Anyone can tell you how to raise your freelance income by putting in MORE time and effort. But maybe you don’t have the time or energy to improve your skills or burn the midnight oil right now. That’s … [Read more...] about Here’s how to double your writing income (without killing yourself)
Blog
“Be realistic” is really code for…
Last year my wife and I were exploring new neighborhoods to move to. We always dreamed about escaping the suburbs of Omaha and moving our family downtown. But for years we put it off -- even though … [Read more...] about “Be realistic” is really code for…
How to confidently disagree with people (even when your opinion is wildly unpopular)
Sometimes, the toughest opinion to embrace is...your own. Example: When I quit college, so many people chastised me that I became convinced I’d made a bad decision -- even though I couldn’t imagine … [Read more...] about How to confidently disagree with people (even when your opinion is wildly unpopular)
How I charge (and get) 10x more than my competitors
For 10+ years of my adult life, I didn’t feel like I had much control over the things that happened to me. It felt more like life was happening to me, rather than me being the “director of my own … [Read more...] about How I charge (and get) 10x more than my competitors
Would you turn down this freelance job?
I don’t talk about it often, but in addition to being a freelancer on Upwork, I’m also a client. Over the past couple of years I’ve hired lots of freelancers to help me with various projects -- from … [Read more...] about Would you turn down this freelance job?
Are you using any of these “Dishonestly Degrading” phrases?
If you were alive during the Salem witch hunt of 1692, choosing the right words could easily mean the difference between life and death. Let’s say you were accused of being a witch -- how would you … [Read more...] about Are you using any of these “Dishonestly Degrading” phrases?
The 15 best copywriting books in 2021 (and who should read them)
Gurus love to make long lists of “must read” copywriting books: “Top X books to learn copywriting” (AKA "Here are the Amazon search results for copywriting books with 4+ stars") “X books … [Read more...] about The 15 best copywriting books in 2021 (and who should read them)
How to build a freelance portfolio from scratch — in 1 afternoon
When I ask people about their biggest challenges to succeeding at freelancing, one of the most common responses I get is “Building a portfolio”. It usually sounds something like one of the … [Read more...] about How to build a freelance portfolio from scratch — in 1 afternoon
Specific phrases that ruin Upwork proposals (and what to say instead)
Last year I went to a restaurant with a very unusual item on the menu: “Buy the kitchen a 6-pack of beer — $10” I loved it! Anyone who’s ever worked in a restaurant knows the thankless misery of … [Read more...] about Specific phrases that ruin Upwork proposals (and what to say instead)
“Where are all the good Upwork clients?”
One of my readers, Curtis, sent me this question: Listened with great interest to your webinar on Upwork. All of your tips are very sound – quite a few I’d never thought of. One topic not addressed … [Read more...] about “Where are all the good Upwork clients?”