Direct response copywriting expert

The magic of working for an expert in the field of direct response copywriting

Once, I worked as a writer’s assistant to a direct response copywriting expert.

His house was on top of a mountain that wound many times to reach the peak. 

The path I took to arrive to work every day was a picture straight out of a storybook. 

There were deer, rippling creeks, crimson flowers. The tall Colorado trees cast illustrious shadows that invited me to carefully round every winding curve. 

The writer’s home was beautifully landscaped as a carbon copy of his bold personality. 

Every day, going to work made me feel like Alice in Wonderland. 

I had my own office with the crispest view of the landscaped mountainside. My new boss invited me to move my desk to any position I desired. This would give me an optimal view out the panoramic window.

Somehow, I maintained a sense of naivety that was still drawn to odd things, rare breeds, and puzzling encounters. 

Being an assistant for a renowned freelance copywriter can jumpstart your career in direct response copywriting

Just out of university, I moved all the way across the United States away from my family. I was pursuing what had been pre-defined as a courtship with a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet.

I seriously needed a job to pay my rent.

Back then, newspaper job ads were still a viable way of searching for work. 

Every day I scoured the newspaper to see if there was an uncomplicated job listing that fit my skillset. 

I was able to land a job as a music director at a United Church for Christ, almost immediately upon arrival.

But I continued to search for a fulltime job.

Then, I saw it.  The perfect ad.

Unbeknownst to me, the man who wrote the ad was one of the highest paid direct response copywriters in the industry.

So, I’ll give myself a pat on the back for having been drawn to his compelling copy. 

Truthfully though, it wasn’t the copy that initially attracted me to the ad. It was what we now refer to as, an “emoji.” 

I wish I could remember exactly what the ad said, but I only remember the general idea. 

James Rutz, who placed the ad was looking for an assistant who wanted to be part of an important work and this involved editing his books as well. 

At the beginning of the ad was a “cross” emoji. ✞

Sometimes, all we need is a sign

Of course, I saw this all as a sign. 

There was the cross that to me symbolized spirituality and there was the editing aspect that meant I’d be involved with writing somehow.

The ad indicated Jim’s work involved “purpose.” 

It could have all been very dangerous, the lone meeting I had atop the mountain for an interview, but it was exotically intriguing and one of the most enchanting moments of my life.   

The house was invitingly clean and neat and was like walking into a time machine. 

I’m not sure which era it represented, but the décor was intentional and representative of a never married man with humble looks most likely in his sixties. 

I don’t remember if the housekeeper and cook was there the first time I visited for the interview, but she was one of the most delightful souls I’ve ever met. 

So, I’d like to take a moment to share a few lessons I’m learning from looking back on this experience:

Lessons working for a direct response copywriting expert

1) Adventure might kill us, or it might not, but if we live to tell the story, our lives will be all the richer for it.

First, I count myself lucky that I didn’t end up working for a serial killer or rapist with my body thrown somewhere deep in the Colorado woods. 

Instead, Jim Rutz was the most eccentric person I’ve ever seen close-up, including his courtship of Russian and Ukrainian women abroad, through the aid of a paid translator, because his brides-to-be couldn’t speak English. 

I think we were very similar in personality, except my imagination may have exceeded his.  

We were very stand-offish and talked in riddles for the most part, when it came to any comments that were outside the realm of getting work done.

2) Passion is a pre-requisite to happiness, whether success follows or not

Up to this point, I’d never been exposed to someone in my field of interest who was making quite a bit of money doing what I wanted to do – write. 

Not only was he writing entire magazine spread copy which ensured his steady and hefty income, but he was also writing, publishing and marketing his own books independent of his other work. 

While I don’t think he ever reached the level of success he desired with independent publishing, he was passionate about his work and believed in the message, which was one of miracles happening all around the world. 

Part of my job involved gathering evidence for these miracles from contacts in other countries. 

This man never, ever acted as if he may have been collecting evidence to support lies meant to sell books. 

From all I could see, he truly believed in miracles and the idea of helping others believe in miracles too made him happy. 

His passion preceded his joy and at that point, success was secondary.

3) Your actions paint you into the scene, not riddled attempts to experience some obscure feeling.

I think it’s fairly obvious that this job provided me the perfect environment in which my imagination could thrive. 

We’d have photo shoots in his home to illustrate the journals for which he wrote. 

I negotiated pick shipping to sell his independently published books. Pick shipping wasn’t popular 15 years ago. 

My job involved arranging travel and entertainment as well as photo shoots for incoming actors.

Jim was ahead of his time and recorded green screen videos to be posted online as a virtual representation of what was then a world still unfamiliar to most. 

I negotiated music licensing for an online radio station. His streaming radio station included virtual rooms where visitors could click through to enjoy peaceful scenery. You could read themed scriptures to the tune of relaxing background music. 

I also deposited his big checks and wired money to his love interests. 

Who can help but to fall in love with genius copywriting

At the time, I didn’t realize how young and beautiful I was. 

I wanted him to read some of my writing and appreciate my style, but it was met with a rather cold response and I later realized he’d actually accused me of plagiarizing. 

I think a part of me wanted to be a part of his world, the world of written imagination, where I was a real character on the stage.  But instead, he made me the “Vice President” of his independent publishing company. 

My actions told him perhaps we could create a successful business together, but my feelings hoped for more than a business arrangement, and certainly involved me as the writer or co-writer, not the business manager.

Looking back, this was the highest of compliments. 

If you want something, at the very least, you have to pretend to be sure—and then go get it.

4) Magic takes hard work.

This whole colorful scene of which I found myself a part, was the fruit of someone else’s labor. 

Jim Rutz had at one time worked low on the totem pole in a large corporation as a copywriter and gradually worked his way up as a senior writer, before he realized he could make a lot more money doing direct response copywriting on his own. 

He didn’t start out at the top of the mountain, creating his own hours, hiring gardeners, having his lunch served, and hiring young assistants. 

Jim started out being the assistant. 

But once he arrived, he continued to work. He was aware that to sustain the position and to eventually afford supporting a bride, he’d need more money. 

Yes, he woke up at the flexible hour of 10am every day, but his time was structured.  He rarely came down from his office where he developed his direct response copywriting expertise until nightfall.

He’d created this magical environment to foster his imagination and support his craft. Yet, it was all a part of a well structured and intentional plan toward his vision of success.

5) Destiny is a winding road.

This man and his world were not my destiny. 

But his world informed my journey. 

I’m not certain that I’ve capitalized on all that I saw on that bend in the road. Reflecting back, I know for certain that this experience shaped me for the better. It opened my eyes to a piece of destiny I’d like to achieve. 

However, they are still important and create the subtlety that makes us want to keep taking our next adventure.

The hope is that we finally reach our destination.

LoveLifeLinks.com believes you will reach a career destination you’ll love.

Remember, you can feel love. Anywhere. Anytime. All the time.