1 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly 2 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small 3 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: decisions we can make to become the best possible versions 4 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor joy hard and Bradford, 5 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or 6 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: to find a therapist in your area, visit our website 7 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you 8 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is 9 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with 10 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much 11 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: for joining me for session three eighty of the Therapy 12 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our conversation 13 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: after a word from our sponsors. 14 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 2: Hi. 15 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 3: I'm Pollyanna Reid and I'm on the Therapy for Black 16 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 3: Girls Podcast. I'm in session today unpacking my work as 17 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 3: a celebrity ghostwriter. 18 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: When we hear the word ghostwriter, what may come up 19 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: are images of rappers in the studio having someone else 20 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 1: write their rhymes. But have you ever considered that some 21 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: of your favorite viral pop culture moments, from speeches to 22 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: even text messages, were orchestrated by ghostwriters, many of whom 23 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: are black women. Today, I'm joined by Pollyanna Reid, who's 24 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: a celebrity ghostwriter that helps high profile leaders and doers 25 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: turn their personal stories into powerful brand assets. She's the 26 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: founder of Writer's Block, a full service ghostwriting agency composed 27 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: of a team of content ninjas responsible for some of 28 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: the most talked about pop culture moments, books, and noteworthy speeches. 29 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: In trying to learn more about this unique industry, I 30 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: chatted with Pollyanna about how ghostwriters collaborate with high profile clients, 31 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: why we shouldn't associate hiring a ghostwriter with a lack 32 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: of intellect or talent, and how ghostwriting can provide an 33 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: untraditional path for those who want to enter the publishing industry. 34 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: Please note that this episode does contain a story about 35 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: suicidal thoughts, which may be triggering for some listeners. If 36 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: something resonates with you while enjoying our conversation, please share 37 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: with us on social media using the hashtag TVG in session, 38 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: or join us over in the sister circle To talk 39 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: more about the episode. You can join us at community 40 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: dot therapy for blackgirls dot com. Here's our conversation. Well, 41 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us today, Pollyanna. 42 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 3: I'm really happy to be here. 43 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. 44 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, I would love it if you could get 45 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: us started by telling us what exactly is ghostwriting before 46 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: we even jump into the conversation. 47 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 4: That's a beautiful question. 48 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: So ghostwriting is widely known in the music industry right 49 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 3: for writing lyrics. I've created a laden of my own 50 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 3: by working on the business side of things. So I 51 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 3: help the world's leaders and doers who are shaping the 52 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 3: future turn their personal stories into brands assets. And what 53 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 3: that means is I help them decode their ideas, navigate cultural, societal, 54 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 3: generational sensitivities. I am a human diary, I'm a confidant, 55 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 3: and so we are producing books, speeches, and op eds 56 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 3: so that they can move the needle on some of 57 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 3: the most important conversations and agendas in the world. 58 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: Beautiful, Yeah, I mean. So, you're the founder of Writer's Block, 59 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: which is a woman of color run firm that offers 60 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: all of these services, and like you talked about, you 61 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: offer these services to politicians, athletes, celebrities and it feels 62 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: super niche Can you tell me how you got started 63 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: in creating such a specific lane for yourself? 64 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: When it comes to any business idea, I think it's 65 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 3: really important. 66 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 4: To really analyze the need for it. 67 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 3: Part of the reason I decided to pursue this industry 68 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 3: is Number one, there was another woman who created a 69 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 3: possibility model for me because she was bold enough to 70 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 3: share her story in a publication. I stumbled across ghostwriting 71 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 3: while reading Forbes dot Com in twenty fourteen. I thought, Huh, that's. 72 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 4: Really really interesting. 73 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 3: And that's one of the reasons I'm actually fueled by 74 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 3: helping people tell their stories, because when you do that, 75 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 3: you expose new industries, inside people places, things to the 76 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 3: next generation. Number Two, I was really pissed off watching 77 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 3: people who had influence and power abuse it, and I 78 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 3: wanted a seat at the table. 79 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 4: I knew that when you. 80 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 3: Operate in the celebrity world, you know that there's a 81 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 3: lot of yes men around these individuals, and I knew 82 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 3: that I want to see at the table so that 83 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 3: I can challenge my clients to really think about what 84 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 3: they want to stand on, what they want to fight for, 85 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 3: and the conversations that they want to contribute to. And 86 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,679 Speaker 3: the other thing is there was just a wide open market. 87 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 3: There is not a lot of black or brown ghostwriters 88 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 3: that exist. There's not a lot of people in general 89 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: who know that this is even a viable career to pursue. 90 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 3: When you pursue communications in university or college, you're likely 91 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 3: to fall into the category of publicity or marketing, and 92 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 3: so it's not something you can necessarily go to school for. 93 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 3: It's one of those categories where if you know, you know, 94 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 3: and so I'm really excited to bring light to this area, 95 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 3: to let black and brown girls know that it's a 96 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 3: very powerful position to hold. 97 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: So there may be no typical day for you, but 98 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: can you share what a day or we generally looks 99 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: like for you as a ghostwriter. 