Shahzad Khan's Linkedin Analytics

Copywriting pays for everything I do. My car. My office. My team. My travels. My investments. This skill is so overpowered that it teaches you how to sell stuff. Once you have that on your side, there's no stopping you. Here's how I did it: 1. Got proof of concept that copywriting works and it can pay me "some" money every month 2. Didn't care about my experience or fulfillment of projects and just started looking for work 3. Got work, did it myself and kept going 4. Once I had some success, I invested in a course and that helped me see my own potential 5. I doubled down, got severe burnout and moved away from Fiverr/Upwork 6. I then joined high-level masterminds and coaches to help me get to $50k/month 7. Now, I work with a select few clients and have different ventures/offers You see, starting a business is like pushing a stationary train. It takes all of your effort in the beginning, but once it’s got momentum, it becomes way easier to make it go faster.

The greatest joy comes from watching others grow alongside you. Instead of hiring strangers, I empowered the people already in my life. 👉 When I started copywriting, my English wasn't client-ready. I needed an editor, but instead of outsourcing to a stranger, I looked within my family. My sister with her English and Psychology degree became my first hire - editing my work before client submission. As I grew busier, her role expanded to handling client submissions too. This solved my business problem while providing her with income and valuable experience. 👉 When launching The Laptop Living, I needed someone to handle sales calls. Instead of hiring a professional sales team, I brought in my friend Waqas. 16 cohorts later, he's still with me - making calls, liaising with students, and helping drive business growth. He solved my immediate need while building his own career alongside mine. 👉 The breaking point came when hundreds registered for a special workshop offer. I was completely overwhelmed with no bandwidth to manage access and onboarding. My solution? I hired my brother Shahbaz. I still remember him "slaving away" (his words, not mine) creating accounts and sharing access - turning a potential disaster into a smooth operation. 👉 When I launched another brand, I brought in my youngest brother Abdullah for support. The true power of this approach isn't just solving your immediate business needs. It's creating a pathway for others to develop their own expertise. Today: ✅ Abdullah has learned SEO ✅ Shahbaz has mastered marketing and launched his own offers Both come to my office daily, but are building skills beyond support roles They're moving from working IN my business to building THEIR OWN futures. 👉 Last summer, three of my cousins approached me for internships. 🥇 One wanted to learn web development. We gave her real projects to work on, building her portfolio while solving our development needs 🥇 Another wanted to try copywriting. Within two months, she landed a $1,000/month project using the skills she learned. 🥇 The third, still in 8th grade, showed tremendous potential. The early exposure to professional skills has shaped her educational path. Here's how you can implement this approach... ✅ Identify gaps in your business operations ✅ Look for aptitude within your circle ✅ Start with defined projects, not vague roles ✅ Create learning paths, not just jobs ✅ Allow for evolution beyond support Working with family and friends is super helpful because you trust them and they have your best interest at heart.

Stop Listening to People Who Say "Don't Use Upwork" (They're Usually the Ones Who Failed on It) There are a lot of "fancy" people who love to say: "Oh, I don't work on Upwork or Fiverr." "It's too cheap." "It's just cheap labor." "20% commission is too much." This is absolute nonsense. 99% of people who trash these platforms have actually never worked on them seriously. They tried, failed, and now blame the platform instead of their approach Meanwhile, I see million-dollar agencies built entirely on these "terrible" platforms. My own copywriting career started on these platforms. These platforms work incredibly well for people who: ✅ Understand how to position themselves properly ✅ Know how to write compelling proposals ✅ Deliver exceptional value consistently ✅ Treat it like a real business, not a side hobby The same people who dismiss platforms love to preach: "Focus on direct clients instead!" But what they don't tell you is that direct client acquisition is much harder and more expensive. It takes significantly longer to build a sustainable pipeline There's nothing wrong with direct clients. But dismissing platforms while promoting direct acquisition is just elitist gatekeeping. Let me share some facts that platform critics ignore: I will give you examples of 3 of my students... 1 has done $100k on Upwork Another 60k Another one has 6k hours worked there And we have countless case studies of students in the $20k-$30k range. Platform critics usually fall into these categories: 👉 The Failed Attempters 👉 The Broke Elitists 👉 The Insecure 👉 The Misinformed Here's what successful platform users understand: ✅ Immediate access to paying clients ✅ No expensive marketing or lead generation required ✅ Built-in payment protection and dispute resolution ✅ Global client base from day one ✅ Opportunity to test and refine your services with real market feedback ✅ Scalable foundation for building a real business The next time someone tells you "don't work on Upwork" or dismisses platforms as "cheap labor": Tell them to shut up. Everyone has their own journey.

