Hey...
So, my parents were passing through Times Square in NYC just minutes before the tragic event last Thursday. They're totally fine, but it was very scary. After it happened, all I could think was,
"Jesus Christ. That was a seriously close call."
Please... tell someone "I love you." Send the text. Throw the party. Book the trip. Buy the bikini. Finish the art project. Send the email. Mail the letter. Don't leave the words unsaid. Whatever your heart yearns to do, please do it now... because tomorrow might be too late.
That's all I really wanted to tell you today. You can stop reading this email right now. Everything below this point is just glitter and fun-times and extra cake frosting.
But if you'd like to keep on reading, this newsletter includes some fresh, uplifting stuff, including new articles on... finding clients and customers, how to make marketing feel like an art project, clearing unnecessary
nonsense out of your life, and also... a couple books that you can download for free if you wish. Plus music recommendations, of course. Enjoy!
. . .
FINDING CLIENTS & CUSTOMERS.
Most people don’t know this, but… a couple years ago, I sorta “accidentally” helped to open a brunch restaurant in Portland, Oregon, where I live.
How did this happen?
1) I fell in love with a handsome chef named Brandon.
2) One day, Brandon confessed that he’d always dreamed of running his own restaurant.
3) I said (with starry-eyed optimism) “Well, then let’s do it together! How hard could it be?”
4) And so we did.
5) And it was really hard. But also fun, rewarding, and amazing.
The restaurant, HunnyMilk, has been running for nearly 2 years. Like most new businesses, it all started as a teeny-tiny shoestring operation. At first, it was just me and Brandon doing absolutely everything—shopping, food prep, shlepping food around in the back of my VW beetle, serving customers, and washing dishes by hand.
Things have grown a LOT since then. Now we've got 7 employees and most days, there's a waiting list to get a table. It's nutso!
A lot of people
have asked us, "How did you guys become such a busy restaurant? How did you figure out how to find customers?"
This is the story of how we found customers and built a
supportive fanbase. I think these principles apply to any type of business—a coaching business, a writing business, a graphic design business—not just a restaurant business. I hope you enjoy the story!
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MARKETING = MAKING ART
Often, we think to ourselves:
“I love doing creative stuff! But ugh, I hate marketing. It’s so hard to find clients and customers and build a fanbase. It’s so exhausting. Marketing is the worst. I’d rather just… make art!”
But actually… It’s the same thing. It’s all creativity. It’s all self-expression. It’s all art. Here's my riff on this topic. I hope it helps create a shift in your brain about what marketing means and how it can feel.
. .
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WHAT IS YOUR DOUGH?
What is the task, commitment, or chore that you force yourself to do—week after week—even if doesn’t bring you any joy? Even if it’s tedious? Even if it’s inefficient? Even if it’s clogging up your calendar and seriously cramping your style?
For my partner Brandon, for a looooooong time, it was: making croissant dough for the restaurant. This is the story of how he realized, "Oh. Wait. I could just STOP making the damn dough."
SURPRISE! FREE BOOKS FOR YOU.
Looking for a quick, fun, page-turning read? Fiction? A love story? Something fun and sexy? Escapism?
Fantasy?
Surprise! For the rest of the month of May, you can get both of my novels for... zero dollars. Why? Just because I felt like it. Enjoy!
What if you knew you only had 24 hours to live? And what if you met the love of your life... on the last day of your life? A slightly sci-fi love story with a surprising ending. Digital (PDF). 115 pages. Read it on your tablet, phone, or computer.
It's kinda like Fifty Shades of Grey except with less bondage and more chocolate and crème brûlée. My mom really liked it! Which is very nice but also
pretty creepy! Digital (PDF). 288 pages. Read it on your tablet, phone, or computer.
Code for 100% off: justbecause [click "buy this" and then enter the code into the "offer code" field, which is directly beneath the "email" field]
Have a beautiful week. Hug your mom. Get lost in a book. Eat some cheese. Live your life.-Alex
PS.
I can't stop listening to this song. It will compel you to dance and swerve around... even if you are very shy! I also love this song and this one,
too.
PPS. My friend Scarlet works as a personal stylist and she invited me to do a photo shoot the other day. The theme was... all BLUE. Blue hair, clothes, shoes, carpet, art, everything. We had so much fun! The whole experience reminded me to have more FUN with my clothes instead of wearing the same leggings-tank top combo every single day. Life is short. Let's wear all of the colors.
PPPS. Got a question that's related to writing, creativity, overcoming perfectionism and procrastination, freelancing,
communication, or... life and stuff? Got a special request for a future article, class, or workbook? I'm
always curious to find out what's on your mind. Feel free to submit your requests / ideas / questions here. Thank you!
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