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Episode #62 Women in the IT Workplace with Cat Lam

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When it comes to women in the IT workplace, Cat Lam is here as living proof that it doesn’t take anyone especially talented, brainy, or extra-special to go into business for themselves as an independent IT contractor or freelancer. There is a way that you can use your current expertise, make a bunch more money, and have a whole lot more control over your own time and career.

This year marks her 12th year as an independent IT contractor / freelancer. She now call the shots. The day she became self-employed, and got that first contract, she instantly more than doubled her income, and was 100% accountable for her own career. Now, she assists others in finding their own way in that transition.

We speak about her career evolution, how she helps those starting out in an IT workplace, especially women going through the negotiation process, and the value of developing multiple income streams, no matter your industry.

In our conversation about negotiation and income equality, Jen mentioned the 3/5ths compromise, read more about that here.

Quotes

  • “I’ve actually had to learn a lot of stuff on my own.” – Cat Lam
  • “Being in IT, there aren’t a lot of “people” people, so if you have the soft skills you will be that much better than the rest of your peers.” – Cat
  • “Sometimes being a freelancer with multiple clients is more secure than having one job, because if you lose one of them, it’s not like a pink slip and all your income is gone.” – Jen
  • “It’s so easy online now to read bad reviews.” -Jen
  • “The art of the negotiating to being able to read people and figure out what is important to them in order to get what you want.” – Cat
  • “Pair your passion with money making potential, then you get to do what you love almost on somebody else’s dime.” – Cat

To connect with Cat Lam, follow her on her blog at itsolopreneurs.com, and catch up with her on Twitter or Facebook.

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Cat Lam 11Cat Lam is living proof that it doesn’t take anyone especially talented, brainy, or extra-special to go into business for themselves as an independent IT contractor or freelancer. There is way that you can use your current expertise, make a bunch more money, and have a whole lot more control over your own time and career.

When she moved from accounting into the IT workplace, it meant a big change for her. When you sign up for Oracle, or any consulting company for that matter, you sign up for 100% travel. It was fun at the beginning. But eventually, you start to schedule your life months in advance. Marriage meant a big change, and a break from consulting to work briefly with her husband and in the fitness industry. She grew bored of that and returned to her previous work as her own boss.

This year marks her 12th year as an independent IT contractor / freelancer. The day she became self-employed, and got that first contract, she instantly more than doubled her income, and was finally accountable for her own career. Now, she assists others in finding their own way in that transition. 

Episode #60 Write to Profit with Tepsii

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Today I’m so excited to have Tepsii (one name, like Madonna!). She has a true corporate to self-employment success story.

Tepsii is a creative copywriter and coach who crafts simply-amazing-tailor-made copy for entrepreneurs ready to make serious moola online and create the freedom lifestyle they’ve always dreamt of.

She was inspired to be a copywriter by listening to Kimra Luna’s copywriter in the first round of Be True Brand You. She started out as a life coach, but copy was obviously her thing. She made $25K in her first two months and decided that she could probably quit her day job.

Less than four months later, her husband quit his job, they sold their house, and they packed up their entire family, including three daughters, and moved back to her home country of South Africa, all on her copywriting income.

Let her story inspire you and check out how you can sharpen your copywriting skills.

A Few Copywriting Tips from Tepsii

  1. Focus on the part of your life that pertains to your ideal client (If you are writing to single women, don’t talk about being a married mom).

  2. Throw in a bonus, mention a special interest! Talk about being a pilot – keeps things interesting. Or how being a rocket scientist can help you be a business coach.

  3. Think you don’t have material? Here’s a strategy to find your stories – Take out a piece of paper and draw a bunch of circles on it. Some big, some small, 15-20 circles. On each circle write one word that reminds you of an experience you’ve had that was really memorable. Places, college, sad moments, proud moments, etc, and fill up that page with all these experiences and then from there you can look at that paper and realize how much really have to work with.

Quotes

  • “Copy writing, for me, is a creative skill, it comes from my heart.” – Tepsii
  • “When you are starting your business, you can’t be throwing money in lots of areas. Some things you need to invest, and other things you need to DIY.” – Tepsii
  • “Copy writing is an awesome skill to have.” – Tepsii
  • “My process is a lot about figuring out what your story is.” – Tepsii
  • “We just keep asking ‘why’ until we get to the heart of the matter, about the difference this is going to make for your client in their life.” – Tepsii
  • “Your shame is actually your victory.” – Tepsi
  • “How do I figure out from all these things I’ve done what my story is and what the core is?” – Jen
  • “Figuring out your ideal client is a lot about what you’ve been through.” – Tepsii

Find Tepsii at writetoprofit.com and check out her Sold Out and Booked Solid program at booked.tepsii.com. 

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tepsii@Tepsii is a creative copywriter and coach who crafts simply-amazing-tailor-made copy for entrepreneurs ready to make serious moola online and create the freedom lifestyle they’ve always dreamt of.

She’s been a sought after professional writer in the corporate space for 12 years, using my bachelor’s of science from one of the top universities in New England to write scientific, engineering, aviation, and other technical documentation.

All this time she’ been dying to merge her creative side with her work, so after she had her third baby girl she decided to get serious about creating a life of her own design. For her, this means ditching the boring 9-5 where she’s busy making someone else’s dreams come true. Now, she’s found her sweet spot; she gets to help entrepreneurs by channeling their words to create cohesive and compelling copy to grow their business.