First name / So, I had this whole newsletter written last night. The theme was set and the elements all in place.
Then, I submitted this newsletter to my editor/husband who gave it a 👎.
“Too negative," he said, “and not your brand.” (The truth is I kind of knew that already but I was really hoping he wouldn’t notice.)
I tried to make it more upbeat towards the end but it didn’t work. I'm a human after all and, like a dog with a bone, had an issue in mind I could not let go of. But hearing him say it, I knew he was right. And I was glad to have somebody in my corner who had some perspective.
It's really hard to have perspective when it's 11pm and you're tired and feeling ever so done with the day. (Can you tell I'be been watching “Designing Women” reruns?)
As solo-preneurs, we have to feel passionately and confidently about our perspectives otherwise we wouldn’t have gone into business for ourselves.
But, that can leave us vulnerable to ourselves as well.
I’ve often said it’s one of the hardest things in the world to know how to talk about yourself effectively. That's true on your website's “About Me” page but it's often true in even the smaller statements, captions, and newsletters we put out for our businesses.
We all need editors!
Editors can be our champions to protect us from our 11pm selves, hold up a mirror and ask “is this really what you want to get across?”
I’m very grateful for that because I find for myself it’s very easy to get committed to a position even when it no longer serves me. Having somebody to talk things over with in order to check whether it’s my ego or my professional brain talking is immensely valuable.
If it happens to you that you are trying to move forward professionally but there's something inside you second guessing the move, I invite you to engage me as your editor and champion!
Telling your story and keeping your brand on track, those things aren’t easy to do alone.
Sometimes you need a little friendly bullying to put yourself out there, and sometimes (as in the case of the first edition of this newsletter) you may need help with a little restraint.
I’m here for you!