Improving My Craft

As a professional, or even enthusiast, of whatever your passion is, are you continually trying to learn, improve, grow, or take in whatever you can?

As a writer, I am. I recently joined a smaller community that is concentrated on copywriters, which are the people who string together the words you see in advertisement sales pages, campaigns, emails, etc. It’s kind of astonishing how important words are in our everyday lives, that we seem to take for granted.

The person who heads up the organization I joined, and offers an incredibly expensive year-long workshop, believes that it’s important to use our words carefully. In other words, we won’t craft our words to compel, or downright manipulate people, into something they don’t really need or won’t truly benefit from.

I’m looking forward to being able to join the year-long program when it’s offered because I view that standpoint as having integrity. I won’t write for a company or person that I don’t align with. Of course I want to earn a lucrative wage using my skills, but it’s more than simply money to me.

My peace of mind, and my integrity, is not up for sale. I cannot be bought. Neither can my talents.

Don’t get me wrong, certain offers are tempting. But at the end of the day I want what I do to matter. I want my contributions to the world to be positive and uplifting. Some of the projects I have taken on have just been neutral, while others aligned with things, ideas, or the mindset that I’m passionate about.

How much have you invested in yourself? How much would you be willing to invest in yourself? 

Those questions have recently come up for me. I realized I haven’t truly invested in myself that way, at least not significantly. And if I’m not willing to invest in myself, why should I ever expect someone else to?

These lines of questions have me ready to spend a large sum on improving my craft so that I can be better. Investing in myself this way also reminds me that my talents and skills are worth far more than I have ever charged.

Aligning all of this gives me a sense of pride in myself and in my work. However, knowing that I can improve my craft, as well as my income and situation, gives me motivation and encouragement to keep going.

Do you enjoy what you do to earn a living? Is it satisfying? If not, is there anything you can do to change that? I strongly believe in choices and making choices that allow us to earn enough for the lifestyle we want to live, while being fulfilling in some way.

My life today is practically the life I’ve been dreaming about for decades. I say practically, because there is definitely room for improvement. However, I am happy and at peace every day with the choices I’ve been making to get me here.

I am growing every day. I am improving every day. And that is definitely apparent by the things that are changing around me. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a lot to continue to improve on and heal, but overall…

I’m happy. And I hope you are as well.