Every Choice IS the Story
In 6+1 Traits — Word Choice, I make the point that we cannot talk without talking about ourselves. The words that we choose to express what we mean also reveal things about who we are and our world view.
The same is true about every choice we make. What we bring to each choice is our experience as a person and a writer. Therefore, each choice we make reflects who we are in a most telling way. Our writing and how we present it says more than we sometimes imagine. That’s why we need to internalize what we stand for, what we value and offer as an entire story. In other words, as a writer, a business person, someone people read . . .
It’s crucial to live our brand to communicate clearly.
I had this brought home to me by a reader, TS, this week. Choices I unconsciously made affected how he saw, not just this blog, but blogging in general. I’ve included an excerpt from his email that tells the story. . . .
Just a comment on your blog where you have a link to your Amazon Bookstore . . . THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Not just because it links me to books that you think are relevant to blogging but because your page finally made sense to me. You probably already know this, but I can look at your page, find info that helps me understand blogging, and illustrated pages that I can see making me money because I intend to spend money through them. . . . I finally see a blog that makes sense to my mind.
I swear some sites are just so covered over with ads and links that my eyes just blur up and, if there IS anything there that I need to see, it is hidden by a riot of color, marquees and just…well, crap!
I immediately went to my my Amazon page, page to see what was there.
What I Saw and What He Reminded Me
When I got to my Amazon page what I saw was that I had featured 9 books that really do define blogging as I see it. There they were — thinking, creativity, blogging as conversation and business, permission marketing, and entrepreneurship.
On that page, I had recommended books I thought bloggers should read. Yet that one reader had seen what I hadn’t — that I’d also drawn a big picture of blogging and that I’d set it within the context of making money. I only wish I did “already know that” as he said. I felt lucky to think that my choices were in keeping with what I believe.
The value of living a brand is that, even when you don’t know it — you’re telling the same story that you would if you had strategically planned it.
Thank you, TS, for reminding me that sometimes we’re smart by accident.
Thank you MS for telling me that I should share this event.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you think Liz can help with your writing or your business, check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.
Related articles
6+1 Traits — Word Choice
Check also the entire 6+1 Series on the Successful Series page.