Spec Assignments and Expectations

In October of 2013 I went to a job fair for copywriters. 

I admit, I had very high hopes and expectations for this job fair. 

This was, in my mind, what would catapult my success. 

It didn't.

I'm not knocking job fairs (this one was no doubt one of the best).  But I do caution against expecting something to "do it for you." 

I had heard several stories of people finding their first "big" jobs via this job fair... whether they submitted a spec assignment, or followed other criteria of the potential clients at this fair. 

So I went into this expecting to come out of it with at least one decent paying job. 

I didn't. 

I share this because what others have had success with may not be what you'll have success with. 

Also, I know I put off taking action on my own because I was "waiting for" this job fair. 

Don't wait!

Don't expect someone else (be it a job fair, an individual, a trade show, or whatever other opportunity you have your sights set on) to "do it for you" and be the launching pad to your success.

You may very well find success through any or all of these routes. 

Or, like me, you may not. 

Don't get discouraged. 

I admit going through a down time after none of my attempts at paid work panned out. 

Granted, in full disclosure, I only submitted one major spec assignment, I only contacted one "hot lead" from job fair, and I only sent two proposals for article ideas. 

If I had done more, would I have found more success? 

Maybe.  Maybe not. 

I certainly could have done more though. 

The reason I didn't (not excuse, mind you, but reason) is because I had decided to focus on my niche (more on that in a later post), and none of the prospects that the job fair were in that specific niche. 

Also, I naively thought I had done enough.

I thought my article submissions were good.  Why wouldn't they take them? 

I thought my "hot lead" would pan out.  It seemed so promising. 

This is again a lesson in that things don't always work out like we think they will.

(And again, an honest, true account of my own path to writing success.)

That's ok! 

Keep going! 

Keep your head held high! 

After getting over my disappointment and shattered expectations, I moved forward...