Success Story Interview:
Sean McCool
Breaking the “Right Way” Myth: How Sean McCool Built a Career That Works for Him
“There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s … or write for a living.” That idea captures how Sean McCool approaches his career — by trusting his instincts, leaning into his personality, and rejecting the idea that there’s only one “right” path to success.
In this Inside AWAI conversation with Executive Director Katie Yeakle, Sean shares how following his intuition — and embracing what makes him different — helped him move from financial stress and uncertainty into a stable, flexible, and rewarding writing career. After years of bouncing between jobs and struggling to find direction, copywriting became the turning point that allowed him to build both income and freedom.
Today, Sean is working across multiple projects — including a personal development book, a daily email, and a B2B retainer — and continues to evolve his business based on what feels aligned and effective. In this conversation, he walks through how he got started, the lessons he’s learned over the past decade, and why trusting your own voice and process can be more powerful than trying to follow someone else’s formula.
What You’ll Learn
- How Sean went from financial instability to a sustainable writing career
- Why following your intuition can lead to better opportunities and outcomes
- How embracing your “quirks” can become a competitive advantage
- What Sean is working on now (book, daily email, B2B retainer)
- The key lessons he’s learned over the past decade as a writer
- Why there’s no single “right way” to build a writing career
Recommended Resources:
Make Great Money as a Ghostwriter
Ghostwriting for business leaders is one of the fastest-growing, most writer-friendly specialties available today.
No selling… no revenue targets… no project churn.
Just meaningful writing on behalf of executives, founders, and consultants who need you… month after month.
And the pay here is pro-level:
$3,000 to $10,000 per month, per client, depending on experience and scope.
Thank you for sharing your story Sean. I met you a couple of years ago in Austin for the first time. You are so inspiring because you are so genuine, and it works for you! I'm excited to continue watching you grow and follow what you're doing. I'll keep my eyes out for your email and book. Best of luck! =]
Michele E –