The idea of writing from the heart used to feel alien to me.
Isn’t it a little woo-woo?
I write a business blog, not a memoir nor a love letter, so why would I write from my heart?
As a marketer, I’ve learned to set my business goals, and then decide how to achieve those goals.
When I started this blog, my goal was to become a minor authority in business writing, so I shared my best tips about blog writing and copywriting.
But something was missing …
I imagine my blog posts were wearing a business suit, not my favorite faded jeans.
My soul was missing.
As I learned more about writing, I realized that the best writing is personal.
Personal writing can mean sharing your own experiences. When you tell the stories only you can tell, your unique voice shines through. When you show your vulnerability, your humanness lights up your writing, and readers will bond with you.
But personal writing doesn’t have to be about your life. Writing about what fascinates you is also a form of personal writing as you let your enthusiasm add sparkle to your words. And that sparkle is contagious.
So, get out of your head and write from the heart
Over time, I learned to worry less about my professional image.
I let go of the shiny mask of the perfect pro (not that I ever was a perfect pro).
And, now and then, I allowed myself to be vulnerable in my writing. I shared my doubts and some of my mistakes. I’m pretty sure that’s when I started to engage readers like you more strongly.
Below follow the four lessons I’ve learned …
1. Dare to be different
Different is better than better ~ Sally Hogshead
As small business owners and solo-flyers, we face enormous competition from our fellow entrepreneurs. Even just thinking about competition scares me.
As Sally Hogshead writes in her book “How the World Sees You,” it’s almost impossible to be better than the competition, so we have to focus on how we can differentiate ourselves instead.
In writing, that means letting our own personality shine through:
- Follow your curiosity to create your own unique mix of ideas
- Share your experiences and personal stories
- Find your own voice
Writing is a conversation with your readers, so don’t just focus on yourself. When you share your ideas and experiences, also think about your readers: What’s in it for them?
2. Take off the shiny mask of perfect professional
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.~ Leonard Cohen
Perfect professionals are kind of boring, just like robots lack a sparkling personality.
Our quirks, flaws and eccentricities make us human, and more interesting. So, why hide our imperfections?
When you embrace your quirks, you stand out and become more visible. And when you admit your flaws, readers will recognize themselves, and feel touched and comforted.
It’s no surprise that my posts with the most comments are articles where I’ve shared my self-doubts, my fights with my inner critic, and my health struggles.
And do you think that makes me a lesser writing coach?
The opposite might be true. For instance, Cynthia Marinakos joined my copywriting course last year, and this is what she said:
Reading [Henneke’s] blog, I’ve felt like she understood my self-doubts and where I struggle in my writing.
By showing myself as a real human being, I attract my favorite clients.
3. Be generous
Recently, someone emailed me: How can you run a business when you give so many tips away for free?
The crazy thing is this: the more tips I give away for free, the easier it becomes to fill up my courses. For the fourth year in a row, I’ve sold out my Enchanting Business Blogging course. My copywriting course has sold out every single time. My Kindle books keep selling, every single day.
Generosity is part of successful content marketing, and you need a mindset of abundance to succeed.
A mindset of abundance means that:
- You’re not in competition with anyone—because everyone is different
- You can never give too much information away for free
When you focus solely on selling, you quickly tire people. However, when you focus on helping people, you may sell even more.
As online business veteran Chris Garrett says:
I have yet to find someone who has given away too much.
I don’t believe it is possible to be too helpful or too generous … provided you manage your time and energy, and that people know you are in business.
4. Write with the door closed
Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open ~ Stephen King
Closing the door doesn’t need to be a physical act. It’s a mental state, a choice to focus on your writing and forget the world around you.
If you allow your inner critic to take over, she’ll kill your voice and suck the energy out of your writing.
So, write your first draft for your own eyes only. Don’t worry about comments, social shares, and criticism. Send your inner critic out for a walk, and pour your soul into your writing. You can edit out the things that are too personal later.
Unleash your unique power to engage and inspire
In a world of information load, boring corporations, fake news, and content shock, readers are looking for a real human connection.
And our best way to establish that connection is to write from the heart. That’s how readers get to know and like us. That’s why they’ll eagerly anticipate our next blog post.
As small business owners, we don’t have big budgets to advertise. But we have a huge advantage: We can excel in being more human.
