Getting Over the Hump – Michelles Story
By Michelle Green • Jul 10th, 2009 • Category: RecentI am now in Week 7 of the Strategic Outsourcers course and felt compelled to tell the story of my progress so far in order to give any new starters an idea of what to expect.
I received Module 1 late in the afternoon of May 19. I read the entire ebook from the screen of my laptop that night and the following day I got to work, following each of the steps outlined in the ebook.
I set up accounts at three different places, but initially began bidding madly just through Elance.
It should be pointed out here that at the time I was working full time, and I have two children (one is 11 the other is 2), so my time was somewhat limited!
My first job offer came through a forum where I had just happened to mention that I had begun writing. At this stage I had only bid on 10 jobs through Elance.
The following day I had bid on over 30 jobs and late that afternoon I had my first job. I was to write about vegetable gardening of all things! Definitely not something I’m overly into writing about but hey, it was a job!
I kept bidding madly as I was instructed in the ebook and the work did start to trickle through, albeit very very slowly!
Five days later I was completely and utterly exhausted! My articles were taking FOREVER to write (some of them over an hour!!) and I was getting around 5 hours sleep a night, when before I couldn’t function on less than 7 or 8. But I knew I needed to keep at it because I had a goal to quit my full time job so I could work for myself by June 30 – time was running out!
So I read the ebook “Write like a maniac” another three times to help me. I couldn’t believe how hard this was but still I kept going.
After I received my first feedback score of 100% positive, things started to improve. My prices were still relatively cheap, so people were very interested in hiring me to write for them. Eventually the workload got so much that I had to take a week off work to reduce my backlog – everything suddenly went from nothing to a tidal wave! I suppose it was like what Barry says in the ebook – there’s a buying cycle that buyers follow and there are peaks and troughs as I found out. It took a while to pick up but finally it did.
So here I am 7 weeks later. I am writing for $3 per 100 words now (although I have some stragglers I bid on literally weeks ago that are only now coming through at a lower rate – just as Barry said in the book) and I am following the steps outlined in Module 2 which have reduced my workload and increased my writing speed considerably! I can now get through 20 articles in around 6 hours (as long as I am 100% focused). A few weeks ago I wasn’t sure I would ever get there!
My advice to anyone getting started is to put everything you can into your profile on Elance (or wherever you plan to bid). I have my photo, I am on Facebook, Twitter, IM, etc and have put the details of this in there. I believe this has been one of the keys to my success so far because the buyers are getting an idea of who I am before they hire me which gives them some peace of mind because I am not hiding behind my computer, so to speak. I am also linking them to my Ezine Articles profile so they can get a feel for my writing style. I also have some samples ready that are in my niche, in case they ask for them. This saves lots of time.
Another important aspect of all of this is customer service. If you can provide them with a service that is 100% focused on them, they will come back and will also give you positive feedback.
Oh, and I did quit my job and finished that two weeks ago. Now my destiny is in my own hands but I am truly loving my new and free lifestyle, although I’ve never been this busy in my life!
Michelle Green
You Sure are Hungry For What I'm Saying. Want More? Try My Online Writing Course.
Related Posts
No related posts.
Michelle,
Thanks for the update and tips! Congrats on your success.
Cheers,
James Druman
Thanks James – I hope this inspires those who are struggling a little to get out there and stick with it!
Michelle
Hi Michelle
Its tough to start any new business…especially one which can make $1500 plus a week in less than two months…..or $75k a year. You can buy a business like this for about $300k or your can work for 8 weeks…really hard.
You deserve everything you are getting…because I know how hard you have worked…and I’m truly proud of you. You were a wonderful first online student on this course…and every day I marvel at how lucky I was to have had you as my first online student. Your dedication and commitment to your own freedom and success is exemplary.
All the best
Barry
Thanks so much Barry, but without your support and guidance, there’s no way I’d be here now.
In saying that though, I know that you could have pushed me all you like, but without my own effort I’d still be back where I was, working away for someone else.
