• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Whitney English

Mindful Tools for a Meaningful Life

  • Planners
  • Desk Accessories
  • Health & Wellness
  • HEART GOALS™
  • SHOP NOW

The Most Powerful Thing Your Small Business Blog Can Do

July 2, 2014 whitneyenglish 5 Comments

Welcome, ye who hail from Huffington Post Small Business. I wish I was writing with exuberance, but I’m a little deflated at the moment, I’ll admit. We’re kindred spirits, though, you and I, so I can admit that. Small business owners gotta stick together, right?

I just returned from my monthly “Posse” meeting. It’s a group of small business owners who gather monthly, and in the strictest of confidence, hash out whatever issues we’re battling at the moment. In fact, as one of my colleagues put it this evening: if each brain at that table was worth $5,000 an hour, it would be about $120,000 worth of consulting. Pretty powerful stuff.

Posse meetings are not always easy, though. Sometimes we have to hear things we don’t want to hear. Just last month, I received feedback from someone in the group that I didn’t want to hear. I didn’t respond well. In fact, I could almost feel my fists come to my face, ready to respond in unadulterated defensive fashion.

I know nothing about boxing, or defensive sport of any kind, so that’s probably not a smart move.

It’s also not typically the kind of move I’d make.

I believe that defensive communication breeds defensive communication. Defense escalates the heat, the fight. It makes things worse, not better. No one wins. Lose/lose, as Stephen Covey would have said.

If we don’t learn how to take it, if we don’t train ourselves to respond positively to critique, we’ll never improve. We’ll never grow.

If you’re here from the Huffington Post, you probably realize I’ve committed the worst blogging mistake a company can make–a poorly written blog headline.

But here’s the thing: I don’t want to be a company. I want to be a human. Companies have to be perfect. Humans are allowed to be flawed.

There’s no forgiveness if you’re a company that’s committed a cardinal business sin. It’s harder to apologize when you’re a “we”, and an apology means more when it’s an “I”.

I’m not writing this to make apologies for poorly written headlines. I’m writing this to let you know, that one of the most powerful things you can do on your blog, as a company, is to give it a human voice. Be yourself.

Perfection isn’t attainable. The alternative is wholly fulfilling: trying to be the best version of myself I was created to be.

Now, in the spirit of receiving constructive criticism, I’m off to write a better headline.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Business, Personal Growth Making A Difference, Marketing

Get Updates!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emily says

    July 2, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    Oh Whitney! You are the epitome of authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability. With a huge community of fans who adore your beautiful, human self and your perfectly imperfect headlines. 😉

    XOXOXO!
    Emily

    Reply
  2. Natalie LaBayen says

    July 2, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    Whitney! I just wanted to tell you that despite your perceived imperfections, your planner saved me and my self esteem this past year. I was gifted the planner by my godmother last year. I was struggling with the new medication given to me for my autoimmune, it was affecting my cognitive skills. I couldn’t keep track of my thoughts and had very little short term memory.

    Thanks to you I was able to not feel so “other,” because you helped me be more me. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Rosella LaFevre says

    July 14, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    Hi Whitney,

    I’m the big jerk who pointed to one of your headlines as an example of a not-so-great one. You’re absolutely right about not wanting to be a company and wanting to be a human voice. Clearly you’re doing many things right with your blog and your company. I very much admire the work you do and the products you create. I’m human, too, and I feel horrible thinking that I’ve hurt you.

    On a related note, I do LOVE this post’s title and the one for “The One Thing You CAN Get Done Every Day.” I couldn’t wait to see what these things were! I do think they give a better idea of what the reader gets out of your posts.

    Sincerely sorry & hoping you don’t hate me too much,
    Rosella

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      July 14, 2014 at 9:00 pm

      Rosella, so good to hear from you! I’m not offended at all–thank you for your sweet comment, and for the fun traffic spike! Congrats on writing for HP–such an honor! Warmly, Whitney

      Reply
  4. Kirstin says

    October 3, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    I. LOVE. THIS. Don’t lose steam over someone’s opinion of what is good or right. You are honest, genuine and human. This is why we admire you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About

Recent Posts

How to Set Up A 2022 Academic Planner

June 3, 2022

5 Tips for Planning a Great Summer

May 24, 2022

How to Create A More Beautiful Life

May 20, 2022

Favorite Recipes

Perfect Summer Recipes

June 24, 2022

My Favorite Family-Friendly Recipes

October 28, 2021

4 Great Fourth of July Recipes

June 28, 2021

Best Summer Fruit Dessert

May 24, 2021

Best Muffin Recipe Ever

April 2, 2021

Best Weeknight Meals

December 1, 2020

More Posts from this Category

Popular Posts

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Perfect Summer Recipes
  • How to Find Your Perfect Planner
  • 10 Minutes to Start Your Day Right
  • How to Set Up A 2022 Academic Planner
  • 5 Tips for Planning a Great Summer

Follow Along

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Get Updates!

Copyright © 2022 · WhitneyEnglish.com