Hi Reader, Screenwriter and director Brian Koppelman wrote his first screenplay, Rounders, while working a day job. He worked on his manuscript for two hours each morning before work. Years later, he told aspiring screenwriters: "Don’t quit your job because the pressure will be so great that the anxiety will be thwarting. Instead, build your routine.” I built a routine like Koppelman’s when I’d a corporate gig as a six-figure copywriting job. I worked on my business for an hour or two before work each morning. Routines were everything to me. I built up a nice cushion of cash reserves so I wouldn’t feel that anxiety Koppelman writes about. Then, I quit my job to work on my business full-time. A few years later, routines are still everything. I’ve a routine for creating social media content and writing daily emails like this one. I drop our youngest off at school, put on a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and work on content or creative projects for 90 minutes. I’ve a routine for working with a team member who keeps the lights on in my business, paying invoices, and checking in with potential clients and my socials. Usually, we catch up before lunch. I’ve also a routine for sharing and engaging with potential clients on LinkedIn. That’s in the early afternoon after a workout or a nap! And I’ve a routine for onboarding and helping clients. Usually, that’s after all of the above (I’m in Ireland, so I’m mindful of time zones for US clients). Finally, before I log out, I write down the top 3 things I want to do the following day on a whiteboard near my writing desk. That sets me up for tomorrow. One day looks a lot like the next. My business routines might sound boring, but they’re like a metronome keeping a beat. I don’t worry much about doing the things that keep my business humming. And I rarely get burnt out. I’m accepting three new clients who want to add an extra $10k to their business. If that’s you, reply “ROUTINE” to this email and I’ll send you the details. Write on, |
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Hi Reader, I started meditating ten years ago. I meditate in the morning and evening for 10 minutes. I use a series of guided lessons from The Way. It’s a new app by American Zen Master Henry Shukman. HeadSpace and Waking Up are both good meditation apps, too. When I’ve more time, I meditate for 20 minutes twice a day without an app. For these sessions, I use a mantra. I picked up this mantra on a Transcendental Meditation course I took a few years ago. Yes, a real, in-person course… not one...
Hi Reader, Here are 9 lessons that will change the way you think about email marketing. I’ve run a few different email lists on and off for ten years. I’d hate to do the math but...I’ve sent over seven million emails to my lists. I started my first email list on MailChimp years ago. 12 months later, I realized MailChimp is more suitable for e-commerce providers and local businesses. So, in 2016, I moved to ConvertKit. I change software-as-a-service tools regularly, but I’ve stuck with...
Hi Reader, Want to fix a toilet, cook a roast dinner, or start a blog? Google “How to…” Or YouTube it. The net gives away a lot of stuff we take for granted. When building my writing website, I invested hours and dollars in producing explainers, tutorials, guides, and how-to articles. Topics people type into Google or YouTube when they’re stuck. A lot of this content crushed it (traffic-wise). Some examples of high-traffic value posts? How to Use Scrivener for Blogging The Ultimate Guide to...