100 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's no typical day, but I will say it 101 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 3: keeps me on my toes. I have done everything from 102 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 3: send a simple thank you text to Oprah Winfrey on 103 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 3: behalf of my client or I have also had the 104 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 3: honor of spearheading and writing a speech for a client 105 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 3: who spoke at George Floyd's funeral. Right, So there's so 106 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 3: many different extremes. There are times where I'm working in 107 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 3: crisis management. There are times where I'm doing really really 108 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 3: awesome fund projects. My team spearheaded and wrote the stage 109 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 3: scripts for the Talent for Essence fast back in twenty 110 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 3: twenty one. I'm waiting for the phone to ring or 111 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 3: for the email to land on my inbox, and I 112 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 3: just never know who's going to show up. But the 113 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 3: beautiful thing about it is, because there's so few of us, 114 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 3: I'm afforded the opportunity to sit at the table and 115 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 3: including these conversations. And I can also open the door 116 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 3: for other black ghost shorters that I know of to 117 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 3: do so as well. 118 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you mentioned that ghostwriting is kind of like 119 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: a if you know, you know thing, until I would 120 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: imagine there's things that you advertise that you do, but 121 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: I'm sure you don't say, like, oh, I can text 122 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: people for you, Right, That is the kind of thing 123 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: that often happens just because you form good relationships and 124 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: like people have said, oh, I work with her and 125 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: her team, they were great. Can you talk a little 126 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: bit about how you continue to get business, like what 127 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: does the referral process typically look like? 128 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? 129 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 4: Absolutely so. 130 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 3: In my twenties, so I worked in corporate for ten 131 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 3: years as an executive assistant, and I worked for many 132 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 3: CEOs and presidents and during that time, one observation that 133 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 3: I made is that my president or CEO would travel 134 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 3: around the world and just simply meet with people and 135 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 3: build relationships. One of my mentors, Rikia Reynolds, I remember 136 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 3: asking her what was the pathway to earning your first million, 137 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: and she said, relationship capital. It's been such a constant 138 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 3: in the conversations that I've had with some of the 139 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 3: OG's in the game, and so in my twenties is 140 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 3: where I really double down on building relationships. And so 141 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 3: New York was my city of choice in which I 142 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 3: wanted to really take over. And what I found is 143 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 3: that you know, if you raise your hand, if you 144 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 3: say hello, if you plan to see people are very 145 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 3: receptive and for the most part, very open to having 146 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:39,239 Speaker 3: a conversation. And just equipping myself with my elevator pitch, 147 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 3: equipping myself with being able to answer any questions around storytelling, communication, 148 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 3: just knowing my stuff equipped me with the confidence to 149 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 3: handle these conversations. Because when you're sitting at the table 150 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 3: with whether it be a politician and athlete, a celebrity 151 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 3: of any kind, it's easy to feel intimidated. It's easy 152 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 3: to feel like you don't belong there. It's easy to 153 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 3: feel like someone like myself who grew up with a 154 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 3: learning difference, who's a college dropout, right, who really beat 155 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 3: the odds. I could disqualify myself if I'm not grounded, 156 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 3: and so just equipping myself and really knowing my stuff 157 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 3: has afforded me the opportunity to make relationships. I think 158 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 3: people overthink the power of networking. It's simply just saying hello. 159 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 3: And one of my mentors taught me is conversations is 160 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 3: like peeling back an onion, right, It's about active listening. 161 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 3: It's about remembering small details about the individual. It's about 162 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 3: really paying attention and nurturing and seeing how you can. 163 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 4: Help each other. 164 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 3: So building these relationships is actually not the hardest part 165 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 3: of the job. It's one of the easiest. I will say, 166 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 3: also because I was an assistant, right, and I know 167 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 3: how people you know, at one point maybe dismissed me 168 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 3: or thought I didn't hold any power in the room. 169 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 3: I am so generous and kind to the people that 170 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 3: I encounter because oftentimes, if I don't necessarily connect with 171 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 3: the influential figure directly, it's usually their assistant who offered 172 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 3: me or found me. It's usually someone who works on 173 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 3: their team their agent, their manager. It's usually a third 174 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 3: party who found me on the internet and refers me, 175 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 3: and then that's how the conversation has started. If I 176 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 3: don't already have the relationship. 177 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 1: God is, So I wonder if you can walk us 178 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: through the process of what this looks like. Let's say 179 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: somebody has said, like, oh, I think we should really 180 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 1: bring Polly Inn and her team in to do some 181 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: ghostwriting for us for some speeches that are coming up 182 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: some of our rochial ors. Even maybe what does the 183 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: process look like from beginning to end when you're working 184 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: with a new client. 185 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 4: Yeah. Absolutely, So. 186 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 3: First of all, I don't work with every client that 187 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 3: approaches us. I think it's really important to highlight that 188 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 3: I have a dedicated research team at Writer's Block, and 189 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 3: so we do our due diligence to really figure out, Okay, 190 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 3: what are some of the other projects they've worked on 191 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 3: in the past, who have they worked with and worked for, 192 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 3: what do they stand on, what are their morals and 193 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 3: values and belief system? And then once I vet them, 194 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 3: then I decide whether or not I want to proceed. 195 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 3: There are times I've worked for the good guys and 196 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 3: the bad guys, and so Once we proceed, then it's 197 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 3: a series of conversations. So initially you plant that seed, 198 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 3: we have a conversation around what's the larger goal here? 199 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 3: Right Oftentimes you'll have individuals who want to do a speech, 200 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 3: or want to write a book, or want to write 201 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 3: an op ed in the New York Times, And so 202 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 3: I need to know what the larger vision is because 203 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 3: the life cycle of our client relationship spans many, many years. Oftentimes, 204 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 3: if we do one project with a client, we end 205 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 3: up doing every single thing with that client as their 206 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 3: brand evolves, and so I want to make sure that 207 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 3: we're meeting their key objectives. The other questions I may 208 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 3: ask them is how vulnerable are they willing to get right? 