Every week we’ll be featuring a smart, savvy female entrepreneur we think is just great. These are women who are out there in the trenches each and every day, making things happen and affecting other people’s lives for the better. So pull up a comfy chair, grab a cup of coffee and meet this week’s SheBrand Superstar. We can all learn a golden nugget or two from each other.
Name: Jen Louden
Website: https://www.jenniferlouden.com
Occupation: Writer, Teacher, & Mentor
Twitter Handle: @jenlouden
1. What are three words that best describe your personal brand?
Spunky, Truth-Telling, Permission
2. Tell us why you’re awesome in two sentences or less?
Because I never, ever give up (or at least only long enough for some chocolate and a nap). Not much comes easily to me (for example, I am a dyslexic writer!) and yet my burning desire to creatively express myself and to help women live better lives fuels me to keep learning, keep trying, and never give up – on myself or my peeps.
3. What are your three biggest indulgences
1) House cleaners
2) Organic green juice every morning
3) Unlimited yoga
4) I have one more – not following the rules!
4. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People selling other people the “perfect” anything – perfect is so deadly.
5. If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not) who would it be and why?
Ray Bradbury because he was my favorite author as a child and I always, always wanted to write stories and create worlds, and now, at nearly 50, I am doing just that!
6. Why is having a powerful personal brand important to you?
One: because I am literally unemployable (I’ve only had two straight jobs as an adult – I got fired from the first one and quit the second one when I got an agent).
Two: I was born to preach and evangelize but I can only preach my truth.
Three: I am the most stubborn creature known to humankind and cannot stand to be told what to do. Hence number one.
7. What is your #1 marketing tip for fellow female entrepreneurs?
Beware hiring someone to write your copy, especially your bio story. It’s so easy to start sounding like everyone else out there (the voice du jour is heavy on flippant and uses the word ass a lot usually “badass”). If that’s not you, people will sense it. If you can’t write, that’s cool. Get down your core ideas and the words that are yours, then hire someone to help you craft your copy. Always feel free to rewrite the “professional” copy afterwards if it doesn’t feel like you.
Love the marketing tip, and need it right now, as I’m awash with everything from new tagline on down. Hard to release the “good-enough” and let go of “it has to be perfect”!
Now off to dust off the acceptance feather duster, the one that dispenses glittery fairy dust as it eases the tension from my head and heart. I know I left it here somewhere!
Lovely to see your smiling face here, Jen. I’ve known you for years, and I’m marveling at how well you distilled your essence in those few answers.
Fabulous. As always. Esp. the piece about writing your own bio, and leaving aside all the badass.. unless you can OWN the badass!