I was inspired by a recent talk given by Kelis at The Glow Up, hosted by R29Unbothered, and it moved me to share some thoughts on collaboration.
“I have a Black OB, I have a Black female business manager… for me that is my safe space.” – Kelis
The discussion prompted me to encourage you to start thinking about ways to accelerate your impact through intentional collaboration. I want to help you monetize your genius.
A similar sentiment was shared when Bun B sat down recently with Earn Your Leisure and stated, “Once you realize you don’t need a million people to make a million dollars…you’ll be better off.” What I gleaned from his interview (and my own observations as a communications executive) is that the money flows when you put your relationships to work.
I was also privy to a great example of this when, in a recent post, my friend Julian shared his backstage experience as a writer and producer for the Billboard and BET awards. If you tuned in, you likely noticed the commonality: Diddy. To memorialize Diddy’s two larger than life moments as both the host and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Julian was by his side, behind-the-scenes carefully crafting the content that we’d later engage with in celebration of these career shifting accolades. Up until recently, very few people knew that he had been playing such a critical role in the evolution of Diddy’s brand and business. Reverse mentorship at its best.
We’ve often heard the saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go further, go together.” But what’s missing from this statement is who should be part of your team. And no doubt, I’ll always say that the best investment you’ll ever make is to hire a ghostwriter who can help decode your ideas and communicate to your audience at scale.
No one person can meet the demand of increased digital media consumption themselves. According to a summary of Deloitte’s latest digital media trends survey, “Media and entertainment companies may need to collaborate more to create a future where they remain at the center.” Yet we still come across clients who are hesitant to work with ghostwriters (at first glance). Some feel strongly about their credentials and level of authority they have over their thought leadership. The misconception lies in the belief that what we do may take away from what they might directly offer their audiences. But ghostwriting and communications advisory services are more common than we’re generally led to believe. You’d be surprised how many business leaders are hiring teams and allocating budgets solely dedicated to the evolution of their personal brands.
As the founder of WritersBlok, I’ve intentionally selected each team member to meet the primary interests of the clients we serve, and the challenges they face every day in the evolving communications landscape. Therefore, our team boasts diversity in thought, experience, language, religion, education, geography, and we are all women of color. By design, we’re well equipped to provide the dynamic support our clients presently require. The things that we’ve been able to accomplish together epitomizes the benefit of this type of communications support.
Business leaders hire ghostwriters because of a lack of time and lack of writing experience. But the reason WritersBlok gets hired is because what we offer our clients goes far beyond simple words on paper. The level of autonomy we’re allowed becomes our superpower, and we’re jettisoned to a place where we can engage in “narrative therapy” that connects on a much deeper level. Moreover, we add value by giving our clients room to think bigger.
You’ve got big plans that only you can achieve, and your story should reflect that. Handing a piece of your legacy over to the right team who’s unwilling to compromise in the quality of its content is what will allow you to consistently take your ambitions and turn them into words that outlive you.
So if you were on the fence about it, I hope this newsletter series has better equipped you with insight into the secret world of creative storytellers.
Prioritize Long-Term Goals
Finding the right writing partner/ghostwriter begins with becoming clear on what you’re trying to accomplish. A ghostwriter is also known as your co-pilot. This person is your human diary, confidant and architect. With his/her help, you’ll work together to create a strong narrative in line with your goals and ambitions.
The reason I started WritersBlok in the first place was to combat the negative shifts I was witnessing in pop culture on the daily. My peers and I would pull up headlines of tone deaf corporate designs and blatantly racist decisions and wonder, “Who the hell is advising these people?!” When I realized that several corporations undervalued the importance of such advice, I began to prioritize gaining a seat at the table to make a meaningful change.
As the digital landscape evolves, collaboration has been pushed further to the forefront. So by current standards, if you want to excel into tomorrow, building a team of forward thinkers today should be your immediate focus. This means identifying professionals from various backgrounds who are eager to share their expertise for boosting your visibility, and meaningfully contribute to your brand’s long-term impact.
Demystify Support Systems
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, no matter what your goals are. Make it a priority to let people know about the shit you are working on. Needing and receiving support doesn’t always mean that you couldn’t do it on your own, just as asking for help is not going to make you any less of a leader. I do not believe the saying that, “one man can change the world” was ever meant to be taken literally. Yes, one idea birthed out of one mind may catalyze disruption, but teams are what actually get the job done.
Not only are unique perspectives like gold in times like these, but let’s just take a minute to appreciate the benefit that also lies in the abundance of manpower. Support systems shouldn’t be avoided for fear that your authority as a leader will be diminished or questioned. On the contrary, having a team always makes you more legit. And when it’s clear that people are more poised to put their faith in an army of content ninjas rather than in one eager warrior, it becomes more obvious how important teams are today. Now that audiences are expecting a more transparent reality, don’t let them down by leading them to believe you’ve done it all by yourself.
Encourage Collaborative Autonomy
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but also more importantly, never hesitate to take it. We’ve had the honor of working with some of the biggest names in business and entertainment and the hidden ingredient that keeps clients coming back month after month, year after year, is trust. This is due to our keen understanding that they are leaving the makings of their legacy in our hands, and it is something we don’t take lightly.
Whether you choose to work with our agency or another, the fact of the matter is you’ve decided to take one step in the right direction – and for that I am so proud of you. If you are on this mailing list it’s because I highly value your contribution to the world and I believe it should be amplified, but a level of autonomy is required with your team if you’d like to unleash your superpower.
At WritersBlok, we help business leaders turn their personal stories into powerful brand assets. The results are exponential for those who get it. But for those who don’t, this is a gentle nudge and reminder that we are in your corner. And for whatever reason, if we can’t meet your needs, we have an entire network of ghostwriters of color for you to consider. Get in touch anytime.