This post has been kindly guest written. Sue Varty is a freelance technical and corporate writer who specializes in e-book creation, user guides, training manuals, web copy and last-minute proposal preparation. Sue has worked for IBM, Compuware and Franklin Templeton Investments.

Web designers and copywriters have a lot in common:

We work with clients who need a website.
We help clients who don’t know how to start a website.
We offer individual creative services.
Those are just a few of the similarities. The last networking event I attended had a room full of entrepreneurs and small business owners – even a few web designers. So how did I end up with so many leads? They needed a website. Why didn’t they go and talk with the web designers in the room?

I think it has to do with the fact that people have more of an interest in the visual and have a harder time with the written word. Getting your ideas on paper can be a very daunting task and they know how it works/doesn’t work for them. Writing copy for a site can be even more intimidating when English or any other language you need is not your first language. Where do they start? Writing? Design? Both?

People don’t need to know the technology you use as a designer to recognize a great looking site. And some don’t need a writer to write the copy. However, most are just starting the process.

Take advantage of this situation to pick off ready-to-work clients from the copy-writing community.

Get to know some copywriters

I know – obvious tip – but they have corporate clients who are willing and ready for referrals. If you don’t like networking or cold calling, copywriters do both with very successful results. Find some copywriters and ask them what kind of design requests they get from their clients. Start the discussion now and clients will follow.

Where to find copywriters: FreelanceSwitch and LinkedIn are great places to start. Tip: Enter copywriter into the Search People field in LinkedIn. Try and find writers in your local community or on Skype for easier collaboration.

Build a referral partnership program

Offer $50 cash or more for a writing client who books design work with you. This kind of referral relationship works well both ways! I could have made up to $200 just by attending a networking event. You could have made thousands!

Send out a business card “stand”

Give your preferred copywriter a stack of business cards (and a cool card holder to display them in) for their home office. Everyone who works with them during a brainstorming session can see your display on their desk. If a client wants to focus on design – I’d be more than happy to hand them your card and say “come and see me afterwards for a copy edit review”.

Plus, many writers still use snail mail. Your card might find its way into invoices, direct mail and thank you cards to help copy-only clients take it to the next “level”.

Outsource copy to increase the number of projects

Outsource or sub-contract the web copy side of things altogether. You’ll have more time to design and might reduce a project’s overall timeline so that you can take on more work. It might be easier to include the copywriter’s services on your original estimate/quote. It also shows your clients that you have an expert on call just in case they would like a review.

Understand that some writers don’t really want to design

I’ve been doing a lot of copy “mock-ups” for sites lately but my true love is just the copy. I don’t want to keep explaining to clients that I’m not a web designer so I’d rather see them after the initial design drafts. Partner with copy-only writers and more clients will be directed your way.

Bonus Tip: When trying to find the best copywriter for you, don’t request their samples. Get a sense of their style using a baseline of your own. Strip down an old site you liked, removing all the text. Put letters, such as A, B, C, to indicate where you need the copy and create a PDF of the page. Send it to three writers and ask them to fill in the “blanks” using the letters as a reference. Now you can tell how they are different because they all worked on the same page. Offer to pay them a flat fee for the sample. This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship after all.

When you attempt to envision a “writer,” I’d posit most of you see a quirky recluse, hunched over a desk in some cabin, crumpled paper strewn about as they obsessively work on the next great American novel.

To me, writing is so much more than that. Writing is thought put to page, which makes all of us writers — even if we don’t have the chops to spin beautiful prose.

I know, I know. Here’s someone who blogs regularly talking about the benefits of writing. And not a hint of bias was seen that day!

It’s true that I owe a lot to writing.

Related: The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding

Many of you probably know me from my “business” writing for my startup, like my piece on Unforgettable Customer Service Stories(read the 3rd one, it will warm your icy heart).


Image credit: Help Scout
Truthfully though, writing isn’t really “my job.”

It is a key part of what I do, and I get just as much out of writing in my personal life as I do at work.

Personal and non-fiction writing is such an interesting topic to me because I get the sense that many (financially) successful people are secretly regular writers:

Warren Buffett has described writing as a key way of refining his thoughts (and that guy reads and thinks a whole lot).
Richard Branson once said “my most essential possession is a standard-sized school notebook,” which he uses for regular writing.
This one is more for fun, but I find it hilarious that Bill Gates finds time to blog (do you think it’s really him?).
There are obviously many more examples, some of which are beautifully highlighted in the book Daily Rituals.

In these cases, writing has just become another tool for thinking, expression, and encouraging creativity; cabin dwelling novelists be damned.