209 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 3: Is this just a play to stir up conversation or 210 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 3: are you really willing to show your heart and open 211 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 3: up and get to the crux of the matter. What 212 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 3: are the conversations that you want to contribute to, What 213 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 3: are you passionate about? What are you fighting for? And 214 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 3: then once we have that initial conversation, I'm able to 215 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 3: gather that information. Then I create a plan of action. 216 00:10:57,880 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 4: To move forward. 217 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 3: So they may want to do one asset, but I 218 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 3: may suggest something else depending on what the vision is, 219 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 3: and then through a series of interviews. So my background 220 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 3: is in journalism. I've been writing freelance Forforbes dot com 221 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 3: for the last eight years, and so clients really appreciate 222 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 3: the fact that I'm an empathetic interviewer. I'm very detail oriented. 223 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 3: I know how to research, and so I'm not asking 224 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: surface level questions right I'm digging really deeply because that 225 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 3: helps me get the information that I need. I'm also 226 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 3: studying their voice, so I'm studying their breathing patterns. I'm 227 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 3: studying whether or not they use longer short sentences. I'm 228 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 3: studying whether they're clever and witty or whether they're polished 229 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 3: and professional, whether the auntie or the girlfriend next door 230 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 3: like those nuances for tone is really important. And I'm 231 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 3: also inquiring about words that are on their blacklist. What 232 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 3: are words you'd like to stay away from or are there 233 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 3: any unique phases or jokes that your audience knows is 234 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 3: related directly to you. And that's one of the key 235 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 3: components of delivering the message. And then from there we 236 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 3: produce the document. The client is afforded the opportunity to 237 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 3: any insight or feedback or edits. We have a wicked 238 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 3: accuracy rate, and the best part is actually watching the 239 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,079 Speaker 3: client execute, whether it's the speech on a stage, whether 240 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 3: it's the book tours that they start or launch, whether 241 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 3: it's the published article, whether it's on the personal blog 242 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 3: or LinkedIn or a big publication. I'm in the business 243 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 3: of making dreams come true and that's what really makes 244 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 3: me happy. And I also really really love when clients 245 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 3: discover that a ghostwriter is a thing and they're like, Wow, 246 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 3: I can finally dust off the projects I've been sitting 247 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 3: on for years that I haven't had the time to do. 248 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 3: I love when an executive many executives on LinkedIn find 249 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 3: me and they are ready to detach their identities from 250 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 3: their title. They're like, I have things to say, I 251 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 3: would love to have a website or a brand of 252 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 3: my own. And helping them go through that process of 253 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 3: figuring out what's important to them, what they're passionate about, 254 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 3: is so rewarding to us. 255 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: I love that you mentioned that, because you opened this 256 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: conversation talking about most of us. For me with ghost 257 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 1: writing through music, right, and I feel like there's often 258 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: this negative connotation involved with oh, somebody else wrote your lyrics, right, 259 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: But what I hear you saying is that executives really 260 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: can take a breath of They can exhale when they 261 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 1: find out, Oh, I can have somebody else do this 262 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: thing for me. Can you talk a little bit about 263 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: that relationship? And like people who may feel like, oh, 264 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: do I want somebody else to write this thing for me? 265 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: Or how will it be accurate enough so that people 266 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: think that it is me? 267 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 3: I love that question. So writing is a very unique skill. 268 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 3: Most people cannot write, let's just say that. And so 269 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 3: if it's not something that is practiced and well intentioned, 270 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 3: your skills are just simply not going to be as 271 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 3: strong as you require it to be. And so part 272 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,959 Speaker 3: of my job is decoding ideas. Truthfully, my team ghost 273 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 3: writes for two professors at Ivy League Universities, and these 274 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 3: are amazing. 275 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,359 Speaker 4: Profs that have PhDs. 276 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 3: Because you have a ghostwriter does not take away from 277 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 3: your intellect, It does not take away from your ability. 278 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 3: It simply just means that you are willing to work 279 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 3: with a collaborator. You want someone to organize and to 280 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 3: code your ideas, help you navigate certain sensitivities. What happens 281 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 3: is why people are getting canceled is because people are 282 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 3: just talking without thinking. And so when you have a 283 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 3: collaborator that you can sit down with that you can 284 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 3: iron out some of your ideas or some of the 285 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 3: things you intend to say, it provides a comfort, right, 286 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 3: someone who can guide and direct you. So the client 287 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 3: relationships are very close knit, right, My client relationships are 288 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 3: very sacred and special. 289 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 4: I'm a human diary. 290 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 3: I know where all the bodies are buried, I know 291 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 3: where the skeletons are kept. And confidentiality is also extremely 292 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 3: important within these relationships. But yeah, I don't think working 293 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 3: with the collaborator or a ghostwriter is a bad thing. 294 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 3: A lot of your favorite authors, the biggest names in 295 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 3: the world, work with ghostwriters. And sometimes it's just a 296 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 3: matter of I don't have enough time, or I would 297 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 3: like a writing coach or a collaborator to work alongside 298 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 3: me to help me execute this project so I could 299 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 3: meet the intended deadline. 300 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, but first a 301 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: quick snippet of what's coming next week on TVG. 302 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 4: So we always talk about the endorphins. 303 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 2: You might hear that the endorphins the endorphins and do orphans, 304 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 2: So there's a release of endorphins, hormones that get released 305 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 2: while we are running from our brains. And there's been 306 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 2: years and years of research that talks about the runners 307 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 2: high and that the endorphins are behind that, that the 308 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: adrenaline rushed, the resilience, the anxiety level is down, the 309 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 2: stress level is down. 310 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 4: You can't touch me. I'm able to keep my joy. 311 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 2: Despite what you do, or what you say, or what 312 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: goes around me when I'm running. 