"Please remember that every person you love and admire—every author, every artist, every business owner, every luminary who seems to 'have it all together'—just remember that their story is filled with hundreds of awkward firsts, too."
—Alexandra Franzen
It was love at first read when I encountered Alexandra Franzen online, and it has been ever since. She's a delightful, talented, prolific writer and thinker who seems to always write just what I need to hear. I love how Alex has pivoted her business over the years, and she's someone I love looking toward for inspiration and insight.
In this episode we talk about opening a brunch restaurant with her boyfriend, why she finds it helpful to dive into details on her Plan Z, how she makes time for art (so she doesn't feel "squished and sad"), her best tips for getting clients over their creative finish lines, why she quit twitter, how she says a graceful no, and so much more. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!
More About Alex
Alexandra Franzen been a professional writer for 10 years. She writes articles about creativity, productivity, communication, goal-setting, entrepreneurship, and how to deal with difficult situations in your life and career. Her latest book is YOU’RE GOING TO SURVIVE, a collection of true stories about tough, scary stuff and how to get through it which has been called "Your new best friend on a bad day."
I have had the pleasure of attending two workshops with her in NYC and can verify that she’s a true wizard with words! Other fun facts: Alex loves music and dark roast coffee, has blue hair and a fish named RuPaul, and she lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner Brandon (who she helped open a brunch restaurant called HunnyMilk).
Topics We Cover
Her decision to limit social media and the impact on her business
Filtering out negative reviews and focusing on the positive
Keeping your attention on the things that are working and on the people that you are helping
Sometimes the worst moment of your entire career can be the catalyst for a new beginning, and maybe the best work you've ever done.
Plan Z: writing down what could happen if everything falls apart as a calming exercise; you can rise up from just about any situation and it will be okay
How to see projects across creative finish lines
Listening to your heart and gut, or "hut," when deciding when to take on new projects
Alex's Graceful No: how to decline with heart, and provide alternatives to things that aren't a yes
Resources Mentioned
Alex on the web
Alex's articles
Alex's books
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