When an ending is really just the beginning...

I’d started to write my blog this week when I realized I was falling into a trap that I’ve often warned my blogging students to avoid –

1.  Trying to do too much with one blog

2.  Not working out ahead of time what my 

     key messages are

3.  Not offering a tangible lesson to my readers

Bad. My bad, as they say these days.  I think much of it is that my mind is swirling. 

I have spent much of my time of late focusing on the One Red Lipstick book, and last week it was lovingly sent on its way to be published.

While that is super exciting, and there is a sense of accomplishment, part of me doesn’t quite know what to do next.  So many hours have been devoted to the book, so it is hard to pick up the pieces and continue with the rest of my work.

Plus sending the book to be published is just a milestone.  I know that.  It’s the first of many as we move along and start to work on getting the book out there.  As any writer/editor will tell you – producing the book is the easy part, selling the book is a whole other issue.

So what’s my message here?  Good question. 

1.              Remember to pat yourself on the back when you’ve completed a project that involved time in the making. 

2.              Pause, and before you leap into the next task, take stock on what you’ve done and what you’ve accomplished so far.

3.              Thank those who have helped you reach this stage, because rarely is it a solo effort, others have helped make it happen.  In our case, particularly the 24 women who have shared their inspiring stories.

Sometimes people act as a catalyst not fully knowing just what they are starting, and in this case, Spenser Chapple has spearheaded a whole new movement through which women get the opportunity to be real, authentic and vulnerable and are not judged for being so.  We all need role models and Spenser found them for us.

There.  Did I do it?  I hope so because there has been much to learn from this experience – both professionally and personally. 

I am not the same person who started out on this project eighteen months ago. Apart from anything else, I now wear red lipstick :)  

Seriously,  I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I love to do.   So I thank Spenser for this opportunity and for trusting me to deliver her baby – the One Red Lipstick book.  Watch for its delivery on International Women’s Day.  And stay tuned for the documentary which will be following in May.  

Day by day - there is always something to celebrate

Did you know that February 24 is National Tortilla Chip Day?  Now there is something to look forward toJ

I’m just full of pearls of wisdom these days, especially after my research on special events for my blogging session next week. I’d decided to produce a list of special events for the bloggers so they could write about and weave those dates into their editorial calendars.

It’s an unwieldy project. It is amazing just how many special days, weeks and months there are. Frankly you could spend every day celebrating something.   

While I think it is important that we give some thought and attention to the different diseases or situations in which people sadly find themselves in, you do have to wonder if someone, just bored with life, sits and thinks all this up.

And there are numerous websites - health, world-wide issues and then the somewhat wacky sites where odd events are listed.   I mean I am quite devastated that I missed Bubble Bath Day on January 8.  Darn. 

I also can’t participate in National Hot Tea Month which is celebrated in January – I don’t drink tea.

It’s not too late, however, for National Hugging Day on January 21st which was apparently created in 1986 by Rev. Kevin Zaborney from Caro, Michigan. And then there’s Compliment Day on January 24. So we do have some positive moments ahead.  This one site even has e-cards you can send to celebrate the different days. What next?

But I couldn’t resist, I just had to find out what was celebrated on my birthday, apart from my birthday that is.  Not sure if there is some hidden meaning here, but it is Old Stuff Day.

Ah well, maybe I will just stick to my birthday.  Never mind the Old Stuff Day – maybe we should just make it Old Gal’s Day.

Just so you know, tomorrow, January 16 is Appreciate a Dragon Day. Good luck with that one.

Life is a blog. Living out loud.

I am often asked how I decide what to write about when I blog and for those starting out, I suggest you do up an editorial calendar and chart out themes for each month.  They can relate to the time of year, seasonal activities or issues that you feel are common with your peers.

Much of course depends on why you are blogging in the first place.  Is it to promote your business and to get known as an expert?  Is it to personalize your brand, so people know the face of your business or are you writing about one of your passions?  Perhaps writing is THE passion.

When I started out over ten years ago, I just loved writing.  I didn’t really care that much whether people read what I wrote or not.  I was having fun putting my words and thoughts to paper, and in many ways that hasn’t changed that muchJ

I don’t actually take my own advice as I don’t have an editorial calendar that I work to, except for when I am guest blogging. There I try to fit with the theme put forward but be creative at the same time.  I like to put a different twist on the topic.

On the whole, I tend to write about what is current in my life – so it could be a challenge I’ve faced; a common issue I have observed, some practical tips for other business owners or sometimes, just sometimes, a bit of a rant.  Although I have to say, some of the ranting ones don’t always see the light of day.  Pure therapy.

What you don’t want to do is write about what you had for lunch, for example.  Who cares?  Certainly not your readers.  I find the blogs that work the best are when I am sharing a piece of myself; perhaps being more vulnerable or what I am saying hits a chord with people.

