Sarah M. KippSarah M. Kipp

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Mark My Words: How Business Professionals Track Writing Progress

If measuring progress is an essential part of working toward goals, how does a writer know if she is on track? Do writers count words or time or both? Which approach works best for which types of writing?

In Stephen King’s On Writing, King shares that he starts writing in the early morning and writes at least 2,000 words each day. Sometimes he can reach his goal in a few hours; other days he is still writing in the early afternoon. He writes until he has written [Read more…] about Mark My Words: How Business Professionals Track Writing Progress

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Take Time to Celebrate

One of my clients experienced a notable milestone this week. Weeks of hard work and intentional preparation culminated in a successful event that unfolded nearly exactly like his envisioned ‘optimal’ outcome. During a quick check-in call after the event, he identified for me the many pieces of both the process and the outcome that had gone well. Then he shared that he was not sure yet where to focus next.

“Take a moment to celebrate,” I offered. “Stand in the place you are and capture everything there is to notice about this moment. Write down what went well and what you want to change for next time. Bring as much intention to your process of celebration and reflection as you did to your preparation.”

This client is up to big things in the world. His recent event was an entry point to the greater goals he has and larger contributions he will likely make on his path. By capturing the clarity he has at this moment in time, he creates a reference point to review when he prepares for another event in a month or a year from now.

The next time you reach a milestone, consider savoring and celebrating the moment with the same level of intentionality you invested in preparation. Before looking to see what is next, honor the value of celebration as an act of completion. Allow yourself time to reflect and record all that comes through. In taking the time to complete through celebration, you effectively clear space to allow the next new adventure to emerge with clarity and alignment. Enjoy!

 

 

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Mixing Business and Pleasure: Writing a Mission Statement

Writing a mission statement for your life or business is an adventure. Whether you are revisiting the language and form of your current mission, or preparing to write your first mission statement, the process of working with your mission can become an expression of who you are as well. While writing a mission statement can feel like a serious undertaking, surprising results may come through if you are willing to shift your approach.

First and foremost, give yourself permission to PLAY. Your mission is who you are at the core. It has always been who you are, it reflects who you are now, and it will be who you are ten years from now. Through play, we tap into the earliest and purest expressions of ourselves when our spirit emerges stronger than our inhibitions and insecurities.

The first time I wrote a mission statement, I did not appreciate the value of play as part of the process. Instead, I worked very hard to intellectually figure out my mission statement within the context of a course assignment. I crafted the language carefully, memorized it, and practiced delivering it out loud to the group. It was ‘accurate’ in the sense that all the pieces were authentic and true to who I was, but I struggled to memorize it, and I lacked confidence when I shared it with others. (Hint: A great mission statement [Read more…] about Mixing Business and Pleasure: Writing a Mission Statement

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Can You Take a Compliment?

For much of my life, I wrote for myself. I journaled extensively, wrote poems occasionally, and tried my hand at short stories and essays as well. Then I tucked them away in a safe place like the back of my closet or in the file cabinet under ‘work in progress.’ When I began sharing my writing, people I knew and loved complimented me on both content and style and were affirming. They spoke freely about what they liked. I, however, had a hard time hearing it.

Outwardly, I smiled and thanked them for their kind words. Sometimes, I even let what they said soak in a little. Yet, within an hour or two, I would still discount them in my mind. “She just said [Read more…] about Can You Take a Compliment?

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The Op Ed Project

Several months ago, my rabbi, Rachel Gurevitz, and I were talking about our writing and how people choose to use writing as a vehicle to carry their voice and message to a larger audience. “You should check out The Op Ed Project,” she said. She gave me a brief overview and shared the personal value she had received from attending.

Their website, www.theopedproject.org, provided all the information I needed to make my decision. The home page states, “The OpEd Project’s Mission is to increase the range of voices and quality of ideas we hear in the world. A starting goal is to increase the number of women thought leaders in key commentary forums to a tipping point.”

I signed up.

Recently, I completed the Core Seminar: Write to Change the World, a day-long experience that far exceeded what I saw described on the website. I had the privilege of spending eight hours with twenty-two diverse women with one common goal: to make a difference using the written word. We received invaluable information about how to think through and work with the essential elements of writing an Op Ed. Before that, though, we worked together until each person in the room was able to clearly articulate an area of expertise and what made her a credible expert on that subject. I watched, in awe, as the seasoned Harvard lecturer with a doctorate and several publications navigated the same path of challenge, discovery and clarification as the twenty-year-old with a GED. In the end, how we tell our story and how we establish ourselves as experts is not about who others say we are. It is about becoming grounded and clear about the contribution we bring to a given conversation, and then having the vehicle, training, and the “access pass” to navigate in the world as a thought leader who creates change.

Today I am paying forward the gift my rabbi gave to me. Check out the website: www.opedproject.org. Attend a workshop, or share the information with women in your life who would benefit from attending. In our seminar, we learned that 90% of Op Eds are submitted by men. The Op Ed Project has a mission and a vision to give women the tools they need to change this number. Please spread the word.