So, should people who don’t consider themselves writers bother with trying to make writing a regular habit?

You folks already know the goals I have for this site, and you can probably predict my answer: “Maybe.”

Writing can be an incredibly useful outlet for many people.

But let’s look at some of the research on how writing can affect the mind, and you can make the decision for yourself.

Writing makes you happier

It seems much of the literature on the benefits of writing deals with “expressive writing,” or putting what you think and feel to paper (or, let’s be honest, to the keyboard).

For instance, one form of expressive writing might be thinking about and writing out your goals in life—an activity that research has shownis beneficial for motivation.

Even blogging “undoubtedly affords similar benefits” to private expressive writing in terms of the therapeutic value.

Expressive writing has also been linked to improved mood, well-being, and reduced stress levels for those who engage in it regularly.

Research by Laura King shows that writing about achieving future goals and dreams can make people happier and healthier. Similarly, there’s plenty of evidence that keeping a gratitude journal can increase happiness and health by making the good things in life more salient.

And Jane Dutton and I found that when people doing stressful fundraising jobs kept a journal for a few days about how their work made a difference, they increased their hourly effort by 29% over the next two weeks.

Many people shun expressive writing because they don’t fully understand what it means. Stick with me through the rest of this post, see the other benefits of regular writing, and I’ll break downwhat expressive writing really entails and how you can get started.

It doesn’t necessarily mean spilling your guts in essays starting with “Dear Diary,” so don’t knock it until you let me explain it!

Moving on…

Writing leads to better thinking + communicating

Laziness with words creates difficulty in describing feelings, sharing experiences, and communicating with others — especially true when it comes to persuasive messages.

Constantly having that “tip of the tongue” feeling, or being able to flesh out thoughts in your mind only to have them come stumbling out when you speak is very frustrating. It paints an unfair picture of you, and regular writing can keep this from happening.

In both emotional intelligence and in “hard sciences” like mathematics, writing has been shown to help people communicate highly complex ideas more effectively.

This is just my personal hunch, but I would say it is because writing helps elminate that “it sounded good in my head” syndrome. It forces ideas to be laid out bare for the thinker to see, where it is much less likely that they will be jumbled up like they are in your head (hey, it’s crowded up there!).

Related: Lessons in Customer Service From the World's Most Beloved Companies

Is writing an outlet for handling hard times?

The connection with expressive writing and traumatic events is quite complex.

On one hand, I’ve seen a study or two that shows especially stoic people tend not to receive many benefits when they write about their troubling times.

On the other hand, there are some pretty amazing studies that conclusively show writing about trauma is a powerful way to come to terms with what happened, and to accept the outcome.

In one interesting study that followed recently fired engineers, the researchers found that those engineers who consistently engaged with expressive writing were able to find another job faster.

The engineers who wrote down their thoughts and feelings about losing their jobs reported feeling less anger and hostility toward their former employer. They also reported drinking less. Eight months later, less than 19% of the engineers in the control groups were reemployed full-time, compared with more than 52% of the engineers in the expressive writing group.

Interesting, right?

In an older study, writing about traumatic events actually made the participants more depressed… until about ~6 months later, when the emotional benefits started to stick.

One participant noted: “Although I have not talked with anyone about what I wrote, I was finally able to deal with it, work through the pain instead of trying to block it out. Now it doesn’t hurt to think about it.”

It seems that timing is critical for expressive writing to have an impact. “Forcing” the process to happen may only worsen things, but if it is an activity that is engaged in naturally, the benefits seem to be clear for many traumas.

Writing keeps you sharp with age

Writing is a thinking exercise, and like physical exercise, it can help keep you “in shape” as you age.

While the only research that I’ve seen discussed mentions hand written ideas as a good cognitive exercise, I don’t think the leap to typing is all that far.

Just like how friendships help keep you happy and healthy through their ties to social interaction and dialogue, writing seems like the private equivalent — it keeps you thinking regularly and helps keeps the mental rust from forming.

Writing leads to increased gratitude

Counting your blessings is an activity that is proven to enhance one’s outlook on life.

As the authors noted in this study, subjects who reflected on the good things in their life once a week (by writing them down) were more positive and motivated about their current situation and their future.

The thing was, when they wrote about them every day, the benefits were minimal.

This makes sense. Too much of any activity, especially something like reflecting on one’s blessings, can feel disingenuous and just plain boring if it is done too often.

In spite of this, it is interesting to me that writing about the good things in your life has such an impact. Perhaps because it forces you to really look at why those things make you happy.

Writing closes out your “mental tabs”

Have you ever had too many Internet tabs open at once? It is a madhouse of distraction.

