We often focus on the tactics and contents of our jobs — what skills we have, how we can serve others, what we like or dislike as we build our careers. These facets of our careers often become akin to our identities. As we meet new people, one of the first questions is usually, “So what do you do for work.”
On Thanksgiving, I want to challenge us to look at the intangible aspects of our jobs. Let’s look beyond the words on our pages, the numbers in our spreadsheets, or the leads in our inbox. I invite you to look beyond these things and find gratitude for how you serve others in a deeper way.
As a “numbers girl” turned writer, it blows my mind that I get to read and write for a living. But there’s so much more beyond that that I’m grateful for. So to get your gratitude juices flowing, here are some of the reasons I’m thankful to be a ghostwriter (including writing breaks for workouts and snuggles).
Amplifying Important Stories
The part of my job that I get the most fulfillment out of and am most grateful for is getting to help others tell their stories. Every story, teaching, and reflection has a purpose, no matter how big or small. By getting to play a part in that, I too get to fulfill a calling of my own in the process.
The impact of sharing these stories is immeasurable because you never know how far the ripple effect will go. Every story shared helps others to navigate their own journeys. And because each of our journeys is so unique, every variety of story adds value, even if you feel like it’s been told before.
The storytelling doesn’t just benefit the readers. It benefits the author. An author getting to see their stories come to life in a book is transformative. This process helps them unlock a power within themselves and a greater understanding of their own stories and teachings.
Every story matters, and I’m grateful to help bring those to life.
Continual Learning
Getting to hear others tell their stories and reflect on the lessons that they learned from them is a true gift. I love learning. It’s an investment I’m constantly making. Getting to do that for a living by listening to others teach and translating that to paper is a true blessing.
Because each story and journey is unique, each story brings something new to the table. It’s not uncommon for me to be moved to chills by the experiences shared by my clients, and how many other careers get to experience that?
The best part is that the continual learning aspect of the job is beneficial for the author as well. During our interviews, the genuine curiosity allows me to ask questions that a reader would ask as well which helps the author to expand upon their teachings.
Connecting with Others
I am blown away by the incredible people that I’ve gotten to connect with over the past year. Whether it’s clients who I get to spend a lot of time with or just an intro meeting, I’m genuinely in awe of the people I’ve gotten to meet.
Running my own business that’s powered by my laptop, keyboard, and coffee has forced me to get out of my comfort zone of people. I’m no longer working in the same office space, interacting with the same people. At first, the thought of trying to connect with new people and even do cold outreach was scary, but I’ve been shocked by the positive response and how many people want to genuinely connect and help.
Just like storytelling, connections have a cascading effect. Once I’ve met someone, I love helping connect them to other people in my network, and they’ve often done the same for me. Often, I end up three to four connections down the line after an initial introduction with someone. That is pretty cool.
So, while it’s easy to get caught up in to-do lists and tactics, I invite you to reflect on what brings you joy in your career and practice gratitude for it. If you’d love to be grateful for your ghostwriter, let’s chat during a free strategy session!
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.