One of the biggest and most important challenges entrepreneurs face, is finding your authentic voice.
Your voice is what sets you apart from the others in your field. It’s the magic je ne sais quoi that takes your content from dry, dull and formulaic, to engaging, thought-provoking, poignant, or laugh-out-loud funny.
Your voice gives your brand personality and flair. It makes people pay attention. It makes your content memorable.
Finding your voice is about learning to communicate your ideas in a way that feels good to you; reflects your personality, values and intentions; and speaks to your ideal customer.
That might sound complicated, but the secret to finding your voice is surprisingly simple.
The best way to find your voice, is to use your voice.
You see, your voice isn’t lost. You’re just having trouble hearing it. And that’s hardly surprising.
These days we’re surrounded by constant chatter. Social media, rolling news, notifications on your phone, emails… it’s noise noise noise 24/7.
Add in a few ‘shoulds’, ‘must dos’ and workplace or industry ‘rules’, and it’s no wonder we lose touch with what we really want to say – or how best to say it.
If you want to find your voice, you’ve got to go within.
You’ve got to turn down the volume on everyone else, and tune in to your own frequency.
And how do we do that? By daily journalling. Putting pen to paper for ten minutes before you start the work day. It doesn’t matter what you write. It only matters that your write.
Daily journalling is a practice followed by many writers, from Julia Cameron’s famous morning pages (The Artist’s Way), to Anne Lamott, in Bird by Bird.
Consider your morning journal your warm up for a day of exercising your authentic voice. At first, all you’re going to get is static. A constant buzz of “I’ve got nothing to say” and “this is boring” and “why am I even doing this?”
Keep going.
Some days it’s hard.
Keep going.
Other days the words will flow.
Keep going.
But what’s the point? The point is it doesn’t have to have a point. Just get whatever is in your head down on the page. Its’s a safe place to test out ideas, filter out the rubbish and tap into your inner truth.
Sometimes you have to write pages and pages of complete and utter drivel before you get to the single idea you were meant to uncover. That’s okay. Better in your journal, than in your blog, newsletter, or on your social media profile, I say.
(And besides, that single idea will be worth it.)
Once you get in the habit, you’ll find your journal leads you to all sorts of ideas, thoughts and opportunities. Your journal can be an incredible springboard for exploring deeper meaning in your work and writing heartfelt social media posts.
It’s also a great way to work through blocks and challenges, and find the clarity that will help you move forward in your business.
Have I convinced you yet? Here’s a few tips to get you started:
- Use a timer – I like to set myself a goal of writing continuously for 10 minutes every morning.
- Write fast and free – keep the pen moving, even if you repeat yourself or simply write “I have nothing to say” over and over. The magic is in the motion. Just observe what’s happening and keep writing.
- No editing – Keep going til the end of the ten minutes without re-reading your work. Don’t give that inner critic space to breathe.
- Ask yourself a question – and then make yourself answer it. For example, if you are really triggered by something a client or colleague has done, ask yourself why – and let your pen supply the answer. This is an incredible way to move past your blocks and release old stuff.
- Use writing prompts – I share weekly writing prompts with my newsletter subscribers, so sign up for my list to get yours delivered to your inbox.
If you’re ready to dive into journalling and learn how to use your journal entries to consistently show up online and share your truth, sign up for a free 20 minute mini session, you’ve got nothing to lose and much to gain.
