There’s a stage we all go through in our writing/creating that eventually makes the work tedious, squelches the engagement of our audience, and causes our writing (and our businesses) to fade off into the noise… ignored and boring.
Learn how to fix it in this video and start getting better results from more joyful, honest work. Give it a watch above
(if you don’t see the video view it on YouTube)
It doesn’t matter if you’re a writer, video maker, creative entrepreneur, blogger, cosplayer or just about anything else… this one tip has helped me do better work with a bigger smile on my face (and much better results).
It will do the same for you as well.
Have you made this mistake? Have you learned anything about finding your voice? Let us know in the comments.
And if you want to learn a bit more about this topic check out the first two episodes of The Fizzle Show where we discuss finding your voice in detail. (Here’s Part 1, and here’s Part 2. Though you really should subscribe).
Learn how to set goals that actually stick!
The Top 10 Mistakes in Online Business
Every week we talk with entrepreneurs. We talk about what’s working and what isn’t. We talk about successes and failures. We spend time with complete newbies, seasoned veterans, and everything in between.
One topic that comes up over and over again with both groups is mistakes made in starting businesses. Newbies love to learn about mistakes so they can avoid them. Veterans love to talk about what they wish they had known when starting out.
These conversations have been fascinating, so we compiled a list of the 10 mistakes we hear most often into a nifty lil' guide. Get the 10 Most Common Mistakes in Starting an Online Business here »
Funny. Charming. Engaging.
…and true.
Thanks, Adrienne!
Stand up comedy masquerading as marketing advice.
Or is it the other way around?
Target squarely hit.
Totally get you on this. People buy from those they know like and trust so it’s crazy to try to create trust by acting fake.
I CAN’T do fake. I CAN’T do what other people do. At least my dream isn’t to become a Hollywood starlet.
I’ve always looked at things from a completely different viewpoint to most people and I HATE the fact that others try to tell people what real is.
Real comes from the inside not the latest definition of authentic.
It’s NOT about swearing… but if you do, that’s cool.
It’s NOT about being open and caring and “heart-centered”… but if you are, that’s cool.
It’s NOT about saying or doing certain things to be authentic. Authentic can’t be specified as it’s as unique as a fingerprint.
Now that’s something I luckily didn’t missed. Awesome video mate. It taught me a lot :)
Thanks a lot Chase!
Cheers, Amal!
I’m getting better and better at expressing my voice but still feel I’m only at a starting point – I have so much to say.
It’s been a learning curve for me because in school we, kids, were trained to write and say what teachers wanted to hear. I never liked that so assumed I was bad at writing.
Writing from my heart helped me realize we all can be great writers/creators. We just need to overcome mental restrictions we grew up with.
As per imitating what and how others saying, I tried that. So yucky! Every time I did that, I deleted it a couple of days later – couldn’t even take a look at it.
Thanks, Ekaterina. I know the feeling…
I like what your saying. Maybe we start at a place where we have to be honest about who we are first and that we are not being ourself first.
I am honest about my confusion but I am still searching for what makes me sound like me on paper.
There has got to be more behind the curtain than a man looking for money, right?
Thanks for your continued work.
“There has got to be more behind the curtain than a man looking for money, right?”
Oh, I like that, Anthony. You’re bang on… we all have to work hard to market and sell the stuff we make. But that assumes we’re making actual *stuff*. Great point.
This week looks like “find your voice” week to me lol… just wanted to share a very useful post about the topic at Henneke Duistermaat’s Enchanting Marketing: http://www.enchantingmarketing.com/your-own-blogging-voice/
pretty good tips for who is getting started like me! Very good video Chase! Way to go!
I just love the underpants on the whiteboard in the background.
Oh, and the message of course.
Nicely done :)
Thanks Jo… those are my undies. I hoped you wouldn’t notice… But at least they’re clean.
Thanks. I needed that. As a copywriter, I sometimes find myself slipping into what I call super-duper speak, where everything is superlative. And ever-so over-the-top. Sometimes, it comes from the energy behind the words. But sometimes, not so much.
Great video. Make more. Please.
You’re very good, Nancy. Thanks.
Loved it! This is a hugely important topic. Not only am i guilty of copying others razz-a-ma-tazz I think I have let it leak into my blogs.
Here’s the thing.
Once in a while (hopefully more frequently now) I do share something that’s going on in my life, or a reality about running a small biz and I get a good response.
Thanks for reminding me to be real and only promise what I can deliver.
This is right up there with the dollar shave club vid!
Haha, man Chase that was awesome…
and wise words
Thanks, Leon. I hoped you’d like it :)
You sumbitch. I needed to hear this today. Thank you. No really.
