It’s time for another installment of Trials of an Entrepreneurial Virgin!
So, the last month or so has been full of meetings and networking. I’ve met tons of great people, even added a couple new clients to my list. Yet, while brushing my teeth the other morning, I realized I’ve been running from the areas where I excel.
Now, I haven’t been running from writing, per se, but I’ve been running from the kinds of writing topics where I kick ass.
As I’ve written several times before, the word “business” (politics, taxes, etc.) used to make my eyes glaze over. OK, sometimes it still does, but I’m lucky to have clients in fun, creative fields to counter the business writing once in a while. Still, the other day I realized I’m awesome at making all that boring shit interesting and that I started on this path at least six years ago.
I’ve always liked to write about “fun” and “fluffy” things even though things like crime and politics fascinate me. Denial is a funny thing.
Back in 2005 when I was still working for a community newspaper, I found an ad on Craigslist for a theater publication looking for a freelance writer. It was a new magazine focused on the business side of theater. Since that was an interesting concept, I responded to the ad. Keep in mind, theater nor business were my areas of expertise. Regardless, they hired me as a freelancer because of my newspaper experience. Sadly, after a few assignments, we parted ways. I felt that I wasn’t “getting it” even though the editor saw differently.
During the theater publication time, I was interviewed to work at the Minnesota House of Representatives. The job was for a session-only staff writer. For those unfamiliar, the “session” is when the House and Senate get their work done, so-to-speak. In Minnesota, it’s generally from January to the end of May.
So, I got the gig and, because of my experience, was assigned to cover the Tax and Bonding committees, both big money committees. Yes, I thought I’d probably die of boredom. Turns out, I was quite good at making taxes interesting. It’s not too hard when you’re talking about people’s money. Still, I didn’t see the path.
Once my time at the House commenced, I moved to New York City. The only job interview I landed was with a financial publication. I had to be open to anything as I had to pay the rent. Plus, I thought if I could make reading about taxes interesting I could make anything interesting. And again, I got the job because I was an experienced reporter. In my head though it was still business/money writing and, for whatever reason, I couldn’t see angles to stories, something with which I’d always excelled. The words “business” and “money” and “broker-dealer” kept getting in the way. In hindsight, I was definitely in denial and failed on purpose.
Finally, we come to last summer when I officially started my business and met my Big Fish client whose sole reason for being is to help small business owners.
So what, right? What does all this shit mean, Sonja? The point: Pay attention. The last couple of months I’ve slowly embraced my inner-geek. The one that loves technology and laughs while reading political stories. Since I’ve embraced the real Sonja, I pointed myself on the path without even realizing it. I’m suddenly getting more business and not just from those people in finance, and the like.
Maybe you’re lost in your career. What’s that thread that keeps popping up? For me, it was business and other geek-like things. No matter how hard I fought it and pretended like it couldn’t be the thing I was good at, it kept coming back. It kept nudging me. And while writing is my business — and I can write on practically any topic — I also know I’m awesome at making confusing (sometimes boring) things interesting. I give those things a human side. Wait until you see what I have coming up with a CPA. It definitely won’t be what you’re expecting.
So, what’s that thing you’ve been running from? Think about why you’re running. You might find embracing the scary (or your true self) liberating.