Fearful, Forceful or Fierceful: Which Is Your Approach To Life and Why Does It Matter?

Admittedly, fierceful isn't a word, but for the integrity of the headline, it stays. Word or no word, it doesn't change the message of this exploration.

Definition of Fearful: Feeling fear, dread, apprehension, anxiety or concern
Definition of Forceful: Acting or driven with force
Definition of Fierce(ful): Extremely intense or ardent

If you're fearful, there is something--usually something BIG--underlying that feeling. Maybe it's conscious, maybe it's subconscious, but either way your actions are steeped in this overpowering and often paralyzing feeling, often to the point that you are incapable of making wise choices. Fear only begets more fear. It festers. It grows. And feeding the monster of fear with your words, thoughts and actions only makes you feel worse. If you're a worrier, you know exactly what it's like. Day in, day out, it is your constant companion and yet you may have an inkling that because of the grief it causes, it's no way to run your business or your life.

If you're forceful, you are constantly pushing people, events and circumstances, to respond to your sheer will that they comply with your vision. You cannot be bothered with how people perceive you or the impact on them of your words, thoughts and actions. After all, you have a vision and it is a driving force! You feel absolutely justified in your approach, regardless of external signs that something is amiss. Sometimes, you and your agenda are literally a force to be reckoned with, making even minor issues, very big ones. You are unapproachable. Life lacks anything resembling effortless flow. You are in charge and it's up to you to make everything work... at the greatest expense imaginable: your peace-of-mind and of those around you. You shoulder the weight of the world and the cracks in the fortress are beginning to split wide open. At it's core, force is fear. It's an attempt to control, driven by the need for safety or security, which never actually manifests peace or flow, but only creates more of the same: fear.

Let's move beyond the many limitations of fearful and forceful living to a whole-life approach based in healthy, powerful resolve: fierceful living.

Using the brief definition above of fierce, notice the word ardent. The definition of ardent includes words like intense feeling, passionate, fervent, intensely devoted, eager, zealous, burning, fiery and hot.

All these words or terms are powerful and positive. They motivate and inspire. They propel and energize. They excite and prompt. They contain the juice that positively moves us from where we are to where we'd rather be.

Neither fear nor force motivates, inspires, propels, energizes, excites or drives. Fear and force are old patterns based in pain. They are our deeply ingrained habits, developed long ago as coping mechanisms. And the truth is they no longer serve us.

So, it's time to let them go. It's the perfect time to step into our fierceness-of-being. It's time to release debilitating habits and create ourselves anew.

What is fierceful living?

1. In its wisdom, it recognizes injustice in its many forms and stands up to say, "No more," regardless of the consequences.
2. It is courage, to the core, no matter how things actually feel inside.
3. It sets personal agendas aside and puts people first, always.
4. It has an unshakable and undeniable clarity guiding its every strategic move.
5. It assumes full responsibility for all outcomes.
6. It continually creates room for more fullness, variety, color, grandness and opportunity.
7. It stands for something, instead of nothing.

You cannot create from fear or force, for they do not contain the elements to deliver such an outcome. With either, you can only create more of the same.

Be fierce. Be bold. Be you. Now is the time.

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What Is "Copyediting" and What Is The Process From a Professional Editor's Perspective?

Surprisingly, the word copyediting is an industry-specific term. If you don't function within this community or have some exposure to it, the word may be simply unfamiliar, or even mysterious, but it's easy enough to demystify.

To answer the question, let's start with a reference from the Chicago Manual of Style. It says copyediting involves both mechanical editing and substantive editing:

"Mechanical copyediting requires a close reading of the manuscript with an eye to such matters as consistency of capitalization, spelling, and hyphenation; agreement of verbs and subjects; punctuation; beginning and ending quotation marks and parentheses; numbers given in numerals or spelled out; and many similar details of style.

Substantive copyediting involves rewriting, reorganizing, or suggesting other ways to present material."

Mechanical copyediting is more of a science because most rules of grammar are absolute. In contrast, substantive copyediting is more of an art based on innate talent, training or a combination of both. A talented copyeditor effortlessly and simultaneously performs both types, unless specifically requested to do otherwise.

So you can see how copyediting actually works behind-the-scenes, below is the step-by-step process, which might be modified from editor to editor based on individual style preferences.

After a thorough review of the content for the degree of copyediting required (light vs. heavy) and a signed Agreement has been received, as well as a project deposit, the copyediting process officially begins. The step-by-step process contains:

1. a full review of the content with no changes. This simply allows a broad understanding of the materials.
2. a second full review with a focus on flow, readability and structure
3. a third full review with an eye for grammar, spelling and punctuation details
4. a fourth and final review of a printed copy of the contents. It is amazing how many "catches" one finds in this final stage of the process. Seeing words on paper vs. a computer monitor ensures proof-perfect copy.

Copyediting is both a skill (mechanical) and an art form (substantive). In the hands of a masterful wordsmith, your copy is clean, succinct and creates a full impact both seen and felt by your customers or clients.

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Bringing Consciousness To How We Treat Others

"Treat others as if they are always worthy of the best of you. What you'll discover is that the best of them appears to match that vibration."

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Building Relationships: Service-based Businesses Go Above-and-Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Email Responses

If you offer services vs. products, you may require much more information from prospects before providing pricing, turnaround time or other specifications.

In the interest of time (don't we all want it now?) potential clients usually want an immediate answer, but you know it's not that simple. And it's best to remain true to the process that works best for you so, in the end, the information you provide is accurate and thorough. To do that, you want to find out more about them, their offerings, their target market and their short- and long-term visions for the business.

"I own two companies with a partner. How can we utilize your services?"

It's a great question; and one that deserves your full attention. Respond immediately with an email to acknowledge receipt and invite them to set up a telephone or video appointment to discuss their specific requirements. Here's an example:

"At XYZ Company we are committed to customized solutions for each client. One-size-fits-all just doesn't work: there are too many variables. We know your time and efforts are valuable and that's precisely why we don't want to waste them. You see, if we don't understand your business, we may not be fully maximizing our contribution to your success. During our comprehensive and complimentary 30-minute consult, we discover how we can best serve you. We want you to experience excellence. Follow this link to our online calendar and set up your appointment today."

Email is limited in its ability to fully communicate either their needs or your ability to meet those needs. During the fact-finding mission (the call), you are able to discern much more than you can by simply submitting your standard price sheet or a link to your prices page. After all, you are building a relationship. That doesn't happen in one email interaction or even one telephone call, but you're much closer to really understanding how your services can benefit them after speaking directly. A personal appointment gives both participants a chance to connect on many other levels.

When you are in a service business, there are no homogenous answers to what you can provide. Fundamentally, what you can provide is based on client requirements. Services can be customized in so many ways and that's where an open dialogue is incredibly helpful.

You take pride in flexibility. You have worked hard to offer value-based services. You owe it to yourself and your potential customers to construct a customized solution and effectively maximize your contribution to their success.

An initial 30-minute consultation saves much time, effort and aggravation in the future. You understand exactly what they need and they know you understand their business. You can provide specs based on that clear understanding. And what better way to begin establishing your connection than to be crystalline-clear from the very beginning. Should they hire you, with mutual understanding, the outcome can only be superior.

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