I suppose for me the desire to be my own boss is what got me over the line – it was something I’ve wanted to do for so many years now, and when it felt so close I could touch it, I was prepared to do whatever I had to do to get there.
I can’t wait to find out what I’m going to be learning next!
You’re right….all I did was hand you the blue print…the road map…you got to your destination under your own steam power. The driving force was what you might call ambition, will or desire.
That’s what produced the effort.
Without effort…no business can fly. NONE.
What you will learn soon is how to replace your effort with someone else’s.
This is the nuclear option…tiny amounts of matter producing huge chain reactions.
Bring it on Bazza!
Gotta say, your story is very inspiring now that I know more about it Michelle… I can’t even imagine doing the work I already do, if I had two kids… never mind doing that AND also a full-time job while I’m building everything up. You are made of some tough stuff for sure.
I’m not all that tough Harry – just desperate enough to take control of my life and give my girls what they deserve – more time with me (lucky them!).
It’s not been easy but it has been totally worth it.
Michelle, your story is inspirational. I thank you for letting us all know what you have gone through.
I have been a member for less than a week now. I seem to be having some hesitancy in making my first bid.
I have written one article today just to see if I could and it took me about three hours. At that rate I am not going to make enough money to buy my doggies their dog food.
I have been a business owner for many years, working out of my home. So that is not my motive, as it was yours. Mine is money. The industry that I have been working in for the past ten years has changed drastically in the last year and my bottom line is pink, very, very close to turning red. I need to make money fast.
I think that I am afraid to start bidding because I am unsure if I will be able to do the work. I have never worked this way before. I was not allowed to do the work that I am doing now until I had all the training, two year apprenticeship experience, pass a test and get licensed. So this is out of my comfort zone.
I think I needed to try to write an article just to say that I can.
I am going to go back and read some things about niches and bidding again and figure out what Barry’s email was about relating to this site and exchanging feedback.
If anyone out there has gone through or is going through what I am feeling right now, please give me some more insite.
Amy, if it makes you feel any better, it was taking me absolutely AGES to write an article, although maybe not as long as three hours!
Most buyers you will find are after around 500 words, and with Barry’s help I was able to just get in there and write without editing as I went – that was my main problem! I am extremely picky when it comes to my writing, and this was actually holding me back.
In Module 2 you will feel the load lighten a LOT. I never thought I’d get through 4 articles in an hour, but now I’m able to do that quite easily and I can’t believe it! Mind you, some do take longer, especially if they’re not in my niche or specialty and I actually have to do some research!
Once you’re able to establish your niche, again this will make life easier for you. Read that Write Like a Maniac book again too – it will help! (I read it three times before it sunk in!).
All the best with everything Amy – you will get there as long as you persevere.
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Your cousin here. Still getting into the groove. I’m taking my time, but your story is so inspiring for me. I have 2 clients I write continuously for, and they are keeping me busy. One fellow is paying me $3 an article – about 450 words (I’m happy with that at the moment). He had put the job up for $1.50 per article – 400 words each. So I did the first lot for him and he raised the amount, because he was happy with what I had sent him. How good is that? He has a website that involves 15 areas and I have to rewrite articles for him. Good fellow to work for so far. The other client sends me a list of article titles and I get to choose the ones I want to write about. He’s paying $3 per article too. I’m trying not to overload my brain just now, taking things slowly. I am going to bid for some more jobs soon, but not just yet. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Not good for my health (if anyone knows my health history, they’d understand).
Anyway, just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on meeting your work goal of 30th June. Look forward to seeing you in October.
Cheers
Denise
Hey Denise! Once you get at least one 100% positive feedback score on your profile, you should definitely consider putting your price up – trust me!
I’m now getting between $15 to $20 for a 500 word article, and when I was writing for $10 per article I vaguely remember I didn’t have much in the way of feedback either. You will get there!
It all seems like so long ago now…! Just wait till you get to Mod 3 and 4 – there’s some great stuff coming too that will mean a lot less pressure on you!