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I just heard something that blew my mind...
"Advanced" knowledge is simply a deeper basic knowledge. This is from one of my masterclass teachers in email copywriting, Ben Settle. It was a long & awesome course, but that line just stopped me in my tracks. Y'know, I didn't want the essence of that message that to be true... but when I sat with it for a minute, I realized that for me... it is true... No matter what I wanted, or didn't want/ A couple of years ago I was fast-approaching a business burnout. I had been puuuushing hard for years. And though business was growing, there was still an energy cost. An emotional cost. A diminishing sense of capacity. It was so fun (not)... And there was more ... more yucky feelings too... resentments, exhaustion... and oh man, irritability. An awful crankypants status that was usually directed at my nearest & dearest. (Sorry babe.) Well, I made it through that season - thank goodness! - and while it's a good long story, I won't go into that now. The nugget was: I needed to back to some basics. It was a newer, deeper level of the basics... it wasn't anything "new"... it wasn't advanced, ninja, or epic. For burnout specifically, I needed to go back to self-care basics in order to redefine what was needed to move me ahead. In my business, after I examined and clarified what I needed in self-care, I went back to the basics in content development and copywriting too. After all, I still needed an income, based on my skills and natural gifts... I had to go back to (and deeper into) the basics in order to move ahead... What happened? The result surprised me. I ended up redefining my business approach. Not because I'm all "advanced", but because I went deeper into the basics. It was not new territory, it was a new and unfamiliar level of learning though. Does this resonate with you? Either now or did you go through something similar in your life? Thinking of you, Wendy Are you ready for daily enCOURAGEment? Emails with messages like this one arrive each day... they are not written ahead... enCOURAGEment is the fuel of hope, as Zig Ziglar says. And growth takes guts. Sign up now and join me. Did you think about money when you read that title?
I did too... for a minute. But let's go ahead and spin it out a little further today. Try this on Asking for more is a way you can make sure you deliver. What? Today, ask for additional details. Requesting clarification. Make sure you understand and are able to come through with what the person in front of you (partner, customer, patient, parent) is asking of you. Ask for more information about what will be done with the final project or product. This will further ensure that the final outcome that has been swimming around in your clients' fantasies (or keeping them up late at night) will come to fruition. This isn't always easy. Not everyone can articulate what's been swimming around up in the ol' noggin' on demand. Just ask. And then wait. Give them a moment to think and answer. Perhaps you'll need to help prompt them... and then wait. What happens when I do this:
What happens when I don't ask for more detail or clarification:
When there is frustration or concern or worry about what I'm creating and submitting to a client, it doesn't feel awesome. Even though I have good writing skills... delivering work without good clarity puts the relationship at risk. So, my friend, in terms of today and regarding the people you have in front of YOU... Who can you ask more of today? Thinking of you, Wendy Ready for daily enCOURAGEment? I write it and send it daily... because growth takes guts. Today I'm going to type a wee bit slower... as a typo-preventive measure, but also because I pulled the Bear card this morning.
Pulling cards from oracle and tarot decks is a regular thing for me. Guidance is good. Even from slips of illustrated paper. And the right guidance is usually right on time. Today is no exception. Today I pulled the Bear card from my SpiritSong deck. Sanctuary and Rest. And thank goodness! Because, friend... It's been a big week. Back to the Bear... "navigator of the dreamworld"... "He appreciates the value of rest and quietude..." Is anyone reeeeally surprised by this? :) Anyway, I pulled this card this morning... and was back in bed for a nap by 11 am. Early on in my business, it was hard for me to rest... These were early days of adrenaline, of beginning to learn to trust myself both as a creative, and also as an owner... together. At the same time. And rest was something I really didn't 1. think I needed 2. want to need 3. pay much attention to... despite the help it could bring in staving off anxiety as a new freelancer. I thought I couldn't "afford" it. That I needed to always be "on" in order to succeed. That it was an indulgence, something ... It's different now. Today was a day to listen to bear's wisdom... and to take the rest I need, no matter what my opinion is about what I need. Acceptance. It has been a big week and rest and quiet is right on time for today. Sanctuary and Rest to you too! Thinking of you, Wendy Opt-in for daily enCOURAGEment ...because growth takes guts. A frog named Zucchini?
Yes. And, like you, I didn't see it coming this morning either. First, you need a wee bit of backstory on zucchini in general. Namely, I don't like it. I don't like eating it. I don't think it tastes like anything. And my mom didn't know how to cook all that came outta the garden in the hot windy summers in the East Bay Area. My childhood zucchini experiences were reliably awful. My mom sliced disks of the squash, boiled in plain water until the inside circle of seeds and membranes were so mushy they fell out of the middles. I choked down a lot of that wretched stuff while growing up. ...shudder... So, guess what happened this morning? Two pieces of grilled zucchini hopped into my serving spoon at the fancy supermarket with the hot breakfast bar. I could have dumped them back in with the mushrooms, onions, and peppers... but I didn't. Truth is, I had already been selectively avoiding lots of pieces of it while I was getting veggies. I went ahead and put them on my plate, paid, and then ate them. So, WHERE does the frog come in? Good question! Have you heard of Brian Tracy and his advice to "eat the frog first thing in the morning"? No... not a literal frog. Consider a "frog" to be a thing you need to do, but don't really want to do. Brian Tracy is a business and efficiency leader, so, I'm not making it up and it's not random. His suggestion is to essentially get the tough stuff over and done with first thing in your day. For me, this morning, that "frog" actually jumped onto my plate! And it made me kinda laugh... given the heebee geebees that zucchini... uhm... inspires... hahhaha! It wasn't really a big thing... but I did eat that frog named Zucchini this morning. And actually, I DO feel a little better for doing it. What are the names of your current frogs? There's plenty of Saturday left - hope you're enjoying it! Thinking of you, Wendy Opt-in for daily enCOURAGEment ... because growth takes guts. Hi. Wendy here with one thing... one tiny thing... about storytelling.
