Never done this before
Never done this before
Time for us to launch your plane / Issue 1,147
Oh, hi friends!
One of my friends is a A+ decision-maker. I can explain a "this or that" scenario and ask, "What should I do next?" He decides, effortlessly.
Another friend is extremely good at making everyone around her feel at ease. We'll be out for dinner and by the end of the meal, the server is her best friend.
Another friend is a career genius. They excel in corporate structure, climbing higher every year, taking on more responsibility, and making a greater impact.
I consider you a friend.
What do you do that no one else does?
What do you know that no one else knows?
I ask because we all have these gifts and talents, except we often don't see them as gifts — if we even see them at all.
They’re just kind of…sitting there.
And I think this is why we hesitate around our biggest moves and biggest ideas.
We tell ourselves:
Hmmm, that's sort of scary.
Who am I to do *this*?
There are too many steps!
But hasn’t this already been done?
And it will take too long.
And I'm already too late.
These are the chatty little beasts in our heads that I've written about for six years in this newsletter. They're the subject of my three journals. They're topics I’ve covered for dozens of media outlets as a freelance writer and editor for 15 years.
My podcast is all about how people make the most out of every day, I gave a keynote speech at a creativity summit, and I've sort of secretly mentored authors, editors, CEOs, and designers on pushing forward their important work. Heck, even my plays and musicals have the underlying theme of how to live a full and meaningful life!!
And I’m just now seeing the patterns in the work I choose and the work that chooses me.
And now I'd love to work with you, too.
So what idea are you considering? A project, a story, a career shift, a deadline.
What's holding you back from sharing your gifts? Your talents?
This summer, I'm offering one-hour sessions called Launch the Plane where you and I figure it out, one-on-one.
I want to help you find your next steps — and launch your plane off the tarmac and up into the air. I'll send you over some prompts, and then we’ll dive into a Zoom or phone call and you'll come away with actionable steps to move forward.
(Very on brand. I just searched my newsletter archives for "move forward" and had to stop counting after 67 mentions…!)
I would call our session an intensive, but if you read this newsletter, you know…I'm not intense? This will be fun, generative, encouraging. The goal is clarity and momentum. Let's launch, together.
More nitty-gritty on some subjects we can discuss:
How to work through every stage of a project, from idea generation to finish lines
Book publishing
Building a newsletter
Freelance writing and pitching
Getting back on track after rejection
(Non-toxic) productivity advice
Career guidance and development
Podcasting, from concept to execution
Playwriting, musical theater writing, and more
But what is your plane?
What do you want to get off the ground?
I'd love to work on this with you.
If you have any questions, hit reply and I’d love to chat.
And while I can’t offer these sessions for free, if you’re a recent graduate or striking writer (#WGAStrong!), let me know and we will work out a rate that’s reasonable for you!
By the way, I hope the idea of finding common threads among your previous work might resonate.
What draws you in? What do you always talk — and think — about? And how can you offer that to others?
And the final theme I’ve noticed this week: Hesitate less. If you have an idea, if something is calling you, share it — today.
We wait for no one.
Thanks, friends. Cheering you on, as always.
I love that you mentioned looking for patterns in your work. I think this is easy to overlook, but key, bc sometimes our patterns are born of the things we do so well and so naturally, we don't even realize we're doing them. Yet on the same note, some of the things we do well aren't necessarily the things we enjoy, and may even be the things that burn us out. All to say, it's helpful to know the difference, and spot the patterns that work for us, so we can do the next thing. Really enjoying your newsletter. Thank you for sharing it!
"And it will take too long.
And I'm already too late."
I've had these thoughts more than once. What you said at the end is so useful to me. I need to hesitate less and share more.