PP 251: Using Your True Voice

Kim Sutton: Today, I want you to take a really good look at the emails, the blog articles, any podcast episodes, and any live or pre-recorded videos that you are putting out for your audience. And ask yourself one question. Is this my true voice? If you’ve been listening to the Positive Productivity Podcast for a while, I’m sure you’ve gathered by now that I don’t try to hide who I am in any of my episodes. And I go so far as to share blooper episode with you, which by the way, I probably have content for at least another four more, I just haven’t taken the time to put those together yet. Very often I see community members in Facebook groups or other communities online share that they are trying to become a contributor to an online publication, or get a literary agent or achieve any other number of great feeds. Unfortunately for them, however, when I take in their content online, I realize that they are hiding their true self from the community around them. This morning, when I checked my email, I was surprised to see a response from the very first literary agent that I sent a letter to last May. The letter was very candid, and I let him know flat out that he was the first literary agent that I had contacted about my book, Chronic Idea Disorder. I was thrilled to see that the gentleman actually wants me to send my first two chapters as well as a full proposal. Looking back at the email that I sent to him, I didn’t know whether to be embarrassed, proud or shocked by myself. As I already told you, the email was very candid, I did share that it was my first inquiry. And I also just bear it all. I shared who I was, I didn’t try to make myself out to be anybody that I wasn’t. And I shared the good, the bad, and the ugly. Since I made this huge shift in my professional life in 2016, so much greatness has come my way. And I don’t say this in order to toot my own horn or to make myself feel better, but instead, I say it because I want you to know that you are an amazing human. And you deserve as does the world around you to know who you truly are. So the next time that you send a query letter, or do a video, or record a podcast, or any other type of content, be transparent and be authentic. And I promise if you keep it up, you will start to see the rewards coming back to you. Now with all this said, go forth and make it a positive and productive day.