Nick Usborne's Blog, page 6

July 17, 2023

How to avoid the “echo effect” when working with AI.

Robot AI writing at desk by window

By now, pretty much every writer and copywriter on the planet will have used a tool like ChatGPT as a writing assistant.

Some writers use AI just to help outline their work. Others use it to complete full drafts.

Other tasks that are really well suited to AI include things like brainstorming and market research. This takes us beyond just the task of writing, and can help us learn more about the products and services we’re writing about.

Working with an AI is like having a super-smart assistant working with you on every project.

But there’s one big downside…

Avoid sounding the same as everyone else.

As more and more writers turn to AI, there is a real danger that an “echo effect” will pervade all our writing.

We’re all using the same AI tools, so it should come as no surprise if clients begin to notice a similarity in voice and style, across all the different freelance writers they use.

That’s not a good look for us as freelancers. We don’t want to be seen as “the same”. We want to stand out from the crowd, not be lost in the middle of it.

In fact, being different and unique is what allows us to differentiate ourselves, carve out a niche and a brand, and develop a high perceived value that allows us to charge premium fees.

This is why I don’t use AI when writing for clients, or for this blog. I never want to run the risk of falling into the “echo” trap.

Add value to your brand by using AI as your marketing guru.

While I don’t use AI for any writing for clients, I do use it as my private marketing guru.

Let me give you an example.

Let’s say I’d doing some writing work for a company that sells Vegan dog treats through an online store.

As I get to know the client, I’ll immerse myself in their website and social media channels, study their competition, and so on.

But now I can do more. Before I write any first drafts, I can use a tool like GPT-4 to deepen my understanding of the Vegan dog treat market.

First, I might ask a broad question like:

“I’m working with a company that sells Vegan dog treats online. Please outline a simple marketing plan.”

It came back with a 9-point plan. Pretty standard stuff. Everything from coming up with a USP, to content marketing, PR and paid advertising. Just scrolling through it helped me deepen my own understanding of the marketing playbook my client is working from. More or less.

But… while the client hired me to rewrite some of the pages on their website, I’d also like to send them a proposal that would lead me to working on their social media… which I think could work a lot harder for them.

So I asked GPT-4 a follow-up question:

“Give me some revised ideas if I choose to focus my marketing primarily on social media.”

It came up with a few ideas that definitely extended beyond what my client is doing right now…

Leverage Influencer MarketingRun Contests and GiveawaysOrganize a Virtual Scavenger HuntCollaborate with a Vegan RestaurantThrow Virtual Pup PartiesSocial Media Exclusive Discounts

Of course, I’m not going to start pitching my client on my social media ideas on day one. First, I’ll complete the work I was hired to do… write the webpages.

Use AI to enhance your brand, build your value, and get more work.

First, by asking GPT-4 to outline a marketing plan for me, I deepened my understanding of the Vegan dog treat market overall, which helped me do a better job of rewriting their webpages.

Second, by digging deeper into an area where I thought they were leaving money on the table – social media – I opened up a few new doors for myself.

I can now reach out them with a social media marketing proposal… which I’ll ask GPT-4 to help me structure and write.

Simply by delivering that proposal, I’ve automatically transcended the AI “echo” problem.

In fact, by using AI for marketing instead of writing, I have achieved the opposite to appearing the same. I have presented myself as being very different, and have raised my brand value way above the crowd.

I’ve differentiated myself, landed more work, and put myself in a position where I can charge higher fees.

So… my advice for when you’re working for clients, and using AI… use it less for writing, and more for marketing and strategy.

NOTE: I’ve recently launches a new course for copywriters and content writers… Futureproof Copywriting.

My course shows you how to futureproof your career as a writer.

It teaches you how to add massive value to your brand as a writer, and make sure you can never be replaced by an AI… today or in the future.

Get ahead of the rise of AI… find out more about my course here.