We can write about what really matters to us. We can pour our souls into our writing. We can stand out with our natural, beautiful, passionate voices. We believe in our ideas.
So, write from your heart.
Dare to be different. Dare to be YOU.
PS Thank you to Pierrette of Smart Productivity Solutions for inspiring this post.
Recommended reading on writing from the heart:
How to write with passion (so readers beg to hire you)
How to share personal stories (even if you’re shy)
How to write like a real human being
Hi Henneke, I am really inspired by you for this blog. Thumbs up!
I am actually new to blogging. I have always wanted to write from my heart. Yet, I want to remain anonymous. Because I know for starters I have to let people – relatives know my about my online presence.
How do I write from my heart and still be anonymous?
You can write under a pseudonym. But you have to keep in mind that if you’re writing about things happening in your life, people may still recognize it’s you (even without your real name).
Thank you, Henneke, for sharing nonstop insights into becoming a writer the audience loves to read.
I find generosity in most of your letters that may turn the strugglers and beginners to get started and fly over the horizon they have set to achieve.
I can’t help myself without reading each one of your blogs.
I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog, Mohtaj. Happy writing!
Thank you
Hi Henneke,
Thanks for this.. I was almost giving up on writing because it looks like no one want to read my write up or business tip…
Please don’t give up, Queeny. Keep writing!
Henneke you are an amazing person and I thank God for your gift. I have always been in love with writing and speaking but had stopped writing for a long while until I found your blog and now I have decided to follow my passsion….so soon will be starting a blog just for the love of writing.
Thank you again for your generous heart, you are so easy to love.
Writing from South Africa, Johannesburg.
Matshepo
Thank you so much for stopping by to leave a comment, Matshepo. It makes me happy to know you feel inspired to start writing again!
Loved your post Henneke. It helped me find what was missing in my writing. I am a Chemistry teacher and not a professional writer, but I do indulge in a bit of writing to and for my students, but always had a sense of incompleteness. Writing is sure going to be more fulfilling, now that I know what was missing.
Thanks Henneke
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Juliet. Happy writing!
Hello Henneke !
As soon as I finish my work, I go back home with a single thing in mind: finish an article, which I started one week ago. I felt something was missing, but I didn’t know what. My mind was rushing since one week, trying to find the structure, adding something, taking off something else, the text was always changing (as does the mind…). It was overwhelming, really! I couldn’t think about something else !
And today I met a man, writing books and realising films. We had a great conversation, I asked him advices that can help me to write better. He told me “who cares about the structure, write with your heart. If you write with your heart, people will be touched even if there is no structure, because the most important is there”.
Back home, I rewrited the text without taking a look at the other one, completely centered in my heart, it was finished in 2 hours (I am lying, maybe 3 or 4 hours…). And I am satisfied with it! nothing to change, nothing to add.
And now I am reading your post with a big smile, thinking “YES! that’s it! that’s the way!”
Thank you Henneke to remember me that my heart knows better…
Wow. What a wonderful story. Thank you so much for sharing, Julien. Happy writing, and keep listening to your heart!
Thanks for sharing this article. I’m encouraged to embrace my unique style of writing and be authentically me. Thank you!
Happy writing, Irina!
Ciao Henneke, perdonami se scrivo nella mia lingua, ma il mio inglese non mi permette di esprimerti i miei complimenti e la mia gratitudine, per il tuo lavoro, con l’empatia che vorrei. Ti sono grato, perché i tuoi articoli risvegliano il mio istinto per la scrittura, quando si assopisce, e mi danno entusiasmo, quando sono già carico. Ci sono autori e autrici le cui parole sanno far vibrare le corde giuste. Tu sei una di quelli. Grazie per il tuo lavoro e per i tuoi libri. Un abbraccio.
Ciao Sergio, thank you so much for your lovely comment.
I used Google Translate to understand it (my Italian is definitely worse than your English!). Google Translate is not perfect but good enough (I think) to understand your message. It makes me happy when people feel more motivated or enthusiastic to write after reading my blog.
Happy writing!
Hi Henneke,
Your post is a very inspiring post, especially for someone like me who comes from a very tiny country in the Pacific, Solomon Islands. I started a gratitude blog on WordPress some months ago but then haven’t been posting lately. I think I may have found the reason why. Thanks very much for this inspiring post. Cheers. Mary.