Yes, you have spoken! This is the beginning of fulfillment on requests for topics! Storytelling. Allow me to put your mind at ease when I confirm I am not talking about "novel writing", "fiction writing", or "book writing". I'm talking about elements, ideas, and this one small thing to put your attention on when you're sprawled on the couch, binging popcorn and Netflix. Ready? Notice where a story... or show... picks up and drops off. Where they leave you, where they pick you back up again. Every show does this. Every movie does this. Heck, every book does this, but it's easier for you to notice in a movie or in a tv show, especially since we're all on the verge of a weekend :) What are the exciting moments? Which moments are they highlighting when they leave you hanging at the end of a season? (Those jerks!) Suspense, action, romance... marketing! Uhhhmmm... Marketing? Yes, indeed. Marketing. Because, my friends, every episode in a season including the last one BEFORE the cliffhanger is marketing. The sale of the next episode of the new season? That, my friends, is in the last minute of the season's final episode. (Jerks!) Conversion for the next season happens in the final moments of a season finale. Storytelling in marketing has a lot to do with emotion. Well, more specifically, a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Where you leave your audience to fill in the blanks, where you pick them up again to show them something relevant, poignant, touching, critical. As we talk in various posts about marketing and storytelling, begin to go deeper into analyzing the media you already consume. For now...your main homework is to simply notice. Just notice. Enjoy your weekend, m'dears!... I'll be back here on the blog tomorrow. Wendy PS - How would you rate yourself in follow-up systems? I'm putting an email package together that is focused on follow-up ... because that's where your money is... it's in the follow-up. PPS - Opt-in for daily enCOURAGEment... because growth takes guts. Wendy here marking the 7th day... in a row... of posting a daily blog.
And I gotta tell ya... the momentum that this task has brought on has been... a surprise. Everywhere I'm looking, thinking, and dreaming in this past week - including today - have been ideas, possibilities, and opportunities. It's fun when it's new. It's exciting! And it's a good thing that new and exciting even exist at the beginnings of doing (or trying) something new because otherwise... It just wouldn't happen. Would it? MMMMno. It's got to be fun so there's something to remember and look back on when the new practice loses its shine and begins to feel like a slog. So, I'm gonna keep it short today and ask you 2 things: 1. Is there something new you're doing, trying, or heck, attempting right now that feels fun and exciting? Even easy? 2. Any requests for topics or content? :) Thinking of you... Please lemme know what you've got cookin'... and what you'd like me to cook up. Wendy Ready for a daily pep talk? Daily email, fair warning. Opt-in for daily enCOURAGEment... because growth takes guts. Thoughts on self-care and business care for entrepreneurs playing the long game.
Hello hello! Wendy here with what appears to be an easy polling question: Which one of these would be the best self-care tasks? Getting a : 1. Manicure or 2. Mammogram I thought I'd choose #1, manicure, every time. It's the easy one, the fun one. A manicure is a pleasure, a bit of an indulgence. Shoot, even if you're not into manicures you might just pick that over getting a mammogram. AmIright? Still, there's an under-shared position I'd like to air regarding self-care. And it's this: The best self-care errands are the ones you really don't want to do or feel like doing. Like, ever. They're inconvenient. They cost money and time. They might tell you something you don't want to hear... but then you can't un-hear it when you know about it. Aggravating. Yes, I am stating that the best self-care can be aggravating. And it's not just mammograms, really. It's also chores like fixing the car. Calling about your insurance plan. Renewing your LLC through the Secretary of State office or filing your quarterly taxes. Y'know, boring stuff. Adulting stuff. Kinda like needing to refresh marketing materials or business messaging. It's way more fun to talk about (and do) the next exciting thing. Check out the new social media platform (and maybe even participate for hours - LOL), watch videos about marketing. It's hard to refine and polish (and test!) your business's on- and off-line marketing content. Many just refuse to do it and then forget about it, which may be why I see so many Copyright 2012s on so many websites. It's challenging, I completely understand this. And it IS a big part of regular business care: keeping the message fresh, making sure the marketing is working, making whatever changes are necessary in order to keep growing and reaching new customers to serve. The fun stuff to do is also the easy stuff that gets done. The tougher stuff is what will keep you in better business for longer. So, let's check in... what's been on your to-do list that you don't want to do? Something you need to do, but you just don't wanna? If it's content-related, I can help. Let's talk it out. I'm on the lookout for you... and for me too. Thinking of you... and writing the words that work, Wendy Daily insights & enCOURAGEments... because growth takes guts. Written and sent daily. Sign up to join the next day's message. The topic today is something I've been thinking about since my early days as a content producer and copywriter. It's bugged me for a while... and now I just think I need to say something because I'm hearing it more and more.