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Published on July 17, 2023 11:06

How to avoid the “sameness” trap when working with AI.

Robot AI writing at desk by window

By now, pretty much every writer and copywriter on the planet will have used a tool like ChatGPT as a writing assistant.

Some writers use AI just to help outline their work. Others use it to complete full drafts.

Other tasks that are really well suited to AI include things like brainstorming and market research. This takes us beyond just the task of writing, and can help us learn more about the products and services we’re writing about.

Working with an AI is like having a super-smart assistant working with you on every project.

But there’s one big downside…

Avoid sounding the same as everyone else.

As more and more writers turn to AI, there is a real danger that a “sameness” will pervade all our writing.

We’re all using the same AI tools, so it should come as no surprise if clients begin to notice a similarity in voice and style, across all the different freelance writers they use.

That’s not a good look for us as freelancers. We don’t want to be seen as “the same”. We want to stand out from the crowd, not be lost in the middle of it.

In fact, being different and unique is what allows us to differentiate ourselves, carve out a niche and a brand, and develop a high perceived value that allows us to charge premium fees.

This is why I don’t use AI when writing for clients, or for this blog. I never want to run the risk of falling into the “sameness” trap.

Add value to your brand by using AI as your marketing guru.

While I don’t use AI for any writing for clients, I do use it as my private marketing guru.

Let me give you an example.

Let’s say I’d doing some writing work for a company that sells Vegan dog treats through an online store.

As I get to know the client, I’ll immerse myself in their website and social media channels, study their competition, and so on.

But now I can do more. Before I write any first drafts, I can use a tool like GPT-4 to deepen my understanding of the Vegan dog treat market.

First, I might ask a broad question like:

“I’m working with a company that sells Vegan dog teats online. Please outline a simple marketing plan.”

It came back with a 9-point plan. Pretty standard stuff. Everything from coming up with a USP, to content marketing, PR and paid advertising. Just scrolling through it helped me deepen my own understanding of the marketing playbook my client is working from. More or less.

But… while the client hired me to rewrite some of the pages on their website, I’d also like to send them a proposal that would lead me to working on their social media… which I think could work a lot harder for them.

So I asked GPT-4 a follow-up question:

“Give me some revised ideas if I choose to focus my marketing primarily on social media.”

It came up with a few ideas that definitely extended beyond what my client is doing right now…

Leverage Influencer MarketingRun Contests and GiveawaysOrganize a Virtual Scavenger HuntCollaborate with a Vegan RestaurantThrow Virtual Pup PartiesSocial Media Exclusive Discounts

Of course, I’m not going to start pitching my client on my social media ideas on day one. First, I’ll complete the work I was hired to do… write the webpages.

Use AI to enhance your brand, build your value, and get more work.

First, by asking GPT-4 to outline a marketing plan for me, I deepened my understanding of the Vegan dog treat market overall, which helped me do a better job of rewriting their webpages.

Second, by digging deeper into an area where I thought they were leaving money on the table – social media – I opened up a few new doors for myself.

I can now reach out them with a social media marketing proposal… which I’ll ask GPT-4 to help me structure and write.

Simply by delivering that proposal, I’ve automatically transcended the AI “sameness” problem.

In fact, by using AI for marketing instead of writing, I have achieved the opposite to appearing the same. I have presented myself as being very different, and have raised my brand value way above the crowd.

I’ve differentiated myself, landed more work, and put myself in a position where I can charge higher fees.

So… my advice for when you’re working for clients, and using AI… use it less for writing, and more for marketing and strategy.

NOTE: If you want more in-depth help in rebuilding your own freelance brand to leverage the rise of AI, check out my new coaching service… One-On-One Coaching For an AI Future.

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Published on July 17, 2023 11:06

June 8, 2023

What if I forced you to double your freelance fees?

happy freelance writer

If I suggested you double the fees you charge, maybe you’d tell me that none of your clients would use you.

That sounds reasonable.