The other popular blogs are those that are actually useful, with content and information that’s practical and the reader can implement and see results.

I recently did one for Huffington Post about being glad I was not a twenty-something, and that very much arose from a TV interview and a video I’d watched on the topic.  They had got me thinking and I was able to weave some of the dialogue from these two shows into my piece. 

The blog met with great interest and has generated a week-long discussion in HP, but it does flag another issue for the blogger.  You have to be prepared for the negative feedback or questioning of your point of view, and give comments back. I am working on developing a thick skin.

 

As I said to a friend this week, life is a blog.  Something is always coming up that I think… ah, I can use that.  I am big on analogies where we can learn something from a totally unrelated event that will have an impact on our businesses, for example.

In fact, my friends now know to keep quiet, or they could find themselves centre-stage in the plot of my next blog, in a good way of course.

When you start out, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to write daily or long blogs.  Seth Godin is the king of short, pithy blogs and look how popular he is.  So be kind to yourself.

In terms of style, lose the jargon, uptight corporate speak and keep it real.  Short sentences and short paragraphs, and then you are more likely to get people to read.  Don’t use a long word when a simple one will do.  This is not the place to show off your grasp of the English language, but do use words to paint a picture.

Best advice I got – write about what you know. 

Getting yourself out there

I loved the way Cathy Nesbitt goes after publicity.  She doesn’t hold back and uses every advantage to get her name out there.  And I am confident that PR guru Tsufit would concur that you have to “Step into the Spotlight” if you want to be discovered.

But how do you do that?  Especially if you are an introvert at heart.  Regardless of your personality style, the goal is to become the expert in your industry; the go-to person when journalists want a comment or quote for their articles.

Clearly when you are only one of a few who does what you do, like Cathy and her worms, it is much easier to get media attention. It can be harder for the rest of us. For those who are happier behind a computer than in front of the camera, writing blogs and articles is a good starting point. 

I’ve been blogging for eight years now and initially it was because I liked to write, I didn’t even care much if anyone read them.  Today that has paid off for me, in that I now write for other people and publications – like Huffington Post – and just one blog can spiral into great publicity. 

Take the one I did on women and money.  Before I knew it, I was being interviewed by Global TV and a radio station in Vancouver.  Now truth is, don’t tell anyone, but I am not really an expert on women and money, (my husband will be quick to attest to that,) but I am out there and I am knowledgeable on women and business.  The first journalist found me through Google, so make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and accurately showcases your expertise.

Yes, writing press releases is one way to get your name out there, but frankly your story has to be newsworthy, otherwise it just gets lost in a sea of paper.  I used to have great success in getting my releases in the local paper.  However, that was mainly because I knew the local reporter and had built up a relationship with her.  But when she retired, that ended and the paper placed their emphasis on businesses that advertised with them.

Public speaking is another way to get your name out there.  When you are giving a presentation, you do have a captive audience and if you do a good job, word will spread. If that really scares you, maybe start by being on a panel.

One way, that is often overlooked, but can be effective, is to volunteer, sharing your expertise with a non-profit organization.   Not only are you doing good, but you get to broaden your network and you just never know who you are sitting next to at the board meeting.

Getting back to Tsufit, you may want to grab a copy of her book Step into the Spotlight, because it is jammed full of practical information, and, she’s funny too. As she asks, “Which would you rather be?  Batman or Robin? You know Robin is never going to get his own show. “  You decide.

An attitude of gratitude

With having a social media intern, I have become much more aware of its impact and have been measuring just how well we are doing in this arena.

So I decided to check the stats on my blog. More people are reading it – thank you. There have been times when I’ve wondered if my blog through which I live out loud about what is happening in my life, is all in a cyber-space vacuum that no one sees.

But what I did find interesting was that my most popular blog was the one I wrote about having a bad day which could indicate several things.

1. People love it when someone else is having a bad time
2. It is much easier for us to focus on the negative rather than the positive
3. My readers could relate to what I was saying
4. All of the above

As someone who is the eternal optimist and one who prefers to focus on the positive, I’d like to think it was number 3. We all have bad days, bad weeks, bad years actually, and perhaps writing about it is cathartic. Having a good vent, helps alleviate some of the frustrations and tensions. And being authentic, it is good to show that all is not always well in the Day/Company of Women camp.

I had to re-read that particular blog to remind myself of why it was so bad. And you know what, in the scheme of things, particularly in light of what is happening in the world, having to cancel a meeting and struggling with computer issues is really not up there in the list of disasters.

All of which leads me to say, that we need to gain perspective, roll with the punches and not take ourselves so seriously.

Let’s face it, we all have bad days, but there is always tomorrow, which for thousands of people in Japan, is not the case. Let’s be grateful for what we have.