A professional copywriter, author and mentor, Ange Dove teaches individuals how to create online businesses built around their lifestyles.
We love entrepreneurs and small business owners at Honeycombers, which is why we’ve created Launchpad, a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It’s a privilege and pleasure to learn from so many talented and inspiring folks, so we’ve decided to share the love by interviewing some of the lovely Launchpad members. Looking for inspiration? Check out how Ange Dove, the founder of Proof Perfect, gets it done like a boss.
What is your backstory and why did you decide to launch your business?
I launched my company Proof Perfect 20 years ago to provide copywriting services to corporates in Singapore. My mission was to improve business communication one business at a time. It was the dawn of the Internet and I saw it as an ideal way to work from home and look after my toddlers. But the plan didn’t quite work out as business boomed and I had to hire staff and rent an office.
Fast forward 10 years: I was operating from a quaint shophouse with 10 staff. I noticed a pattern in the business owners I saw – they all made the same mistakes in their marketing. This prompted me to write my first book, “11 Reasons Why Your Business Is Not Growing”. I have two other books on Amazon and am currently working on my next one. It’s all about my current passion: helping people set up their online business with easy tech, simply sharing their expertise and having the freedom to work from anywhere.
In 2017, as soon as technology made it possible, I transitioned my business to an online model to work from anywhere. Today, I coach others to do the same with really easy tech.
What has been your biggest challenge so far and how did you overcome it?
Business is never a straight line. There will be peaks and troughs through the years. My main challenges always stemmed from market shifts. You need to be aware of changes in your market and adjust your business accordingly.
When marketing shifted from offline to online, we had to relearn our craft. Next, the 2008 recession was a challenge I hadn’t been prepared for and I had to rebuild the business after that. Later on, in the wake of Google, businesses realised they needed to create a constant flow of content. Slowly, the copywriter became an in-house role, reducing the demand for outsourced writers. That brought about many competing copywriting agencies.
AI writing programmes exploded last year and smaller businesses benefit from using these to create their content so they don’t need to outsource the task. The demand for outsourced copywriting may have gone down, but I still intend to be the last one standing. I’ve also turned my attention to training corporate companies to up-skill their copywriting staff, and coaching freelance copywriters and coaches to set up and run their own online businesses so they can work from anywhere.
How do you stay motivated and energised?
I work mostly out of my gym when I’m not at home. Exercise, especially boxing, gives me heaps of energy. I also work to my natural rhythms. I’m at my best from 5am to midday so that’s when I get all the challenging work done. I reserve seeing clients and doing coaching for afternoons when my writing is less productive. I don’t have to stay motivated because I love what I do so much.
How do you keep stress levels low?
In the past, I used to underestimate what I could do in a day. I was constantly stressed trying to beat deadlines. I reduced this stress to zero when I discovered a new way of managing my time. Today, I plan each week ahead of time and account for every minute of the day. I’m now easily able to see what I have time for and what I don’t, so I can prioritise what needs to get done and what needs my attention.
Because I’m so clear on what my weeks look like, it’s easy for me to say no to external demands on my time, which used to be a self-induced stressor. The boxing also helps to work out any lingering aggressions!
Favourite place to work?
Anywhere – because I can!
One thing you can keep talking about for hours?
Using IT to simplify business and your life.
Your go-to self-care activity?
Time alone with a glass of wine and a good book.
One piece of advice to your younger self?
Trust your inner voice. You are good enough.
Get in touch with Ange Dove online.
Launchpad is a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It is designed to make the entrepreneurial journey not only easier, and more successful, but also a whole lot more fun. We offer almost daily activities for members to connect, along with weekly masterclasses, member networking roulette, small-business mentoring and media profiles on Honeycombers. Check it out and join us!