Here's The Pakistani Agency Blueprint Most people think you need fancy marketing to build an agency. The truth? 90% of successful Pakistani agencies started the same way: One person. One desk. One Upwork account. Here's the exact blueprint they all follow: 👉 Stage 1: Solo Freelancer (Months 1-12) ✅ Start with one Upwork account ✅ Deliver services yourself ✅ Build profile and client feedback ✅ Generate consistent cash flow 👉 Stage 2: First Team (Year 1-2) ✅ Hire 2-3 people to fulfill services ✅ You focus on client acquisition ✅ Scale project volume ✅ Develop delivery systems 👉 Stage 3: Business Development Team (Year 2-3) ✅ Hire BD specialists to handle proposals ✅ Create multiple platform accounts ✅ Scale bidding and win rates ✅ Expand to Fiverr and other platforms 👉 Stage 4: Lead Generation (Year 3-4) ✅ Add lead gen specialists ✅ Use tools like Apollo, Snov.io ✅ Implement LinkedIn automation ✅ Launch cold email campaigns 👉 Stage 5: Independence (Year 4+) ✅ Build your own client acquisition systems ✅ Reduce platform dependency ✅ Create multiple revenue streams ✅ Focus on high-value direct clients 👉 The Growth Pattern Stage 1: Just you Stage 2: You + 3 fulfillment specialists Stage 3: You + team + BD specialists Stage 4: You + team + BD + lead gen team Stage 5: Multiple specialized teams Each stage funds the next stage's hiring. Why This Works ✅ No upfront capital required ✅ Proven market demand ✅ Cash flow supports growth ✅ International experience ✅ Scalable foundation It took me 4 years to understand this, please get going right away.

How I Improved My English Using AI (The Speaking-First Method) Most Pakistanis try to improve their English by reading and writing. I did the opposite - and got better results in 6 months than years of traditional practice. Instead of writing prompts for AI, I started speaking them out loud. The process is simple: 👉 I record myself speaking whatever I want to communicate to AI 👉 I transcribe the recording (or use voice-to-text) 👉 I paste that spoken content directly into AI 👉AI processes my natural speech patterns and creates the output You can even have AI critique your prompt and point out mistakes This approach has revolutionized both my English and my productivity. ❌ Traditional English learning focuses on: ❌ Grammar rules ❌ Vocabulary memorization ❌ Reading comprehension ❌ Written exercises But real fluency comes from thinking and speaking naturally. When I speak my prompts instead of writing them, I'm forced to: ✅ Think in English in real-time ✅ Form complete thoughts spontaneously ✅ Practice natural rhythm and flow ✅ Build confidence in verbal expression This practice has improved more than just my English: 1. Faster Content Creation 2. More Natural Communication 3. Improved Thinking Clarity 4. Confidence in Professional Settings The most important benefit of doing this isn't technical - it's psychological. In Pakistani society, some people use English as a weapon to establish dominance or make others feel inferior. This practice has given me: ✔️ Confidence to communicate with anyone in English ✔️ The ability to think in English naturally ✔️ Freedom from the intimidation factor of "perfect" English speakers ✔️ Power to focus on ideas rather than language barriers ✔️ When you can think and speak English fluidly, you reclaim that power. People often worry about having a "proper" accent - American, British, etc. Here's the truth: Accent doesn't matter as much as clarity and confidence. The more you practice this method, the faster your improvement: 🔰 Week 1-2: You'll struggle to form complete thoughts in English 🔰 Week 3-4: Your ideas will flow more naturally 🔰 Month 2-3: You'll start thinking in English automatically 🔰 Month 4-6: English becomes your natural language for complex thinking Start speaking to AI today. Your English - and your productivity - will thank you. What will you speak to AI first?

