I don’t recommend telling your dad this…
May 6, 2022 / /
Ever had someone believe in you when your faith was really low?
I had something like that happen once upon a time, and I 5000% believe it saved my life.
Way back at the beginning of my copywriting career, I was struggling.
Actually “struggling” is an understatement. I was beating my head against a wall because I didn’t yet have the copy skills. (And let’s just say my business skills were also lacking.)
I was living on my best friend’s couch… three adults, three cats, and a newborn baby in a one-bed, one-bath apartment. We managed to do this for ten whole months without killing each other before we grudgingly admitted it was time for a change.
They decided to get a bigger place, but because I was making less than a grand a month from my freelance work, I couldn’t afford to go with them.
That was when I did a thing that by all evidence was objectively NOT smart… I chose to live in my car.
I can’t explain it to this day, but something in my freaking SOUL said clear as crystal, “Don’t go back home to Texas. You’ll be waiting tables for the rest of your life. You need to be here in San Francisco. That is the way forward.”
So I went with my gut.
Now I don’t recommend doing it how I did. It’s not super smart to tell your parents about living in your car BEFORE carrying out your decision. The people who love you will be understandably worried, so maybe save that for after you’ve made it through the ordeal. Trust me on that one.
But my dad threw a curveball at me. I called him up one night, teary-eyed and exhausted from all the feeling-like-a-failure angst. I told him what I’d decided, and I’ll never forget what he said:
“As your father, I can’t say I’m happy about this decision. I want you to be safe, healthy, and happy and I hate hearing you like this. But as your dad, who the hell am I to tell you how to follow your bliss? I never took a risk or put myself out there, and you can see where that got me. I don’t want you to live in your car, but I believe in you and support you.”
The ensuing sob-fest was truly Oscar worthy.
I proceeded with my decision and as fate would have it… the day we turned in keys to the apartment was the day I got the call with an offer for my first in-house copywriting role.
THE SAME FREAKING DAY.
I still marvel at the universe’s sick sense of humor.
If I’d made plans to head back home I’d have already been on the road by the time that call came in. I shudder to think how different life would look for me if in that moment I’d given up on myself and gone back to “safety”.
Now I’m not recommending you live in your car. It fucking sucks. I HATE that it’s become so prevalent in our society because of the ridiculous capitalist system we live in.
But I know what it means to have someone believe in you when you’ve lost all faith in yourself. It can mean a completely different LIFE.
And if you don’t have someone you can call who believes in your potential, or if you’ve got too many people telling you all the reasons why your next big idea won’t work…
I’d love to be that person in your corner.
I’m looking two people interested in working together for the next 90 days.
And if you aren’t already familiar with my brand of coaching… we’re going to work on kicking head trash to the curb and taking massive action toward growing your business.
If that’s something you’re interested in, leave a comment and let me know.
Happy Friday, and let’s go kick some ass.
I had something like that happen once upon a time, and I 5000% believe it saved my life.
Way back at the beginning of my copywriting career, I was struggling.
Actually “struggling” is an understatement. I was beating my head against a wall because I didn’t yet have the copy skills. (And let’s just say my business skills were also lacking.)
I was living on my best friend’s couch… three adults, three cats, and a newborn baby in a one-bed, one-bath apartment. We managed to do this for ten whole months without killing each other before we grudgingly admitted it was time for a change.
They decided to get a bigger place, but because I was making less than a grand a month from my freelance work, I couldn’t afford to go with them.
That was when I did a thing that by all evidence was objectively NOT smart… I chose to live in my car.
I can’t explain it to this day, but something in my freaking SOUL said clear as crystal, “Don’t go back home to Texas. You’ll be waiting tables for the rest of your life. You need to be here in San Francisco. That is the way forward.”
So I went with my gut.
Now I don’t recommend doing it how I did. It’s not super smart to tell your parents about living in your car BEFORE carrying out your decision. The people who love you will be understandably worried, so maybe save that for after you’ve made it through the ordeal. Trust me on that one.
But my dad threw a curveball at me. I called him up one night, teary-eyed and exhausted from all the feeling-like-a-failure angst. I told him what I’d decided, and I’ll never forget what he said:
“As your father, I can’t say I’m happy about this decision. I want you to be safe, healthy, and happy and I hate hearing you like this. But as your dad, who the hell am I to tell you how to follow your bliss? I never took a risk or put myself out there, and you can see where that got me. I don’t want you to live in your car, but I believe in you and support you.”
The ensuing sob-fest was truly Oscar worthy.
I proceeded with my decision and as fate would have it… the day we turned in keys to the apartment was the day I got the call with an offer for my first in-house copywriting role.
THE SAME FREAKING DAY.
I still marvel at the universe’s sick sense of humor.
If I’d made plans to head back home I’d have already been on the road by the time that call came in. I shudder to think how different life would look for me if in that moment I’d given up on myself and gone back to “safety”.
Now I’m not recommending you live in your car. It fucking sucks. I HATE that it’s become so prevalent in our society because of the ridiculous capitalist system we live in.
But I know what it means to have someone believe in you when you’ve lost all faith in yourself. It can mean a completely different LIFE.
And if you don’t have someone you can call who believes in your potential, or if you’ve got too many people telling you all the reasons why your next big idea won’t work…
I’d love to be that person in your corner.
I’m looking two people interested in working together for the next 90 days.
And if you aren’t already familiar with my brand of coaching… we’re going to work on kicking head trash to the curb and taking massive action toward growing your business.
If that’s something you’re interested in, leave a comment and let me know.
Happy Friday, and let’s go kick some ass.
Rock on,
Angie
P.S. I’ve been coaching creative entrepreneurs years at this point, and here’s what people are saying about me:
“Angieeeeeeeeeee!!! You absolute LEGEND!!!! I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to send me that video message and I can’t put into words how helpful it is!! (In fact I want to watch it again and again!)
Thank you so much for being my grownup, you have been soooooooooo helpful and said all the things I needed to hear! I’m going to get busy now with my newly validated self!”
~BR
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“I just had a client find me out of the blue, ask for an entire marketing plan, and then accept my $7600 proposal for our ‘first steps.’ I think it’s the single largest proposal I’ve ever had accepted. Wanted to share the win with you!”~RK
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“Just had a session with Angie and she really helped me with my mindset and gave me some powerful insight into how I can improve my writing. Was spending this whole morning getting in my own way and having one of those, ‘holy shit, why did I ever think someone like me could be a copywriter?’ moments… and now I’m in a chill headspace and ready to get back to my writing. Thanks Angie!”
~SM
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“Flabbergasted! Sure, I was hoping to win it, but I was also hoping NOT to win it so I wouldn’t have to worry about ‘messing up the next steps’ and ‘disappointing everyone…’
But you know what? I think I got this. (And if I still mess it up, life goes on.) Anyway, I feel like you’ve played a HUGE part in helping me legitimize myself, and all your rants definitely made me believe that I can legit do this.
So thank you – from the bottom of my heart – Angie, I’m really, really grateful for all your help!”
~CB
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“Angie, as a former journalist I bloody love a straight shooter. But what I love even more is a straight shooter with a massive beating heart that lives for helping others. Thanks for helping me destroy the mental roadblocks that have been holding me back from going for the freelance life for so long.”
~MD
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So if you’ve got a calling in your soul and need a loving kick in the pants to hit the next stage, I’m your gal. Hit reply and let’s talk!
ANGIE COLEE
If you’re an aspiring freelancer who’s working up the courage to leave the day job… good news! I’m sharing all the things I WISH I’d known before making the leap so that hopefully your journey goes a little more smoothly than mine.