Too many times I sit down and try to mimic better bloggers or write the words I think should be said instead of spitting out what I know.
Good stuff. Keep it up.
Ha! No, *you* sumbich. Thx KC.
Excellent post. I found my voice.
Hi Chase,
Thanks for this. I am on a lot of lists and I only like real people but put up with some phonies too.
I like to know whats out there.
I just found you, and will “hang out” a while, especially after this video about being yourself.
You are right on. 2 particular lists that I am on, are from SUPER affiliates, but all they send me are promo after promo. No value emails anymore.
I have bought their products that were second rate. But they help me know what I DONT WANT TO BECOME!!!
I used to write them and ask them about the products but they didn’t know anything about them or the people creating them.
I am not making money yet, but eventually I will and I like your style!!! Thank, Mary
Thanks, Mary! Much obliged.
Hi Chase,
This video really made my night! I was cracking up, but at the same time it reminded me why I started blogging. Sometimes I find that I get sidetracked by what everyone else is doing when I should just be doing what I do best: being me. Thanks for this!
Felicia
“…it reminded me why I started blogging.” What a compliment, Felicia. Thanks! Break a leg.
Our own point of view and perspective comes out of our own individual strengths. We all have our own experiences, our own gifts and talents. We were never meant to copy and strive to be the same as everyone else. It would serve no purpose.
Our purpose and our voice can only be found in who we are at our core. We are only doing ourselves and the people around us, the world we are supposed to impact and serve, a great disjustice by not speaking and writing from the core of what makes us ourselves. Thanks for some great laughs and touching on the important topic of the root from which our voice must stem.
Great video Chase – the honesty is much appreciated. Too often we get caught with what other people are doing and think we have to do the same thing to succeed. What I love about the blogosphere is that all of the conventional methods of writing we were taught in college just go right out the window. Its truly an art form to be able to express yourself and say exactly what you want to say, in the way you want to say it – so it sounds like your voice – instead of a textbook or someone else’s voice. Thanks again
This is what I found.
The voice I use to write in and the things I write about feel like they are over my target’s head.
Writing about what you know is all well and good, but what if you’re learning. Still write about what you learned?
Thoughts?
Good question. I highly recommend listening to the second episode of the podcast — there’s a comment on that post that reminds me of your situation.
Great video Chase! You rock!
I loved this! Great delivery, which had me laughing, but the content made me feel like I need to go meditate on what you were saying! That was some deep stuff. It’s the Truth with a capital “T” and it seems that the more comfortable you get with, “saying what you can say”…the deeper down the honesty rabbit hole you’ll go. Really exciting to think about, even more fun to take action on. Thanks Chase and Think Traffic Team! <3
Chase is growing on me. This concerns me.
This was High-Larious!!! Love, love, love it. I would just like to second Rodolfo’s comment about this being “Find Your Voice” week.
Over at Tiffany Dow’s blog she talks about the fear that people have in using the word “I” in their blogs.
Here’s her link:
http://www.tiffanydow.com/blog/why-do-you-find-i-so-hard/
Thanks for the tips – See Alice!!!??? ;)
Very funny and very encouraging. It’s ok to have our own voice? We don’t have to look like all the other cool kids? Thanks for the permission!
Great video. Very entertaining with an awesome message.
Just wondering what equipment you are using to get the sound so clear.
“Say what you know you can say.” Noted.
Also – is that Sharpee illustration in the bottom left corner of the whiteboard a pair of men’s drawers…?
Just wondering.
Ninja Radical. That totally needs to be said everywhere ~cialis!~
Hi Chase,
Sounds like you had an amazing boss, one that trusted you enough to let you be yourself… Even if it meant not sugar coating the truth to clients.
Do you know how he is doing now?
Yea, he’s doing great. (I’m still involved in a limited capacity, so it can’t be doing *that* bad :)
totally. thanks.
I figured this technique out more than once. Sometimes it’s easy to slip back INTO the smarmy/catch phrase routine, but fortunately the wisdom of being yourself over-ruled the itch to be “As Seen On TV”-ish.
I learned it the first time when I went on the road teaching basic computer skills class. I traveled throughout seven US states doing this, and I found it was better to be me, rather than be “the company”.
Later when I moved to mainland China, I got caught up working for a publisher, so I ended up doing promotional gigs for them. There has been nothing more fulfilling in my life thus far than standing on a stage in front of several thousand Chinese, all cheering me on! And all I did was be myself. No “If you buy this companies products, I PROMISE YOU…” No, it was “Hey, try it out, it can’t hurt, you won’t go broke. it’s a solid program.”
That is what people want to hear, not the “BLA BLA BLA BLA! Because then you can BLA BLA even more BLA BLA!”