Do you ever find you’re cruising right along, doing your thing, feeling like you have a handle on life, and then bam! The universe says, “No, it’s time to grow”? That’s me right now. I’ve worked as a journalist since 2006 but most of my stories have been simple — interview a few people, do some googling, and then done. I’m not someone who has ever written an exposé. I don’t piss off politicians or reveal the dark underbelly of anything. In other words, I wouldn’t call myself an investigative journalist and neither would anyone else.
Buuuuut, now I’m doing investigative journalism work.
It’s not for the Washington Post or anything but I’m holding some people’s feet to the fire in order to change things. They’ve created dangerous living conditions for tenants and as far as I can tell, the city isn’t doing anything about it. Instead of writing one story and dropping it, I’m pursuing the subject and writing follow-ups. I letting these corrupt bigwigs know I’m not going anywhere, which is something I’ve never done before.
As a ghostwriter for therapists, most of my clients haven’t worked with someone like me before. Oftentimes, they have questions about what a ghostwriter does and are scared to put themselves out there. I completely understand! I feel the same way whenever I try something new. However, as Goethe reminds us, “Whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”
The magic in my life is that a veteran reporter showed up out of the woodwork to coach me. He’s giving me lots of tips about calling this person, researching that, filing a FOIA request, and more. When you step outside your comfort zone, people materialize to help you. These angels in disguise act as cheerleaders telling you, “You can do it! Go ahead and try!”
It reminds me of Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist when he writes, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” I’ve seen that over and over again for the things that are meant to be. When I started this business as a ghostwriter for therapists, I thought I would fail. I thought no one would want to work with me, that clients would be nonexistent, and that I’d have to work for someone else. But that isn’t what happened.
Instead, within a week, I had my first content writing client (because I do that too!) and in about six weeks, I started ghostwriting for my first therapist. She and I have been working together for literally years now and not only has she been published in some big-time publications, but we’re working on THREE ebooks.
Renee was scared when we started working together. She was nervous about sharing herself with the world. Would she be judged? What would people think? But now the dam has burst and she realizes she wants to get her message out in the world. There’s so much inside she can’t not share it. Renee stepped outside her comfort zone and I was the angel in disguise who showed up to help her.
Am I that angel for you as well? Are you ready to grow your comfort zone? If so, reach out to me. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.