Episode #123: From Heroin Addict to World Traveler and 6-Figure Freelance Copywriter with Francis Nayan

Episode Summary

Francis Nayan takes us in his journey growing up in a Filipino immigrant home in Memphis, Tennessee. He reflects on his immigrant identity growing up in the American South, including the racism he experienced, but also shares the things he loved about his diverse upbringing. Francis then shares his experience going to college in Mississippi, getting into drugs, and falling into a downward spiral that led him to heroin addiction. He explains how a heroin overdose that almost killed him was actually the event that saved his life. Francis then takes us on his journey of getting clean, healthy and designing his dream lifestyle around world travel. He explains how he moved to Barcelona to teach English for a year, followed by teaching for a year in Budapest, Hungary. Francis then takes us on his entrepreneurial to from an English teacher to a location-independent 6-figure freelance copywriter who has now been to over 30 countries. Next he shares tactical advice on how businesses can significantly augment their email marketing strategy. He goes deep on market research, email-list segmentation, personalization, crafting emotionally-driven story-based copy, automating email campaigns, and optimizing deliverability and open rates. Francis also shares the #1 leverage point a business with an established email list can do right now to improve performance immediately.
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What You'll Learn

How to Transition from an English Teacher to a 6-Figure Freelancer
How to Increase Email Conversions with List Segmentation and Automation
How and Why to Write Emotionally-Driven, Story-Based Email Copy

Links From the Episode

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#1 BOOK FRANCIS HAS RECOMMENDS

Just Kids by Patti Smith

TOP 2 PEOPLE WITH WHOM FRANCIS WANTS TO HAVE DINNER

TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS

LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE

OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONTACT AND FOLLOW FRANCIS

Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[2:51] Growing up in Filipino Immigrant Family in Memphis, Tennessee

Watching his parents work hard and eventually build their own businesses

[6:58] Reflections on the Evolution of his Filipino Identity Over the Years

Experiencing racism in the American South
Processing his identity at this point in his life

[12:33] College Experience in Mississippi

Valuing the cultural diversity he was exposed to in the deep South

[14:33] His Struggle with Heroin Addiction

Descending into heroin addiction
Overdosing on heroin as a life changing event

[19:19] His Journey to Getting Clean and Designing His Dream Lifestyle

Returning to Memphis and getting clean, healthy and fit
The importance of his support base and healthy friends

[23:23] Starting his World Travel Journey in Barcelona

Moving to Barcelona to teach English
Living with a Catalan host family
Moving to Gracia with roommates
What Francis loves about Barcelona
Reflections on his time there
Experience in the Pyrenees Mountains

[30:53] Moving to Budapest, Hungary

What Francis loves about Budapest
Why it feels like home to him

[33:04] Transitioning from English Teacher to Freelance Copywriter

[46:10] Top Copywriting Tips to Improve Sales

Target Market Research
Personalizing Emails
Automating Email Campaigns
Crafting emotionally driven, story-based copy
Increasing deliverability and open rates
The biggest leverage point for businesses with an established email list

[55:21] The Lightning Round

#1 Book Recommendation
#1 Travel Hack
Person with Whom Francis Most Wants to Have Dinner
#1 Piece of advice to his 18 year old self
Top 3 favorite travel destinations
Top 3 bucket list destinations

[59:30] Contact and Work with Francis

About the Guest

Francis Nayan

Francis Nayan is a location-independent freelance copywriter and email marketing strategist. He works with brands around the world to help them grow their email lists and increase sales through high-level list-segmentation and automated email campaigns with emotionally driven, story-based copy. By improving their email marketing alone, he is able to help his average client boost their total company revenue by 30%. Born in the Philippines, Francis grew up primarily in the United States and, after a personal battle with drug addiction, it was a heroin overdose that inspired him get clean, healthy and build the life of his dreams. In the 5 years since getting clean he was able to become fully location independent, build a 6-figure freelance copywriting business, and he has traveled to over 30 countries.