This blog originally ran last year, just after I came across a letter to Santa I'd written as a little girl. If the networks can run "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" every year since 1966, I can rerun a blog post, right? Besides, I still believe in the words. Remember, you can outsource the production of your words, but never, ever outsource your voice. 

And if you need a last-minute gift for yourself or that entrepreneur you love who spends a lot of time writing for her business, here's an idea. A few spots are still open in the beta version of my Content Calendar Build Workshop launching in January. Check out the details here.

Wishing you and yours a fantastic holiday. See ya in 2018! 

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I don't know about you, but the holidays always turn my nostalgia meter up to 11. Come December, I am overwhelmed with memories of the cookies my family used to bake, the toys I longed for, the countless times I watched "Miracle on 34th Street" (the original, Natalie Wood version only, please.) The memories remind me of who I was back then. And, as I learned last week, who I still am.

During a recent visit to my parents' house, I came across a letter I wrote to Santa. Sort of. There's no date, but I'm guessing I was around five years old. It kicks off with the toys I'd like to receive and then I make a couple of confessions/indications of personality traits I will never entirely outgrow:

1. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. "...I could not write this because I cannot write (cursive) I can only print and I make too many boo boos..."
2. I was an early adopter of outsourcing. "...so Jan (my older sister) printed it real fast for me..."
3. Time management turns out to be a lifelong struggle. "...because I was in a big rush..."
4. I get hangry. "...to eat because I was hungry." 

I share this with you as a reminder that sometimes, content creation kicks our butts, even those of us who grow up to write for a living.

Sometimes we have to concede that we might be programmed for perfectionism from birth, but it doesn't have to be a deal breaker if we learn to recognize and work around it.

Sometimes we need to ask for help in sorting out our strategy, our message, our production, but be very, very careful about outsourcing your voice.

Sometimes we just need the pressure of a hard deadline to get our content done and there's no point in flogging ourselves for burning the midnight oil to meet it (again).

Finally, and maybe most importantly, we have to keep ourselves nourished mentally and physically; we need to read well and eat well to create well.

In 2017, this blog and other 423 Communication products in-the-works will help you dive deeper into creating content that supports your business and speaks your language. In the meantime, I wish you and yours a most wonderful holiday and sparkling new year.