After all, as freelancers we don’t set out to charge less than we can. We think we know what our clients and prospects will accept, and we write up our estimates accordingly.

Now I’m going to be totally unreasonable.

Suddenly I have strange superpowers and I’m going to force you to double your fees anyway.

You have no choice. Ten days from today your rates will double, across the board.

So what are you going to do about that?

This won’t be easy. In 10 days a valued client might call you with a new project and you’re going to say, “Excellent! Thanks! And by the way, my fees just doubled.”

Will existing clients accept that you’ll be doubling your fees for the exact same service you offer right now? Probably not. So let’s focus on new clients.

You have 10 days in which to double the perceived value you offer your new clients.

If you want to be able to double your fees, you need to at least double the perceived value of what you provide.

There are many ways in which you can do this. But given that you have only 10 days, here is what I would suggest.

First, become a specialist in the niche in which you have the most experience and talent.

The fastest way to increase your value is to become a specialist. It doesn’t matter whether you are a doctor, a lawyer or a copywriter – specialists get paid more than generalists.

Take a look at the work you have done. Identify a niche that matches your experience and interests. Then describe yourself as a specialist.

Here are some examples:

I am an IT Industry Case Study WriterI am a Boomer Travel CopywriterI am a Construction Industry Copywriter

Or maybe something up-to-the-minute, like:

I am an AI Prompt Writer

What kind of writer or copywriter are you? Choose a high-value niche.

Then change your marketing to reflect your new speciality.

You have only 10 days, but you need to position and present yourself as a specialist in your new niche.

This means making changes to all your marketing materials. It means changing the way you talk about yourself and your services. It means changing any print materials you have. It means updating your web site and LinkedIn profile.

On your web site, it means changing the message on the first screen of your home page. As soon as someone comes to your site, they need to see that you are a specialist.

Have you written any articles that are related to your new niche? If not, start writing…write one a day for the next 10 days, then get them up on your site.

These articles are evidence that you really are a specialist in your field.

If you don’t have a blog, start one today. Focused on your new niche.

Why not do this anyway?

Forget my superpowers. Do this anyway.

Becoming a specialist in a particular niche is the fastest way there is to increase the value you offer and the fees you can command.

And if you really focus on this as being an urgent task, you can make a huge difference in just 10 days.

Note: If you need some help in choosing a high-value niche, or setting your fees, be sure to check out my one-on-one coaching service.

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Published on June 08, 2023 07:44

May 21, 2023

The dangers of putting all you freelance eggs in one basket.

all your freelance eggs in one basket

In common with most freelancers and entrepreneurs, I’m a risk-taker.

It’s risky to run your own business. It’s risky when you have bills to pay, but no guarantee that you will be picking up new projects next month.

But that’s the nature of being a freelance writer or copywriter.

We take risks because we like the freelance lifestyle, and because we hope to earn more than we would as an employee.

But…

I am also very, very careful and cautious when it comes to balancing my sources of income. I’m probably right up there at the edge of being paranoid. As soon as one client looks like accounting for more than 25% of my total income, I grow nervous.

Why? Because if I lose that client, my income drops by 25%.

So I make sure that my freelance copywriting income is spread across a number of different clients.

This doesn’t mean I look for a lot of small clients. I don’t. Dealing with too many small clients is a very inefficient use of my time. I find myself spending too many unbilled hours on administration.

So I aim to have four or five good-size clients.

In addition, I don’t put all my income in the “freelance copywriting” basket. I also publish and sell information products. I have a coaching business. I make some money through affiliate relationships.

In other words, I maximize my income and minimize my risks by ensuring that my income is flowing in through multiple sources.

If one source of income slows or fails, the impact on my total income is not significant.

This approach makes perfect sense to me.

But it isn’t how everyone works.

The more coaching work I do, the more freelancers I encounter who depend on just one or two clients for the bulk of their income.

That would scare me half to death.

