiving more clients through his mentor and eventually built a successful copywriting business. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's plan, even when faced with financial challenges and setbacks, and how this faith has been instrumental in his success.
Outlines
The Origins of Copywriting
This Chapter introduces the concept of copywriting and its historical context, explaining how it was a crucial part of advertising in the 1950s and 1960s. The speaker shares how his father, a copywriter, encouraged him to pursue this career path, highlighting the importance of persuasive writing in sales.
A Crazy Business Story
This Chapter dives into the speaker's personal journey into copywriting. He recounts his initial passion for snowboarding and how he transitioned into the world of copywriting, driven by the need for a stable career. He describes his early experiences with learning the craft, seeking mentorship, and taking on freelance clients.
The Turning Point
This Chapter focuses on the speaker's first major client and the pivotal decision to quit his waiting tables job. He shares the challenges he faced with the project's failure and his subsequent struggle to find consistent work. He describes his experience working for a real estate investing company and the eventual firing that led to a period of financial hardship.
Faith and Resilience
This Chapter highlights the speaker's unwavering faith in God's plan during a challenging period. He recounts his decision to save for an engagement ring, his subsequent engagement, and the financial difficulties he faced after being fired. He shares his unconventional approach of sending out 100 letters with a six-sided die to nonprofits, the unexpected setback of postage owed, and his decision to reimburse the recipients. This act of faith, despite the lack of immediate results, ultimately led to a turning point in his career.
Keywords
Copywriting
Copywriting is the art and science of writing persuasive content to promote a product, service, or idea. It involves understanding the target audience, crafting compelling messages, and using effective language to drive desired actions, such as sales, subscriptions, or donations. Copywriters work across various mediums, including websites, advertisements, emails, and social media.
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a winter sport that involves descending a snow-covered slope on a board attached to the rider's feet. It combines elements of skiing and surfing, offering a thrilling and exhilarating experience. Snowboarding has evolved into a popular recreational activity and competitive sport, with various disciplines, including freestyle, alpine, and snowboarding cross.
Lumpy Mail
Lumpy mail is a direct mail marketing strategy that involves sending unusual or eye-catching packages to potential customers. The goal is to create curiosity and intrigue, prompting recipients to open the package and engage with the enclosed message. This technique is often used to stand out from traditional mail and increase the likelihood of a response.
Warrior Forum
Warrior Forum was a popular online community for digital marketers, entrepreneurs, and online business owners. It served as a platform for sharing information, discussing strategies, and promoting products and services. The forum was known for its active community, diverse range of topics, and valuable resources for digital marketers.
Upwork
Upwork is a global online platform that connects businesses with freelancers and independent contractors. It allows businesses to find and hire professionals for various tasks, including writing, design, programming, and marketing. Upwork provides a secure platform for managing projects, communicating with freelancers, and paying for services.
CrossFit
CrossFit is a high-intensity workout program that combines elements of weightlifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning. It emphasizes functional movements, constantly varied workouts, and high-intensity training to improve overall fitness, strength, and endurance. CrossFit has gained popularity as a fitness regimen and competitive sport, with gyms and competitions worldwide.
Direct Mail
Direct mail is a form of advertising that involves sending physical mail pieces to potential customers. It can include brochures, postcards, flyers, and catalogs. Direct mail marketing allows businesses to target specific audiences and deliver personalized messages. It is often used to generate leads, promote products or services, and drive sales.
Nonprofit
A nonprofit organization is a group that operates for a charitable or public purpose, rather than for profit. Nonprofits rely on donations, grants, and fundraising to support their mission. They often focus on social causes, community development, education, or the arts. Examples of nonprofits include charities, foundations, and advocacy groups.
Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 Hours
Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 Hours is a concept popularized in his book "Outliers," which suggests that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve mastery in any skill. This concept has been widely discussed and debated, but it highlights the importance of consistent effort and dedication in developing expertise.
Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana is a city located in Lake County, Indiana, on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It is known for its industrial history, particularly in the steel industry. Gary has faced economic challenges in recent decades, but it is undergoing revitalization efforts to attract new businesses and residents.
Q&A
What was the speaker's initial career path and what led him to copywriting?
The speaker initially pursued professional snowboarding but realized the need for a more stable career. His father, a copywriter, encouraged him to explore the field, and he began practicing and learning the craft on his own.
What was the speaker's first major client and what challenges did he face?
The speaker's first major client was a pre-workout supplement company for CrossFit. The project didn't succeed, and he found himself piecing together small copywriting gigs.
What unconventional approach did the speaker take to find clients and what was the outcome?
The speaker sent out 100 letters with a six-sided die to local and national nonprofits, hoping to secure a client. This unconventional approach backfired, resulting in postage owed for many recipients. Despite the setback, he remained committed to his faith and decided to reimburse the recipients for the postage.
How did the speaker's act of faith lead to a turning point in his career?
The speaker's act of faith, despite the lack of immediate results, ultimately led to a turning point in his career. He started receiving more clients through his mentor and eventually built a successful copywriting business.
What is the speaker's main takeaway from his journey into copywriting?
The speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's plan, even when faced with financial challenges and setbacks, and how this faith has been instrumental in his success.
Show Notes
Join us on this inspiring episode as we dive into the incredible journey of an entrepreneur who defied the odds. From facing unemployment and financial struggles to building a successful career in copywriting, this story is a testament to faith, resilience, and the power of unconventional paths. Tune in for a rollercoaster of emotions and valuable lessons that will leave you motivated to pursue your own dreams, no matter the obstacles.
Highlights:
"I believe God called me into this. He's asked me to be faithful, especially with finances, in a way that is counterintuitive to how the world works."
"I can't believe it worked out like that. Sending out a six-sided die, screwing up a mail package, and still not getting any clients produced the career I have now."
"Even if things don't work out, you still have God at the end of the day. That's really what I'll be circling back to."
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
02:15 - Unconventional Beginnings
05:40 - The Big Leap
10:03 - Financial Struggles and Faith
12:41 - The Lumpy Mail Experiment
15:30 - Unexpected Outcomes
18:50 - Building a Business
20:50 - Reflecting on the Journey
23:20 - Partner's Perspective
25:45 - Wrapping Up and Looking Forward
Thank you for tuning in to this episode. If you found value in our conversation and want to hear more, subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.
Get Ready for Anything with a VNSH Holster – Click Here to Learn More: http://vnsh.com/pop
For behind-the-scenes on our lives and what we’re up to, follow us on Instagram. Connect with us at @adamlantelme and @natemhopkins and join our community of like-minded individuals.
We love hearing from our listeners, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts and stories. Until next time, keep moving forward and turning challenges into opportunities!
Table of contents
United States