Wow, it humbles me to know that you’re reading my blog, all the way from the Solomon Islands. Thank you for stopping by, Mary, and happy blogging!
Hello Henneke,
Do we dare to drop the mask and let our soul sparkle through our words? I’m with you! YES! Once you let that genie out of the bottle there is no turning back to bland, blah writing.
It makes my heart sing to read your encouragement for extreme generosity. It’s a strange counterintuitive act – the more of your best stuff you give, it bomerangs the coolest stuff and crazy-fab connections
back to you. It’s like using generosity to create your own alchemy. ?
I love spotting the magic hidden in your posts – those powerful 3s!
1.Follow your curiosity to create your own unique mix of ideas
2.Share your experiences and personal stories
3.Find your own voice
Thank you
Super stuff
Nicole
Your soul always sparkles in your comments, Nicole 🙂
Thank you for your lighting up the comment section!
Hi Henneke ,
I just read this wonderful article again for a little inspiration; this time I read the comments too. It warms my heart to read all the positive remarks that resonate with my own appreciation. So nice to know that there are a tribe of writers out there who care about being authentic and generous and writing about what matters to you in order to start a conversation. Thanks Henneke, thanks all
Thank you for your lovely comment, Christine. The comments on this blog post make me feel I’m on the right track with my writing and with my wish to help others write from their hearts, too. I feel lucky with such a great tribe here!
A very informative post as always Henneke,
“As small business owners, we don’t have big budgets to advertise. But we have a huge advantage: We can excel in being more human.” I couldn’t have agreed more to these facts.
Indeed, we often think we can’t do it, we often have this felling of inferiority complex. But if we honestly be ourself and pour our hearts and souls in our writing, we’ll be very amazed at the kind of attention it’ll attract.
It’s all about being original and not sounding like your next door neighbor.
When I started my own business, I also thought I had to behave like a big company, but that seemed impossible, and, at first, I couldn’t get why people would hire me. Fortunately, over time, I figured it all out … thanks to some help from friends!
Thank you for stopping by, Anil. I appreciate it.
Hi Henneke,
I loved it.
It’s a blog post that makes your tea/coffee taste better if you have a cup in your hand while reading it. Not only does it motivate you, but it also infuses confidence in being yourself.
Something I loved more than anything today was “Generosity is part of successful content marketing, and you need a mindset of abundance to succeed.”
I genuinely believe that content marketing is a virtue: we help when we write and unfold solutions for the readers.
It’s always great to come back to your blog.
Thank you for writing this.
“It’s a blog post that makes your tea/coffee taste better if you have a cup in your hand while reading it. Not only does it motivate you, but it also infuses confidence in being yourself.”
What a lovely compliment, Hassaan. I’m enjoying our cup of tea together. I’m having Jasmine Tea. And you?
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Finding the fun in writing and living is very important.
Unlearn everything you learned in school, and a new journey will open up before you.
Thanks.
Generosity never fails as well.
Yes, so true. It’s important to look for the fun in what we’re doing. When we play and have fun, new opportunities reveal themselves. I agree.
Thank you for stopping by, Paul.
Yes, you are absolutely right. Writing from the heart can touch the emotion. From now I always write with an emotion of my heart and you really do a great work. Thanks for sharing your emotions with us.
I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Ankur. Happy writing!
Nice Article Henneke!
Be a person when you write because you talk to a person, a real person.
Quick question, what is your view on writing with no niche? many suggest to pick a niche, but what if you enjoy being nicheless? Because you can be you that way?
I know most blogs are focus on money making, but I also believe that Value > money. In fact, if you provide value money will follow.
What’s your take on this?
Thanks!
It depends on what you want to achieve. If you want to set up a business, it’s useful to be known for something and that’s why a “niche” is useful. Instead of “niche” I prefer thinking about: Who do you want to attract? And why would they want to read your blog? In the beginning, it’s much easier to focus, so you get known for something. It’s fine to write off topic occasionally, but I wouldn’t do it too often in the beginning. Once you’ve established your authority, you can branch out and write about different topics.
If you blog for yourself as a kind of journal, then it doesn’t matter what you write about.
Henrietta, you are a joy! Thank you for sharing your dance of delight and words of wisdom. And Henneke, thank you for allowing us into Henrietta’s world. You both ROCK!