When most of your income is coming from a single client relationship, you’re not really a freelancer at all. You’re simply an employee working from your home, with no benefits.

I can see and understand the temptation.

When a company comes to you with a huge volume of work, it’s tempting to say yes. You get a ton of work from a single source, you don’t have to worry about finding new clients and projects each month, and you spend very little unbilled time on administration.

But you also put yourself at enormous risk.

If you lose that one client, your business fails.

This is why I always advise freelancers to spread their risk by working with multiple clients, even if it means saying no to one client.

One of the key skills to running a successful freelance business is to manage your risks.

Depending on just one or two large clients is just too risky.

NOTE: If you are risking your own freelance business because you have too few clients or streams of income, talk to me about my coaching service. I will help you achieve a better balance in your business, reducing your risks and increasing your opportunities for growth.

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Published on May 21, 2023 09:19

May 15, 2023

Your 5-step checklist for choosing the perfect freelance copywriting niche.

Too many freelancers believe it’s enough to find a niche that seems “OK”, and just dive in.

Not so.

If you want your freelance business to be as profitable, productive and enjoyable as possible, there are five elements you need to consider.

Element #1: Find a niche where competition from other freelancers is low.

This is the process of finding the “gap”, which was the topic of an earlier post.

What you need to do is move far away from where hordes of other freelancers are fighting over the same groups of prospective clients. Get away from the crowd and find yourself a niche within a niche.

Find a place where the need is great, but the supply of qualified, dedicated freelancers is close to non-existent.

Easier said than done? Absolutely. But it’s worth the effort.

Element #2: Match the niche to your areas of expertise.

You have a unique set of work and life experiences. Where do your strengths lie? What are you good at? Which areas of business and commerce do you know the most about?

The more you draw on your strengths, the easier you will find it to become the recognized authority within your chosen niche. And that’s what you want. You want to be THE person people think of first when it comes to writing or copywriting within a particular area.

You don’t want to compete. You don’t want to be compared to other freelancers in the same field. You want to OWN that field.

Element #3: Make sure you are going to enjoy your work.

I don’t think people pay enough attention to this one. It is essential that you enjoy the kind of work you are doing.

Sure, we are all professionals and we can work on whatever is given to us. But we’ll do our best work and be at our most productive when we are enjoying what we do.

This is particularly important for freelancers. When we sit at our desks each day we can either jump at the chance to start work. Or we can drag ourselves to the chair and put in a day of work, reluctantly.

You want to jump. It makes life more fun, and you’ll be a lot more successful as a result.

Element #4: Make sure your clients have money to spend.

You want to find a niche where the players are professional and have the budgets to pay the fees you ask for.

What you absolutely don’t want to do is work in an area where your clients are trying to beat you down on your prices.

This often means looking at medium-sized and larger businesses. Very small companies and start-ups can be interesting to work with, but are more likely to spin you a yarn about how they can only pay a little now, but in the future… (insert wishful thinking here).

Element #5: Make sure you can reach your prospects efficiently.

When someone tells me they are going to specialize in the health market, I ask them how they plan to reach the tens of thousands of companies which sell health-related products and services. Tough question to answer.

But when someone says to me that they are going to specialize in writing for the manufacturers of diagnostic equipment being sold large hospitals, I know that he or she is going to find it much easier to identify and locate his or her prospects.

Wrapping up…

If you are just starting out as a freelancer, you would do well to consider choosing a niche that satisfies all of these five elements. A niche that satisfies them all will put you on the road to being a lot more productive and profitable, and happier too.

If you are already established in your career, and one of more of these elements doesn’t match what you are doing right now, take the time to reflect and start making adjustments to the way you position yourself and get new work.

If you would like help putting these five elements in place, learn more about my coaching service…

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Published on May 15, 2023 06:30

May 7, 2023

Your personal brand is a fictional character. So make it a good one.

pig farmer copywriter

As a freelancer or other type of solo professional, you doubtless worry about how you can stand out among so many competitors.

