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5 Non-Writing Ways to Add Value to People · The Daily Writer

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hey my friend, welcome to The Daily Writer, where we help writers become authors of their own lives.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I believe that much of the writing life isn't really about writing.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: It all comes down to relationships.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: After all, it's pretty hard to have a successful business or a career of any kind without people.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: You know, as they say, no man is an island.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's especially true when it comes to writing because we depend on readers who actually read our stuff or they hire us or they give us business.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: We depend on editors and designers and all kinds of other people to help make our writing life worthwhile and successful.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: And so to that end, I want to offer five very simple ways to add value to people.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: Now, these don't have anything to do with writing per se, but they do have everything to do with people.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Again, these are five very simple things.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Number one is make connections and referrals.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Is there somebody in your life who needs an editor, a designer, an insurance agent, an attorney, or somebody else?
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: If so, offer to connect them with your guy or your gal who does those things and make their life a little bit easier.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, look for ways to encourage somebody.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, the truth is that we all have bad days and it's not hard to find people who need a little boost.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't cost you anything to spur somebody on and give them some affirmation and some validation.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's very, very simple and easy to do.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Number three is do a little bit extra.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: I want to encourage you to take that bit of extra time on a project and really make it sparkle, or give that writing an extra pass, or deliver more value than you've been paid for.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Whatever you do, find a way to put a little bit of a cherry on top of it.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Number four is be a safe person.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of people these days seem just kind of angry and irritable and unable to control their emotions.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not really sure what's going on in culture these days, but I see a lot of that these days.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: So I encourage you to be a person who is safe and secure, like an immovable rock when everybody else seems out of control.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: And then finally, number five, one of my favorites, is send unexpected gifts.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: Just a couple days ago, I sent a surprise gift card to somebody that I hired for a relatively small job, but I wanted them to know that I really appreciated their help because they made me look better by their amazing service.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: And they were delighted at the gift card that I sent because it reinforced the value that I put on them as a person.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: It expressed appreciation that I felt and also lifted up the important work that they do.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: So when it comes to these five tips, you can really sum these up with the old saying, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: And I really believe that more than ever.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: So be that person who cares and adds value to people.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: You might be the greatest writer in the world, but if people around you don't feel the love and care and affirmation from you, then that's really going to hamstring your effectiveness as a writer.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: So make sure and let people know how much they matter.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, thanks for listening.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: Keep writing and keep showing up, and I'll see you tomorrow.