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Jeremy asks: “If copywriters are good enough to charge $10,000, why do they? Shouldn’t they be creating products themselves and using those skills to make millions instead of one-time fees?”

Jeremy,

You pose a great question. As many great questions do, this question has several answers.

The basic philosophical answer is pretty straightforward: most humans are never at their peak of “highest and best use” of their time, energy and money investments.

Which, in all honesty, is probably ideal for most people. If you want to live a happy, laid back, or leisurely life, the last thing you should attempt is to squeeze every drop of money and success out of your life.

It’s futile in any case, because there will always be a way to earn more money than you do. The sky is the limit and there’s always somebody making more than you make — and you could make that much if you really wanted to.

Bringing it down to practical advice, if you are good at something and you can earn really good money doing it, the temptation to sit tight and let the money roll in is very strong.

Some people sit still and enjoy it.

Other people sit still for awhile, and then find a way to raise their fees.

Still others sit only momentarily while quietly engineering what they believe to be bigger and better ways to earn money.

There’s nothing wrong with being at any of these three stages in your career and business life. Frankly, it comes down to what makes you happy.

To look at someone else and say, “why in the heck would he settle for…?” is to only look at a small part of the story.

There are other related answers, which I will speak to, but in a lesser capacity.

Some copywriters honestly enjoy writing first and foremost and wouldn’t sacrifice a life they enjoy for a career they may not.

Some copywriters are not aware of how to setup a real business and churn a profit. Maybe they’re intimidated by certain parts of the process.

Some copywriters know how to setup and run an entire business, but it would require a shift in lifestyle that would be uncomfortable. (For example, some copywriters are able to work only one week a month and live a rich life outside of their work. They know that most business owners do not have this luxury and it isn’t one they are willing to give up.)

Some copywriters get paid so much per hour that it is unrealistic that they’d be able to earn as much per hour if they start their own business. (In most cases this is unrealistic, however I’m talking about the mindset of the copywriters, and not my own mindset. Often, this is at least true at the very beginning of a new business.)

Although I’m speaking right now about copywriters, the career path doesn’t matter. These same mindsets are everywhere.

Is there a lesson you can take from this?

How about this: throughout life, you will have to carefully balance your business life and your personal life, and your priorities at any given time will be a reflection of that balance.

You will have a difficult time putting ultimate business success first and foremost every minute of every day. In my opinion, in fact, your business life should come second to your personal life (or your preferred lifestyle).

So, don’t worry so much about the career moves other people do or don’t make, and don’t fret about the career moves you could have made and the potential future paths those moves could have had…

Instead, do the things that keep a balance that allows you to enjoy both your life and business life, and focus on the present and, ocassionally, the future.

I sincerely hope this advice helps you.

Warm Regards,

William Clements