There are millions of freelancers. But only a handful command premium rates and consistent respect. What's the difference between the masses and the elite? Trophies. Not the kind that sit on your shelf. The kind that make clients stop scrolling and say, "I need to work with this person." After 8+ years in this industry, I've discovered the single most powerful differentiator: Concrete, measurable results that nobody else can claim. When I tell potential clients that my copy has generated over $27 million in sales, the conversation changes instantly. When I mention I've completed 3,500+ projects while most copywriters have barely 200-300 under their belt, price objections mysteriously disappear. These aren't just numbers. They're trophies that separate me from the sea of "me too" freelancers. Not all trophies are created equal. Here's the hierarchy from good to exceptional: Level 1: Volume Trophies Level 2: Association Trophies Level 3: Result Trophies "But I'm just starting out! How can I get these impressive results?" There's no shortcut, but there is a strategic path: 👑 Strategy 1: The Discount-for-Data Approach Offer select clients reduced rates in exchange for them sharing performance data after implementation. 👑 Strategy 2: The Team Association Method Align yourself with successful professionals or agencies where you can legitimately share in collective wins. If you're part of a team that generated $5 million in sales, you can truthfully say: "I was part of the team that delivered $5 million in sales for Client X" or "I wrote ads for a product that generated $5 million in revenue." 👑 Strategy 3: The Agency Alignment Join an established agency that already has impressive case studies. As you contribute to their clients' success, you gain the right to reference these wins (with appropriate framing and permissions). Now, collecting trophies isn't enough. You need to display them effectively: 👉 1. "I helped businesses grow" ❌ "I generated $427,593 in sales for a fitness brand in 90 days" ✅ 👉 2. Whenever possible, get: ✅Screenshots of results ✅Client testimonials confirming numbers ✅Before/after comparisons ✅Analytics reports (with sensitive information removed) 👉 3. Relevant Trophies for Specific Situations Don't display every trophy in every situation. Match your highlighted achievements to what each potential client would find most relevant and impressive.

kaisa hai?

Most entrepreneurs sacrifice everything for their business. Their health deteriorates. Their relationships crumble. Their minds become obsessed with work. Their souls feel empty despite external success. I decided to do the opposite. Here's the daily formula that lets me build a successful business while staying physically strong, mentally sharp, spiritually grounded, and personally fulfilled. The 8-Hour Allocation System ✅ 1 hour for your body ✅ 1 hour for your soul ✅ 1 hour for your mind ✅ 3 hours for your family ✅ 2 hours for yourself The rest goes to work and sleep. This isn't just a nice idea. These are non-negotiables that I protect fiercely. Notice something important: Only the REMAINING hours go to work. This forces extreme efficiency and focus during work time. Gone are the days of needing 18-hour workdays. With AI and smart systems, I can accomplish more in focused work hours than most people do in twice the time. When work demands more time, I don't sacrifice the 8 non-negotiable hours. Instead, I: 👉 Cut back slightly on sleep (not dramatically) 👉 Increase productivity using AI and better systems 👉 Focus more intensely during designated work hours Counterintuitively, this balanced approach has made me MORE successful: -Physical training provides energy and stamina for long-term performance -Spiritual practice gives meaning and resilience during challenges -Mental development creates better strategic thinking and decision-making -Family time provides motivation and emotional support -Personal time prevents burnout and maintains creativity This isn't just about today or this month. It's about being able to perform at a high level for decades. The hardest part isn't finding the time. It's treating these hours as truly non-negotiable. When a big opportunity comes up, the temptation is to "just skip the workout today" or "work through family time this once." But that's how the system breaks down. Non-negotiable means non-negotiable.

This Japanese proverb is exactly what I live and breathe... But at the same time, it haunts me. Especially when I look around at how unprepared most people are for what's coming. The comfortable lives we've built can collapse overnight – whether through conflict, economic crisis, or personal disaster. And when that happens, the distinction becomes clear: Those who prepared when times were good. Those who didn't. Most Pakistanis live as gardeners in peaceful times: ❌ Dependent on a single income source ❌ Physically weak from sedentary jobs ❌ Financially vulnerable with minimal savings ❌ No valuable skills beyond their specific job When the storm comes – be it financial collapse, regional conflict, or personal crisis – they're instantly overwhelmed. Their comfortable job disappears. Their limited skills become worthless. Their physical weakness becomes a liability. Being a warrior in a garden means being prepared while still enjoying peace: 👉 Physical Preparation ✅Join a gym TODAY, not tomorrow ✅Build strength that serves you in crisis ✅Develop discipline through daily workouts ✅Fuel your body with quality nutrition A weak body creates a vulnerable mind. When everything collapses, physical strength becomes currency. 👉 Financial Preparation ✅ Build multiple income streams ✅ Develop skills that generate money regardless of economic conditions ✅ Save aggressively while others waste ✅ Invest in assets that survive turmoil One job loss should not destroy your family's security. 👉 Skill Preparation ✅Learn abilities that create IMPACT ✅Develop expertise that delivers clear ROI ✅Build knowledge that can't be taken from you ✅Master skills that work anywhere, anytime One skill completely transformed my ability to thrive regardless of circumstances: Copywriting. It's not just writing – it's the ability to persuade, influence, and drive action through words. When jobs disappeared, I could still generate income. When the economy collapsed, I could still find clients. When others panicked, I had options. Copywriting isn't just a freelance gig. It's financial self-defense. It's the ability to: 👑 Create income from anywhere with internet 👑 Generate value for any business in any market 👑 Build assets that earn while you sleep 👑 Connect with audiences who will pay for solutions You can continue being a gardener – peaceful, comfortable, and utterly unprepared. Or you can be a warrior in a garden – enjoying peace while maintaining the strength, skills, and resources to handle whatever comes. The gardener hopes war never arrives. The warrior ensures they'll survive if it does. Which are you choosing to be?