313 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: So what are some of the foundational skills you feel? 314 00:15:59,520 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 3: Like? 315 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: Got writer's meek? If somebody's listening to this conversation and 316 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: you turned on a light bulb for them, like, oh, 317 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: maybe I could do that, what kind of skills would 318 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: you say they need. 319 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 3: What's really interesting is I get a lot of inquiries 320 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 3: of people saying, yeah, I think I could do that. 321 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 4: It's a lot harder. 322 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 3: I think people are attracted to the celebrity portion, like 323 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 3: the proximity to influential figures, But when it comes down 324 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 3: to it, you really need to know your stuff, right, 325 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 3: Like you have people's livelihoods. 326 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 4: In your hand. 327 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 3: One wrong move and they are executed in front of 328 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 3: the entire world. Right, But at the same time, like 329 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 3: I do believe words have power, and so words can 330 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 3: either ignite wars or they can bring peace, and so 331 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 3: like some of the rewards is when you see commencement 332 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 3: seasons very popular for us, and when we write speeches 333 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 3: and you can see the way someone's words, a client's 334 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 3: words moves the audience of the next generation. So as 335 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 3: a journalist, research is really important, right. Just having a 336 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 3: really good sense of how to ask great questions. Anyone 337 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 3: I mentor that's one of the first things that I 338 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 3: help them with, is like, if you ask great questions, 339 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 3: you will instantly improve the quality of your life. Just 340 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 3: learn to be curious is really important. Obviously, writing skills right, 341 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 3: and so it's not just waiting for clients to make 342 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 3: the request, but what are you doing on your own 343 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 3: free time to practice your skills. Anyone who asked me 344 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 3: or inquires about being a ghostwriter, the first thing I 345 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 3: say is startup blog right, show the world your ability 346 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 3: to tell compelling stories. A lot of times when clients 347 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 3: hire me, the first thing they say is I got 348 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 3: lost in your content, right, because I'm everywhere every social platform, 349 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 3: and whether it's through audio through podcasting, or whether it's 350 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 3: through video through YouTube, or. 351 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 4: Whether it's through writing. 352 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,360 Speaker 3: You can tell that I'm obsessed with telling stories. This 353 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: is not just a trend for me. This is not 354 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 3: just a matter of income. This is the heartbeat of 355 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 3: my existence. Right. One thing a mentor taught me was 356 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 3: invisible tangibles. Right, So you just don't know who's watching, 357 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 3: what power they hold. Right. So you're not waiting to 358 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 3: perform when someone calls your name. You're doing it anyway 359 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 3: because you would do this for free. You would do 360 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 3: this regardless of whether or not you had one client 361 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 3: or zero clients, one hundred clients. 362 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 4: It doesn't matter. 363 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 3: Being personable, being likable, I think is also really important. 364 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 2: Right. 365 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 3: Clients want to be able to trust you. There are 366 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 3: clients too. When I'm in these interviews, I have made 367 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 3: grown men cry. Right. This is sacred time between me 368 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 3: and this individual who's telling me their darkest secrets at times. Right, 369 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 3: So it's really important that you're able to create a 370 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 3: really beautiful space for them to feel comfortable enough to 371 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 3: share this insight with you. And the last thing I 372 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 3: would say is just being patient and just continuing to 373 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 3: pursue your goals and your dreams despite not knowing what's 374 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,400 Speaker 3: around the corner, maybe not knowing where your next dollar 375 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 3: is going to come from, making extreme sacrifices, just with 376 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 3: any business. In my twenties, when I used to use 377 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 3: my vacation time to fly to New York, I didn't 378 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:58,959 Speaker 3: have the money to always stay at a hotel. 379 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 4: I didn't have a. 380 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 3: Big network that I can sleep on the couch. Sometimes 381 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 3: I would have my meetings from nine to nine pm 382 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 3: and then I would sleep at the airport on the 383 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 3: airport floor. That would do a sponge bath in the bathroom, 384 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 3: and then I would get back at it and plant 385 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,719 Speaker 3: those seeds right. And so a lot of times when 386 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 3: people see our success today, they're not understanding that it's 387 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 3: from the seeds that were planted many, many, many years ago. 388 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 3: We watered it, we nurtured it, we exchanged the soil, 389 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 3: we gave it sunlight, and that's why it seems like 390 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 3: things are good now. But man, in my twenties, I 391 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,959 Speaker 3: was focused on really getting to the bag, and in 392 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 3: my thirties, my goals are centered around having a full life. 393 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 3: I have teams, I have infrastructure, I have systems. It 394 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 3: has enabled me to breathe a little bit easier. 395 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,239 Speaker 1: So you've already talked about the importance of confidentiality as 396 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: a consideration and something that is at the crux of 397 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: the work that you do. I'm wondering if you can 398 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: talk a little bit more about any other ethical or 399 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: moral considerations that come up. As a ghostrider, your integrity 400 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 1: is constantly being tested. There are times when I've had 401 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 1: to drop a client because they were just resistant to 402 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: any feedback because they're so used to people just going 403 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: along with the flow and just saying yes, their manager, 404 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: their agent, their lawyer, etc. Whereas I come in, I 405 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 1: don't work for you, I'm not on your payroll, I'm 406 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 1: not necessarily salaried or working with your team. So I'm 407 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 1: going to challenge you. I'm going to ask questions. And 408 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: sometimes it doesn't always work out too well. 409 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 3: And then there are other times when a client may 410 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 3: want you to write a thought leadership piece or to 411 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 3: help them with the project that doesn't necessarily align with 412 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 3: your spirit. 413 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 4: And sometimes there. 