Voices of Customers and a Face Worth Writing About

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In my Twitter bio, I include information that has gotten people to follow me. Maybe it is that part about by day I listen to the voice of the customer? I'm thinking so. In the last few years, I have led a program at the company where I do just that. I listen to our customers. There you have it -- the Voice of the Customer. My job is filled with a lot of writing, presenting but mostly listening and helping Sales build relationships and have loyal customers.  That's the corporate me.

For fun, I love to write. Always have. Maybe that's why as an only child I found a way to major in English and still have a job lined up when I graduated with English Honors. Thanks to an awesome school counselor and her recommendation, I got an Emphasis in Technical Communications. As a Technical Writer I had the best options to write and pay those pesky student loans. The parents were happy too since I was the only shot of bragging rights. That's a lot of pressure. 

After working my way up the corporate ladder, I felt unfulfilled as a manager. Helping my team members with their goals was the best part of my job. Yet, something was missing from my life.  It seemed crazy to quit a job that I spent my 20's striving for day in and day out. No matter what though, I couldn't stop feeling sick. After a health scare and many days of debating to leave my job -- I did it. In May of 2008 I resigned to step down from my management job. It was a surprise to be offered a job of leading a new initiative (that voice thing again) and I grabbed it. Now I had another job to pay those pesky student loans I had nearly paid off. With more time, I found I did a lot of watching movies, television, and reading. After a year of dreaming, soul searching and a leap of faith I started writing down ideas of what I could possibly do that I would love.  

Around that time, my mom was going through a bunch of her artwork and asked me if I wanted any of it. While carefully sifting through the dusty papers, I found "the" drawing. In an old black frame, encased in glass... was the face of a girl. I asked my mom who she was. She didn't know. She said she's just some girl she envisioned in her mind so she drew her. Her eyes haunted me. The fact she didn't have a name made feel weird. Who could she be? What is the pain in her eyes? Nevermind this drawing is decades old. This girl has been waiting a long time for me to write about her.

My mother gave me the drawing with the frame and I hung it up in my home office behind me. Then I felt as if this nameless girl stared at me while I worked. I'm not sure exactly when she took over my need to write. I just know she took over my dreams and I had to give her a name. Being a night owl, I found it easy to write into the night. I still do. I find my best writing is between midnight and 2 am. This girl needed a life (and I'm not talking about me... or am I?). That is how it all this started for me -- and her.  Maybe in the end, we'll both have lives!

In Print Writers Association - Chair of Marketing and Public Relations

InPrint Writers Association, an affiliate of the Chicago Writers Association, is for writers. A few months ago, the board voted me to be the Chair of Marketing and Public Relations. I've been updating our Facebook account and tweeting for @AtPrintWriters. Next on the list is writing a press release and then marketing our Barnes and Noble fundraiser slated for September 2011!