If you think I'm some superhero copywriter with the golden touch of King Midas, you're mistaken. I'm not Stefan Georgi. I'm not the next big thing in copywriting. I'm not a natural-born writing genius lol. I'm just an average copywriter who made one decision that changed everything: I focused on scale and magnitude instead of trying to be the best. I've seen what works and what doesn't across thousands of different: Industries Client types Project scopes Market conditions Business models This experience database is what creates confidence and results, not some mystical copywriting gift. How many copywriters do you know with 3,500 completed projects? Barely any. Maybe one or two in the entire Pakistani market. This amount of hands-on experience is: ✅ Unprecedented in our market ✅ Unmatchable by most competitors ✅ The real source of my confidence ✅ More valuable than any course or certification Every project taught me something. Every failure showed me what to avoid. Every success revealed what to repeat. While others were: ❌ Trying to land the "perfect" client ❌ Holding out for premium projects ❌ Worrying about their reputation with small gigs ❌ Waiting until they felt "ready" for bigger work I was: 👉 Taking projects of all sizes 👉 Learning from every single one 👉 Building experience systematically 👉 Accumulating pattern recognition The result? By the time I was ready for premium work, I had more practical experience than copywriters with twice my "talent." Talent is static. Experience compounds. If you're new to copywriting, here's your permission slip: 👉 It's okay to work on smaller projects. It's okay to charge less in the beginning. It's okay to learn while earning. Every successful copywriter started somewhere. The mistake most make is thinking they need to start at the top instead of building their way up through volume. For beginners, my advice is simple: Take more projects, not just better projects Volume teaches you things selective clients never will Building a copywriting career through experience rather than talent is a long game. But it's also a more reliable game. Talent can fade, get outdated, or become irrelevant. Experience only grows more valuable with time. I may not be the most naturally gifted copywriter in Pakistan. But I'm probably the most experienced.

Many truly successful people are profoundly unhappy. I discovered this truth after years of chasing achievements while silently drowning inside. Success came with a burden I never anticipated. I found myself carrying responsibilities that others in my circle refused to shoulder. I realized that if I didn't step up, the people I cared about might not survive. While those around me remained blissfully ignorant of market realities, I saw the harsh landscape clearly – and chose to face it head-on. Without planning it, I became the provider when others couldn't provide for themselves. The shield protecting my family and team from harsh market realities. This came at an immense personal cost I wasn't prepared for. My sanity was the first to go. The constant pressure to make right decisions when everyone depends on you is crushing. My time disappeared next. I worked while others rested, strategized while others socialized. My relationships suffered. I became the "boring" one always focused on building rather than living. Even my health took hits as I pushed physical limits to meet the demands of being the provider. The deepest cost was to my peace. I carried worries others didn't even recognize existed. I wasn't just building wealth. I was creating systems that allowed others to thrive – often at the expense of my own happiness. "Achieve success, then you'll be happy." This dangerous promise led me to delay gratification indefinitely, sacrifice present joy for future security, and make decisions that benefited others at personal cost. No wonder I found myself asking: "I've achieved everything I wanted. Why am I still miserable?" Looking back, I missed clear signals that I was on the wrong path. ❌ My achievements started feeling hollow. ❌ The momentary high of reaching goals disappeared almost immediately. ❌ I lost connection with simple pleasures. ❌ I couldn't remember the last time I truly enjoyed anything without guilt. ❌ My identity became inseparable from my work. Without my accomplishments, I didn't know who I was. I was constantly postponing living until 'someday.' There was always one more goal before I could finally rest. I've done many of these things, and some I still do. I'm working on it. We need people willing to step up, create opportunities, and lead. But not at the cost of their humanity. I'm still figuring this out. Still making mistakes. Still learning where to draw boundaries. But I know this much is true: I'd rather build a life worth living than just a business worth talking about. What about you?

