Life hacks
assume positive intent
Here’s an observation – especially in today’s world of frayed nerves and insta-snark kneejerk replies at anyone who’s even perceived at being “out of line”. What if the person reaching out to you didn’t intend it the way you interpreted it? We’d all go a lot farther by giving folks grace and assuming positive intent.…
Read Moreabdication vs delegation
I have a confession to make: Tech and I don’t get along. Unless it’s super intuitive and gettable-at-a-glance, I tend to give all technological solutions a wide berth. That’s not to say I’m a luddite – my smartphone is practically glued into my hand some days (an unhealthy habit, that’s for damn sure). And being…
Read Moreadvice to new copywriters, from someone who hires copywriters
Today I had an ambitious up-and-coming copywriter reach out to me via private message. Normally I would leave this kind of convo unread and not engage – life is much saner for me that way. But his approach caught my attention and I felt inspired to try and help him out by sharing some advice…
Read Morestepping into someone’s head as a copywriter
This week I got a question: When you’re writing copy, how do you find the balance between being true to the company’s voice but also bringing your own ideas/slant? Had this challenge before when I was hired based on very ‘me’ samples specifically written for that company, but when it actually came to writing a…
Read MoreBeating Back Writer’s Block
One time, I was on a freaking gorgeous hike through a redwood forest, on my way to see my first real in-person waterfall. This was in Northern California, and after years of drought, the rains had finally come. The falls promised to be roaring and spectacular, well worth the 12-ish miles out and back. Somewhere…
Read MoreSusie F*#&ing Sunshine over here
I’ve always been good at what I call “zoom in, zoom out”. What I mean by that is… I can see both the 50,000-ft view and the detailed, up-close view, and zoom in and out to see how the pieces connect. And as a result of that ability, early in my career I became the…
Read Moreit’s kinda like a loose hose drill…
A long time ago, in a lifetime far, far away… Angie was a firefighter. Some of you will be shocked by this. Others will be like, “yeah I can totally see you with a pickaxe in your hands. Or a chainsaw.” If you couldn’t picture it before, now you can: You’re welcome. 19-year-old Angie, take…
Read MoreI painted a thing…
I’ve always wanted to learn how to paint. I’d see these amazing works of art… online, in museums, even in restaurants and friends’ homes… and I’d just wonder. How ON EARTH do they do that? I tried to recreate that art on my own but I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong, and…
Read Morewhy being the best is pretty much the worst…
When I was younger, I was a real Type A personality. I mean, you couldn’t tell it from the state of my ROOM necessarily (I know you’re reading this mom. Please stop laughing hysterically). But I wanted to be the best SO freaking badly. The highest grades. The best goalie during soccer time at PE.…
Read More