Henrietta lights up my day, too. She reminds me to have fun and play.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Joan 🙂
Henrietta dancing on the keys! How cute! And thank you for gracing us again with your marvelous and soul-stirring writings. If your goal was to sit across the table from us, and talk as if we’re old friends, then you have succeeded! ??
P.S. Love Leonard Cohen ?
Thank you for your lovely comment, Penelope. If I could make a cup of tea for you and offer a slice of cake, I’d do it 🙂
I think the hard part is realizing our unique combination of strengths and flaws—not hiding them— make us who we are…worth celebrating!
Awesome post!
And as you taught me, we can often flip our flaws (or weaknesses) to find a strength at the other side.
Thanks Henneke.
I enjoy your posts because your writing style is casual bu tnot familiar. To me as an Aussie and a former Brit, American copywriters seem excessively familiar. They write as though we’re all old friends and we aren’t in the main.
There seems to be some fine lines in this: casualness and familiarity. Thanks again for your post.
Yes, I know what you mean. I find some American writing styles overly familiar, too. It makes me cringe (especially if I see copywriters recommending such a style) and it doesn’t feel to me like they’re writing to me personally. It’s as if they try too hard. Interestingly, I have a lot of US readers, so it’s not as if my writing style is too formal for the US.
Thank you for adding your thoughts, Paul.
Henneke,
Your advice posts are always priceless. Thank you seems inadequate. But thank you! “Write from your heart,” Dare to be different,” “You can never give away too much.”A few gems of wisdom written by a woman who truly cares about her clients. Reading your writing gives my writing a giant leap of faith. I am grateful to have found you. Thanks again!
Sincere Love, Gail
A lovely comment with a thank you is more than adequate, Gail 🙂
Isn’t it interesting how readers sense whether a writer cares or not?
Happy writing!
I can totally relate to what you’re saying. I believe brands have a huge challenge now more than ever: to sound less corporate and to be more human.
Marketing should focus on trying to connect emotionally with its audience. Thinking how can the brand solve their problems, make their life better and to just add value to them in general.
I always say without demand (people buying your services or products) a business cannot survive. Period. So a costumer-focused approach ought to be a priority.
I believe adopting a less of “we” (the company) and more of “them” (the clients) mentality is a good way to start.
Loved your insights here Henneke.
I totally agree with you, Marjorie. And it’s not easy for big companies to be more human. It’s also about how they treat (and recruit) their employees and how much freedom their employees get in interacting with clients.
And yes, less of “we” and more about “them.”
Thank you for stopping by!
Dear Henneke, you wrote a wonderful engaging post.
You have the power to touch our hearts. 🙂
Today it’s my last day as a consultant for an important foundation in Italy, because I decided to be… myself.
Money is important, but we I can’t live without expressing our soul.
So I am reading again the documents of the two courses of yours I attended one year ago. I want to focus my “business purpose”.
(By the way, at the end of April the publisher will publish my book on that old Italian criminal case…).
I have a question about your job, Henneke. If I remember well, you decided to stop being a consultant for companies etc. and concentrated on teaching.
Why?
I too have to do such a difficult choice: teaching about investigative journalism, intercultural journalism and communication and writing the screenplay that I have in my mind about the criminal case I investigate?
Or being a consultant too?
I don’t want to spend all my day working (I have my pension, by the way, for living).
But sometimes I ask myself: how can you be a good teacher if you are not a consultant?
Double congratulations, Maurizio, for quitting your job so you can be yourself and for getting your book published so soon. How exciting!
When I quit my job at a company, I tried different things like content marketing consultancy, in-company workshops, and freelance copywriting. I enjoyed teaching more, so that’s why I decided to focus on teaching my online courses.
Whether you need to stay active as a consultant, depends on what topic your teaching. As I teach writing, it’s important to continue writing—which I still do a lot, but for my own business rather than for clients. And as I’m tutoring small groups of people, I stay quite close to a beginner’s mindset and continue to learn about what (beginning) writers are struggling with.
Does that help?
Thanks a lot Henneke for your answer.
Yes, that helps 🙂
I understand you well when you write “It’s important to continue writing—which I still do a lot, but for my own business rather than for clients”.
I have been teaching Intercultural Journalism at the University of Verona since 2003 in a master course.
And I have had a great experience (8 years) in Investigative Journalism studying, investigating and writing my book.
