“Pick up a camera. Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you're a director. Everything after that you're just negotiating your budget and your fee.” – James Cameron, Born Aug. 16, 1954.

People ask me how to become a copywriter. The way I did it was that when the copywriter at my job got sick, I volunteered.

People ask how I went freelance. The way I did it was that I quit my job and told everyone I was for hire.

People ask how I charged high fees for my work. The way I did it was that I charged high fees for my work.

There is no high council of copywriting. No one has to check your credentials before you can do whatever you want to do in this field. You need no permission.

There are no ropes to learn. No dues to pay. It's results relative to cost. ROI. That's it.

All you have to do is deliver results that exceed what you charge. If you can't do that, say no to the job, or adjust your price. That's it.

If you do that, the client is happy. Who cares what anyone else thinks or says about your work or career?

This applies to most things in life and business. Not just copywriting.

People ask me how I transitioned from writing to selling training, for example. The way I did that was that I made a buy button and told people I was doing a training.

I taught what I did. What I did works for my clients. It makes more than I charge. That's it.

Don't make it hard.

Keep it easy.

Do it. You're already whatever you want to be. Just show up and do the work. Do it good. Be the thing.

Can you do it?