My Journey From Coffee Master To Copywriter
“You’re going to die one day. I know that’s kind obvious, but I just wanted to remind you in case you’ve forgotten.” — Mark Manson
Today was a special day especially when I first saw that reminder from Mark Manson’s tweet. Those words may become one of the slices of ikigai that I used to think about more often.
Let’s dive right in.
The title of this article is really eye-candy for me. Why? Yup, cause until this time, I keep admiring how great is my Lord for giving me this joyful opportunity. Yet challenging as heck. Lmao.
So here I am, a copywriter who works remotely for 2 digital agencies and also handles a client for ghostwriting service. The funny thing about it is that I don’t have any background as a copywriter or communication student. I started this incredible journey by crafting copies for SMEs owned by my friends or colleagues — Pstt, fyi, it was unpaid cause I genuinely help them without asking for money. So yeah, that’s the beginning of my writing journey publicly. Behind that, I was a writer in silence who loves to send my short story to the national short story competition — sadly, I hadn’t won yet.
In fact, I’m a final year student of Business Management who has to work as a part-time barista at Starbucks, to earn for pursuing that piece of paper. The conclusion is that I was unlucky at that time, cause my father lost his job a couple of days after I graduated from high school. You know what I mean, that was the hardest point in my life when I feel depressed like mad just to apply for many jobs door-to-door.
After getting a scholarship in the 5th semester, everything seems not blurry as it was. All the lecturers that taught me looked clear from my sight, and I finally could lift the weight of being a breadwinner. Suddenly, I had my eyes wide open and realized that I’ve worked as a barista for 3 years! Yeah fuckin 3 years! Take a look at what I wrote in my LinkedIn post last year!
I’d say that I’m very grateful that Starbucks has been changing my life and it was the best decision I’ve ever made to be a partner. It was such an experience that I couldn’t pay with my blood — seriously it’s more than just a place I worked for, but it’s absolutely a bridge of my own future. From the journey as a green bean until the day when I got a black apron as a coffee master was an honor for this young woman.
In the beginning, I just knew that a barista’s responsibilities are making coffee or handcrafted beverages, being a store assistant as well as cashiering. Oh gosh, it’s more than that! I had the privilege to recognize customers’ behaviors, F&B business strategy, and most importantly get a connection with many amazing people, both workmates and customers which is something that I’ll work on for the theme of my thesis this year.
I thank you, Starbucks for creating a safe place for this wandering little woman.
Shortly, I was starting my first job as a barista to make money, but now I work to make a way for myself in this world by being a copywriter.
Recently, I read a memoir titled Educated by Tara Westover. A book that really changed my perspective on education — so yeah, it transform me into a lifetime student who wants to pursue a master’s degree in Europe someday. One thing that I still remember as my favorite line is we don’t come to this world already made — we come into this world ready to be made. We are not finished when we were born — we are born, so that we can start. According to me, I’ve been creating a journey for my own life in this world that is ready to be made. Here I am now.
Long short story, I paved my way to be a copywriter intern (unpaid again) in a digital advertising startup. 3 months later, I ended up my duty as an intern and become a freelance creative writer. Writing a copy for ads, storyboards, SEO articles, as well as scripts became my thing. Cause writing makes me sane. Reading books makes me alive. Both of them are my ikigai — the way I’m breathing.
There are many scary things in life, but out of curiosity— I live and learn. So I took another chance to use my recent portfolio to work as a copywriter in another company. And I made it. I know it sounds insane but yeah it is. Suddenly, this little woman got the biggest opportunity to be a full-time remote copywriter. I officially resigned from Starbucks the day after I got an offering letter and did one month’s notice.
A man who is my ghostwriting client asked me, “Do you work as a copywriter and coffee master barista and study in college at a time?” I smiled and spontaneously said. “Yes, I did.”
I remember I barely sleep normally for 8 hours at night. Being nocturnal while conceptualizing the idea to the written word was a challenge that I loved. Especially I hustled like mad and studied for exams like a robot. Hard work pays off! Last but not least, I will write for my Lord in this world until the day I am reunited with Him in eternity.