You write articles. You send Tweets. You keep in touch on Facebook and LinkedIn.

But so does everyone else.

So how can you separate yourself from the crowd?

One way is to present yourself as being a little larger than life. A little out of the ordinary.

Think about fictional characters. Captain Ahab. Sherlock Holmes. Captain Kirk.

Great characters jump off the page, or the screen. They stand out from everyone else. They are different in ways, or to degrees, that seem almost impossible in real life.

How does this apply to you as a freelancer?

Well, brands are fiction. All brands are fiction. Personal brands in particular are fiction.

Do you think Elon Musk’s family experiences him the same way we do? There’s the real, at-home Elon Musk, and then there’s the public brand of Elon Musk. His public brand is a fiction.

Many moons ago, when I was a direct mail copywriter, I lived on a hobby farm. One day a client called me and said he had tried phoning a few minutes before, but I hadn’t answered. I explained that I had just come in from feeding my pigs.

This particular client was well connected in the industry and, within a few weeks, I became known as Nick the Pig Farmer.

It wasn’t true, and it wasn’t the fictional character I would have chosen for myself. But it worked gangbusters. I got calls from prospects I had never heard of before. They all wanted to work with Nick the Pig Farmer.

I have a coaching client who flies light aircraft. She could do something with that. Get a pilot vibe happening.

I have another client who lives in a chateau in France. She could do something with that too.

How about you?

What is it about your life that makes you a little different from other people?

Find something, and use it as your starting point. Build a character around it.

Make that fictional character central to your personal brand.

This is important, now more than ever…

As more and more AI-created copy and content hits the web, client companies are going to be looking for freelancers who are “real people”.

And among those people, they’ll be attracted to “real characters”… writers who stand apart from the ordinary, and the ChatGPT-augmented.

I’m not saying you should never use AI tools to help you with your work.

But I am saying that your partnership with AI has no place in the client-facing messaging you create.

Build your brand around a character people will like and remember… and then share it with the world.

If you’d like some help creating your brand character, be sure to check out my one-on-one coaching service.

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Published on May 07, 2023 14:21

April 30, 2023

The Power of Saying No to Your Clients

freelancer with thumbs down for a prospective cient

Many freelancers find it hard to say no.

When work comes their way, they say yes to every project.

They say yes to working evenings and weekends when their clients have a looming deadline.

And they say yes when clients and prospects ask for a reduction in fees.

In isolation, and on rare occasions, there is nothing wrong with saying yes in any of these circumstances. But…

When you make a habit of saying yes, it should tell you something very important about the way you are running your freelance business.

Essentially you are losing control of your business. You are becoming reactive in a very passive way. You’re putting yourself in the role of the “victim” of the circumstances of your business.

Is that what you really want?

It’s going to be tough, if not impossible, to earn a good six figures every year if you take this passive, reactive approach.

When should you say no?

There are a couple of different elements here.

First, let’s look at things simply from a financial perspective.

You should say no whenever you are being asked to work for less money than you ask for.

You have a value as a writer and an expert. Don’t allow others to chip away at that. And don’t compromise it yourself. Know what you are worth, and when a prospect or client wants to pay less, say no.

You can then use the time saved to find a better client.

The second element is the issue of your own self confidence and self esteem.

Some would say that these shouldn’t be a factor at all. But they are. As freelancers we work alone and are susceptible to blows to our self-confidence.

If a prospect or client asks you to do something that is going to make you feel bad, in any way, say no. If the money they offer is going to make you feel worth less, say no.

Our level of self-confidence is a cornerstone of our success as a freelancer.

Ultimately, you need a mindset and attitude that immediately says no to anything that with reduce your income or your sense of self worth.

If you’re not in the habit of saying no, you’re also missing out on a very empowering and liberating aspect of working for yourself.

When appropriate, a firm NO can be a very positive thing to say.

