“With our millions of subscribers and your skills,” he wrote me, “I’m sure we can have a big win-win.”
Here’s a bit of revelation about my secret client life:
Over the past month and a half, I’ve been talking to a business owner named Abdul.
Abdul runs an 8-figure business selling online courses. He wanted to start a daily email newsletter to both influence and sell the thousands of new subscribers who join his list every day.
Abdul’s front-end copywriter, who happens to read my newsletter (hi Ross!) recommended me as the expert email copywriter for the job.
So Abdul and I talked and made a deal. It’s all being glued and assembled as we speak, and once it launches for real, we will see how big of a win-win it turns out to be.
But here’s where this story gets a little wobbly.
A few days ago, Abdul texted me to say he’s thinking of hiring Dan Ferrari to write the front-end copy for an upcoming course.
A bit of context:
Dan Ferrari is a copywriter with a long string of controls for both financial and health offers. And Dan has what you might call the Midas touch when it comes to direct response.
I know this because a few years ago, I was one of a handful of guys in Dan’s coaching group, and I could see it first hand.
So when Abdul texted me he’s thinking of hiring Dan, I wrote in response,
“If you do end up hiring him, tell him I’ll gladly work as his assistant, just for the experience.”
I wrote that. But I didn’t send it. Instead, my index finger lingered over the send button. I then slowly brought that finger to my lips, like a gorilla considering his next meal.
“Maybe it’s not a smart thing to say?” I asked myself, while looking at the bananas on my kitchen counter. “I mean, I’m supposed to be the expert copywriter here. How will it look if I offer to work as another copywriter’s assistant?”
I shrugged my powerful ape shoulders. And I clicked to send Abdul the message after all.
Result:
I haven’t yet been fired. And who knows, maybe I’ll end up working with Dan and learning something new.
So my point, in case it’s not obvious:
As I’ve written before, there’s big value to positioning yourself as a wizard… standing on a tall cliff… and, in a booming voice, letting the world know you wield secret knowledge and mystical skills…
But there’s also value in being driven to get better at the actual wielding.
And if I have to choose between the two, like in the case above, I will personally choose the second. It might be the slower path to success. But it’s worked well for me over the long term.
I’m not sure whether this fact can benefit you also.
Perhaps it can make you feel better, if like me, you are also a little skill-hoarder.
Or maybe it can remind you there’s always more to learn, and that there’s usually long-term profit in doing so.
Either way, here’s a possibly related tip:
Two days ago, after I announced I’m reopening my Copy Riddles program, I had a bunch of people who already went through Copy Riddles ask to be added to this new run as well. (One of the perks is lifetime access.)
And I noticed something interesting.
Many of the people who want to go again were among the most engaged when they first went through Copy Riddles.
They were the ones who consistently participated in the weekly bullet contests… who attended Q&A calls… who asked thoughtful questions… and generally, who seemed to get the most out of the course.
And here they are again, ready for more. Maybe there’s something to it… something you can use for your own success also.
Or maybe not.
In any case, enrollment for Copy Riddles closes Sunday. If you’d like to find out more about it: