#351: Useful Shortcut and Cheat Sheet for Pitching an Advisory Engagement
Release Date: 07/31/2024
#374: The Meta-Talent Revolution — Why Human Intelligence Still Reigns Supreme in an AI World
High-Income Business Writing
AI may be fast, smart, and shockingly efficient. But is it truly intelligent? In this thought-provoking solo episode, I explore a powerful and timely idea: the future belongs to those who change the game entirely, not those who keep trying to outrun AI at what it does best. Freelancers and creative professionals are feeling the pressure. AI can now write emails, analyze data, and churn out decent content in seconds. But there’s something artificial intelligence can’t do: think, discern, feel, and create the way you can. I introduce the concept of “meta-talents” — the...
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#373: Three Rules For Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
High-Income Business Writing
Episode Summary Looking back on the past 30 years of my career, I’ve faced challenges, doubts, and moments of pure grit. Through all of it, I’ve realized there are three core rules that have guided me — rules that I didn’t define at the time but, in hindsight, have made all the difference. These aren’t just feel-good ideas. They’re battle-tested principles that have helped me push through fear, uncertainty, and roadblocks. And if you’re looking to build a meaningful, successful freelance career, these rules might just change the way you approach your work. What You’ll...
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#372: The AI Opportunity — Reinventing Your Writing Business for 10X Impact
High-Income Business Writing
Episode Summary What if AI isn't a threat but the biggest business opportunity we've seen in decades? In this game-changing episode, we reframe the fear of artificial intelligence into one of the biggest business opportunities freelance writers and solo marketers have ever seen. If you've been worried about how AI will affect your work, this conversation will help you step into a new mindset. The kind of mindset where you become more valuable, more strategic, and more productive than ever before. We’re diving into how to reinvent your business model, amplify your impact, and create...
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#371: How to Reset Your Mental Clarity by Giving Your Brain a Short ‘Fast’
High-Income Business Writing
Episode Summary We’re constantly bombarded with notifications, emails, social media updates, and a steady stream of mental noise. It feels productive, but in reality, it’s draining our focus, creativity, and mental energy. Just like our bodies benefit from intermittent fasting, our minds need regular breaks from constant input. Yet, many of us struggle with even a few moments of true silence. In this episode, we explore the power of mental fasting—why stepping away from constant stimulation can help you gain clarity, reduce stress, and unlock your best ideas. Plus, I share my own...
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#370: How to Stay Top-of-Mind without Being Annoying — Melissa Mitri’s Low-Stress Approach to Nurturing Client and Prospect Relationships
High-Income Business Writing
Hey, there. Welcome to another episode of the High-Income Business Writing podcast—the #1 podcast for freelance writers, copywriters, and solo marketers who want to earn more in less time... doing work they love... for better clients. With over 1.3 million downloads from listeners just like you across 101 countries. You know it’s supposed to help you grow your freelance business. But the idea of reaching out to prospects and clients just to “stay in touch” or to “follow up” starts to feel awkward fast. You don’t want to annoy people. Yet it often feels like all you’re doing...
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#369: The Magic of ‘Micro-Moments’ — The Small Actions That Lead to Big Success
High-Income Business Writing
Episode Summary Success in your freelance business isn’t about grand gestures, massive marketing campaigns, or expensive training. It’s about the tiny, seemingly insignificant moments you’re tempted to skip—the quick LinkedIn post, the follow-up email, the slightly bolder pricing quote. These micro-moments are where real transformation happens. In this episode, we explore how small decisions—often dismissed as trivial—can lead to major breakthroughs in your freelance career. Whether it’s landing a high-paying client, securing a game-changing project, or leveling up your...
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#368: From Order-Taker to Strategic Partner — The Key to Elevating Your Freelance Writing Business
High-Income Business Writing
Most freelance writers focus on crafting compelling copy, but the real value they offer often extends far beyond the words they write. The most successful writers don’t just take assignments—they offer strategic insight that helps their clients achieve bigger business goals. In this episode, we explore how you can elevate your role from order-taker to trusted advisor by recognizing and communicating the strategic patterns and opportunities you spot in client projects. You'll learn how to position your expertise as a separate service, package it effectively, and ensure you're getting...
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#367: How to Use First-Principles Thinking to Fix Your Mental Blind Spots and Transform Your Freelance Business
High-Income Business Writing
Episode Summary Why do so many talented freelancers stay stuck year after year? It’s not because of market conditions, AI, or lack of experience — it’s because of hidden, faulty assumptions that shape decisions and limit options. In this episode, we uncover how these invisible mental barriers hold freelancers back and how to break through them with a structured, practical approach. What You’ll Learn: How to identify hidden assumptions that keep you stuck The Assumption Audit: A framework to challenge limiting beliefs How first-principles thinking helps you create better...
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#366: The Conversation Your AI Is Dying to Have with You
High-Income Business Writing
Episode Overview: In this episode, I explain why a conversational approach to AI interactions is more effective than massive, complex prompts — and how this mirrors natural human communication patterns. Key Points: 1. The Common Mistake Many users dump massive amounts of information into single prompts. Some AI experts promote complex, lengthy prompts that users blindly copy. This approach lacks organic interaction and outsources critical thinking. 2. The Human Conversation Model Consider how we naturally handle complex discussions with colleagues. We don't monologue...
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#365: The Power of Your Brand Story—Why It Matters and How to Get It Right
High-Income Business Writing
What makes some businesses unforgettable while others fade into the noise? The answer isn’t just in a logo or a tagline — it’s in the story they tell. In this episode, we dive into the art of brand storytelling with Johnna Lacey, the founder of . Johnna has more than 20 years of professional writing experience and over 40 years of creative storytelling. She specializes in helping business owners, solopreneurs, nonprofits and authors simplify their messaging and build deeper connections through storytelling. In this conversation, Johnna breaks down the difference...
info_outlineWhen you’re starting to offer advisory engagements to clients and prospects, it’s very common to get nervous.
Say you’re talking with a prospect and you can tell that they need help beyond writing. In fact, you can see that it doesn’t yet make sense to go right into a writing project — mainly because they need to make some other decisions first.
But you’re nervous ... because you’re not sure how to think about what they’re telling you.
Or you’re not sure how to explain that they need to do something else first before creating that marketing asset.
Here’s what I do to help me get better clarity quickly and calm my nerves. It’s a bit of a decision tree or decision flow chart. A powerful heuristic, if you will.
I ask myself the following questions:
- Does it sound like they need help coming up with the right solution or intervention? In other words, the right solution is not well defined yet. And you can’t really move forward with anything until they figure that out (hopefully with your help).
- Do they have the right intervention BUT need help improving how they’ll produce that intervention? For example, they have the right idea for how to solve the problem. But as you listen to them talk about it, you realize the topic, theme, or approach they want to take is flawed.
- Do they have the right intervention AND the right approach ... but they need help bringing that intervention to life? For example, they want to interview 15 subject matter experts, which is way too many. Or they want to do too much too quickly.
Why are these internal questions valuable? They’re valuable because they can help you categorize the exact type of need the prospect has AND how you’ll steer the conversation and how you’ll offer to help them.
And if you can determine this quickly and efficiently during that prospect conversation, you’ll have more mental and creative bandwidth to listen more attentively to what they’re saying AND end the conversation by stating your case confidently.
So give this heuristic tool a try next time you go into a prospect or client conversation where you notice that they may need help beyond just writing.