Every Pakistani Professional Needs an Online Income BEFORE Crisis Hits With tensions rising between Pakistan and India, it's time for uncomfortable truths: Your local job is the first thing that will disappear if conflict escalates. "But I work for a stable company..." "But I've been employed for years..." " But my sector is essential..." These are comforting lies. Major corporations suspended operations overnight ❌ "Essential" businesses closed as supply chains collapsed ❌ Local salaries became worthless as currencies plummeted There are two types of Pakistani professionals during conflict... 👉 The Vulnerable (95%) ❌ Rely entirely on local employment ❌ Income stops completely when operations suspend ❌ No alternative revenue streams ❌ Financial disaster within weeks 👉 The Resilient (5%) ✅ Have established online income sources ✅ Get paid in foreign currency regardless of local conditions ✅ Can work from anywhere with internet access ✅ Continue earning even during regional disruptions We've seen this pattern in every recent conflict zone: Those with established online income sources weathered the storm. Those dependent solely on local jobs faced financial ruin. The time to build your online income isn't during a crisis. It's NOW, while you have stability to develop it. What You Need to Start TODAY is A Marketable Online Skill... ✅Copywriting ✅Digital marketing ✅Graphic design ✅Programming And A Client Base Outside Pakistan... 🔱 Create profiles on international platforms 🔱 Build relationships with clients in stable regions 🔱 Establish a reputation before you need it 🔱 Payment Methods That Work During Disruption Also, don't forget to get access to multiple options for receiving funds and experience using them BEFORE crisis hits. It takes 3-6 months to establish reliable online income. If you wait until conflict escalates, it will be too late. Your local job might feel secure today, but it offers zero protection against regional instability. An online income isn't just a side hustle anymore. It's financial life insurance for Pakistanis living in uncertain times. Take Action Now 👉 Choose one online skill to develop immediately 👉 Create profiles on 2-3 international platforms 👉 Start building your reputation with small projects 👉 Establish multiple payment methods Don't be the person desperately trying to figure out online work AFTER your job disappears. I am willing to do a FREE session if you guys want to help new people out. Be the one who prepared while others ignored the warning signs. Your future security depends on the actions you take today.

90 days ago, I did something that would have been professional suicide just a year earlier: I handed over my copywriting to AI. Not just drafts or outlines. The actual client deliverables and some of my personal projects too. My hypothesis? AI might be good enough to handle 80% of the work. The results? 900,000 impressions on LinkedIn and a completely transformed business approach. For 90 days, I used AI for: ✅ Client email sequences ✅ LinkedIn posts ✅ Sales page drafts ✅ Video scripts ✅ Ad copy ✅ Reel scripts I tracked performance metrics, client feedback, and my own workflow efficiency. Here's what I found... 1. AI + Me > My Entire Team 2. Ideation Accelerated 5X 3. Script Development Became Effortless My content production increased 3X without sacrificing quality. AI wasn't perfect. It consistently struggled with... 👉 Strategic innovation 👉 Deep psychological insights 👉 Understanding context 👉 Delivering consistent quality over time After 30 days, I didn't go back to my old ways. Instead, I developed a new workflow: 🤑 First drafts of all copy 🤑 Research synthesis 🤑 Structure and formatting 🤑 Variation generation 🤑 Technical editing What I Keep for Myself: 🔱 Strategic direction 🔱 Key emotional hooks 🔱 Cultural contextualization 🔱 Adding depth and flow 🔱 Client relationship management No matter what you do, AI should be part of your equation now. The question isn't whether to use AI. It's how to use it as a multiplier rather than a replacement. The copywriters who thrive won't be those with the best writing skills. They'll be those who best understand how to direct AI to achieve strategic outcomes. They'll be directors, not writers. Strategists, not technicians. The future belongs to those who partner with AI rather than compete with it. Are you still writing everything from scratch? Or are you ready to embrace the hybrid approach that's defining the future of this industry?