414 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 3: Is black and white facts that you can see and 415 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 3: that makes sense, And sometimes your gut just tells you 416 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 3: this is not it, like I shouldn't move forward, and 417 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,679 Speaker 3: you don't know why, But my gut never leads me astray. 418 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 3: It never has, and so you just choose to walk away. 419 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 3: I mean, I've walked away from six figure and seven 420 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 3: figure projects simply because I knew in my spirit that 421 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 3: it wasn't someone that I should align myself with or 422 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 3: work with. When you have a team and when you 423 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 3: have people that you need to pay and that you 424 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: have a family to feed, that can be very challenging 425 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 3: at times. But I really believe that when it's your time, 426 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 3: God will bring you to the front of the line. 427 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 3: I have unwavering belief in myself, and so if I 428 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 3: say no to something, it makes room for something else. 429 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 3: And that's how I've always operated. So I do believe 430 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 3: that when you work in entertainment, you're constant being challenged. 431 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 3: Your moral compass will always be tested. Do you take 432 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 3: the red pill or blue pill? Is this decision going 433 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 3: to affect my livelihood, my reputation, my family. Do I 434 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 3: want to engage in this dirty money and not. 435 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 4: Take the six figure deal? 436 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 3: Or do I just bite the bullet and just move 437 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 3: forward in a different direction. You're constantly on this teet toatter. 438 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: And what suggestions would you have for people for how 439 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: to manage that? 440 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 3: So my therapist said, when your values are clear, decisions 441 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,120 Speaker 3: are easy. That's one of the best lessons she's ever 442 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 3: taught me. And I truly believe that you can only 443 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 3: understand your values when you have those conversations with yourself. 444 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 3: And I think people forced to do that during the 445 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 3: pandemic that the world's open. I don't really know if 446 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 3: that's still a thing, but I know for me, as 447 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 3: someone who has spent a lot of time alone because 448 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 3: in high school I was bullied, I've always felt like 449 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 3: a kid who was misunderstood. 450 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 4: Whether it's through therapy or whether it's. 451 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 3: Through conversations with myself, I know what's important to me, 452 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 3: and what's important to me is not keeping up with 453 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,360 Speaker 3: the Internet. What's important to me is not constantly moving 454 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,919 Speaker 3: the goalpost. What's important to me is my family, friends, 455 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 3: loved ones. Making sure that I can sleep and rest 456 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 3: well at night without feeling guilty. The women on my team, 457 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 3: the brilliant women of color on my team who depend 458 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 3: on me to depend on my leadership, that is important 459 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 3: to me. The women that I mentor, the hundreds of 460 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 3: women I've mentored through my mentorship program over the years, 461 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 3: that's important to me. They look up to me, not 462 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 3: disappointing my mentors. There are people who hold me accountable. 463 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 3: I have a village that I've cultivated over the years, 464 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 3: and so that helps me guide my decisions. 465 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: Now. 466 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 3: I'm not perfect, and there have been mistakes made, but 467 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 3: for the most part, I have people that I'm accountable 468 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 3: to and that's really important to me. It's not losing 469 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 3: those relationships. 470 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,199 Speaker 1: Thank you for thatte So what do you wish you 471 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,360 Speaker 1: would have known before you started your agency. 472 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 3: I wish I would have known that not everyone operates 473 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 3: with integrity. I mean, if you're working in the world 474 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 3: of entertainment, not everyone is bright eyed and bushy tailed, 475 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 3: and not everyone's excited for you. And there are people 476 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 3: who will make compromises and sacrifices. There are people who 477 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 3: will engage in jerging money just being realistic with the 478 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,439 Speaker 3: sharks that exist in the waters. I wish I had 479 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 3: learned sooner how to hack my brain. So, like I 480 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 3: said earlier, I grew up with a learning difference. So 481 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 3: right now in my life, I'm at the top of 482 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 3: my game. I'm very happy. I'm doing all the things 483 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 3: I've ever wanted. But what a lot of people don't 484 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 3: know is that not only my calls drop out, but 485 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 3: I fail Grade eleven twelve English. I grew up with 486 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 3: the learning difference. I have a processing deficiency, you know. 487 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:51,719 Speaker 3: I do feel like the education system often paints us 488 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 3: all with one big broad brush. And it wasn't until 489 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,879 Speaker 3: later in my twenties that I discovered the seven different 490 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 3: learning styles. I discovered the ways in which I learned 491 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 3: and retain information. The reason why I'm going down this 492 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 3: rabbit hole is simply because when you're equipped with the tools, 493 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 3: the ways in which you learn, how you retain information, 494 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,479 Speaker 3: you understand your learning style. It empowers you to navigate 495 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 3: certain conversations, to raise your hand, to ask questions, to 496 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 3: go after that opportunity. There are many of us who 497 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 3: have been put in a box and categorized, and many 498 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 3: adults in my world growing up told me I would 499 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 3: never make a living for my art in black and 500 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,159 Speaker 3: white on my report cards. It just simply did not 501 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 3: reflect that was capable of making it to this level 502 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 3: of success. And I do feel like there are a 503 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 3: lot of kids who fall through the cracks that are 504 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 3: often forgotten about and discarded, and that is one of 505 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 3: the reasons I do what I do. I'm very passionate 506 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 3: about children's literacy outside of the world that I'm in. 507 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 3: I am a part time professor. Do I have the time, 508 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 3: Absolutely not, But do I want to Absolutely? Because I 509 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 3: can't dismantle the system, but I can help save forty 510 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 3: kids a semester. I can show them the possibility model 511 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 3: that exists. I've worked through therapy too, because I grew 512 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 3: up just as mad as how well, because had I 513 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 3: known that the world was available to me much sooner, 514 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 3: much earlier, I think perhaps I would have moved faster, 515 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 3: I would have been more intentional. But you know, I'm 516 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,880 Speaker 3: happy how things turned out. I don't think God makes 517 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 3: any mistakes, but man, because of my journey, just makes 518 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 3: me feel for people who have counted themselves or disqualified 519 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 3: themselves without even knowing that. You know what, you can 520 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,120 Speaker 3: take a non traditional path and still make it. There's 521 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 3: multiple ways to be successful, multiple paths that exist. 