How it all began
Testing testing… is this thing on?
Greetings! Welcome to my first blog (what a feat). The possibilities feel so endless here in my little corner of the internet. What will I write about? What should I write about? Will anyone read this? Who knows! And that’s the beauty of it all, innit?
First thing’s second, introductions are in order, eh? And not the professional “I’m a Creative Director” stuff on my portfolio. This here is wild country. I should let you know that I actually don’t even write blogs in my day job. So excuse me if this isn’t formal (I’m not going for formal). So where to begin…
Oh I have an idea! I’ll tell you a story… snuggle up pumpkin.
If I’m gonna tell it then I gotta tell it all -Usher, Confessions Part II
Once upon a time I was a girl with a laptop and a dream. I dreamt of days where I could work remote and own my own business. You see as a girl who grew up with undiagnosed ADHD and PMDD I didn’t understand why I was different. But I knew 2 things to be as true as the sky is blue: 1. I hated being expected anywhere and 2. I hated having my time managed. Now I wouldn’t say I have an issue with authority per se… It’s more of this questioning for life that’s innate inside of me. I can’t help but ask “why?” where most people accept. And depending on if the logic checks out with me determines if I’m buying in. I’m hardwired this way. I’ve been this way since I was a child (you can imagine how fun this was for my mom during my teenage years).
Where was I? (ADHD) Oh right—a girl with a laptop and a dream of working remote and being self-employed. The problem was I hadn’t a damn clue what I wanted to do and how that was going to be possible. Because the only remote jobs I’d heard of were customer service phone jobs. Aka the bane of my existence—customer service & phones I’ll throw up and crap my pants right now. I’ve had my fair share of working in an array of industries including customer service. So when I say I don’t like something, it’s not like when a kid says they don’t like broccoli even though they’ve never tried it. I ate the broccoli for years and then decided it wasn’t my thing. (I love broccoli)
I learned about copywriting during a marketing assistant part time job in college. It was the first time I’d heard of such a job and thought it seemed so up my alley. I was the kid who scored high on writing assignments (it’s always been my thing, ask my mom). And during college, writing papers was my absolute sh%$! When I learned about copywriting, I was in my last semester of college. Graduating with a degree in communication studies. I thought “dang it’s too late now, but that would have been a perfect job for me”.
So being that I loved writing and being creative I took a job in sales. (I hope my sarcasm is bleeding through these words). And what do you know, I hated it. Here’s the thing, I was good at sales, and it wasn’t sales that I hated. It’s that sales wasn’t creatively fulfilling enough for my brain. So during the pandemic, I had some time to think (picture Jimmy Neutron think think think). And that’s when it hit me–eureka! I wanted to be a copywriter. But then the big question came smacking me in the face harder than the cicadas in that Virginia spring… HOW?
I did what any respectable woman would and took to the internet. Of course, there was a brain-overloading amount of things from courses to programs to classes, to mentors, to books, to videos, to paid, to free... I was like
I knew one thing for damn certain, I was overwhelmed. But despite the confusion I was able to get some clients to meet with me. But when I tell you about the imposter syndrome… it was crippling. Because the truth was I had NO idea what I was doing. I didn’t speak the lingo. I didn’t have the experience to back up what I was saying. So even though I knew I was capable, I was questioning myself.
I had 2 options
Continue pushing through and eventually (hopefully) figure it out... all while taking a pretty big loss while I tested the waters
Put off my long-term goal by sacrificing right now and joining full-time marketing teams... to learn the ins and outs of marketing while having the security of a salary
I’m a realist and I have a decent grasp on finances so I went with option 2. Do I recommend that to others who want to break into copywriting or start their own business? Hmmm.. Not necessarily, this is just the route that I knew was best for me since I’m a hands-on learner. And I figured it would help kick the imposter syndrome to the curb. (4 years later I’m here to tell you the imposter syndrome doesn’t go away. You just get used to not letting it overshadow your worth).
I met so many people along the way. Some that I’m still very close with to this day and others that were just there for a season, it’s like anything in life. But let me tell you–the connections I still have are some of my best friends. And it’s pretty rare and amazing to have a network of creatives who get it and best of all get you. So I’d say it was all worth it for me. Besides, the experience I got working on those teams was invaluable.
Four years later, I have my laptop, and I’m still full of dreams, but now I’m dreaming as a business owner. Yep, it’s official! And I have amazing clients who make working with them fun. I am in control of when and where I work (huge). And I’m insanely proud of what I’ve accomplished.
At times, I tend to minimize my accomplishments because I’ve grown so fast. Thoughts creep into my head like maybe I’m just a fraud who’s going to be uncovered. But that’s just it, the devil works hard but imposter syndrome works harder. I’m not going to pretend my accomplishments aren’t out of the ordinary. I have a way of believing in myself with every fiber of my being and then doing what most people fear, going full send. Where some people might go to the diving board and back up a few times, and watch others go first... And then maybe decide... I’m saying “f&^k it” and cannonballing in. (And maybe that’s because I was an actual diver on the swim team in high school lol)
I write all this in the hopes that my story will perhaps resonate with someone and hopefully inspire them to keep going. Sometimes, being vulnerable shows your true strength. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being your own biggest cheerleader. (I’ll join you, did I mention I cheered in High School?)
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes for now
Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet -Steven Hawking
Love & Light
