Heya
I'm back again... trying to be consistent with newsletters. Moving to Substack so that I can just write and push them to email. No fancy dreams.
And this time: only stories. I guess I'll have at least one experience worth sharing every week. 🥲
Today’s about OJT, on-job training.
Freelancers are on their own (usually) out in the wild. All they have is their skills to rely on. If they find some chums, great, else they have a hard time learning and upskilling.
Unlike employees, freelancers lack the joy of being mentored. And on-job training is a distant dream.
Not always.
Before we move forward, let me introduce you to today’s newsletter sponsor.
Discover the best independent writers.
Each morning, The Sample sends you one article from a random blog or newsletter that matches up with your interests. When you get one you like, you can subscribe to the writer with one click.
OK, back to my story…
Freelancers can get a mentor. In clients.
When there's a challenge, be willing to take a risk. The client will most definitely be willing to guide you. And when they do, the project (in most cases) succeeds.
Plus, you learn some new skills in a practical environment. Being on the job.
Let me quote Piyush Pandey:
“A great campaign needs the client to push, needs the client to repose confidence in you; for the client to allow you to flirt with the edges.”
Another of his quotes:
“When you take a risk and match the risk your client is willing to take, both of you have a piece of the upside."
And I've been lucky enough to get such clients over the years. Actually, right from the beginning.
My second-ever client helped me with research. He also provided me with some guidance to make my writeups crispier.
My third-ever client asked me to create product descriptions. She provided me with templates as a base.
Another client (probably 6th or 7th, I lost count) introduced me to writing, keeping in mind the "intent" of the reader. He was critical of his content. And first few articles were torn apart.
Same way, a few months ago, I was tasked with writing newsletters for a client. The goal was to repurpose their case studies for the email subscribers.
And the last I saw, those emails had around 50% open rates.
You have to be willing to take the risk of saying yes, even if you don't know what it would take to complete the task. And you'll get hefty returns, for sure.
Now, don't go around saying yes to every opportunity.
Go one notch higher. just one.
For example, if you can write articles in tech, you can try web pages. When you learn to write tech web pages, move to landing pages (LPs).
Then, when you can write tech LPs, transfer the skill to writing health LPs. Then health websites, health newsletters, health white papers, finance white papers... You got the gist, right?
Be open to new learnings, take one risky step at a time, and win clients' trust. That's your on-job training to become the Sheldon of all trades.
Live long and prosper. 🖖🏻
See you next week, with another story.
PS... I uploaded my template to repurpose case studies as newsletters on Gumroad. It's priced at $8.
But the first 20 of my newsletter subscribers can get it for $1.
Use code "hus7m46"
In return, I just ask you to leave a rating. Thank you.
Great read! I too found mentors in my clients. One pushed me to set up my LinkedIn profile way back in 2010 (though I've been lazy enough not to use it to my benefit until a few months back). Another mentored me to position myself in the market better and even brought me a few referrals, one of which I onboarded in July.