63: From $0 to $125K in One Year on Upwork (Lisa Cumes Interview)

63: From $0 to $125K in One Year on Upwork (Lisa Cumes Interview)

Author: Michael Leonard: Copywriter & Freelance Writing Coach March 6, 2020 Duration: 46:15

In today's guest interview, I had the opportunity to interview Lisa Cumes. She went from $0 to $125K in her first year freelancing on Upwork and has rapidly scaled her business since leaving the 9-5.

Lisa's secret weapon was to get potential clients on a Zoom call. Doing this allowed her personality to shine through, and in business people like to work with people they like and trust! She scaled her business and so can you!

  • Set Big Goals 
  • Understand What Motivates You
  • Set up a Proven Process and then Invite Clients into that Process
  • Listen to What Your Clients are Asking For 
  • Have a Growth Mindset
Double down on your strengths and watch your writing business soar. 
 
--

Lisa is a freelance copywriter and StoryBrand Guide who has built a 6 figure, online copywriting business, over the past 2 years. Last year, she shifted and scaled her business by bringing on a team of other copywriters to help more businesses and personal brands simplify their message and launch their mission.  Find out more about her copywriting business at Simple Story Solutions.


She also has a passion for helping freelancers stop hustling and start building thriving full time businesses. As a mom of 3 kids, she knows how to navigate mommy guilt, actually be productive working from home and coaches other freelancers through The Copywriter Coach with online courses, coaching and free webinars. 


Michael Leonard was a professional copywriter earning a solid salary before he walked away from that career in 2017. With no safety net, he built a thriving online writing business from the ground up. In his Inspire Your Success podcast, he gets into the real work behind that transition, moving beyond simple inspiration to offer a practical roadmap. Each conversation is grounded in his experience as a freelance writing coach, focusing on the actionable steps needed to build a sustainable independent career. You’ll hear honest discussions about the mental shifts required to leave a traditional job, the systems that actually generate income, and how to navigate the common pitfalls of entrepreneurship. This isn't about vague motivational talk; it's a detailed look at creating a business that affords more freedom, whether that means paying off debt, traveling, or simply designing a life with more flexibility. Tune in for a blend of strategic business advice and personal development insights, all drawn from Michael’s own journey from a structured 9-5 to successful self-employment. The podcast serves as a direct mentorship for anyone feeling stuck, providing the tangible tools and mindset needed to turn professional aspirations into a working reality.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Inspire Your Success
Podcast Episodes
REPLAY: How to Beat Overwhelm As a Freelancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:03
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127: How to Get Paid as a Freelance Writer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:08
Multiple income streams and making up your own rates is one of the reasons why so many people get into freelance writing. But how do you get paid? How do you invoice clients? What are the best practices to getting paid p…
126: Finding the Perfect Client Mix for Consistent Income [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:03
What's great about freelance writing is you can have a ton of different income streams... unlike a 9-5. Most months I have between 4-6 (sometimes up to 9) clients at a time. But dedicating the time and energy isn't easy…
125: How to Nail Test Pieces so Clients Say YES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:52
Most clients will want to "test" your services out before hiring your for a long term gig. Sometimes they won't but it depends... needless to say this is your audition to getting the gig. This short episode will help you…
124: Why You Need a Pricing Guide to Land Clients [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47
Learn why you need a simple pricing guide to start landing clients. This simple (and cheap) tool will help you change clients perspective from... "Should I work with this writer" to "Which package should I hire them for?…
123: You Only Need ONE Client to Change Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:36
After a two-year hiatus of this podcast I'm back and want to help you start and scale your writing business in 2023. In this episode we'll cover: The new content schedule Discuss the ups/downs of freelancing How freelanc…
122: Why You Should NOT Write Every Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:09
"Write everyday" said every writer ever... except me. After writing millions of words online and earning more than $250,000 writing I want to discuss why this is bad writing advice and what to do instead. >> Scale Your F…
121: Will AI Destroy Freelance Writing Careers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:16
Will AI destroy freelance writing as we know it? Short answer: NO. Longer answer explained in this podcast where we'll cover: Why Google hates AI How to use AI to make writing easier Why my clients told me to ignore some…
120: Freelancing Helped Me Launch a New Business (Where I've Been) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:46
After a two-year hiatus of this podcast I'm back and want to help you start and scale your writing business in 2023. In this episode we'll cover: The new content schedule Discuss the ups/downs of freelancing How freelanc…
119: How Delaney Quit Her Job With Freelance Writing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:22
Learn how one of my students used freelance writing to quit her 9-5 in less than 6 months (while working full-time). Delaney went from: Not having a niche --> a niche to writing about topics she loves. Being scared to pi…