Christmas can be hec-tic. Getting all your work finalised. Buying and wrapping presents, writing and sending Christmas cards, planning and cooking meals, cleaning up, travelling, dealing with people you’d prefer not to spend time with.
This year, I’m doing things differently.
Every now and then my husband and I have Christmases on our own. Like this year. We’re planning a simple (easy to prepare) meal on Christmas Day. We’ll open presents, have lunch and take our daughter and dog to the beach. I’ve done all my shopping online, avoiding crazy crowds. I haven’t sent out eleventy-billion Christmas cards, like I usually do.
That might sound a bit lazy but this year, I hit a wall.
I wrote a lot of copy. My team grew. I presented seminars. We entertained four different lots of houseguests (within a 12 week period). A tree fell on our house a week before it settled. Dealing with it all around a toddler was… hard. I’m bushed!
So I made some decisions about what I want from Copywrite Matters. And my life. I wrote about it in part on the Australian Businesswomen’s Network blog >> here.
I started saying no. And I liked it.
I gave myself permission to get off the constant treadmill of work. When I did that, I started to have ideas and make plans. I’m began to feel excitement rather than burden. 2015 is going to have new business challenges but also more quality free time. That’s my promise to myself.
What changes, you ask? Well…
- I’m no longer taking on copywriting clients. Instead, I’m focusing on being a teacher and mentor to new copywriters.
- My Copywriter Master Class will be open again in March 2015. The first intake in 2014 sold out (hurrah) and students are sending me great feedback.
Like, “It’s great – it fits with exactly how I like to study… Definitely feel like I’m making more progress than I ever have before. That’s really down to all the exercises and feedback.”
That warms my copywriting cockles.
- I’ll be launching some mini-courses and adding more free, useful content.
- Plus a coaching program for Master Class alumni who want to learn about being a successful freelancer.
- I’m starting a podcast with another successful copywriter.
- A new website is coming with all this new shizzle.
- I’m going to the Copyblogger Authority 2015 conference in Denver, Colorado (sqweeeeeee)
Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? But as I said, I’m also taking more time for myself. That means it’s not all going to happen in January.
One thing that won’t be changing is: The Copy Detective.
Thank you
Regardless of the subscriber count, I still write blog posts thinking they will disappear into the void. Then you take a moment to email me, leave a comment or share the post with your network.
And you know what? Every time that happens, I want to be better. Be more helpful. Offer more practical, actionable advice. Pull the curtain back on my own writing and business even further.
I want to end this post with my sincere thanks – to you.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for letting me jump into your inbox.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
Christmas isn’t about getting as much as giving. Give more and you’ll get more. You give me a lot and in 2015 I’m going to give a lot back.
Merry Christmas.
But what about you dear reader? How was your 2014? What do you have planned for 2015?
Belinda
One Response
As a Denver native, I hope you get a chance to spend some extra days in my hometown at the Copyblogger Authority. I’m glad when you hit the wall you bounced back and that you’ve decided to start saying “no” — that’s an important lesson to learn and live. All the best to you for 2015!