After having an interesting discussion with my husband today, I am wondering, when did all of you (if applicable) quit your 'day jobs' and take the plunge into full-time copywriting?

I'm stuck right now between a rock and a hard place ... I have a part-time job in an office which I despise... but it's a regular paycheck. Then again, staying at this job, while bringing in steady cash, hinders me from devoting 100% of my time to freelancing. My husband has been pestering me to quit the job for quite some time now so that I can focus on my business, but I've been anxiously clinging onto it out of sheer fear - I haven't been without a 'steady' paycheck in over 10 years. My father's voice keeps resonating in my brain "Be practical, Susan, play it safe! Freelancing is a risky venture!"

Then again, as my hubby pointed out, it's not really all that much money I'd be giving up by quitting. He makes good money and can take on extra work when he wants it, we have decent savings, and he says he's not a bit concerned about the financial ramifications of me quitting my monkey job.

Just wondering what others' experiences have been. Did you save up tons of cash before you started writing full-time, or did you just at some point hold your nose and jump?

I'm getting tired of playing it safe ... it's not getting me where I want to be fast enough.

As the sole provider for my family, I'm not even close to going full time. Maybe another year or so.

I'm not sure what you're afraid of. As long as your family can survive on what your hubby brings in, what's holding you back?

Well, my darling husband makes good money - but not an executive's paycheck by any means - let's just say we'd probably survive with just what he brings home, but not comfortably. We bought a house 18 months ago so the mortgage is a whopper (dang this house!). But, that said, it's a rare month when he doesn't bring in very good money from extra jobs on the side.

I was brought up to always fear the worst-case scenario. But then I look at my dad, Mr. Live Cautiously, and he's nearly 60 and still stuck in a 9-5 corporate job that he can't stand. My own worst nightmare.

I guess what's holding me back is the fear of the unknown ... irregular work flow, fluctuations in the demand for freelancers, etc. But at the same time, that sort of unpredictability gives me a bit of a thrill and it's what I find appealing about this business. I think I just need to work through the transition from paycheck-slave to self-employed, and then I'll be fine.

Dear Susan,

When the Spanish General Cortez first hit the beach in Mexico, his army was tired, hungry and suffered from low morale. He was facing a crisis and had to do something.

So he ordered his soldiers to burn all the ships that carried them there. There was no way back!

When his soldiers realized they had no other options, they conquered an entire continent.

Really and truly, there's nothing like having no safety net as an entrepreneur. You either perform or you don't eat. That's the harsh reality and that's the kind of stuff that drives you to success.

I do sympathise, though. I quit my last "job" a few years ago... and I understand your fears.

Since then, I've had months that were very lavish... and months that were really scary because of the outlook on the weeks ahead. I can tell you though, over time, it keeps on getting better and better - the ups and downs smooth out and you tend to create consistancy...

And more importantly, growth.

I can't make the decision for you, but I *can* tell you this... If this is what you want, then there's no way around it: there's always going to be a risk to face when you really decide to do this, no matter what stage of your life you're in.

Best of luck,
Erik.

I'm actually in the same boat as you, Susan. But here's a question I keep
asking myself:

"Between being positive and being negative, which of the 2 is going to help
me get what I really want?"

I know the answer to that. And that answer's helping me persist, despite
the number of unexpected frustrating events I've had in the past couple of
months.

You know the answer, I'm sure. But it lies within you.

Love the post, and I'm suffering through the same fears myself. I've only been a writer for a few months now, having just finished a textbook and some web content for a university (for not NEARLY what I am worth- but hey, you take what you can get in the early days, right?).

My question to you is this: Is the salary job really as safe as you think? I know of a relative who works at a very large amusement park who was demoted after decades of employment there, in what would seem to have been a very cushy position.

Another friend of my dad's lost his job out of the blue in his mid-50s (an insurance salesman, I think, or something along those lines). He had to find temp work for several months to make ends meet.

So here's what I hear from you: "I want to hang on to this guaranteed job that I hate, that doesn't pay well, and that may result in the loss of my will to live." But that's still better than this OTHER 'risky' job that makes me happy and provides STEADY [your word] pay." I'm confused.

