“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
This quote appeared in my Facebook newsfeed a few days ago, shared by a friend on their page, and instead of simply ‘liking’ it and moving on to the next item in the feed I thought about why it appealed to me.
I’ve seen this quote many times before – and I’ve always appreciated it because I understand the sentiment – but last week it seemed a bit more meaningful. This post will be a departure from my usual posts about PR and writing for business, but I don’t think you will mind because there is a relevant message.
I recently discovered a very dear friend had died. His death, and the circumstances around how I found out about it, brought out a host of emotions (many of which I was not ready to deal with). The reason I am telling you this, is that after those initial emotions had subsided and I was left with empty sadness, my instinct was to honour his memory with words.
I am – and have always been – a storyteller. My comfortable place is crafting words to communicate a client’s business success, share an experience, retell an anecdote or express how I feel.
So, where are these words that honour my friend? I haven’t written them – yet. And it’s not because I don’t know what to say (that would come once I started writing); the reason I haven’t acted on that instinct to immortalise our friendship in words is because of my hesitation to show my vulnerability.
Essentially I am second guessing whether or not I want you to see me bleed. But it is that willingness to show my vulnerability that will help you connect with me as a person – a person you may or may not do business with at some point.
If you share some of your story, your audience is going to feel more comfortable with you as a person, as a business owner, as someone they might choose to build a business relationship with.
So, as I say to my clients constantly, be willing to share a bit about yourself and see how much better your business relationships are as a result. I’m not suggesting you transcribe the last argument you had with your partner for the world to see; what I am recommending by writing this post is that you share a bit more of you – what you did at the weekend, your favourite meal, what you created at your evening class…
Be willing to be vulnerable. We’re all looking for a way to connect, and finding common ground is the easiest way to build that connection. The next thing you share might just be the thing that tips a business decision in your favour.
And, vale NSM x