Your post (and your courses) is inspiring me. I’m asking myself how I can teach what I have learnt during these 40 years as a journalist.
I know I have to start from the Ideal Reader 😉
Thanks a lot for your posts, your advice and your way of life that you express through your writing.
It’s true… we are unique. We only need to understand what our readers need and how we can help them.
Yes, start from the Ideal Reader and what problem you help solve. In that sense, creating a course is quite similar to writing blog posts! 🙂
I have read again and carefully your post, Henneke.
You writes: “As small business owners and solo-flyers, we face enormous competition from our fellow entrepreneurs. Even just thinking about competition scares me”.
How did you win that scare?
Sometimes I ask myself: “There are many very good journalists in Italy. Why people should wish to attend my courses?”.
And I think about you. It had to be difficult to start a business with such world big competition. What did you do to emerge over the crowd?
I tried not to think about the competition and focused on my own business. Over time, I didn’t see them as competition anymore because I realized we’re all different. We all have unique experiences and different personalities so we can share our unique mix of knowledge and skills, and attract the audience that appreciates us for who we are.
What a beautiful post. Your voice is so strong and warm that I almost feel like I know you, Henneke. You often inspire me. So many of your sentences struck a chord. The one that really stood out for me was, “In a world of information load, boring corporations, fake news, and content shock, readers are looking for a real human connection.” In my online TEFL business, my mission is to help people make meaningful connections through respectful conversations across cultures. Connection is a big part of my “why” and my conversational lessons are often heart-to-heart. Thank you for reminding me to write that way, too.
I love your mission, Kate, and the idea of turning conversational lessons into heart-to-hearts.
When writing rather than talking face to face, it’s easy to create a monologue, which is absolutely fine for a first draft. When I edit my draft, I start thinking more of my reader and how she’ll perceive my text and how I can engage her so it feels more like a conversation with a cup of tea (and a slice of cake 😉 )
Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts.
One of my favorite posts so far. The reason, I read your posts is not because I am a blogger trying to do better, it’s because there are things you do that make your writing so appealing.
It’s, you, you communicate beautifully and I love that.
Of course all the other lessons on writing better, and the tips are invaluable tips in life, not just blogging, though I am very happy that good bloggers like you exist. It makes us happy and fulfilled.
Over the years now, I have come to know a little bit about the loving, very human Henneke and I think you are blessed and keep blessing us in turn.
I am not trying to sound holy, just a loving.
We all need that bit of love and encouragement and you give it so unselfishly.
Thank you Henneke. I love this one.
Doc
What a beautiful comment, Nicolas. Thank you.
Thanks Nicolas. You expressed very well what we feel when we read Henneke’s posts.
I love this article. I hate sharing my heart…but it’s when I have (just a little) that I have connected better with my readers.
Sharing a little is fine! I’ve very slowly tiptoed out of my comfort zone — a little farther every year. I now write a lot more about myself than I did in the beginning.
Beautiful post. Just what I need to hear.
Thank you!
Thank you, Jennifer. Happy writing!
It is kind of the same for photography — and I expect other creative practices. Once I started shooting photos from my heart, and of subjects I loved, I became much more creative and free. I also got noticed by people who liked my personal style and as a result have done interesting projects and photo shoots for people who wanted me to shoot in that style.
Those are great examples of what happens when you create from the heart. I can see that it works for any creative practice.
Now, I’m curious … Do photographers ever experience photographer’s block?
Well there are definitely times when you need a boost in creative energy and inspiration. In cases like this my “close the door” method is to put my camera on auto mode and go on a photo walk in my favourite neighbourhood. Along the way I look for the small details and designs of the world around me, and not get overwhelmed by the big picture. These photos are just for me.
I like your idea of walking around in your favourite neighbourhood, paying attention to small details, and shooting photos just for you. It sounds like a kind of mindfulness practice, which is a great way to connect to our hearts and boost creativity.
Thank you for sharing!
When I sit down to write, most of the words that come is an unfiltered, uncensored and raw in nature. The emotions are strong and the impact is great in my head.
And I let it flow…because that’s they way it should be.
Yes, I do edit it later. To make it have a nice natural flow, remove spelling errors and cut the words which doesn’t add to the story.
And it connects with people. Not everyone. But you can’t and shouldn’t write for everyone either.
Regarding giving away too much content free. Like you said, Henneke – people buy premium when the free content is amazing.
