http://youtu.be/Cj94_9YZygM

Finding your voice

As an entrepreneur, you have wisdom and experience.  Even if you are new, the fact that you have stepped out on your dreams puts you miles ahead of most people.  That is why it is important to get your voice into the world.  Today, let’s talk about how to find your voice.

How to find your writing voice

• Be real, raw and scary.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Don’t worry about what you think others want to hear.  Say what you truly believe.
• Write in first person. Use “I” and “me.”  It is not being selfish, it is being you.  Your brain will literally be more ‘real’ when you write with the first person pronouns.  (I can’t believe I remembered that from High School.)
• Use words you use every day.  Granted, you may not want to be dropping the ‘f-bomb’ every other word, but be the real you.  Get fired up about something, record yourself ranting about it and you will see the words you use and the way you communicate.
• Get feedback.  Write a few things.  Keep them short, like a paragraph or two.  Ask someone close to you to read them.  Ask them to tell you if that really sounds like you.  If not, ask them why not.
• Don’t hold back.  Being real is about letting go and being passionate about what you are passionate about.  I am passionate about helping entrepreneurs be real in their business and marketing.  I am tired of finding out how fake businesses are . . . I had better stop before I get on one of my rants.  I think you get the point.
• Interject your personality.  Did you see what I did on the last note?  I shared, I showed passion and stopped myself to let you know that I have more to say.  That is my personality.  I share my videos in 2-3 minutes, but I could talk on almost each of them for at least fifteen minutes.  I choose to limit what I say to the most succinct way possible.  I am a pragmatist, so that is who I am.  If you are a humorous person, be humorous.  If you are a deep thinker, be deep.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with your writing.  If you are deep, you don’t have to be deep every time.  You are more than a one sided person.  Show the others sides to yourself and others will appreciate the wonderful complexity that is you.  You can even have fun and take a creative writing course or find one online.

Free writing Exercise

In the video I mentioned free writing.  Basically, it is just a way to get information out of your head and into another form.  You can use a notebook, like I did.  Or you can use a word processor.  The important thing to realize in free writing is that it is about your flow.  Don’t try to edit, just let the words ‘flow’ onto the page.  If you don’t type as quick as you think, record an audio or video and transcribe it. It is a good exercise.  Or you can pay to have it transcribed.  (I suggest finding a transcriber on fiverr.com.)

Manifesto

In the video, I also mentioned a manifesto.  A manifesto was used in revolutions to state the terms and values a group had and why they thought they were right.  A personal or business manifesto is about your values and beliefs.  When you free write, think about what is important to you. Think about why you do your business and the impact you want to make.  That can become your manifesto, even if you are the only one who sees it.  (I have my own manifest and no one has seen it.  I have thought about posting it, what do you think?)

I would love to hear about your words of wisdom on writing in your voice.  What is ONE thing you would tell a person trying to find their voice?  Share it on our Youtube or GooglePlus.

Note: Some of these notes came from Jeff Goins.  Check out his info if you really want to become a writer.  I don't get paid for this, I just thought it would be helpful.)