The year was 1989. I was a newlywed armed with a degree from Otterbein in Speech Communications when I started working at Ohio Magazine. My first day on the job they gave me a stack of magazines and said, “Here. Read these.”
Read these? Read all day long and you’ll pay me???
I thought I’d won the lottery.
But read I did. I studied the written word, the turn of a phrase, the crafting of a story.
But because I’m, um, gregarious and outspoken, and because my boss was sharp enough to put people where they would thrive, he dubbed me Ohio Magazine’s first-ever promotions manager.
I traveled the Buckeye State, rallying small towns from here to there in celebration of various cover stories. And although I become the defacto spokesperson, I still yearned to stretch my editorial wings.
(Somewhere there’s video of a thinner, younger me dressed head-to-toe in cream-colored business attire in front of an outhouse. Oh, how, OMag loved the unusual angle.)
I adored my job as promotions manager — until they published my first article.
I simply could not contain my joy at my very first byline and promptly quit to pursue a freelancing career.
In the 17 years since, I’ve been fortunate enough to combine both loves — writing and communications — to a highly rewarding career.
I’m one of the few writers I know who has deep experience in interactive and print communications, as well as in marketing communications and feature writing.
In my consultancy, I bring everything I’ve learned in 20+ years of writing, speaking and communications to clients who want to create and deliver an impactful message. My sweet spot is cutting through the clutter and helping people find their true voice and message.
Of course, I continually look for new ways to service my clients, so last December when friend, mentor and genius collaborator Ruth Milligan approached me to explore her re-ignited passion for helping people with their presentation style and substance, I was in, hook, line and sinker.
Together, we could take all that we knew and learned through decades-long careers in the field and deliver something useful and radical.
Together, we could serve an under-served contingency, elevating people’s ability to communicate beyond what they think they’re capable of.
Together, we could help people find their voice and deliver their worthwhile and worthy ideas in ways that are meaningful and memorable.
And with that, we’re beyond thrilled to announce the launch of ar.tic.u.la.tion. (Read Ruth’s post for her story.)
I won’t be giving up my copywriting, content and communications practice; rather, I’ll be extending my offerings through ar.tic.u.la.tion.
The creative, strategic and collaborative work I do will continue. I’m simply expanding it to include public speakers and presenters and tapping a bit more into the coach I’ve been all along.
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He’s been glued and stitched and sewn. Torn and battered, he’s mine. And he’s always been there for me.
