Origin Story: From Zero to $100,000

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Enter the time machine.

We’re going back.

Year?

2019 (whew, thankfully before COVID).

Month?

March (spring time… ahhh, new beginnings).

Are you ready?

BLAST OFF IN…

3…

2…

1…

WE HAVE LIFTOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

ERRGHHHHHHHSHHWWOOOOP

PLUNK.

Here’s how it all began…

“I Quit.”

In March 2019, I finally pulled the plug and quit my job.

This was just 2 weeks after I made my first dollar online.

I had sold two articles on Fiverr for $45 (6 weeks after I decided I was going to launch a writing business).

I’ll never forget that first $45.

Fast forward to 2024 for a second: I’ve managed to earn six figures per year as a copywriter for 5 years.

But, it was painstakingly difficult.

There were countless days, weeks, and months of uncertainty.

Every day I’d write non-stop from the moment I woke to the moment I fell asleep.

When I wasn’t writing, I was consuming anything and everything on copywriting and content writing.

Reading every single book there was to read on copy.

Watching every YouTube video on how to become a freelance writer.

Taking every course (I could afford) to learn from those who have gone before me.

Every morning at 6 am I’d wake up and rewrite the best-performing sales letters of all-time written by legends in the game.

I started to land clients.

Getting testimonials.

Getting referrals.

I built it up to ~$1,000 per month by about the 4 month mark.

But, I still wasn’t earning enough to survive full time.

I was often living in a state of fear and anxiety wondering if I’d ever make it work.

What made things even worse was that I walked the road alone. I didn’t have writers beside me or above me that I was connecting with (Writer Mistake #17).

I wish I knew back then what I know now.

After I earned my first $45 online (March 2019), it took me 6 months of grinding away—with little to no savings—before I finally made enough to live.

Month 6: The Most Terrifying Part of My Journey

In September 2019, I was within days of running out of money.

My wife and I maxed out all of our credit cards and were in overdraft on our bank account.

We had moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand a few months before to live on the cheap (to give me more time to make the writing thing work).

But, in the middle of September, we had $600 left in our bank account — already in overdraft — and our $700 rent payment was due in less than two weeks.

Time was running out.

We had no idea how we were going to pay for it.

I was constantly haunted by the thought of getting kicked out of our apartment.

Things came right down to the wire for us.

It was one of the scariest moments of my life.

But, I kept grinding away.

In the final month (before we were going to run out of money), I was working 12-16 hour days, 7 days a week, for about a month straight.

And then something finally clicked.

And Then… Like an Angel From Heaven

I reached out to a guy who was asking for help in a copywriting Facebook group.

He wanted someone to audit his website and give him some tips on improving it.

I figured it would be good “practice” for me to do a copy audit as if he were a real client.

Well, it turns out he liked what I had to say. So he became a real client.

I hopped on a Zoom call with him.

Then another one.

Then another one.

And finally… It happened.

$910 landed in my PayPal account as if it was straight from heaven.

In fact, I do believe this was a gift from God as my wife and I were desperately praying for Him to provide. And, He did.

We were seriously days away from zeroing out our bank account.

This was the single biggest payment I had received as a writer at this point (6 months into my freelance journey).

Up until this point, I hadn’t made more than $1,000/month from my writing.

And all of a sudden, we had enough for rent and then some.

I’m not much of an emotional guy… but I can honestly say I had tears running down my face.

This $910 felt like a million dollars to us.

My wife and I were jumping up and down in our tiny Thailand apartment screaming with pure joy. We probably sounded like maniacs to our neighbors. But, we didn’t care.

We finally did it.

But… the breakthrough didn’t stop there.

First $5,000 Month: Am I Dreaming?

Within weeks, I landed a few more higher-paying clients in a short time frame.

And within one month, I went from earning less than $1,000 per month for 5 months straight…

To hitting my first $5,000 month (and 3 months later $9,000).

It was the most incredible feeling. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

Here I am, nearly five years later. And, I’m grateful that I’ve been able to earn a six-figure income from my copywriting ever since (and fully support my wife and two little girls).