522 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. Well, you know, for many writers, I think 523 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: the recognition and the credit of writing something is really important, 524 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: and with ghostwriting, you don't always have that credit, right, 525 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: So can you talk about how you navigate the anonymity 526 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: that is typically you know, a part of a ghostwriting situation. 527 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:47,719 Speaker 4: I love that question. 528 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 3: You don't become a ghostwriter to see your name in lights. 529 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 3: That's it, period, right, Like you don't become a ghostwriter 530 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 3: to be famous. You don't become a ghostwriter to get 531 00:25:57,440 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 3: the recognition. 532 00:25:58,480 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 4: Mind you. 533 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 3: If you look on cover any book, there are times 534 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 3: where you'll see Steve Harvey with Devon Franklin and Megan 535 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 3: good with They're Sometimes collaborators are afforded the opportunity to 536 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 3: put their names on the cover. 537 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 4: I don't need it. I'm cool. 538 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 3: I have so much fulfillment being behind the scenes. I 539 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 3: don't need external validation. I'm a woman who has fought 540 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 3: for her dreams in one that alone fills my cup. 541 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 3: I have a life outside of ghostwriting. I love to blog. 542 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 3: I'm a public speaker. I speak all over the world. 543 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 3: I have a brand. I've made a name for myself 544 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,959 Speaker 3: and a reputation for myself. I've built communities. I'm okay 545 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,199 Speaker 3: with not necessarily having my name on a project. There 546 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 3: are so many pop culture moments that my team has 547 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:42,400 Speaker 3: touched that nobody has a clue, not a single clue 548 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 3: that we've been a part of. We're cool with that, 549 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 3: because you know what, It's almost like one of those superheroes, right, 550 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:49,119 Speaker 3: they just do the good. You don't really know how 551 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 3: the crime was solved. That's fine with us. 552 00:26:52,080 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, So, you've already 553 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: been very transparent in talking about your childhood and experiences 554 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: with learning, but you're also very transparent in talking about 555 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: your experiences with anxiety and depression. Can you talk a 556 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,360 Speaker 1: little bit about how you have managed and navigated those 557 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,159 Speaker 1: symptoms as an entrepreneur and a business owner. 558 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, so, I think the first experience I had with 559 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 3: anxiety and depression was definitely in my childhood. As I 560 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 3: mentioned before, I was bullied and tortured throughout many years 561 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 3: of my school experience. I've always felt misunderstood. I've always 562 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 3: felt like a black sheep. My mind is organized chaos, 563 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 3: I think in pictures. I was never the smartest, the prettiest, 564 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 3: the brightest in the room, and so I truly believe 565 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,360 Speaker 3: it's the conversations that you have with yourself that determine 566 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 3: whether you win or whether you lose. And for many 567 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 3: years I just had losing conversations because of what society 568 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 3: deemed as the straight and narrow path. I just didn't 569 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 3: fit the cookie cutter mols. I was officially diagnosed in 570 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 3: twenty ten, but I struggled many symptoms prior, and there 571 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 3: are many times that I just questioned my life, where 572 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 3: I was headed, if I still wanted to live. 573 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 4: And when people. 574 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 3: Tell me that they want to be an entrepreneur, I 575 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 3: always challenge them and tell them to think twice, because 576 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 3: if you're not stable with two feet on the ground, 577 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 3: if you're not grounded, it can definitely challenge you in 578 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 3: ways unimaginable. I have to credit my medical team, my doctor. 579 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 3: My recovery process spans well over a decade, whether that's nature, 580 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:33,920 Speaker 3: whether that's music therapy, creative therapy, arts, group therapy, individual therapy, medication, etc. 581 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 3: So I want people to know that I live my 582 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 3: life in a way that hopefully shows that second chances exist. Right, 583 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 3: And where you're at is not where you have to stay. 584 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:45,479 Speaker 3: But for those of you who are currently going through it, 585 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 3: you're starting your business and you don't necessarily see light 586 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 3: at the end of the tunnel. Oftentimes we get stuck 587 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 3: by analysis, proalysis. Right, we're just in our head. We 588 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 3: can't make a decision. Start anyway, right, Start scrappy, start ugly, 589 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 3: start broke, start ghetto, right, Start with the tools and 590 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 3: the resources that you currently have, because I truly believe 591 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 3: we're not going to be given more if we haven't 592 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 3: mastered less. With the limited resources that you do have, 593 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 3: what can you do with it? And then I think 594 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 3: of your entrepreneurs should have a therapist to be honest, right, 595 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:16,040 Speaker 3: there's just certain questions and challenges that we face that 596 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 3: not everybody will understand. You can't necessarily go to your 597 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 3: mama or your peer, and so just having those transparent 598 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 3: conversations help. And then being a part of communities of 599 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 3: other entrepreneurs, right, other people who know what it's like 600 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 3: to see a negative balance in their bank account, who 601 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 3: know what it's like to be challenged with a proposition, 602 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 3: who know what it's like to have to eat mac 603 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 3: and cheese for several weeks. There's so many communities that exist, 604 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 3: and oftentimes we just don't actively participate. If you don't 605 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 3: raise your hand, then people don't know that you're there. 606 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 3: So actively participating in those communities as well. 607 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: You've already talked about therapy quite a lot as a 608 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: part of your self care and really helping you to 609 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: be grounded and get to where you are. What other 610 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: kinds of things are you doing to take care of 611 00:29:58,760 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: yourself as an entrepreneur. 