"Do What You Love" Is Not Always Good Advice
I have always loved writing, so writing for a living seemed like the dream job. And, for a while, it was. I genuinely loved what I did. I was getting paid to write stuff.
But after a couple of years, the novelty wore off, and writing started to feel like a chore. It was my job. I didn't write for fun anymore. I only wrote for money. I could barely motivate myself to write content for my own business, let alone do any writing for pleasure.
People often talk about how if you do what you love for a living, it doesn't feel like work. I don't know if that's ever true, but it wasn't true for me. The thing I used to love started to feel very much like an endless slog.
By October 2019, I was fed up. I loved delivering my training courses, but I just wasn't making enough from them to drop the copywriting services. I had a handful of good clients and some work I enjoyed, but I was also taking on a lot of crappy work at crappy rates.
I either had to call it a day and walk away or take action and make some big changes.
Luckily, I chose the second option.
Turns out mentors are not a waste of money
I always thought business coaches and mentors were a luxury or a waste of money. What could they tell me that I didn't already know or couldn't learn from a book? I'd be better off spending my money on other stuff, wouldn't I?
But at the start of 2020, I found myself working with one.
It kind of came about by accident. He needed some copy, and I needed help, so we agreed to an exchange of services.
I didn't expect anything to come from that first meeting. I was expecting it to be a waste of time. But I had nothing to lose, and I didn't have a better plan.
Oh. My. God.
I was so wrong.
I walked out of that meeting feeling more positive about things than I had in a long time.
Turns out mentors are useful. And I only wish I'd gotten help sooner.
That first mentor helped me see a way out of the rut. But my next mentor helped me take things to the next level and build a business that worked around me.
Don't get me wrong, I was the one who did the work. I made the changes I needed to make. I took back control of my business, focused on the stuff I wanted to do, started saying no, set boundaries, and did what needed to be done.
But it's definitely easier to do those things when you have someone in your corner, supporting you, pushing you, and holding you accountable.
Turns out working with someone who knows how to get you where you want to be is a good investment after all - who knew? 🤔
Changing course
One of the first things I did was change my marketing strategy. I stopped promoting 'done for you' copywriting services because I didn't want to fill my calendar with copywriting work. I wanted to write - I just didn't want to do it as a job.
Instead, I focused all my marketing on my training and consulting services (and, eventually, my mentoring services too).
I also came to the realisation that I didn't want to build a business empire. I simply wanted to earn enough money doing stuff I enjoyed and working with lovely clients.
Once I figured out what I wanted from my business (and how to make it happen), things got easier and life got a lot better. I have clients I genuinely enjoy working with, and my business makes me happy.
And I've fallen back in love with writing again. I'm motivated to (and enjoy) writing content for both business and pleasure.
I still earn enough from my businesses to pay my share of the bills and afford the lifestyle I want, but these days, I don't have to work as many hours to afford it, and it doesn't feel like a slog.
But there is a small problem...
I hate my industry!
In fact, I hate both the industries I work in - marketing and mentoring.
Both the marketing industry and the coaching and mentoring industry are oversaturated and full of scammers and charlatans. There are hundreds of "consultants" and "coaches," and half of them are just ripping people off.
Not all of them are doing it intentionally. Some of them genuinely believe they offer something of value.
But both industries are unregulated, which means anyone can claim to be an expert. And that's why social media is full of self-proclaimed gurus selling get-rich-quick schemes and bullshit courses.
Which is why I sometimes I feel embarrassed telling people what I do.
I worry they'll think I'm just another "six-figure coach" selling an impossible dream.
I'm not.
I'm very honest about how there is no easy way to build a successful business. There is no secret formula or magic bullet. You don't just wake up one day to find all your dreams have come true and your problems have disappeared overnight.
Building a successful business requires hard work.
I know because I've been there.
I've put in the work. I've dealt with the challenges. I've experienced the highs and lows.
And that's why, despite hating the industry, I keep doing what I do.
I help freelancers and small business owners attract more of the clients they want. I use my own experience and share stuff I've done in my own business. It's stuff I know works, but it requires effort, it's not always easy, and if you don't put in the work, you don't get the results.
That might not sound as appealing as a promise of overnight success and a six-figure income, but it's the best I can offer.
And when I see my clients get results, it makes working in this murky industry worthwhile.
So if you've fallen out of love with your business (or you're worried it's heading that way), drop me a message. What have you got to lose?
Lisa Slater
