We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Rey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I was looking for another way I could make an impact. I loved my career as an occupational therapist, but to put it simply, I was getting burnt out. Then an ad for a course called “Write Your Way to Freedom” by Sarah Turner found its way onto my phone screen while I was scrolling on Instagram one day.

I thought “Hm, sounds interesting,” and did a little research. I had never heard of copywriting– I initially made the common mistake of thinking she was talking about copyrighting, like for art and music. I quickly learned the distinction between the two, and after going back and forth for some time, I purchased the course.

I could finally begin the course in July of 2022 once I had time off from my job. I immersed myself in it immediately. Not only is it incredibly thorough, but there is a tremendous amount of support and community from coaches and students alike. It has also taught me invaluable lessons in mindset and entrepreneurship that I will forever be thankful for.

This course felt like a pretty big risk at first- from the money I was investing in it, the time I was spending on it, to the fact that it could just not work out.

But here I am. I’m 25 and I can say that I own a small business. I never set out to do anything business related this early in my life. It wasn’t really on my roadmap yet. I just knew that I needed something else for myself and that I wanted to make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community, too.

Now I get to work part-time as an OT and do work that I’m passionate about in that field, while I build my copywriting business. It started out as a pretty big risk- family’s faces were pretty telling of that. And there’s something very rewarding about surprising not only others but also yourself.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Rachel Rey- yes, like the chef! I cook up great copy for LGBTQ+ and ally-owned businesses.

I like to say that copywriting kind of found me. I was looking for a way I could make a difference, while creating a healthier version of my work-life balance (more on that later).

I’m also an occupational therapist (OT), and am passionate about mental health, neurodiversity, and education.

As a new copywriter and business owner, I am motivated to advocate for and amplify the voices of a community I feel thankful and proud to be a part of: the LGBTQ+ community. In the short time I’ve been a copywriter, I have gotten to connect with and meet other business owners and creators like me who recognize our part in making the world a safer, kinder place.

It’s my goal to write copy for and work with other LGBTQ+ and ally-owned brands who share my values of inclusion and respect. I write blogs, email sequences, product descriptions, website pages, and more.

I’ve always enjoyed writing, and now I get to do it to help other busy business owners get their time back- so they can spend time with their loved ones, take that trip they’ve been putting off, and keep doing the amazing work they already do, while I take the copywriting off of their plates.

I feel incredibly grateful for the journey I’m on, and am beyond excited to see where it will take me next.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Books and podcasts have been a tremendous part of my entrepreneurial journey.

The first one that comes to mind is “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson. Its main points are that it doesn’t take any special magic or amazing overnight leaps to achieve success, and instead how success is built from small, simple actions over time. Prior to reading this book, I would have described myself as impatient in pretty much all aspects of life. I like feeling successful, and I want to feel that way relatively quickly. This book has provided me with a new lens of looking at time, and how it’s important to slow down and work for wins one step at a time.

Another book that I’m currently reading has also helped me reshape the way I view myself, my habits, and the systems I have in place for achieving happiness. This book is “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. So far it’s helped me to focus not only on the habits I want to adapt and improve, but also on the type of person I want to be overall.

Lastly, the podcast that I can’t recommend to others enough is called “Inner Archeology” by Sarah Turner and Emily Pennystone. It’s been amazing in helping me unlearn some of my beliefs that were holding me back, reinforce new beliefs I’ve learned, as well as open up helpful dialogue with the people closest to me. It’s great for anyone who is interested in learning more about themselves, and the people around them, too.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being a copywriter for other LGBTQ+ businesses is knowing that the work we do matters, makes a difference, and has the potential to really help someone. Too many employees still face workplace discrimination. Too many kids are fearful to be who they truly are at school or at home. And too many of us needed a brand or business owner like us when we were growing up. The fact that I have a skill that I get to share with others who have goals like me and are putting the work in to write books, host podcasts, make affirming resources for therapists, create gender-neutral product lines, and offer consulting services is one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rareyagency.com
• Instagram: rachel_rareyagency
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-rey-lgbtq-copywriter/