22 things I learned from getting laid off to becoming freelance copywriter

One year ago, I got laid off.

On October 15, 2024, a mystery meeting with HR and our CEO popped up on my calendar. People on my team started disappearing from Slack.

By 9:30 AM, I was logged out of everything — suddenly unemployed.

(One week after a big raise, two days before my birthday. 🙃 Rude.)

After crying my face off, I went into panic mode.

Applied to every job.

Reached out to every connection.

Cried some more.

Aaaand… nothing.

Then in November, my former work bestie (now just bestie) asked if I’d help a pole dance studio she taught at with their marketing.

I had no clue how to work for myself — but I said yes.

And absolutely loved it. Because:

• I saw how much I helped them cut through marketing overwhelm.

• I helped more people feel empowered by trying pole classes.

• And the first email campaign I wrote brought in $12,000+ in sales — from just four emails (read ‘em here).

A year later, I’m still working with that studio (and a few other fabulous clients).

So in honor of my one-year layoff-iversary, here are the biggest things I’ve learned — about freelancing, copywriting, and the mental grit it takes to do either.

^this year in a nutshell

22 lessons I’ve learned since becoming a full-time freelance copywriter:

1. A “secure” job isn’t always secure. Working for yourself can be more reliable.
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2. Set office hours. Stick to them. Routine keeps you sane.
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3. “Fake it till you make it” is underrated. Everyone’s winging it at first.
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4. Listen to the people who believe in you. Ignore everyone else.
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5. Help people without expecting anything in return. It always comes back around.
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6. You can’t escape networking — but even introverts can learn to be great at it.
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7. Sharing your fears and failures builds credibility, not weakness.
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8. Find entrepreneur friends. They’ll teach, encourage, and keep you from spiraling.
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9. You can’t capture a client’s voice unless they know what it is. Start with reflection and questionnaires.
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10. Upskilling isn’t optional.
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11. A good content brief can make or break a project.
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12. Sales is one of the most important skills you can have — especially in a shaky economy.
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13. Cringe, embarrassment, and awkwardness are just the cost of progress.
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14. A supportive partner during your business-building era is priceless.
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15. Dog content performs suspiciously well on LinkedIn.
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16. Asking for money is normal — not shameful.
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17. Some people will say no. Some will say maybe. A few will rave about you. Accept them all.
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18. Success takes time and patience — unless you sell your soul or get really lucky.
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19. Discomfort means growth. Lean into it.
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20. Even the most "successful" people still feel imposter syndrome. You're not alone.
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21. Writing copy from a beach cabana makes both the copy and the cabana worse. Work, then relax.
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22. You'll never know what you're capable of until you try.​
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Whether you’re building a business, building your skills, or rebuilding after a pivot — you’ve got this. I’m rooting for ya.

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This article was originally shared in my embarrassing, brutally-honest newsletter: Sloppy Copy.

If you want to get totally-transparent copywriting lessons like this every week, pop in your email to join the party. 👇