Now…

Get back in the time machine…

Back to the Future: Enter 2024

EERRRRRCHHHHHHHHH

POWWWWW.

PLOP.

Whew, we’re back.

In 2024.

Post-COVID… uh.

Don’t worry, we’re back in the X era with our favorite rockety-electric-car-tunnel carving-ex-PayPallian, Elon.

Musk is president of the United States again. Grok is Vice President. All is well.

Wait… that’s 2029.

Back to 2024.

Right.

So… How About You?

Are you wanting to turn your words into dollars as a copywriter?

Well, the sad truth is, most people who get into writing — or any digital skill like design, video, or coding — don’t ever earn a penny online.

Even if they’re experts in their craft.

The reason?

They don’t know how to monetize their skill.

They’re not equipped with the OTHER digital skills to become desirable in the marketplace.

I took the hard road five years ago.

I wish I had more help.

I wish I had a road map.

I wish I had a community.

I wish I had someone who would let me just peek over their shoulders so I could see exactly how they earned a full-time income as a writer.

That’s why I’m here with you right now.

Well, technically past me is with you (remember… the time machine?)

Anyways, I’m here to give you that helping hand…

And let you peek over my shoulder, and learn how I did it, so you can too.

What’s In it For You?
^{(Hint: Time, Money, and Location Freedom)}

In this newsletter, you’ll learn:

• The kind of writing people are willing to pay money for

• The different ways you can monetize your writing or other digital skills

• The unspoken “secret skills” you need to level up your skill stack

• How to make your first dollar online

• How to ramp up your earnings to $5,000-$10,000/month (and beyond)

And… of course, you’ll learn all about the painful mistakes I made along the way so you can SKIP RIGHT OVER THEM and speed up your journey to six figures.

I’ll Show You How to Turn Your Passion Into a Lifelong Business That Puts $5,000-$10,000 Into Your Pocket Every Single Month

Whether you’re looking to…

• Gain more control over your income

• Work from wherever you want

• Set your own hours

• Spend more time with your kids, or…

• Just do something you love — that you own

I’ll help you along the way.

If you’re wondering whether or not I’m going to teach you how to make millions of dollars with the written word and do it in just a few weeks…

Well, I’m not.

I haven’t done that myself (not yet, at least).

But I have done a few things in my writing career so far that should lend a little credibility…

1. I’ve been a freelance copywriter for 5 years.

2. Earned more than $500,000 with my copywriting in that time.

3. I’ve generated over $1 million via email for two 7-figure eCommerce businesses (one with a list of 100,000 subscribers and the other with a list of 30,000).

4. I own two niche blogs that I started from the ground up: Hockey Question and Heavenly Spoon which have earned me thousands in “passive income.”

5. I’ve helped 30+ new copywriters land their first client in one month.

I’m not perfect by any means.

There are people making wayyyyy more money than me (and did it in less time).

But, I’ll share with you:

1. The things that have worked for me in the past (and what I overcame) to get me to a full-time income, and…

2. The things that are working for me RIGHT NOW (to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make it work)…

So you can accelerate your writing business to a full-time income.

Follow along as I share practical tips to help you advance your skills in:

• Direct-response copywriting

• Content writing

• SEO

• Email marketing

• Newsletters

• Sales

• Monetizing your writing

• And more

I know what it feels like to not have that person who’s a few steps ahead of you showing you the path.

So, I’ll be available to answer any questions you have about building a writing business, freelancing (in any skill), monetizing, tools, etc….

2024 is a crazy, exciting time to dive into the creator economy, tap into a new life of freedom and flexibility, and earn a living from your laptop.

I’m stoked you’re taking this crucial step to grow in your business so you can make it a reality.

Let the journey begin…

-Brandon “I made $45 on Fiverr so I quit my job” Storey

P.S. Remember to follow me on X (Twitter) and subscribe to me on YouTube for FREE daily tips to fast-track you to six-figure freedom.

P.P.S. Want Extra Help Right Away to Kickstart Your Copywriting Business?

I also offer a paid copywriting course and personalized coaching (I’ve helped 30+ new copywriters land their first client in one month). If you want to hear more, email me at [email protected] with the subject line “coaching” now.