The Premium Client I Didn’t Apply For

Everyone needs to start somewhere. This is what I am doing right now. Starting as a copywriter is a challenging journey, especially when finding clients. I experienced ups and downs in client hunting. I went by the book and used what I learned to apply for jobs and look for clients. Little did I know that a premium client was already waiting and hoping to work with me.

My Love for Writing

I have enjoyed writing since I was a kid. I used to keep a diary to write my experiences and lessons. I wrote random thoughts, fiction stories, quotable quotes, and lines from TV shows I found interesting.

When I became a nurse, I did a lot of patient documentation. I wrote detailed progress notes like I was telling stories. It was the fun part for me during the shift. While I was passionate about caring for patients at the bedside, writing is still a huge part of me.

I participated in several writing activities outside the bedside. I became a training coordinator, where I created training programs for nurses and developed patient education materials. I joined research competitions where one of our papers was published in a journal. I was part of a quality improvement group developing projects that enhance efficiency and productivity among nurses. In that same group, we wrote a paper presented at a conference organized by the country's top nursing administrators. I was also one of the leaders in a committee where we created nursing procedure manuals. Sounds like a lot of writing for a nurse, huh?

The period when the COVID-19 pandemic hit was the lowest point in my nursing career. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions - fear, doubt, sadness. But I still had the desire to serve despite fearing for my health and my life. One thing that has helped me cope through all those was writing in a journal to process my thoughts and feelings.

Transitioning to Copywriting

I finally left nursing to prioritize my health and my family. I became a healthcare virtual assistant working remotely from home. I came across an ad about copywriting, and it piqued my interest. Getting paid to do something I enjoy sounded like a dream. After researching and contemplating, I took a leap of faith to enroll in a copywriting course. The training was a challenge, but I enjoyed it. We had online lectures and workshops. We wrote different types of copy for social media ads, email marketing, landing pages, and sales pages. After over two months of training, I finally became certified as a persuasive copywriter. Then here comes the most difficult part in my copywriting journey. You guessed it right! It's finding a client.

Rejections, Rejections, and More Rejections

I started creating profiles for online job boards and applied to copywriting jobs. I even have a few potential clients reach out to invite me to apply for the job. I got a mix of results - from crickets, to getting to the next stage, to writing a test project, and to landing an interview. The common ending to my applications is either getting ghosted or an email saying, "We decided to go with another candidate."

I'd be a hypocrite to say I wasn't affected by those rejections. As an overachiever who always excelled in things that most people find difficult, the rejections stung like a hive of bees. For the first time in my life (well, probably next to being a mom), I felt like I wasn't and will never be good enough. I got into an abyss of imposter syndrome where every job posting I see makes me feel like I will never qualify for the job. After so many rejections, I decided to take a break from copywriting job-hunting.

Letting Go of Writing

After pausing the hamster wheel of finding clients for my copywriting services, I took the time to reflect. I thought maybe writing was not really for me. I was so frustrated that I even thought the rejections were God's way of telling me that I should give up. That my dream of being a writer was not part of His plans for me. And it broke my heart.

The mere thought of letting go of something I always enjoyed was painful. I looked back on how I started to enjoy writing. I knew I wasn't the best writer in my class. I never got straight A's in all my essays. But I liked writing. I felt a great sense of accomplishment whenever I finished writing something - an essay, a research article, a long post on social media, or even an entry to my journal. Writing helped me cope during the low points in my life. I started writing a gratitude journal when I got burnt out and depressed working as a nurse during the pandemic. Writing saved my sanity during those hard times. Now that I've shifted to a different career path, writing helps me clear my head from overthinking. Writing helps me unwind. Writing keeps me alive.

Reflections and Realizations

I thought about my client-hunting experience during the past four months. I wondered what was lacking in my approach. I was actively searching and applying for copywriting jobs online. I researched the companies or clients who posted about the job openings. I wrote and tweaked each pitch according to the client's needs. I wrote sample copy for test projects. I prepared for interviews. I even went through online training on how to get clients. But all efforts led to rejections. I was doing my best. But it was still not enough.

I prayed to God to air out my frustrations and sadness and asked for guidance. I always included having a client in my prayers, but this time, I did not ask for it. I asked for forgiveness for my impatience, for my lack of trust, and for blaming Him for not granting my wishes. I asked for clarity and enlightenment. I asked God to lead me to a path that He has planned for me. As mentioned in Jeremiah 29:11, "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." I may not fully understand my current situation, but I have faith that God has plans for me.

I was reading my daily bible reflections and came across an article that made me realize something. The article mentioned: "But when Jesus said 'the workers are few' (Matthew 9:38), what He really meant is: there are not enough people sharing the good news with others." The author of the article further encouraged the readers to take small steps to share Jesus with other people. It was like a wake up call for me.

I went into copywriting for selfish reasons - to earn more money and to feed my ego. Money is not bad in itself because it sustains our daily needs. Wanting more money for the wrong reasons is what makes it evil. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains," mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:10. I was eager to find a copywriting job to earn more money. I got enticed by the promises that I could have a 6-figure income because of this.

I was rushing to find clients to feed my ego. I felt jealous of the people in my copywriting community who found clients in just a few days after completing the training. I wanted to prove that I am a good writer. Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves." I refused to believe that there are others better than me. I was too proud to accept that I still have a lot to improve.

I came up with a few realizations. First, writing is something that I would gladly do even without getting paid. Second, I still have a lot to learn and improve as a writer. My writing skills are not something that I developed myself, but it is a skill given by God. Lastly, I was gifted by God with the skill to write, I should use this skill to serve Him.

Writing with a New Purpose

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples." - 1 Chronicles 16:24

When I started to promote my services as a copywriter, I was hesitant to mention anything related to my faith. I thought it might deter clients who don't share the same faith from hiring me. I was writing to please my potential clients, and not the Lord. I was too focused on my selfish desires for wanting to get clients for my copywriting services.

My realizations led me to see God as my first and most premium client. I should serve Him before and above anyone else. I am determined to write to share His goodness in my life. As stated in Matthew 6:33, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

My newfound purpose in writing is to share how God works in my life and encourage others to also see God's love and mercy. As God also made me a nurse, I will continue sharing health tips to empower others to make healthy choices. Through my faith in God, combined with my nursing background and writing skills, I want to inspire others to live a healthy life driven by faith and purpose.

Will I still try to find clients? Definitely, yes, when I'm ready to apply for jobs again. But it will not be my sole purpose for writing. For the moment, I will focus on writing to serve God and share my knowledge to others without the pressure of getting clients immediately. Regardless of the outcomes in my writing career, I find peace and joy that God is the ultimate provider. I trust He will lead me to the right path, and who knows? Maybe the right clients in the future.

A Call to Serve God

My experiences in my career, from nurse to virtual assistant to copywriter, have led me to discover how I can serve God and others through the knowledge and skills gifted to me by the Lord. I hope my career journey inspires you to see how God is using you to serve others and proclaim His unconditional love and unending mercy. Whatever work you do, I hope you put God at the center and trust His amazing plans for you.

I will end with my favorite bible verse that always inspires me at work despite the challenges. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17