We were lucky to catch up with Rick Martinez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rick, thanks for joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?
After starting, growing, and then selling a company with over 600 employees, I knew the next business venture I would start would be less complex.
I was ready for simplicity and, at the same time, ready to put my passion for writing to work. No pun intended. It was then that I realized I was about to become a full-time writer.
Now to be clear, writing is a skill that anyone can learn, so I knew I’d need to find a niche where my personal knowledge would shine.
And that led me to ghostwriting. But specifically, ghostwriting for high achievers, entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs. It was my background as a founder and eventual CEO of an 8-figure company that gives me a unique insight and also visceral knowledge of the founder’s journey. It’s a journey that very few people will ever understand, and as a writer, it’s my pleasure to shape my client’s thoughts into impactful works of art…
Or as I like to say, Words of Art.
Rick, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
The biggest question I get is WHAT is a ghostwriter?
Simply put, I extract the thoughts, stories, and emotions from my client’s journey and craft a book that would make their mom proud.
Isn’t that what a freelance writer does?
Well, yes…and no. A freelancer is a dime a dozen. They are commodities often hired based on the lowest price and have the most difficult time “getting” the voice of the client. I’m a professional.
I started writing well over a decade ago and have articles in numerous journals and magazines like Inc., Entrepreneur, The CrossFit Journal, and many others. I became an editor years later and learned the craft of shaping stories and articles into consumable work.
Besides my background as a startup entrepreneur, I have also been a registered nurse (RN), since 1995.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
If I had to point to one major goal or mission for my journey, it would be this:
I don’t want folks to DIE with their book still in them.
It’s that simple. As a nurse, I have seen folks leave this earth and also heard many a story about how badly they wish they would have written their book.
I don’t want that for folks.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media is my greatest marketing weapon.
Sure, it can be a distraction, and yes, there are “gurus” who cast shade on social. But the fact is social media is how I am able to drive awareness of who I am and what I do 24/7/365.
As an example: Twitter is free, and Twitter is worldwide. Utilized correctly, Twitter can be used to create crazy big awareness. And, of course, with the ability to drop links, it can also build your email list and following.
Then there’s LinkedIn. Another underutilized (FREE) tool. As of now, I have nearly 10k connections and followers, and if I’m being honest, LinkedIn has been instrumental in me finding ideal clients.
My advice?
Learn to use social media to your business and marketing advantage.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://therickmartinez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetboy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/purposehack/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/home
Image Credits
All images are by author, Rick Martinez