612 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 4: Yeah. 613 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 3: Absolutely, having a life outside of work I think is 614 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:06,239 Speaker 3: really important. So in my twenties, like I said, I 615 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 3: was focused on getting to the bag. 616 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 4: I was the hustle queen. 617 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 3: Right now, my tune has changed. I actually have hobbies, 618 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 3: right I'm like, let's go for a walk or let's 619 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 3: go for a bike ride. I'm really fostering more activities 620 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 3: in my life, going to the beach, going swimming. I 621 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 3: love playing sports and so that helps me tremendously, staying 622 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 3: active and honestly allowed myself to be loved. I'm newly 623 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 3: engaged and the world does not know. 624 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 4: So that is an exclusive. I don't plan on posting it. 625 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 3: On social media, to be honest. It's something just want 626 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,680 Speaker 3: to keep to myself as much as possible. And I'll 627 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 3: give you another exclusive. I'm expecting my first child, so honestly, like, 628 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 3: I'm literally just beaming. And that's because I allowed myself 629 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 3: and I gave myself the space to date. There's so 630 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 3: many peers that I have. We're so focused on being misindependent. 631 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 3: I just girl, please, I need to be loved on. 632 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 3: I need my man like I want to build my family. 633 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 3: I hustled in my twenties so I can live fly 634 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,959 Speaker 3: in my thirties, so I can have the family. I 635 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 3: have the team, the system, the infrastructure, and it has 636 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 3: afforded me the opportunity to now enter this new phase, 637 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 3: new chapter of my life with ease, and I'm able 638 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 3: to breathe a lot easier. 639 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:22,840 Speaker 1: So I'm curious. It sounds like you have done a 640 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 1: great job of scaling, you said. It sounds like the 641 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 1: system is in place for you to step into this 642 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: new phase of your life. What are you thinking this 643 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: phase will look like as a new mom and a 644 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:35,640 Speaker 1: new partner as you continue to grow and the business 645 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: continues to grow. 646 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 3: I wish I knew the answers when I was on 647 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 3: the other side of things and I was single and 648 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 3: in the streets. I've always want to be a mom. 649 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 3: I just don't know how women do it, and I'm 650 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:48,520 Speaker 3: trying to figure it out, and so I'm asking a 651 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 3: lot of questions. I'm raising my hand, I'm taking all 652 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 3: the help that I can get. What I learned from 653 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 3: the former CEO of LinkedIn, He says, as a leader, 654 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 3: your job is to grow the business, and your team's 655 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 3: job is to maintain it. Tea is very loyal, dedicated, 656 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 3: hard working, and so my team because it's some of 657 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 3: those brilliant women that I know, and so they are 658 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,160 Speaker 3: also supporting me in this next phase of my life. 659 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 3: Everyone knows their role. They are empowered to do their 660 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 3: best in it. I'm still here to advise and mentor, 661 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 3: but everyone knows what they need to do, and that 662 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 3: gives me a lot of ease because I can operate 663 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 3: in my greatness and also, you know, be a mama 664 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 3: and be a wife, and so I think it's just 665 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,960 Speaker 3: a matter of having the right people in place, hiring intentionally. 666 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 3: There's a saying we all stand on the shoulders of giants. 667 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 3: I have incredible mentors. I have incredible women in my 668 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 3: family who are cornerstones of my life. And so I 669 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 3: don't know what this next phase is going to look like, 670 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 3: but I do know that I have the foundational support 671 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 3: that is required to be the best that I can be. 672 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 3: So I know it's not going to be easy because 673 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 3: I don't have control of my body anymore. I used 674 00:32:56,640 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 3: to take fourteen meetings a day with ease, work until 675 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:04,959 Speaker 3: four am, and now I'm taking three meetings, like you know, 676 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 3: it's a drastic change. I'm speechless. I just can't believe it. 677 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:12,680 Speaker 3: I can't believe how differently I have to operate. But 678 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 3: because I was very intentional with how I operated my 679 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 3: business up until this point, it's okay. 680 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: So, in what way do you feel like the publishing 681 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: industry can do more to amplify the voices of black 682 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:25,520 Speaker 1: women ghostwriters? 683 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 3: Well, you know what, I'll start by saying this, I'm 684 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 3: so sick and tired of googling information and seeing the 685 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 3: voices of white men, right, and so we actually need 686 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 3: more black and brown women to tell their stories. 687 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 4: So if you're listening to this and you feel like you. 688 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 3: Have a story, Everyone has a story inside of them, 689 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 3: but only if you feel empowered to actually tell it 690 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 3: and raise their hand, you absolutely should go for it. 691 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 3: I mean, honestly, the publishing industry is very archaic. The 692 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 3: editors and the marketers and the individuals who are in 693 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 3: these ivory towers just don't look at us, don't look 694 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 3: for us, and don't look like us. So there is 695 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 3: a lot of red tape. Sometimes we are erased from 696 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:12,080 Speaker 3: the conversation. Man, I have an agent. Her name is 697 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 3: Regina Brooks. She's absolutely wonderful. She's been in the game 698 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:19,160 Speaker 3: twenty plus years. And it's people like her who are 699 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 3: making opportunities for the next generation of storytellers because they 700 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 3: are fighting to hold the door open and to educate 701 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:31,759 Speaker 3: publishers that we have something to say. So I don't 702 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 3: think it's like a singular I think it's going to 703 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 3: be a collective movement from those who are people of 704 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:40,960 Speaker 3: color and black women who are already inside those doors to. 705 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 4: Bust them open. 706 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,720 Speaker 1: So you've already just given us so many incredible gems 707 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: for anybody who might be interested in exploring this as 708 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:50,320 Speaker 1: a career. So you've talked about starting a blog or 709 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:52,920 Speaker 1: having your writing out there publicly. You've talked about the 710 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,879 Speaker 1: importance of relationships. Is there anything else that you would 711 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 1: offer as a suggestion for somebody who might be interested 712 00:34:58,200 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 1: in this line of work. 713 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 3: So we're seeing a lot of journalists start to think 714 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:06,360 Speaker 3: about their future. Journalism what it was yesterday is not 715 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,400 Speaker 3: what it is today. We're seeing a lot of layoffs. 