And yes, learning when and how to say No is part of my one-on-one coaching program.

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Published on April 30, 2023 11:48

April 24, 2023

When you feel positive momentum, use it or lose it.

momentum of child on swing

As freelancers we have to generate our own energy and momentum.

We don’t have colleagues or managers to give us a quick boost. Nor do we have group meetings or off-site brainstorming days.

At times we can do a great job of creating internal momentum for ourselves. At other times it becomes hard, and we feel ourselves running down, like a battery losing its charge.

And then there are times when we are given a little extra energy from an outside source. Like…

    * Maybe a client showers you with praise.

    * Or a respected peer praises you in print or online.

    * Or you attend a meeting, seminar or conference, and feel thoroughly energized by the experience.

When you get an external boost, whatever the source, nurture it and use it.

Actually, the very first thing I do is sit back and enjoy that feel-good moment. It’s allowed!

Next, I try to identify what it was about the experience that made me feel good and gave me that extra burst of energy and enthusiasm.

Whatever it was, I should probably do more of it. I should focus more on the part of my business that triggered it.

Also, there have been times when I have had positive feedback on areas of my work that are not central to what I do. That feedback makes me pause and take a closer look at that aspect of my business. If it generates such a positive response, maybe I should do more of it.

In other words, I use these moments as a means to understand myself and my business a little better. I use them to develop sides of my business that will attract more positive feedback and momentum, more frequently.

Beyond that, I use extra momentum to get past any blocks that are holding me back.

If I’m feeling really energized and strong, that’s a good time to do some of those things I haven’t wanted to do – like doing my taxes, making that cold call, dealing with my investments or debts.

One way or another, I never allow a burst of positive energy to just “sit there” and slowly burn down.

I use it, either to build new, positive aspects to my business, or to get past hurdles and blocks in my business.

If you need help in determining the best way forward for your own freelance business, learn more about my coaching service…

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Published on April 24, 2023 07:52

April 21, 2023

I wrote and published a Kindle book in one weekend, with GPT-4.

Brain Sharpeners book on Amazon

As you can imagine, I’ve been playing with ChatGPT and GPT-4 for a while now.

I’ve been using GPT as a brainstorming buddy, a research assistant, a first draft copy and content writer, a social media writer… and more.

Honestly, it’s incredibly good. Mind-blowing really, when you consider where this technology was just a few months ago.

This time I asked GPT-4 to write me a 40-page Kindle book I could publish on Amazon.

The title of the book is… Brain Sharpeners: 48 Natural Foods That Support Brain Health

If that title sounds familiar, you must have taken my Digital Copywriting Apprentice program. Homework #5 is to write a blog post on this exact topic.

I’ve always wanted to do more with that idea. I even own the domain name BrainSharpeners.com, and have done for years. I’ve just never had the time.

So… at the end of my workday a couple of Fridays back, I sat down with GPT-4 to work on the book.

Mostly I wanted to share those 40 brain foods. But… that makes for a skinny and boring book… just a list really. So I asked GPT-4 to write me an introduction. Then a couple of short intro chapters about how some foods actively support brain health, and can even protect against dementia as you grow older.

Then I asked it to give me 48 foods that had brain-supporting qualities, and to split those up into categories… fruits, vegetables, etc.

The point is, GPT-4 did 90% of the heavy lifting. It did the research, and a solid first draft. Mind you, the first draft sounded a bit stiff and formal to me, so I asked it to do a rewrite in a tone that was a little friendlier and more conversational. Which it did, in less than a minute.

I added a few photos to the book, most of which I sourced from iStockphoto. But there was one image I couldn’t find … so I went to Midjourney.com for some more AI help, wrote a detailed prompt, and voila… the exact image I was hoping for.

While I was there, I had Midjourney.com create a profile picture and header image I could use on my new @brainsharpeners Twitter account. I also used the header image as the background on my book cover.