Forgive me in advance, I am rarely rant-ish. But I can't afford to be vexed. And this is directed towards, frankly, other marketers who I don't really associate with or refer business to because of what they say, and how they say it, with regard to this very topic. I'll spill it now to put us all out of misery... the phrase that bugs is... I'm soooo busy. I don't know what they're trying to tell me when a marketer says, "I'm soooo busy" (or overwhelmed, or crazed, whatever). Whatever their actual message is, what truly comes across is: "I'm too busy." Too busy for more work, more projects, more people to meet and get to know. "Sooo busy" also translates to: "My systems and business are the bosses of me." Instead of the other way around. Now, I'm not talking about my good friends who need to blow off steam every once in a while. The pros I associate with and share the business project with... you are the eager-to-do-a-good-job and the wow-there's-a-lot-going-on-right-now kind of busy. No, you're good. The message above is for the chronically "sooo busy." Every. Single. Time. And their answer then turns toward a list of details they are behind on, or worried about, not shared, not spoken... but spewed. And this, while it's usually understandable every so often, is not fun when you've had that experience and are now just waiting for it... and kind of dreading even running into them... because you're just going to get a list of what they are behind with, or yes, soooo busy with. There's never anything under the list either. Nothing they are excited about, challenged by, looking forward to... nada. Nope. I can't do it. It's something along the line of, "check, please!" and "so good to see you (I'm not stopping). Take care!" I don't trust the chronically "Sooo busy" with my referrals, my clients, and my shared projects. I can't because they are just not fun, and not at the level that feels good, productive, of service, and satisfying. I just don't trust that they are in a place to command their business, talent, and skills to the point where their efforts to do an amazing job for my clients (and yes, my association with them) will come through. I want and need my friends, clients, and new acquaintances to be well cared for in their projects! And I refer accordingly. Words matter. Even in passing. We are what we say we are. Aren't we? I'm on the lookout for you... and for me too. Thinking of you... and writing the words that work, Wendy Opt-in for more daily messages like these: enCOURAGEment... because growth takes guts. Hello, hello! Wendy here... and check YOU out!
You made it into another day! A Monday, no less. Chances are good you have...
Because, my friend, you've never been here before. This day, this life, this time, this Monday, of this year, in your body. It's all new territory. And after some good rest, I'm hoping you'll get to do it again tomorrow. What's coming in your day tomorrow? What don't you want to miss? There's gotta be something... for me it's another first coffee of the day. That's always a delicious something to look forward to... along with my time with you. Thinking of you, Wendy Writing the words that work. Join me for a daily bit of enCOURAGEment... because growth takes guts. Sign up here & I'll pop in tomorrow :) Wendy here... and OH! The Humanity!
Did you notice in yesterday's message that I had an open parenthesis... but not a closing one? D'oh! It was not intentional. But it was an imperfection early on in the message. Speaking of early on... Early on in my writing-for-clients days, I'd have worried similar mistakes in draft copies until I couldn't sleep. Truly. Anxiety for me got to a point where my cortisol levels were spiking... at night! Yup. So fun. #sarcasm #youcaughtthatright Looking on yesterday's message, sure there's a wee pang. But this is the extent and the end of it, friends. It's not gonna eat my lunch the way it once might've done. Nope. Will it be the last mistake I ever make? Goodness NOOOO. It doesn't even register on the "good list" of bad mistakes. A misspell, forgotten punctuation, and the like are details. There is a lot of opportunity in details... and yesterday's is fixable. Should I have even sent it? Well, it's too late for that conversation. That sucker is out. Is it helpful to review past copy, past messages, and then to make new choices? Of course. But it's a waste to second guess it at this point. I mean, don't I have anything else to do? LOL. I could be bringing in more clients, trying my hand at a new recipe, taking my dog for a beautiful long walk... one she isn't expecting to go on and reaching into new streets and sniffs for her to collect. I could be studying more content pieces, practicing more writing styles. There are about a hun'erd kabillion things I could be doing in place of second-guessing and worrying. And the longer I'm in business, the better I'm able to stomach - and sleep through - some of the smaller, very fixable misses. My perspective is getting broader as I practice this art of being in business. I'm finding that continuing to sweat the small stuff keeps my business small. Keeps me small, and scared, too. It's good to recognize errant details and fix the broken bits, of course. And it's also important to move on to bigger challenges, bigger "brokens", and let's not forget, bigger dreams and visions too. Still writing the words that work at wendysloneker.com... And thinking of you, Wendy P.S. Chances are good you are having thoughts and conversations with your good friends & likeminded colleagues. Feel free to forward this on and continue the conversation as it's helpful or relevant. If they'd like to opt-in for a daily peptalk, some encouragement, and a smile... This is the spot! Hugs for today! xow |
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