Sunal Sood – AI Design Engineering – Free Download Course - Great New Courses - Online eLearning With The Best Coaches

Summary3 min read

Podcast Summary: Great New Courses – Sunal Sood: AI Design Engineering – Free Download Course

Host: Eric Mega Download
Guest/Focus: Sunal Sood / Upwork Freelancers & Proposal Success
Date: July 21, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Eric explores actionable strategies for thriving as a freelancer on Upwork, zeroing in on the massive gap between successful earners and those who never make a cent. The episode combines real talk, personal anecdotes, and concrete advice—particularly the importance of crafting targeted proposals—while offering listeners a proven template and encouragement to experiment for continued growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Harsh Reality: Most Freelancers Don't Earn

Eric opens (as B) with a vivid and honest family scenario:
- 86% of people on Upwork never earn a dollar.
- Primary reasons:
  - Proposals focus on the seller, not the client.
  - Emphasis on quantity, not quality.
  - Minimal or no job research—rapid-fire, generic pitches.

“If the first word of your proposals is I, then you’re definitely gonna want to steal my entire cover letter template.” (00:24, Eric as B)

Anatomy of a Million-Dollar Upwork Proposal

Eric provides his successful proposal formula, which earned him over a million dollars (00:27-02:43). Key steps:
1. Greet the client by name.
2. Empathize and demonstrate understanding of their challenge:
  - Referencing specific pain points and project needs.
3. Back your claims with concrete results:
  - List client outcomes, e.g.:
    - "Insane Products: 3 viral videos with over 2 million total views."
    - "CoreTech: 87% average video retention, 250K views."
    - "Bonanza Books: 200%+ leads in three months."
4. Differentiate yourself:
  - Share unique value and attach samples.
5. Clear next step and call to action:
  - “Shoot me a message and let’s organize a time to meet today.”
6. Add a P.S. with more work samples and ways to research your reputation.

“You’re giving them a crystal clear next step.” (02:36, Eric as B)

Avoiding the Copy-Paste Trap

Eric warns against blindly copying templates (03:30):
- It's not about mass sending with cookie-cutter text.
- Each proposal requires personalization and proof that you read the client's needs.

The One Not-So-Obvious Supercharging Tip

Experimentation is key (04:00):
- Test different cover letters; adapt style, tone, and examples.
- Continuous improvement is what separates average freelancers from the elite “0.14%”.

“We're not just about getting out of the 86%. We're about going from the 14% to the 0.14%. And so the one tip to supercharge your Upwork game: experiment.” (04:02, Eric as B)

Adapting Templates Across Niches

Listeners learn that this approach isn’t limited to video editing—the process applies to any freelance niche.
Downloadable template and customization walkthrough are available for those who want to adapt the pitch.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[00:24] “If the first word of your proposals is I, then you’re definitely gonna want to steal my entire cover letter template.”
[02:36] “You’re giving them a crystal clear next step.”
[04:02] “We're not just about getting out of the 86%. We're about going from the 14% to the 0.14%. And so the one tip to supercharge your upwork game: experiment.”
[Throughout] Eric’s tone is direct, encouraging, and a bit self-deprecating—motivating listeners to combine solid strategy with trial and error.

Important Timestamps

00:00–00:24: Setting the stage—why most Upworkers fail and common mistakes.
00:25–02:43: Step-by-step breakdown of the million-dollar proposal, with real-world examples.
03:00–03:45: Warnings about copy-paste and announcing the downloadable resources.
04:00–End: The crucial lesson: experiment, iterate, and break into the top 0.14%.

Final Takeaways

Master client-centric proposals: Stand out by focusing on client needs, showing empathy, and offering rock-solid proof of your value.
Quality over quantity: Sending fewer, well-researched, and tailored proposals beats firing off dozens of generics.
Experiment for excellence: The only way to climb beyond average is active learning and consistent iteration.
Free resources available: Download the proposal template and watch a customization walkthrough to take your game to the next level.

For freelancers keen to break free from the 86% and catapult into top-earning territory, this episode offers not only theory but a proven, practical approach—delivered with humor, candor, and tangible steps.

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Transcript8 lines

[00:01]
A
Why haven't you made any money?
[00:02]
B
But mom, I've been sending upwork proposals for weeks.
[00:05]
A
What are you writing?
[00:08]
B
Template.
[00:09]
A
Are you sure it's good?
[00:10]
B
But the guy said he made a lot of money with it.
[00:12]
A
Can't you check how much they made? What?
[00:17]
B
Today I'm gonna give you your new upwork proposal. It's earned me over a million dollars and it's gonna change your life. But first you need to understand that 86% of the people who sign up for upwork never earn a single dollar. Here's the top three reasons why the 86 percenters are fail and what you're not gonna do. They focus on themselves instead of on what the client wants. Here's a test. If the first word of your proposals is I, then you're definitely gonna want to steal my entire cover letter template. They go for quantity over quality. These people think that just sending more proposals is the goal. It's not. If you change fewer than 10 words every time you send a cover letter, you're playing a very dangerous game. They send rapid fire proposals. If you spent less than a minute reading the job description, reviewing the client's past feedback and stats, and the incorporating that into your cover letter to help you stand out, then that's how people fail and quit. Upwork forever. Starting today, you don't do any of that anymore. You're not going to be an 86 percenter. Because today I'm going to give you one not so obvious tip that will help you supercharge your upwork game. But first, I'm going to show you this cover letter. It's earned me over a million dollars. And I've taught this cover letter structure to both beginner and experienced freelancers who have used it to win countless jobs. And you can too. Hey, Jim, sounds like there could be a fit here. I've done a ton of editing work for YouTube channels. I know it can be really challenging and time consuming to plan out the video source B roll, cut and regrade the footage, handle sound design and produce an excellent end product. In fact, most of my clients tell me that they don't have time to spend a thousand hours learning how to edit. Here you're showing you're a great fit and you understand the client's struggles and frustration. The simple solution. Let me handle it. Here's a few examples of the results my clients are Getting. Insane Products 3 viral videos with over 2 million total views. CoreTech 87% average video retention with 250,000 views. Bonanza Books Corporate Explainer video that led to a 200% increase in leads within three months. You've solved this problem for other clients before, and they think you're awesome. I'm not your average video editor. If you'd like to get a feel for what I do that's a little different from everyone else, then check out this video I put together for Mike. He's the founder of Insane Products that I mentioned above, who ended up having his video get over a million views. Here's the link. The Insane results you achieve for your clients show that you're different and that you can achieve the same kind of results that your potential client wants too. Sound like a fit? Shoot me a message and let's organize a time to meet today. I'm looking forward, Tom. You're giving them a crystal clear next step. P.S. i also attached two work examples that I think you might like, but you can check out more of my work on my upwork profile. You'll also find my client reviews that will tell you everything you need to know about whether my clients think I'm worth it. Also, also be sure to leave a like on this video. At this point, you're probably asking, but wait a second, Evan. This one's for Tom, the video editor. I'm not a video editor. I'm in a totally different niche. How do I customize it so it works for me? Well, if you want to download the COVID letter and watch a full video walkthrough on how to customize it for yourself and your niche, then the link is in the description below. You're also probably saying, but hold on a second. You just told me that copy paste is the enemy. Are you now telling me that I should copy paste this forever? No. We're not just about getting out of the 86%. We're about going from the 14% to the 0.14%. And so the one tip to supercharge your upwork game experiment. You've got to experiment with different cover letters. And to do that, watch this video right here to learn your next cover letter. But Mom.