I put it all together… did some final edits… and then uploaded the text and cover art to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing site, using a pen name, Nick Tapvana.

Take a peek:

Brain Sharpeners: 48 Natural Foods That Support Brain Health

And you would be doing me an enormous favor – if you’re on Twitter – to follow my new Brain Sharpeners Twitter account.

How long did this all take? The book was published on Sunday evening.

So… from Friday evening to Sunday evening. And no, I didn’t spend the weekend at my desk. My wife and I did all the usual family and dog-walking stuff.

Nearly forgot… I also asked GPT-4 to write the description for the sales page on Amazon, and a starter-pack of 20 tweets for promoting the book on Twitter.

Brain Sharpeners was a fun side project idea I had put off for years, because I just didn’t have the time. And suddenly… that kind of project is possible.

On top of that, I believe in it. Natural foods really can contribute to the health of your brain. This is just the kind of short, introductory book I looked for when I first got interested in this topic.

Next up… I’ve almost completed the Brain Sharpeners Recipe Book. And yes, once again, GPT-4 has done 90% of the work for me.

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Published on April 21, 2023 14:14

April 15, 2023

My favorite question when working with a coaching client… It’s a good one!

When I’m coaching a freelancer or solopreneur, I actually ask a lot of different questions. That’s a big part of what it means to be a good coach.

Many of those questions I’ll ask during the first one or two sessions. It’s how we feel our way forward…teasing out answers that can help you break new ground.

After that, we start working through the 6-week process you’ll see outlined on my coaching information page.

But I still have one more question that I’ll throw out at any time. Honestly, I usually ask it several times over the course of a few weeks.

It’s an incredibly powerful question.

OK… enough of the suspense and “slow reveal”.

My question is this:

“Who says?”

Just two words. But oh boy… those words can unlock a whole new future for you.

Here are some examples of statements a freelancer might make, followed by my response:

“This niche is too competitive. I’ll never get noticed, let alone find work.”

“Who says?”

“I’m not ready to start going after really big clients.”

“Who says?”

“The prices are pretty much set in this niche. I can’t just step up and charge twice as much as all my competitors.”

“Who says?”

“I’d love to build my brand and get more exposure by speaking at industry events. But there’s no way I can do public speaking.”

“Who says?”

Answer that simple, two-word question and you’ll set yourself free.

Our whole lives we have listened to people telling us what we can’t do.

“You’re not good enough to try out for the football team.”

“School band? You don’t have a musical bone in your body.”

“You don’t have what it takes to get to college.”

“Don’t even bother asking for that promotion. You’re not ready for it.”

“Don’t try landing a project from a company that big. You’ll never get it.”

Seriously? Who says???

And yes, I can answer that for you.

Most of the time it’s YOU who says you can’t.

It might have been a parent, teacher or trusted friend who first told you about the things you can’t do.

Maybe you tried out for the school play aged 8, and were so nervous you couldn’t get through a single sentence without stuttering, or breaking into a sweat. Maybe the drama teacher said, “Well kid, I guess you were never meant to be on the stage!”

The teacher said it once. But here you are, 30 years later, saying, “I can’t speak at industry events. I was never meant to be on the stage!”

All of us do this. Someone once set a “limit” on what we can and can’t do… and we just keep repeating and reinforcing that believe… all on our own.

This is called a self-limiting belief. It’s a closed door that prevents you from moving forward and achieving more in life and business.

That one question… Who says?.. is a key that can help unlock that door.

That’s why I keep repeating myself in some of my coaching sessions…

“Who says?” “Who says you can’t?”  “Who says that’s not possible?”

If you’d like to unlock that door for yourself, and get rid of some self-limiting beliefs of your own, find out more about my coaching service.

The post My favorite question when working with a coaching client… It’s a good one! appeared first on Writing for the web - online copywriting and content writing..

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Published on April 15, 2023 14:17

Nick Usborne's Blog

Nick Usborne
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