"Beta, doctor ban jao. Zindagi set ho jayegi." I disappointed them by choosing engineering instead. Then I disappointed them again by failing at that too. Four years of engineering school earned me: Countless rejections from... CocaCola, Engro, and even a sugar mill in Muzaffargarh. Eventually, a Rs. 10,000/month job that barely covered transportation While people around me landed prestigious positions, I was making less than our household help. When your entire worth has been tied to academic achievement, what happens when that achievement leads nowhere? I questioned everything: Was I fundamentally flawed? Had I wasted my family's money? Should I have forced myself into medicine? In 2017, desperate and out of options, I discovered I could write decent English. My first writing gig paid exactly $3.33. But unlike engineering, writing felt natural. By 2019: I made more from writing than my engineering salary By 2020: I earned more than my engineering friends By 2021: I surpassed the doctors I knew The New Problem: Explaining "Copywriting" "Online likhta hoon" didn't exactly inspire confidence. My mother worried it was haram. My father waited for me to find a "real job." lol Everything changed when I bought my first car – with cash. Suddenly, people who had been sharing those success stories were asking about my "online work." When I did that, my father finally wanted to understand my career. After seeing client testimonials and payments, he said something I never expected: "If I had known there were such opportunities in my time, perhaps I wouldn't have pushed you toward medicine." You see, what built security for our parents won't do the same for us. Skills matter more than degrees today. My engineering taught me how to learn, but self-taught skills paid the bills. My parents didn't understand copywriting until they saw its benefits. Your "failure" might be redirecting you to success Had I succeeded as an engineer, I'd never have found my true path. If you're in that dark place – where your degree hasn't delivered what was promised: The careers that will define our generation aren't the ones our parents understood. And that's not just okay. It's necessary. What unconventional path have you found after a traditional one failed you?

Most People Buy Courses to Learn. I Buy Them to Get Paid. I've spent thousands of dollars on courses, masterminds, and programs over my career. But I've never lost money on a single one. Why? Because I follow a simple principle: I try not to invest in education unless I can see a clear path to immediate ROI. Early in my career, I developed a counterintuitive approach: ✅ I'd land a client project requiring skills I didn't fully possess ✅ Quote them a price that included my "education budget" ✅ Find the best course on that specific skill ✅ Complete the course while working on their project ✅ Deliver excellent work and pocket the profit A client asked me to write an advertorial. I had limited experience with this format. Instead of turning it down, I: 👉 Quoted a price that covered both my work and a learning investment 👉 Found a specialized advertorial writing course 👉 Studied it intensively 👉 Applied what I learned directly to their project 👉 Delivered quality work that satisfied the client Result? The client got great work, I got paid, AND I acquired a valuable new skill I could offer to future clients. My second strategy for skill development was simple but powerful: I wrote and wrote and wrote – without worrying whether it was "good" or "bad." This constant production built my writing muscles, developed my natural voice, created pattern recognition for what works, and generated real-world feedback. Only when I hit a clear ceiling did I invest in formal education to break through. Fun part was when, sometimes, clients actually purchased access for me: When they needed a VSL, they bought me the best VSL course in the world When they wanted upsells, they got me access to an elite copywriting mastermind Why would they do this? Because the investment in my education directly benefited their business. They weren't being generous – they were being strategic. Now, before investing in any course or program, I run it through this filter: 1. Expert Credentials 2. Peer Recognition - What do other experts at THEIR LEVEL say about them? 3. Student Outcomes 4. Future Alignment 5. Personal Case Studies

Sometimes I sit alone and reflect on what we've built. It feels surreal. Four years ago, I started The Laptop Living with a simple problem: I needed to hire copywriters for my team, but couldn't find any in Pakistan. None. Zero. The skill barely existed here. So I made a decision that changed everything: If I couldn't find copywriters, I'd create them. What started as a selfish solution to my hiring problem (saw other problems as well... misinformation and low pay) has transformed into something much bigger than me. ✅ Pakistan has a thriving community of copywriters ✅ Brands that never had access to this skill now use it daily ✅ Hundreds of families have new income streams ✅ An entire profession has taken root where there was none Just last week, one of Pakistan's largest e-commerce brands approached me looking for copywriters. Four years ago, that conversation couldn't have happened. The most fulfilling part? Many of my best students now work alongside me. One has been with me for four years, handling copy I'd otherwise have to write myself. Another manages projects I no longer have time for. When I need to expand my team, my first calls are always to my students - people whose skills I helped develop, whose growth I witnessed firsthand. There's no greater professional joy than hiring someone you taught. What truly humbles me is how the knowledge has spread beyond my direct reach. I see copywriters in the Pakistani market who never took my courses but learned from: ✅ Free content I've shared ✅ Concepts I've introduced ✅ Frameworks I've taught 👉 Even other copywriting programs in Pakistan have borrowed structures, delivery methods, and positioning strategies from what we pioneered. We're only four years into this journey. Imagine where Pakistani copywriting will be in ten years? The students we're training today will... 🥇 Build their own agencies 🥇 Create their own training programs 🥇 Develop uniquely Pakistani approaches to copy 🥇 Serve both local and international markets 🥇 Train the next generation of professionals This is how real, lasting impact happens - not through hoarding knowledge but by creating ripples that continue long after your direct involvement ends. If you have a skill, experience, or knowledge that others need: Don't hide it. Share it. When you teach others: 👑 Your own understanding deepens 👑 Your reputation grows 👑 Your network expands 👑 Your opportunities multiply 👑 And yes, your income increases The most selfish thing you can do is be selfless with your knowledge.

