I’ve been anticipating this day all week.
Not just because it’s Friday, but because I’ve been waiting for this particular Friday to read the next book in latest fantasy the series I’m obsessed with. (!!!)
I have an in-person meeting today plus a host of projects to work… but once those are done I’m going to shut my laptop, download that ebook to my Kindle, and start READING!
The ebook was ready on Tuesday, and it took A Lot Of Discipline not to start reading right away. But I knew that if I started I would be distracted from work, and I knew it wouldn’t hurt to slow down my reading pace and actually anticipate this next installment in the series.
It got me thinking about excitement and eagerness and anticipation. What builds those feelings? How could we add more of them to our businesses or marketing or thought leadership?
I’m thinking about the articles I used to anticipate and reread – Bullish by Jen Dziura. Why? Because they were funny and sarcastic and made me feel capable and confident and purposeful.
I’m thinking about the podcasts I look forward to – Young House Love Has A Podcast and Ologies. Why? Because their tone is warm and familiar and funny and unexpected, they give me ideas to think about, they make me feel grateful for and connect to science and home life.
As for books, I often get absorbed in novels or series, and they tend to have the following in common: female protagonist, female friendships and/or family relationships, a compelling love story, some sort of mystery or adventure. They make me feel powerful, connected, grateful, transported, and creative.
I know these creators work very hard to produce their articles, podcasts and novels. But my sense is that they’re using their true voices, not manufacturing a tone or way of writing to make me feel something. Is it their genuineness in general that appeals to me, or is it that I’m drawn to warm, sarcastic, open people?
Even though I can spot common traits in what makes me excited and eager, forcing myself to use those traits in my own writing won’t have the same effect. Part of what is appealing is that these creators are so themselves, like they’re sitting next to you and talking to you. Maybe I already have these traits? Or I can cultivate them?
And would that make people like you reading this more excited and eager and drawn to my work?
