I Accidentally Started Copywriting… Here Are My Plans for 2025
Did I go to school for writing? Yes.
Did I immediately join the military after graduating college, leaving me with zero professional writing experience? Also yes.
But life is funny like that.
After leaving the Navy in 2022, I found myself in my first civilian job: managing a local pool. It was also the first job I ever interviewed for. I got the position, worked there for over a year, and quickly realized it was not for me.
Imagine spending your days managing pool schedules, listening to entitled members complain about water temperatures, and trying to convince a rotating cast of teenagers to show up on time for an after-school job. It wasn’t just mundane—it was soul-crushing.
By the end of my year and a half of misery, I had some hard truths staring me in the face:
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I can’t find joy in work that lacks meaning.
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I’m not wired to work for someone else long-term.
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Spending 30+ years at a job I hate for a mediocre retirement check? Not the life I want.
Turning Misery Into Motivation
Those realizations sparked a fire. They led me to launch Wild Ridge Coffee. They pushed me to pursue certifications like my CrossFit L1 and L2, PT certifications, and my in-progress CSCS. They also landed me a job at a gym—a job I actually love. Coaching, training clients, and teaching weightlifting? All of it brings purpose and energy to my days.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Falling Into Copywriting
One day, while scrolling through YouTube, I stumbled across some great content on copywriting. Having a degree in writing, I was curious. What started as casual interest turned into a deep dive into professional copywriting, marketing, and email strategy.
Initially, I saw it as a way to enhance Wild Ridge Coffee’s content and grow the brand. And it worked. But then, something unexpected happened.
The gym asked me if I’d be interested in writing their weekly programming emails. Timing, huh? One moment I’m learning about copywriting; the next, I land my first client without even trying.
And you know what? I loved it.
A New Chapter
Since taking on the gym’s email marketing, I’ve expanded into crafting email campaigns, editing videos, producing ads, creating blog posts, and more. I still coach classes, train clients, and teach weightlifting, but now I also get to dive into the gym’s marketing efforts. It’s been an incredible blend of skill-building and creativity.
This unexpected journey has opened my eyes to what’s possible.
What’s Next?
With that, I’d like to see where I can take this copywriting thing. This year, I’d like to expand to more writing/copywriting/marketing clients to continue to hone skills, help businesses, and continue to create a life and career for myself that I can be proud of.
I accidentally became a copywriter at the end of last year. This year, I am going to continue to improve my skills for my own content, and expand to helping other people and businesses deliver value. I’ll be documenting this journey along the way, so stay tuned for more updates.