Sometimes, the contract-to-contract work is scary as hell, but putting all your eggs in one basket could be deadly. Freelancing has its downsides, but (as you said) there's the thrill of always having new doors to open. It cuts both ways. And I'm all out of cliches, so I'll stop now.

Alex Stiner
Copywriting Solutions

Erik - Thanks for the analogy, love it . It's so true ... often desperation is what leads us to take risks - and achieve ultimate success. I'm definitely the sort of personality that leaps into action when there's a fire under my butt! Thanks for sharing your experience ... it's good to know that the ups and downs are likely to even out after some time in the business.

DNG -
Very apt ... being negative never got anyone anywhere. It only saps you of your energy and casts a gloom over your day-to-day life.

Alex - Thanks ... I hear what you're saying, and no, the salary job isn't 100% safe at all, by any means. The only thing it is, for the immediate future, is a steady source of income.

No, no - the incorrect word here is 'steady' - that's just it, freelancing does not necessarily provide steady pay, at least during the early years. And my part-time job does pay well - just not as well as I do on my own .

I love hearing others' thoughts on this, it's such a relief to know that others find themselves in the same dilemma - and it's inspiring to hear from some who have made the move and don't regret it one bit.

I've been an Entrepreneur for sixteen years... it's been good, bad and ugly! And while scary at times, I've had no regrets.

I want to offer a "reality" suggestion:

I don't know how much you make or what you do on your current job, but here are some options.

1) Depending on what you do -- if they love you -- you could offer to do the same work from home, as an independent contractor... that would save them some expenses and give you more flexibility. I realize this may not be possible. But, it would be my first consideration. In other words, make them your first client.

2) Look at how much you're making from your "steady" paycheck. Is it $1000 per month? $1500 per month (I'm not asking you to answer that for me... only for yourself). That's the number you've got to hit in order to "maintain" at your current level. How many jobs would you have to bring in? Could you line up one or two clients that you do regular work for who would provide all or part of that "base"?

3) If you're good (I'm not saying you are not) then, perhaps you could offer your services to "busy" copywriters who need an assistant to relieve their workload -- even taking on tasks of initial research and writing and letting them "polish" the work. As you know, even Michel Fortin has and does write for other copywriters. So does Gary Halbert -- or at least I believe he used to. And Dan Kennedy. So, that might provide you with a base of work. Network like heck with the other members of this board... to see if any of them have some overflow work to "share with you."

4) Finally, or perhaps this should have been done first. Take your total "MUST HAVE" monthly budget and subtract your husband's income from it. I there's a difference... say $500 per month -- that's what you "Absolutely, positively have to make to keep you head above water."

Knowing the "TRUE LANDSCAPE" of your situation should give you the power to ACT!!! In many industries... copywriting not excluded there are a lot of people "Getting Ready To Get Ready!" They'll never make it happen.

Hope this helps...

Sue,

Agree with JP - it's good to crunch some numbers and find out what the real target is (have you done the spreadsheet yet?).

Here's another perspective:

1) Create a "client attraction system" that predictably delivers to you at least as many clients as you can handle. In other words, figure out works in terms of your marketing, and keep doing it.

2) Create a plan for raising your prices and work for a niche that is prepared to pay those prices. There is likely to be an element of top-down and bottom-up with this - i.e. charge more as your experience increases, but also just charge more by taking a risk.

If you're willing to live without some luxuries for a while, then you'll be able to go full-time freelance sooner. I don't know when you should go freelance, as you could decide by several methods:

1) When you start making enough money from freelancing to cover all your bills and you don't need the income from J O B

2) You could just take the risk and see what happens (but be informed with your numbers etc. first)

3) You could decide that the time (and more importantly, energy) that you devote to your J O B, is adversely affecting your ability to ramp up your freelancing work and therefore you're never going to move forward with freelancing until you quit the job.

Most important, I believe, is getting a marketing plan going. If work turns up randomly, then how will you ever be able to plan for the future?

Hope this helps,
Jane

How much do you charge for your work, I may have work for you.

Maxjohan