We recently connected with Kate McDermott and have shared our conversation below.
Kate, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
In my opinion, creativity requires two things:
1) Boredom. I think that so much creativity is an attempt to fill the vacuum left by boredom. Why do you think you get your best ideas in the shower? Because it’s one of the few times of day that there’s no input. You’re not on your phone, you’re (probably) not watching TV, you’re (probably) not listening to a podcast. Your brain has nothing to focus on, so it fills the space itself. Voila. Creativity. We do ourselves a real disservice by filling all of our downtime with social media, podcasts, and other forms of entertainment.
2) New ideas. Don’t think I’m an anti-entertainment curmudgeon. I’m not. I use Instagram and Pinterest, I go to the movies, I love podcasts. I like to go to museums and the symphony. I think these can all be tools to fill your creative well and inspire you with new ideas. They’re the energy that creativity feeds on.
The key is to balance these two things. You can’t ONLY consume. You also have to leave yourself the time and space and boredom to create. Harder said than done.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Small businesses like hotels, event venues, and smaller ecomm brands have to-do lists a mile long.
“Learn copywriting” isn’t usually on those lists.
But those businesses still need to create high-performing written content like websites, sales emails, landing pages, and more to bring in revenue.
That’s where I come in.
I help companies get the word out about their products, services, and offerings with proven copywriting techniques that keep the reader interested and ready to buy.
Starting with review mining and interviews and finishing with A/B tests to verify what messages connect best, I help hospitality and lifestyle brands bring in more sales and more profit.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1) Reliability. It sounds simple, but I genuinely believe that a major part of my business’ success is following through and delivering projects when I say I will. You’d be amazed how far *showing up* will get you.
2) Willingness to learn. I invest in myself and my education year after year. From comprehensive copywriting education to small business masterminds to financial literacy courses, I spend time and money to become a better businessperson.
**Just make sure to verify the credentials of course providers. There are a LOT of scammy course creators out there who are looking to make a quick buck with mediocre content. Make sure the person you’re learning from has a proven track record DOING the thing they’re teaching.**
3) Self-discipline. I’m not gonna lie—being a solopreneur and motivating yourself to do the work when no one is looking over your shoulder is a challenge. To make this kind of career work, you have to know that you’re going to both get the client work done and invest the time in crucial backend systems and processes that no one will ever see. If you need a taskmaster to keep you focused, then consider bringing on a partner so you’ll have someone to answer to!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Copywriting is only one part of the marketing puzzle. It also takes talented designers, branding experts, and marketing strategists to execute a cohesive vision.
I would love to collaborate with graphic designers, web designers, and branding pros to help bring more done-for-you services to businesses in the lifestyle and hospitality spaces.
Email me at [email protected] to start the conversation!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eatdrinkandwritecopy.com
- Instagram: @eat.drink.writecopy