"Niche down!" "Specialize or die!" "Be known for ONE thing!" This is the advice every freelancing guru preaches. And it's making most freelancers poorer. While everyone else fights over scraps in overcrowded niches, I've been quietly building a six-figure freelance business by doing the exact opposite: Working across multiple categories deliberately. You see, the conventional wisdom seems logical: ✅ Specialize in one narrow niche ✅ Become the go-to expert in that area ✅ Charge premium rates for your specialized knowledge But here's what actually happens: ❌ You compete with EVERY other specialist in that category ❌ You become vulnerable to market shifts in that single niche ❌ You get pigeonholed and bored doing the same work repeatedly Meanwhile, "category surfers" like me enjoy advantages specialists never discover. When I started on Upwork, I didn't limit myself to just copywriting or just email marketing or just VSLs or ecom brands. I worked across: 👉 Email sequences 👉 Sales pages 👉 VSLs and video scripts 👉 Product descriptions 👉 Website copy 👉 Content writing That too for all niches out there. This approach has created multiple advantages that narrow specialists miss: 1. More Opportunities to Apply For 2. Cross-Pollination of Strategies 3. Recession-Proofing Your Income 4. Preventing Creative Burnout This isn't about being a directionless generalist. It's about strategic diversity. Here's how I implement this approach on Upwork: 👑 Maintain separate portfolio items for each category 👑 Create category-specific proposal templates 👑 Track category performance quarterly 👑 Rotate focus areas based on market conditions And once I have enough work, I go choosy and work in the niche I want to work in... like ecom or info marketing. To be clear: I'm not advocating becoming a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. The real secret is becoming a master of many RELATED trades. I'm not writing legal briefs one day and coding websites the next. I'm applying core communication skills across different contexts, each one informing and improving the others. You niche down when you have your bases covered. But ideally, you don't niche down on Upwork if you're a writer. Niching down is ideal when you build a personal brand to attract clients.

"Upwork connects are too expensive!" "The platform is putting up too many barriers!" "It's impossible for new freelancers to break in!" Meanwhile, I'm quietly celebrating these changes. And deliberately spending MORE on connects than ever before. Let's be brutally honest about what Upwork's connect system really is: It's a filter that weeds out uncommitted freelancers. And that's exactly why I love it. When Upwork introduced paid connects and raised prices, they didn't just create a revenue stream for themselves. They handed serious freelancers a massive competitive advantage by: ✅ Eliminating drive-by applicants who spray and pray ✅ Reducing the noise of low-effort proposals ✅ Forcing everyone to have skin in the game The math is simple: Fewer competitors = higher chances of winning work. Here's the cold reality most freelancers don't want to hear: Upwork is a numbers game. Someone sending 100 quality proposals has a dramatically better chance than someone sending 20. Most newcomers: ❌ Buy 10-20 connects ❌ Send a handful of proposals ❌ Get no responses ❌ Decide "Upwork doesn't work" ❌ Never return to the platform Their $15-20 "investment" was never enough to yield results. Meanwhile, I'm: ✅ Buying connects in bulk ✅ Sending dozens of targeted proposals weekly ✅ Maintaining consistent visibility ✅ Building momentum through volume I never even think about connect costs anymore. They're just a basic business expense, like internet or electricity. Success isn't about talent... It's about outlasting everyone else. I've seen incredibly talented freelancers give up after 15-20 proposals, while average freelancers land great clients after 40-50 tries. When most freelancers say: 😭 "I'll only use connects for perfect-match jobs" 😭 "I'll wait until I'm 100% qualified before applying" 😭 "I'll send fewer, better proposals" I say: 😃 "I'll increase my proposal volume" 😃 "I'll test different client categories" 😃 "I'll maintain constant visibility on the platform" Stop thinking of connects as an expense. Start thinking of them as an investment with clear ROI.

