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Success Question: Are You a Hustler?
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Travel Writing 2.0 Newsletter
November, 2013
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What separates $ from $$$$ earners? Hustle
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I like to listen to business podcasts that often have nothing to do with writing or blogging because that forces me to think bigger. One of my favorites is the Tropical MBA podcast, on location independent business success. They recently re-ran one of their signature episodes that's a good kick in the butt. It's called The Tao of the Hustle and you can get it at that link or search on iTunes. There are two principles that really relate to our world:
Hustlers send invoices
If you're not sending out invoices on a regular basis, then maybe what you're doing isn't really a career. It's a hobby. The former makes you real money. The latter is something you do just for fun. If you think asking for money is icky or below your art, then don't complain about not having enough of it. Hustlers have phat bank accounts. Those who just wait for good things to happen to them are often broke. Always be pitching, dealing, and...sending invoices.
Hustlers never ask for anything more complicated than a "Yes."
Are your pitches wishy-washy? Do you give people six choices when three clear ones would be simpler? Or even better, just one that's easy to say yes to?
In the personal world, "Let's meet for coffee sometime" is useless. "I'll be in your area on Tuesday morning. Can we meet for coffee at 11 am?" is great. There are only two possible answers to that and if it's no, you can come back with a different day/time.
In the freelance world, a solid query that is right in line with what that publication puts out regularly, with the right section highlighted, is an easy yes. A badly targeted one or a non-specific one is a waste of time. In the advertising/sponsorship world, a proposal offering measurable outcomes for a specific price invites a yes, especially when the value is undeniable. A "here's our media kit, I'd love to do business with you" one is not going to get you very far.
Embrace the word "hustler." It's the difference between whether you're a starving artist or a well-fed writer.
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Fresh Advice on the Travel Writing 2.0 Blog
Thanks to all of you who have signed up for this newsletter after seeing one of my talks or chatting with me at TBEX North America or TBEX Europe. Maybe next year I'll see you in Spain or Thailand! Here are some words of wisdom from the blog.
Shannon O'Donnell of A Little Adrift appeared recently and had this to say about what she would tell a blogger just starting out. "I wish I had taken everyone’s advice to start a newsletter list immediately. This direct communication with my community is one of my most valuable ways to communicate and I wish I had built that community sooner!" See the interview here.
Stephanie Yoder of 20-Something Travel says she gets e-mails from people asking how they can get paid to travel and she says, "You can't." Reality is less glamorous. "Yes there is travel, sometimes really amazing travel, but there is a lot of really mundane stuff going on as well: conference calls, overflowing inboxes and hours and hours spent sprawled on the couch, typing away. Travel isn’t my job, writing is my job and travel is a fortunate bonus." See the interview.
Shelley Rivoli appeared on the blog right around when her new edition of the
Travels with Baby book won a Bronze award from SATW. She's in a crowded niche--family travel--and has some key advice on differentiation. "Take a look at the blogs most similar to what you have in mind, then think long and hard about what will make yours different, and what will motivate people to follow you beyond reading a post or two that help them planning one specific trip."
One of the TBEX Europe speakers was Tammilee Tilson and she gave a great talk on how to turn a blog into a real business. She's making serious money with her Tammilee Tips one and had this to say in our interview: "Be yourself and not try and copy what others are doing. If we all did exactly what everyone else is doing it would be a pretty boring internet. Being unusual, funny, random or just quirky is great. You have to showcase what is amazing about you and your travels. What makes people want to read your posts?"
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How to Keep More of Your Money
My latest book is out in e-book form and the paperback will be on Amazon by the time the next newsletter goes out.
As many of you know, I currently live in central Mexico, where my family is living a far better life on the same amount as before. I'm not unique though. There are millions of others scattered around the globe doing the same. Some are digital nomads, some like me just have switched home bases.
This book is a blueprint on the why, how, and where of moving abroad to do more for less. If you're just curious or are counting the days, this will point you in the right direction, with stories from 50+ expats I interviewed while putting it together.
If you're a blogger and want a free review copy to feature, or you want to do an interview, reply back to this e-mail with what you have in mind. There's also an affiliate program through e-Junkie for the book and the advanced, higher-priced packages.
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A Rare Opening at Perceptive Travel
I'm still looking for a great writer based on Europe to fill an open spot on the Perceptive Travel Blog. The pay sucks, but the prestige is nice because this blog has won awards from SATW and NATJA. Plus the domain has been up since 2006, so your links out to your own site are extremely valuable.
If you're interested, send me a note with Blogger Position in the subject line and give me all the reasons you're a good fit for what we publish. If if you know a good candidate, forward this along.
Pass it on
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You have the
Travel Writing 2.0 book, right?
If not, click here for the paperback and e-book options.
Hasta luego, Tim Leffel
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