Thanks for being here! Please consider hitting "display photos" for a cozier reading experience. The Power of SLOW is a weekly-ish newsletter reminding you of slower business practices to improve your work-life-energy balance.
Dear Reader –
Happy Juneteenth! What a day to celebrate and honor no matter who you are and what you do.
I’m coming off a fantastic vacation where I walked to the beach every single morning and soaked up ocean energy, which means I’m on fire with passion and ideas right now.
To channel this energy, I’ve begun using a tool on my writing app that makes old-school typewriter sounds as I write.
This allows me to remember I want these Power of SLOW notes to feel like writing personal letters since that’s what they are meant to be.
While I can’t see you face-to-face, I want you to know there’s a real human sitting at her desk thinking about you, about how to help you meet your goals.
– Maybe you are trying to grow your revenue so you can finally put on a new roof or to put your kids through college – or finally leave your corporate gig.
– Maybe you are trying to grow a movement, a cause, a business idea, an artform.
– Maybe you are where you need to be but still don’t feel like you’re doing enough.
Whatever brings you here, please know you are welcome.
I see you.
I’ve been thinking about this concept of being seen for a while, and here’s what I’ve come to realize: There are people in your orbit right now waiting for you to reach out to them, to respond to them and to show them you can help them/support them/walk them home.
I know because recently I’ve been ghosted quite a bit.
- Ghosted as a potential speaker for two organizations I know need speakers.
- Ghosted as a potential client for businesses I wanted to support.
- Ghosted as a friend who wanted to show up and be there for someone.
There seems to be a trend of ghosting. I've read about job applicants feeling ghosted by employers. I've read about employers feeling ghosted by potential employees. I've read about consultants feeling ghosted by potential clients.
Ghosting is a term that’s evolved in the lexicon in recent years and while it’s not new, it’s definitely become a practice.
In my work with helping business leaders with their sales and marketing we walk a lot about the importance of showing up, listening and being valuable.
What that connection looks like doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just needs to be authentic and intentional.
- A little email that says it was great meeting you.
- A note that says thanks for sending that pitch along. I appreciate you. (even if the pitch has gone unresponded to)
- A quick thank you text for an intro.
- A super casual, no-pressure pitch to work together.
We worry we’re going to be a bother but it’s far worse to abandon people.
If you want to grow your revenue, your visibility or your movement, start by thinking about who needs you to see them — and I mean really see them.
For more thoughts on reaching out and bridging that connection to people, check out my latest blog post Why Your Politeness is Leaving Money on the Table (And How to Fix It).
Breathing deeply with you in the storm,
XO
Shawn
LATEST BLOG
Why Your Politeness is Leaving Money on the Table (And How to Fix It)
Are you accidentally leaving money on the table because you're trying to be polite? In my latest blog post, I'm sharing why the ghosting epidemic isn't just rude—it's expensive, and how your desire for the 'perfect' response is keeping you from any response at all. Plus, three specific strategies to turn those awkward follow-ups into authentic connections that actually convert.
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SLOW BUSINESS TIP:
Build a human-centered connection system for tracking
In the interest of my mission to help clients go all in on human-centered marketing and sales, let's build a system this week that works for you!
Consider WHO to track: Make a list of people who have helped you in the last few months — consider people who made introductions, gave advice, shared insights, or offered support with no immediate benefit to themselves. Add to that list anyone who's reached out to you and be supportive or enthusiastic of your work or writing or activism.
The tracking system:
- Weekly review process: scan phone contacts, email threads, and calendar history, social media comments and shares, etc.
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Create a simple tracking system like a spreadsheet (if that's your thing) or Google Doc or Notes system with columns or grids for:
- Name and contact info
- What they did/how they helped
- Date of interaction
- Current status (recent contact, 3-month window, 6-month window)
- Set monthly reminders to review and update this sacred human connection list
- Begin reaching out to those who you've been out of touch with and reconnect
System maintenance:
- Add new supporters immediately as interactions happen
- Move people through the timeline categories
- Archive or remove after outreach is complete
The goal here is to create a systematic way to identify and track meaningful connections so no one falls through the cracks due to busy schedules or poor memory (or feels ghosted by you!)
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"She has an innate ability of understanding her clients deepest goals and aspirations while inspiring them to manifest the best version of themselves."
Thanks, Lauren! :)
"Shawn has exceeded my expectations as a business/motivational coach.
As a creative, my brain is in constant flight. Always searching for the next new, shiny idea. As a coach, Shawn has a masterful way of reining me in—distilling the most complex idea down to something concrete, eloquent, and marketable.
As a leader, Shawn is direct yet empowering and empathetic. She has an innate ability of understanding her clients deepest goals and aspirations while inspiring them to manifest the best version of themselves.
I would highly recommend Shawn Fink to anyone who aspires to excellence. -- Lauren Knatz, author of The Gatekeeper and founder of Instrumental Peace.
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“It amazes me that we are all on Twitter and Facebook. By ‘we’ I mean adults. We’re adults, right? But emotionally we’re a culture of seven-year-olds. Have you ever had that moment when are you updating your status and you realize that every status update is just a variation on a single request: ‘Would someone please acknowledge me?"
— Marc Maron, Comedian