There's one dreaded question I get asked at every rishta meeting. "So beta, what do you do for a living?" When you work a conventional job, the answer is simple: "I'm a doctor at Agha Khan" "I'm an engineer at NESPAK" "I work at HBL as a manager" But try explaining: "I write words on the internet for people I've never met" And watch the confusion spread across their faces. I still remember my first rishta meeting. The girl's father – a respectable government officer with a 30-year career – looked at me expectantly. "I'm a copywriter," I said with forced confidence. His response? "Copy...writer? You make photocopies?" I knew at that moment: I needed a better way to explain my unconventional career choice to traditional Pakistani families. Over several rishta meetings, I tried different strategies – all disasters: Approach #1: The Technical Explanation "I write persuasive marketing content that helps businesses sell their products and services." Result: Glazed eyes. Confusion. The suspicion I was involved in something unethical. Approach #2: The Vague Answer "I run an online business." Result: Immediate assumption I was doing something haram or illegal. One uncle actually asked if I was "one of those Bitcoin people." Approach #3: The Income Focus "I earn in dollars and make more than most local corporate jobs." Result: Interest, but followed by skepticism. "If it's so good, why haven't we heard of it?" None of these approaches worked. But everything changed when I started explaining my work through familiar concepts: "I run a small marketing agency that helps international companies sell their products. We specialize in writing that persuades people to buy." Instead of seeing a questionable "online job," they saw: ✅ A business owner (respected role) ✅ Someone with international clients (prestigious) ✅ A marketing professional (familiar concept) ✅ A stable income source (family security) I developed a simple framework for explaining freelancing to traditional Pakistani families: 1. Start With the Familiar - examples of brands they might have seen 2. Emphasize Stability and Growth - years you've been in the game 3. Use Physical Proof - office and team When I used this framework, the entire dynamic changed. The father who once looked confused now nodded with understanding. The mother who seemed concerned now asked interested questions. Some even look me up before coming and have questions from their family members they want to ask me lol. You see, the older generation isn't against unconventional careers. They're against UNCERTAIN futures for their daughters. When you present your freelance career as: Stable Growing Respectable Understandable You transform from a risky prospect into a desirable one.

Two words that shook superpowers. But you can't even say them to a $5 client. While some leaders knew when sovereignty mattered more than dollars... You're out here accepting 500 PKR projects. The same people who cheered for standing up to global pressure... ...bend over backwards for a client offering peanuts. Here's the uncomfortable truth: Your freelancing sovereignty has been colonized. And unlike political sovereignty, you CHOSE this slavery. Let me show you what "Absolutely Not" looks like in freelancing: ❌ Client: "Can you do this $500 project for $50?" ✅ You: "Absolutely not." ❌ Client: "We need unlimited revisions" ✅ You: "Absolutely not." ❌ Client: "Work first, payment later maybe" ✅ You: "Absolutely not." But here's what you actually do: 😔 "Sir, please consider me, I really need this" 😔 "I can do it for even less sir" 😔 "Free sample? Of course sir!" You know what's worse than political slavery? Economic slavery you VOLUNTEER for. When that leader said "Absolutely Not" to a base, they risked: International pressure Economic sanctions Political isolation Media attacks When you say "Absolutely Not" to a garbage client, you risk: Missing one bad project That's it That's literally it Nothing else Yet they stood firm. You crumble instantly. Here's what "Absolutely Not" freelancers do differently: ✅ Minimum project fee: Below $500? Absolutely not. ✅ Rush delivery fees: Want it tomorrow? 3x rate or absolutely not. ✅ Scope creep: Additional work? New contract or absolutely not. ✅ Disrespectful clients: Bad attitude? Absolutely not. The result? While PEOPLE make $500/month... "Absolutely Not" freelancers make $5000/month. Same skills. Different spine. Here's Your "Absolutely Not" homework: 👉 Set your minimum: Below this = absolutely not 👉 Define your boundaries: Cross them = absolutely not 👉 List your non-negotiables: Compromise = absolutely not 👉 Practice in the mirror: Until it feels natural Because here's the truth: If you can't say "Absolutely Not" to bad clients... You'll never say "Absolutely Yes" to wealth. Sovereignty isn't given. It's taken.