You can’t always predict what’s around the corner.
Change isn’t preceded by a big ‘ol heads up. “PSSSST…Start getting ready! I'm coming!”
But that doesn’t mean you can’t be ready for it, anyhow.
Which is the idea behind the “E” in my V.O.I.C.E. Framework: Evergreen.
I’ve been thinking long and hard lately about what “evergreen” really means.
On the one hand we know “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
There’s wisdom in understanding that fundamentals are timeless.
But we also know things evolve. Change is inevitable. We’ve all experienced it in some way or another.
In fact, I’m smack in the middle of it myself right now. A massive transitional phase of life that’s got me wondering, “what’s evergreen… and what’s gone forever?”
(To catch you up: my youngest of 3 boys graduates high school this Friday. Over two decades of non-stop games, dances, parties, projects, performances… it’s an adjustment when the “baby” grows up & it all comes to a screeching halt.)
What does this have to do with you?
If you’re an entrepreneur, it’s inevitable that pieces of you get mixed into your business and brand. (Even when you take pains to separate the two.)
So when the tidal waves of change start crashing down…having pre-defined boundaries and values (the fundamentals) is a life preserver.
Something to anchor your content and voice and messaging to, come what may.
A silly example: as a proud homeschooling mama, my social media used to be all about my boys & our adventures. Indeed, my life was all about those rascals & our adventures.
Then the teen years hit and… they did NOT want to be the main characters on my Facebook feed any longer. (Totally fair!)
So where did that leave ME?
What was my “brand” all about if I couldn’t post this part of my life?
I had to change it up, yet still be me.
This was before I knew about Voice Guides and Brand Builders and such. So it was a bit of a scramble.
If I’d had such a toolkit, I could’ve dug into the pre-defined values and fundamentals upon which everything else flows. The north star people talk about to guide your decisions.
We all like to think we know intuitively what our values are…
But they’re kind of like goals. They’re more potent if they’re documented and written down. Codified and crystalized.
And what’s more, you can easily explain and share them as needed!
Change won’t always warn you. But you can be ready for it.
That’s what you get with an evergreen Voice Guide!
It gives you something to return to when the landscape shifts. It’s a flexible, living document rooted in your core values, tone, and perspective.
Whether your content evolves, your audience grows, or your personal life flips upside down for a while (been there)… your voice doesn’t have to vanish in the shuffle.
Instead of scrambling to “find your voice” all over again, you’ve got a compass.
It’s a reminder for you & your team of what matters, how you should sound, and how to keep showing up authentically, strategically, and you-ly (that’s a word now).
So if you’re navigating change, planning for growth, or just tired of starting from scratch every time you brief a new writer…
Let’s get your voice documented.
Your future self (and your team) will thank you!
– Jill “my baby’s graduating” Jensen
P.S. Here’s the rest of my V.O.I.C.E. Framework for ya:
What Do You Get In A V.O.I.C.E. Guide?
Viewpoint – Define your brand’s overall perspective, how you see the world, and how you relate to your customers.
Organization – Clear and practical SOPs, style guides, and internal conventions so your content can be created, stored, and published efficiently.
Instructions – A writer’s best friend: it’s a user manual & training tool so they “get” how to write and execute exactly as expected.
Consistency – Ensure every piece of content aligns with your brand’s tone, style, and personality, no matter who writes it.
Evergreen – A living document that evolves with the brand and can be used by any writer you hire.
It’s both a strategic and practical tool. Use it to catalogue, train & evaluate your brand voice so your team can execute it with ease.
Whenever you’re ready, here are some ways I can help:
I offer Voice Finder Sessions for personality-driven entrepreneurs who want to define their Voice (and put some boundaries in place.)
I also create Brand V.O.I.C.E. Guides for you & your team – an evergreen asset to help writers “get” your voice, without endless re-writes and revisions.
Plus, I work with a select number of clients each quarter as a ghostwriter.
If you're interested in learning more, reply to this email or complete this form: Work With Jill
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