So, last night...

I was finishing up a few things... 

and then, all of a sudden...

I had rewritten the entire homepage of my website.

WHUUUUT?!!??!

Wasn't planning on doing it. 
Kinda didn't mean to, actually. 

But some inspiration geyser happened and apparently, last night was the night that page needed some work. And when I say "work", I do mean "complete redo"... 

Surprise!
It didn't feel like work. 
In fact, there was that flowy sense of me just watching myself go thru and do it. 

Magic? 
Though I feel grateful that last night's inspo-boom felt easy, it definitely wasn't magic. 
I'd planted that seed months before.

"Kondo'd" my site earlier this year
Months ago I did a bit of a "Marie Kondo" on my site. 
Scrapped a bunch... very little joy was sparking on my site, friends. LOL.

So, the plan and intention to update the site has been steeping in my psyche for a while. 

But there was no plan. No active push, drive, or pressure... 

And I let it be "good enough" for awhile, until I was ready to do more.

Got the nudge...
I got the nudge to act... and I went with it. 
As I write this post out and process this with you, it's clear that THAT was a gift....
the nudge... as well as the willingness to get my web software open and my fingers moving across the keyboard.

A day later?
​Frankly, I feel like I've been given a gift. 

I'm looking over this copy and feel as though the website fairies have been by for a visit!
Am still marveling at it's being done as I continue to refine and add more to the site.

Let's talk about you... and your site
Is there something steeping in you right now? 
A change or alteration you are toying with?
Either as a part of your business or not...

When it comes time to act, when you get an intuitive nudge...
Do you think you'll heed the call?

I really hope you will. 

I'll be back next week with something exciting to share!
Not about email writing, or website copy, but with something that will help with both...
and save you time. Loads and LOADS of time!!!

Thinking of you

Wendy

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Saw a really funny meme on social media a couple of minutes ago... 

An author friend posted "Marked Safe from Mercury Retrograde."

But that isn't even the funny part...

While it's a clever saying, and while the planet Mercury going into retrograde (it appears to be going backward, in my understanding) has a reputation for communications going sour or haywire, or "things just getting weird"... missed flights, mixed messages, crashed computers...
It's really fun. #sarcasm

The funny part is... Mercury goes out of retrograde TOMORROW!

How do I know? 

I just looked it up to make sure that it was actually over with... nope. 
Perhaps it was a feeling of confidence that made them state that before they were out of the proverbial, mercurial woods?

The thing is, they said they were good (and I hope they are)... but it ain't over yet.

So let today's message be a little lesson about fact-checking because though my author friend may think she's outta the chaos woods, the fact is, she's not... Not until tomorrow. 

And we all know the difference a day can make, don't we? 

To be fair, she may not actually care. It's a funny line to share, right? 

But the internet isn't always known for accuracy... and neither are human beings. 
Building credibility by sharing reliable details can be a tricky, time-consuming business. 

So today's message is about standing out by double-checking facts, data, or statistics prior to publishing or sharing them. Today's lesson was a very low-risk example, kind of a tosser... but it still makes a valid point. 

Check your facts and timing. Then... Double-check!

Your audience and customers will thank you... and you will have yet another element of trust built between you. 

All the best, 

Wendy

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What a day! Whew!

I have been trying to get to you, to write this post... all day long. 

Deadlines happened. Meetings happened. News happened... 
Turns out the day happened. 

And I've been trying to sit down to share a few minutes with you and just haven't caught my breath. 

Truth is... I came *this close* to just blowing off writing this post and going to bed. 

"I'll just pick up in the morning," that sneaky little voice coaxed.
"You're tired. It's (relatively) late for you.... just turn off the computer... they won't miss you..."

But I couldn't. Because it wouldn't be blowing off the email. 
It'd be blowing you off... which feels awful.

And I'd be blowing myself off... which feels even worse. 

Am I doing this or not?

OH! 

...I AM DOING IT!...

And another truth is... I like talking to you this way.
It feels closer. I feel clearer.
And I'm grateful you are there. 

It's been a big month, my friend... and if we're lucky, we'll have more full days, and a full life ahead. 

Goodbye August... we're coming in for a landing.... and Hello September. 
More tomorrow... big hug,

Wendy

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Hi! Wanting to share a little bit of a "win" from a business that recently won me over.

I was a new customer to her.

And she saw me. 

She made it personal. Here's what she sent to me....

"Hi Wendy!

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your business. I hope you love your first purchase from PenGems, and we're able to add a little sparkle to your day.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can help you with, reach out to us at (email). We'd love to hear from you!

Sparkle On,

Angel at PenGems 
Chief Sparkle Specialist

Let's Be Friends
(links to social media accounts)
**************

Look at all she did in that short message! 

She saw me, valued me enough to send me this (probably pre-written) email. She opened the conversation, gave me a sense of herself, her company and her brand (in her title and the use of the word "sparkle" profusely.

It's an often-overlooked opportunity, to thank someone... heck... to notice someone AND then to take the next step in acknowledging them.

Simple. Easy. Personal. 
I've had this message in my inbox as a glowing example of what to do to warm a new relationship, talk with customers like they are real people ... because we all are... and to do it in a way that keeps it simple on all fronts.

What kind of follow up could you be doing for your brand new customers?... Or heck, even connections that you feel you'd like to continue or deepen?