716 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:12,319 Speaker 3: We're seeing people who are replaced by chat, GPT and 717 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:14,879 Speaker 3: AI and bots and things of that nature, all kinds 718 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:19,759 Speaker 3: of craziness, and I want journalists to know specifically that 719 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,160 Speaker 3: there is a career in speechwriting, there is a career 720 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 3: in ghostwriting. It's a matter of relationships, and it's also 721 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 3: a matter of you raising your hand and taking up 722 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,440 Speaker 3: space and playing in traffic. 723 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:31,120 Speaker 2: Right. 724 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 4: I always say that. 725 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:34,560 Speaker 3: People just simply won't know that you exist if you 726 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:36,760 Speaker 3: just stay quiet and you keep your work to yourself. 727 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 3: So it's really important to pick up the phone. 728 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:41,319 Speaker 4: Start in your phone. 729 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:44,200 Speaker 3: Your first client is likely in your phone, in your 730 00:35:44,239 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 3: text messages, in your email. Start with the network that 731 00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:49,239 Speaker 3: you currently have, and then expand and if you have 732 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 3: any questions. 733 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:51,799 Speaker 4: Keep the line of communication open. 734 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 3: I am very accessible and so if anyone has any questions, 735 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:56,960 Speaker 3: they can always followup with me. And I'm happy to 736 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:00,680 Speaker 3: share my experiences. But beyond the money, there has to 737 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 3: be a deeper reason why you're doing this. I've shared 738 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 3: many reasons that have empowered me, fueled me, angered me 739 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:09,720 Speaker 3: as to why I'm doing this, and that's why people 740 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:12,279 Speaker 3: want to work with me. I think the other thing is, 741 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:14,960 Speaker 3: I know this is so cliche, but really studying your craft. 742 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 3: So storytelling is somewhat of a blanket word, but a 743 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:19,799 Speaker 3: lot of my clients come to me because I'm very 744 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 3: strategic and because I've built a brand for myself. They 745 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 3: can clearly see my track record over the last decade. 746 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:30,200 Speaker 3: They trust me to lead their brand, and they trust 747 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:32,880 Speaker 3: me with their legacies. I think that's also very important. 748 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,239 Speaker 3: So not just thinking about a ghostwriter as a one 749 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 3: trick pony, but how can you be somebody who is 750 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 3: resourceful and who is absolutely needed and necessary in order 751 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:47,360 Speaker 3: to help execute someone else's ficion. 752 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,080 Speaker 1: So you mentioned chat GPT, and we know that there 753 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 1: is an explosion of those kinds of services right now. 754 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 1: I'm curious to know your thoughts As someone who does 755 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 1: make a living in you know, a large part of 756 00:36:57,560 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 1: your work is writing. It does feel like we are 757 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:03,279 Speaker 1: getting a rapid increase in those kinds of services. How 758 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 1: are you thinking this might impact your industry. 759 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 4: I'm not worried about it at all. 760 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:10,040 Speaker 3: I've had a few clients sneak away and try and 761 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:13,680 Speaker 3: make an attempt to replace us with chat juputy, and 762 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,480 Speaker 3: they came back with their tail between their legs crying 763 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:19,720 Speaker 3: because it just doesn't have that human touch right. 764 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:22,279 Speaker 4: And the other thing is I. 765 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:25,800 Speaker 3: Just simply feel like it's a matter of fast food 766 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:28,320 Speaker 3: versus soul food. Which one would you choose? You know 767 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 3: what I mean, It's like working with a human. Working 768 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,399 Speaker 3: with us particularly, you're just going to get so much 769 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:38,279 Speaker 3: more flavor, seasoning spices, you know what I mean. If 770 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:41,759 Speaker 3: you want a quick output, that's cool, do you. But 771 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:45,000 Speaker 3: a lot of our clients they're building a legacy brand. 772 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,359 Speaker 3: They're not here for a good time, They're here for 773 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:51,440 Speaker 3: a long time, and so when they work with us, 774 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 3: they know that we're going the distance. 775 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:56,760 Speaker 1: So you've mentioned that you are super open to mentor, 776 00:37:56,800 --> 00:38:00,640 Speaker 1: and you've mentored hundreds of women of color. Specific I 777 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:02,879 Speaker 1: would love for you to share how people can stay 778 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:05,520 Speaker 1: connected with you. Where can we find you online? If 779 00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:08,319 Speaker 1: people have follow up questions, where can they contact you? 780 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:12,040 Speaker 3: So Instagram is at Paullyine Reid, Twitter is at Pollyanna are. 781 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:16,719 Speaker 3: My websites are pollyannoreaed dot com, New Girl on the 782 00:38:16,719 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 3: Block dot com, which is my mentorship program, and the 783 00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:21,000 Speaker 3: Writer's Block without. 784 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 4: The C dot com. 785 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:24,000 Speaker 1: Will be choice to include all of that in the 786 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:26,080 Speaker 1: show notes because I think lots of people will want 787 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 1: to follow up with you. Thank you so much for 788 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:30,879 Speaker 1: spending some time with us today. Paulyanne, I really appreciate it. 789 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:32,239 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. 790 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 3: I really appreciate this was absolutely wonderful. 791 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: Thank you. I'm so glad Pollyanna was able to join 792 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 1: me for this episode. To learn more about her and 793 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 1: the work that she's doing, visit the show notes at 794 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:49,040 Speaker 1: Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash Session three eighty and 795 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:51,080 Speaker 1: don't forget to text this episode, So two of your 796 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:53,279 Speaker 1: girls right now and tell them to check it out. 797 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:55,879 Speaker 1: If you're looking for a therapist in your area, visit 798 00:38:55,920 --> 00:38:59,880 Speaker 1: our therapist directory at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash directory. 799 00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:02,400 Speaker 1: And if you want to continue digging into this topic 800 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:05,000 Speaker 1: or just be in community with other sisters, come on 801 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:07,359 Speaker 1: over and join us in the Sister Circle. It's our 802 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 1: cozy corner of the Internet, designed just for black women. 803 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 1: You can join us at community dot Therapy for Blackgirls 804 00:39:13,239 --> 00:39:16,560 Speaker 1: dot com. This episode was produced by Elis Ellis and 805 00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:20,600 Speaker 1: Zaria Taylor. Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all 806 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:23,080 Speaker 1: so much for joining me again this week. I look 807 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:26,240 Speaker 1: forward to continuing this conversation with you all real soon. 808 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:27,600 Speaker 1: Take good care