How to Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset: And why it’s so important for copywriters

I will say it again and again, mindset is EVERYTHING when it comes to being a successful copywriter. 

Your mindset can make or break you. It determines your happiness and motivation, and impacts the growth of your business. 

You may have never considered yourself an entrepreneur, but working for yourself as a copywriter requires an entrepreneurial mindset. 

So what exactly does this mean?

What is Entrepreneurship? 

The Foundation for Economic Education defines entrepreneurship as “the endeavor of creating, owning, and commercializing an idea, technology, product, or service, as well as assuming the risks and rewards associated with that enterprise.”

When you think of an entrepreneur, you probably think of someone that has truly made it. Someone that makes their own schedule, answers only to themselves, and makes money doing something they are passionate about. 

Entrepreneurs are willing to take risks and don’t back down from challenges. They take responsibility for the successes and failures within their business and are able to get others to believe and invest in them. 

Entrepreneurs roll with the punches, and don’t let disappointments hold them back. Even if they don’t have all the answers, they are willing to learn along the way. 

These are all important qualities for a copywriter. As a copywriter, you are your business and brand. How you represent yourself matters. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and sell yourself. You have to get clear on your vision and believe in the service that you are selling. 

Are freelancing and entrepreneurship the same thing? 

As a writer, the lines between freelancer, employee, and entrepreneur can get a little blurry. Sometimes it can feel like you are all of these at once. You’re working for clients, yes, and you may even be on staff somewhere. 

But there’s a huge distinction between just using writing as a way to make money on the side and actually starting a copywriting business.

Though freelancing is a way to be your own boss, freelancing and entrepreneurship are not the same thing. 

As you begin working as a copywriter, it’s important to stop thinking of yourself as a freelancer begging for work- and more as a business owner who gets to take the clients they see fit. 

You have to know your worth and set your own prices. You position yourself as an expert in your niche and charge accordingly. When you start working as a copy or content writer, it’s important to ditch the employee mindset and start cultivating the mindset of a boss! 

Ways to Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset 

Your mindset is your way of thinking and includes your fixed beliefs and attitudes that tell you who you are and what you can (or can’t) accomplish. 

One interesting thing about getting into a business like copywriting and trying to work for yourself, is that it often goes hand in hand with mindset work and personal development. 

Mindset work involves taking a closer look at fixed beliefs and attitudes and examining whether they are harmful or helpful. As you pursue entrepreneurship, you may find that you’re faced with limiting beliefs, fear, negativity, and doubt. 

With any kind of mindset work, the first step is to adopt a growth mindset rather than a fixed. A fixed mindset is exactly what it sounds like- one where you do not open your mind to opportunities for improvement. 

While some people may naturally have a growth mindset or even have natural propensity towards an entrepreneur mindset, anyone can work on developing a mindset that is more conducive to reaching their goals. 

Here are a few ways you can work on mindset. 

Let Go of Limiting Beliefs

Often, our mindset is made up of the limiting beliefs and stories that we tell ourselves. These stories may have developed during childhood or as the result of bad experiences, and we may not even realize how much they are holding us back. 

Limiting beliefs become so ingrained that we accept them as fact without questioning. 

For example, many of us are told growing up that the only way to be successful and not worry about money is to pick a practical college major and find a good job with benefits as soon as you graduate. 

This leads a lot of adults into being completely unhappy within their careers, and feeling like there’s no way out. 

Or perhaps, someone along the way told you that you weren’t a good writer. Without meaning to, you latched onto this opinion and it became a part of who you are. You may have an interest in writing for a living, but don’t believe that you have what it takes to make it happen. 

It can be really hard to let go of limiting beliefs. A lot of the time, we’ve been holding onto these beliefs for most of our lives. But a huge part of being successful in any career path is learning to release those old stories so that you can start to believe in yourself and your abilities. 

This kind of mindset work definitely takes time, and often just starts with noticing what sort of limiting beliefs you have. This awareness is powerful, and as you start to drop your old stories, you can begin to rewrite new ones.

Rewrite Your Narrative  

The best way to change your mindset is to transform your old limiting beliefs into new positive affirmations. Within your copywriting business, this can look like saying:

“I’ve never done this before, but I can learn.”

Instead of:

“I suck at learning new things; I’ll never figure it out.”

It is this type of mindset adjustment that makes all the difference. It may sound cheesy, but the first step in being a successful copywriter or entrepreneur is believing that you can do it! 

Entrepreneurs know the power of thought and work on having a mindset that helps them reach their goals. You have the power to rewrite your personal narrative to one that is positive and uplifting. 

Know Your Why 

A huge part of having an entrepreneur mindset is staying rooted in your “why”. If you are pursuing copywriting, it’s important to consider your motivations. These are unique to you, and it’s what will keep you going when things get tough.

For me, my “why” was being able to work a job that I enjoyed, one that offered me freedom, financial security, and time with my family. This was my driving force.  I knew that I had to make this happen. 

Your “why” also includes the impact that you want to make on the lives of your clients. What’s your mission and how do you plan to use your services to solve problems for others? 

Keep in mind that this can all change as your business grows. But constantly checking in and making sure that you aligned with your purpose is a key feature of an entrepreneurial mindset. This will set you apart from others in the industry and help you stay motivated when challenges inevitably arise. 

Embrace the Unknown 

Another characteristic of entrepreneurs is a willingness to dive headfirst into the unknown. Entrepreneurs know that with big risk usually comes big reward. 

As you pursue copywriting, there will be a lot of big decisions to make. You will go through major transitions and at times, life may feel uncertain. 

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset involves getting comfortable with the unknown, learning how to stay positive in the face of uncertainty and letting go of fear. 

As an entrepreneur, there’s no one else to fall back on, and sometimes it might feel as if you are just making it all up as you go. If it sounds scary, that’s perfectly normal. 

The cool thing is, there’s possibility in the unknown. And through mindset work, you can learn to consider all of the amazing things that could go right, instead of focusing on what could go wrong. 

Successful entrepreneurs find the opportunity amongst the challenges and embrace not always having the answers. 

Invest in Yourself

Entrepreneurs know that good investments pay off. Your business is one of the most important things you can invest in, and as a copywriter specifically, your business is yourself. 

There are many ways that you can invest in yourself as an aspiring copywriter. You can hire a coach, take a class, or invest in a copywriting course. 

Spending money on your business is a great way to show yourself and those around you that you are committed to your dreams. This can be huge when it comes to developing an entrepreneurial mindset. Investing in yourself can help you build confidence and begin trusting in the success of your business. 

Change your mindset, change your life

Are ready for a major change in your career? Are you done being boxed in by the traditional nine to five and ready to seek a life of MORE FREEDOM? 

Entrepreneurship via copywriting may be your answer. However, the journey isn’t always an easy one. There will be plenty of challenges and roadblocks along the way. You’ll deal with self-doubt, criticism, and overwhelm. 

I truly believe that having a good mindset is what separates those who quit, from those who keep moving forward and become successful. I believe that if you are able to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, you will be less likely to give up on your journey. 

Take it from me, it is possible to work for yourself and carve out the life of your dreams. It’s possible to learn how to embrace challenges and have fun while building your copywriting business. 

Are you ready to take the leap? What mindset shifts do you need to make to succeed in your copywriting business?