I'm coaching a woman now who's just experienced a $500 success in the month we've been working together. Making more personal connections makes a big difference, feels amazing... and it turns out... is profitable. Who knew?!

When you're ready to get more (appropriately) personal in your emails, more consistent in your follow up systems, and yes, more profitable, we should definitely have a chat!

Until you're ready,  opt-in for daily enCOURAGEment ... because growth takes guts.

Question to get us going this week...

Where else are your potential clients?

You don't have to answer this right now 
(though now is good to make a start).

Where else are they? 
Let's dial into some more focused, more targeted, smarter thinking...

And if you say "social media"... you're not done yet. 
Oh no. 
We'll need far more specifics than that, my friend. 

"Social media" would have been a solid answer in 2012 when I was managing social media accounts, but those days are long over. So, if they're on social media, where, specifically, are they?

Social media isn't the only place to look either. 

It's the beginning of the week. A great time to pop your head up and to look around... ask around. 
Catch up with a customer you haven't seen in a while. Reach out to a person you used to see at networking events. Have the conversation and continue to ask yourself... throughout the week...

Where else are they?

I know that if and when you do continue to ask, you'll also get your answers.

Thinking of you and your business,

Wendy

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Hi! It's another sunny Sunday in Seattle... YAY!

My Beloved and I celebrated 9 years together a few weeks ago. 

Would it freak you out to know that before 8am and we had  not only exchanged cards and token gifts, had sung Happy Birthday to our now-8-year-old Rosie the Rescue dog? Those might not freak you out (unless you sleep in)... But this next bit might... we had also had a fairly significant...

future and financial talk!

Without fighting, or defensiveness, or even fear.

Sure, other feelings came up... some wonder, some uncertainty, but also a large dose of curiosity. A spacious sense of possibility... an understanding and a trust that we have time, as long as we keep talking...

Communication can be challenging. Topics like finances, money, and the future?  They can feel loaded and there is more than a little vulnerability to even approach those points.

Today's enCOURAGEment is in stepping one small step closer to that vulnerability wityoh a trusted person. Whether they are friend or family, if they care about you and what you're all about, could they also be someone you'd let in a little more around tough subjects?

Keep talking... open the lines of communication up a little wider in your closest relationships... you have time today to do this.

Just a thought... up to you.

Wishing you well, wellness, and wealth,

Wendy

Here with a few words on getting back to the craft.

Whichever craft your heart sings out to you.

Sure, it could be your love, love, love of crafty, sparkly home improvement projects. Your super new backsplash awaits! You know you have a pile of gems, some awesome adhesive, and some grout. Are you ready to dive in?

Could be that you are lately fascinated by tying flies for your favorite fly fisherperson's latest obsession and upcoming weekend away with the guys. Who knew you could earn a tidy side-sum by prepping precise gear to lure gilled ones?

Or maybe... maybe...
You are recommitting, or thinking about stepping deeper, into the skills of your heart's craft. That thing you do for a living that you were drawn to, that sucked you in, that you were once totally obsessed with and now have a lukewarm half-love for it. 

I've recently banana-peel-slipped back into love with writing... 
Quite by surprise. 
I didn't know it was going to be email-writing that I'd be lured into, nibble on and get hooked by yet again.

But that's sometimes how love goes, right? 

The blindside that reminds you that there you have a longing to improve everything about that thing... and a dream to spend time, focus and utter surrender with that task.

Love that makes you say....
Oh yeahhhh.... YOU! 
It's YOU....my former and new beloved. 

YOU, inspired and gave me everything... I see you with new eyes and recognize that you hold new possibilities for us together. We aren't done yet... and I still have more to give back to you. 

It's like that sometimes with a person in a relationship, I know... that is one kind of love. 
It's like that for me with my writing craft, which also offers me my livelihood as well.

What do you have going on? Does this resonate at all with what you do for work and life? 
Wondering if you've fallen in and out of love with your work... because I know I'm not alone.

Let's get going, then! 
Let's choose love... again and again.
It feels better... and business is better with it bubbling and budding in the mix.

Thinking of you!

Wendy

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​.Ready for the weekend?

Oh. My. YES.

Big week, friends. It's been a big week. 
One I DID NOT see coming. 

Per yesterday's email, it's been more than one incidence of doing what I need to do, the right thing to do, vs. doing what I want to do, the easy thing to do (or, frankly, not do).

Today is no exception. 

I ended up asking for help from a handful of rock-solid pros in my circles.
When your friends are likeminded, give it to you straight, steady professionals, it's a relief to check-in, yes. 
But it's absolute gold when they can talk you off the ledge so you can get back into your body, back into your day.

The point today? 
Friendships! Safe, excellent friendships and all they afford in enriching our lives!

Being heard and sharing the proverbial load is an amazing experience... one I often bypass in an effort to be independent. Sometimes independence is really lonely and fraught.
It was for me this week. 

Is there someone you're missing or want to reach out to?
Are you holed up and isolated? Consider checking in or reaching out. 
(Or both.)

Friendships, if you want them to grow, need both kinds of communications...checking in and reaching out.

Have an amazing weekend, y'all! 

Wendy

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Not written in advance... nope...
I'm spending a little time sharing with you, my owner & entrepreneur friends... every day.
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