There is power in showing up. I am a survivor of several chronic illnesses, and with that comes days that I just don’t feel good. I’ve spent over a year dealing with the ramifications of being incredibly sick (and still continue to deal with it), but I always showed up–regardless of how I felt and regardless if I wanted to. It made me a conqueror, and people noticed.
Whether or not you want others to watch and judge you, they do. They take into account what you do when things don’t go your way. They see what you do in the face of trials. And it matters more than you think it does.
I have amazing people in my corner, and those people would probably show up for me regardless of my actions. But let me tell you, when I continued to show up, it got attention. It got respect. It got me into places I probably wouldn’t have gotten into. My persistence got me opportunities that I couldn’t have dreamed of, including writing this to all of you.
When you choose to show up, it definitely magnetizes what shows up for you. Showing up gets you to the plate where you can swing at what life throws at you. You will never get the option of hitting a home run if you stay in the dugout. I’m sure there were days that Babe Ruth didn’t want to step up to the plate, but if he had let his feelings or circumstances dictate his actions, he probably wouldn’t have hit 714 homers during his career.
The same goes for you and me. Listen, I had no idea what the power of my showing up all those months would do for me. It was grueling and hard. But all the gruel and all that hard brought me into something amazing. I look at my life now and I couldn’t imagine it. So show up–on good days AND bad days. Persevere. Step up to the plate again and again. You never know where it might lead to.
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Stan Finger is a Pulitzer Prize nominee and award-winning writer who spent more than 34 years as a staff writer at The Wichita Eagle. He is also the author of two books: the novel Fallen Trees and Into the Deep, co-written with the lone survivor of a family killed in a flash flood that claimed six lives on the Kansas Turnpike in 2003.
Have you ever looked for an online review of a business or a book and seen a post accompanied by a few words or a vague sentence or two? It’s frustrating, because you’re left with just as many questions as you started with. Client testimonials such as those offered by Testify are valuable because they go beyond the surface to reveal more about the customer experience. The testimonies help consumers feel informed and confident about their shopping choices and buying decisions. That means when they call or walk into the door, they’re ready to do business.
So, why should you consider me for your marketing or communications needs? First and foremost, I’m a writer. A story teller. A weaver of words. But I’m also a strategy creator, a relationship builder and a natural leader. I have a passion for solving communication challenges, whether it be through well-written web content or an appropriately-timed phone call. Whichever path it takes to get the job done and get the message across. I take my work very seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously, meaning I bring light and levity to the project while delivering high-quality results.
Strengths:
Storytelling Relationship Building Social Media Strategy Development Team Leadership Sensitive Issue Communication
Career Path:
{2006} Summa Cum Laude, Wichita State University: B.A., Integrated Marketing Communications {2006 – 2008} Communications Coordinator, Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce {2008 – 2012} Director of Communications, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland {2012 – Present} Freelance Writer/Communications Consultant (Complete resume available upon request.)
Clients:
• Gardner Design • MomontheRange.com (personal blog) • Insight Design • Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland • VistaComm • Rainbows United • Rural Lifestyle Dealer Magazine • Monte Wyatt, Executive Coach • Lee Media Group • Avita Health & Rehab • Whattoexpect.com • Youthville
I’ve written for multiple audiences on a variety of platforms, including:
-Newsletters -Annual Reports -Social Media -Press Releases -Web Content
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