Guest Post by Alan Hammond

Alan Hammond is the publisher and managing editor for the Recession-Proofing Life blog.  He is an editor and writer for the SportsMD.com family of websites, as well as the Golf Feature Writer for Suite101.com. He can be reached at 1minfreelancer@gmail.com.

If you’re a fan of juvenile humor and silly movies like I am, then you’ve heard of the actor Jack Black and his band, Tenacious D.  When it comes to landing a great job, you need to have the polar opposite of Tenacious D(efense), you need Tenacious O(ffense). 

I’m a freelance writer, but I’m not Ernest Hemmingway.  Some may say I’m not even Ernest Goes to Camp (80s movie reference), but I may take issue with that one. What I do have, much more than exceptional writing ability, is a love of writing and a tenacity that keeps me striving to improve and find that next great job.

To date, my willingness to learn and keep hacking away at my keyboard has paid-off well.  I had been freelancing sporadically for several years until three years ago.  It was then I made the decision to stop wondering why I wasn’t more successful and do something about it.  You see, during the first several years, I expected that clients should see my work and come knocking at my door.  Prideful? Yes.  Stupid? Absolutely.

When I made the decision to make my writing business grow, things began to take a turn for the better.  The first step I took was to accept a feature writer position for Suite101.com, not for the pay, but for the title.  I knew the time I devoted to writing articles for a share of ad revenue would probably never be profitable, but I surmised that the title of “feature writer” would provide me with a new level of legitimacy.  I believe it did.

After accepting the position, I began milking the “feature writer” title for all it was worth.  I put it in my email signature, used it in project proposals, featured it in my LinkedIn profile, anywhere it would fit.  It was then that I started getting projects, ones that actually paid real money! To date, I still only make a few dollars per month from the Suite101 position.

A few months later, I started my first blog, Suite Golf Travel. For several months, I posted to the blog regularly, but saw very little traffic and no income. I almost said “Forget this, no one is reading it,” but fortunately I loved golf and loved travel and loved writing about golf and travel.  So I kept going and even started two more blogs, all of which give me a great deal of satisfaction.  All are growing more and more each day.

Here’s how things really come together.  A client I’d had for about a year came to me several months ago and said essentially this, “I’m more than pleased with your work, I like what you’re doing with your blogs and your use of social media (Twitter.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.). I want you to play an increasingly bigger role in my company.”  As the conversation continued, I eventually picked my jaw up from the floor. I don’t know what I actually said to him, but I’m certain it was fairly unintelligible.

I don’t want to give the impression that all my dreams for my business have come true, or that I’m independently wealthy and my kid’s college funds and my retirement are funded. Far, far from it. But, I am on my way to building something I’ve dreamed of.  Two things have helped me: 1) a love of what I am doing; and 2) tenacity. 

Combining something you love with the willingness to keep going even when it looks the wheels are merely spinning are two of the key elements to success.  Unfortunately, or possibly fortunately, depending on your perspective, most people give up when times are tough. Don’t be one of the people who stop chasing their dreams.  It’s nice when you catch them.

Remember, “Tenacious O” works in any endeavor, not just writing.