Beautiful article, keep inspiring.
Yes, that’s such a good point, too. When you try to please everyone, you kill your voice. To write from the heart, you can only really engage and inspire your tribe.
Thanks for adding that point, Rohan 🙂
I love this post, Henneke! Our heart is open and free from a competitive attitude. From our heart we find our unique human-ness and ability to connect with the heart of our ideal reader. Seems to me this is the best kind of marketing – to connect with clients and customers and serve their best interests.
Yes, I agree—it’s the best kind of marketing. It doesn’t even feel like marketing.
And I like how you’ve put this: “Our heart is open and free from a competitive attitude.” Even more reason to get out of our heads!
Thank you for adding your thoughts, Fiona. I appreciate it—as always.
Another great article Henneke! With our high tech age, I think people are searching to find people that they can connect to. Someone who struggles with or has the same flaws as them. When they find someone like them, they know they will not be judged and will be understood.
Yep, so true, Julie. And what surprises me every time, is how many people struggle with the same things as me. Our fears and doubts are more universal than we think!
Thank you for stopping by again, Julie. I appreciate it.
So many helpful ideas in this post! Gladly agree with you Kitty, Elfin, Patrick, Irina.
This one inspires me: “By showing myself as a real human being, I attract my favorite clients.”
Oh I hope so.
Need courage to put myself out there on my own blog. Pouring heart and soul into ghostwriting for others feels strangely safer than doing so for myself.
Thank you Henneke for the inspiration, encouragement, direction!
I wholeheartedly believe in this: “By showing myself as a real human being, I attract my favorite clients.”
When people get to know who you are, they hire you because of who you are, not just because of what you do. And when people hire you because of who you are, the value of what you offer grows because you offer more than a good service.
I also used to find ghostwriting (or writing copy for clients) safer than writing for myself, and it was easier in a way. But I’ve learned a lot more from writing for myself.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Joanne.
Hi Henneke,
I often feel minor to the competitors when I read other people’s writing. Not always because they are great writers but because I feel that they know it all. A thought that “it’s almost impossible to be better than the competition, so we have to focus on how we can differentiate ourselves instead,” resonates with me a lot. Just like the other one: “You’re not in competition with anyone—because everyone is different.”
Thank you for another interesting post. And for your free gifts.
Irina, thank you for being open that you feel minor in comparison to competitors. When I see a popular post on a topic I’d also like to address, I feel small, and like like I should not bother chiming in. I also resonate as you did with the idea “it’s almost impossible to be better than the competition, so we have to focus on how we can differentiate ourselves instead.” Yes. Maybe I can be the professional who makes solo content marketing more fun.
We all seem to have a tendency to belittle or at a minimum underestimate our own knowledge and experiences. And we overestimate how much others know.
When I started my blog, I felt ‘intimidated’ by established players in the field. How could I ever create something as worthwhile that they had already created. But when we diligently do our work and focus on our own audience, the magic happens.
Thank you for stopping by!
‘You can never give too much information away for free’
This is so true. It is only when you go out to really help your audience, without holding anything back, that you can connect with them on a deeper, more emotional level.
Opening up to your readers shows to them you are addressing them as individuals and not as a group.
You hold back and they too will hold back. In the end your writing will serve no purpose.
Thanks for being so generous with all your tips and advice, Henneke
Hi Patrick,
I like this point you make: “You hold back and they too will hold back. In the end your writing will serve no purpose.”
I think it’s true. Readers will quickly sense whether you’re in it for the money only, or whether you truly want to help.
Thank you for stopping by!
A little Leonard Cohen and some Ray Bradbury. Daring to be ourselves has just become so much easier. 🙂
In the offline working place, I had to hide my true self all the time. I guess that’s part of the charm of working online is that being yourself is necessary and is the right thing to do. However, after years of stifling that, it doesn’t come easy.
Thanks for the encouraging post, Henneke!
Hi Elfin – I’ve been through a similar journey, hiding my true self in my corporate job, and then struggling to be (and find!) myself when I started my own business. It takes time. My writing has changed a lot since the early days of Enchanting Marketing.
I’m a fan of Leonard Cohen. I was lucky to see him in concert in Birmingham (UK) a few years ago.
I agree. Be a friend. The world needs more of them, anyhow.
Yessss. More friendship.
🙂