Sometimes I feel like my brain has too many tabs open at once. This is often the result of trying to mentally juggle too many thoughts at the same time.

Writing allows abstract information to cross over into the tangible world. It frees up mental bandwidth, and will stop your Google Chrome brain from crashing due to tab overload.

Although I’ve heard it argued that the information age might be making memories worse, I’m inclined to cite the quote about Hemingway from that very same article:

Hemingway’s words came from experience. When his wife lost a suitcase that contained all existing copies of his short stories, the work was, to his mind, gone for good. He had written himself out the first time around. He couldn’t recapture it–whatever it was–again.

Getting important ideas down alleviates the stress caused by anticipating this dreadful outcome. I’ve personally never felt inclined to not work on something just because I “archived” the idea with some notes or an outline—in fact, I’m more likely to work on it since it has already been started!

I’ll close out this section with one of my favorite Mitch Hedberg jokes.

I sit at my hotel at night, I think of something that’s funny, then I go get a pen and I write it down. Or if the pen’s too far away, I have to convince myself that what I thought of ain’t funny.

Don’t let that happen to you!

Writing leads to better learning

Learn as though you need to teach.

The concept of having a “writer’s ear” never fully clicked with me until I started blogging regularly.

There’s a certain discipline required to create interesting articles that demands the individual be receptive and focused on finding new sources of information, inspiration, and insight. I’ve read books, listened to podcasts/radio, and watched videos I may have normally put off in order to learn something interesting that I might write about later.

Simply being a curator of good ideas (which blogs tend to be perfect for, like Farnam Street) encourages deeper thinking, research, and “heading down the rabbit hole” in order to find unique takes on topics that matter to you.

Committing to creating a volume of work also allows you to tackle big ideas more effectively.

From humble beginnings, writing around a certain topic for some time will allow you to build off of older thoughts, utilizing what you’ve already written down to develop ideas on a grander scale (I’m sure many writers have had a paragraph lead to an essay, which lead to a series of articles, which lead to a book).

In this way, writing encourages a specific style of personal development. You’ll begin to want to build on ideas, which will lead to a further exploration of your interests and a better understanding of your subject matter as you push onward into new topics and angles.

Related: 10 Insights on Building, Motivating and Managing an Exceptional Team

Writing is leadership at scale

I’m borrowing this phrase from my man James Clear, as it is a smart way of looking at publishing your writing online.

Despite the fact that the world is now being suffocated by ‘new media,’ there are obviously a lot of interesting opportunities that an “anyone can publish” world brings about.


The ability to leave an impact at scale through your words alone is a pretty amazing concept.

I’ve had people email me saying that what I’ve shared “saved their grades,” improved their life, and one person even credited me for landing their dream job! That’s insane.

I imagine writers like Mr. Money Mustache, who has helped thousands of people finally get their finances straight, or David Cain, who has forever changed the outlook many people have on life (including me) probably feel the same way. It is exciting, and humbling.

Is a cited study even necessary here? Without a doubt, the positive feedback for this “leadership at scale” leads to increased happiness for the writer.

Even in the face of criticism (which is guaranteed online), writers learn to build thick skin like few others. And believe me, criticism, even unwarranted criticism, is the breakfast of champions.

A Simple System to Encourage Regular Writing

From where I’m standing, personal non-fiction writing will generally fall under two main categories: emotional writing (the personal writing about trauma, described above) and educational writing, which is the “personal development” style of writing that focuses on learning.

Given the medical nature of ‘emotional writing’ (meaning, you should talk to a psychologist/psychiatrist first), I’m going to avoid discussing it.

I’ll instead focus on the educational writing aspect, which is something everyone can engage in.

One of my favorite templates for educational writing is the following article from Buffer CEO Joel Gascoigne.

It is a quick read at 342 words, and demonstrates what I believe is a frictionless approach to getting started with non-fiction, educational writing. Notice how approachable it is for writers of all skill levels.

It focuses on learning a single important concept.
It utilizes quotes to “stand on the shoulders of giants” (including thoughts of others).
It emphasizes a concise writing style that forces quick thoughts and quick sentences.

As a regular writer, I have no doubt that Joel wouldn’t even consider this one of his Top 25 written pieces.

But that’s okay — Joel is a regular writer with 100+ published articles. I chose this piece because the structure is one that even the newest of writers can duplicate in their first couple of articles.

Related: The Shocking Truth: Customers Don't Want to Engage With Your Company

You’ll find that sticking to a “500 words a day” regiment is much easier when the entire process is focused on sharing what you’ve learned through a handful of carefully chosen words. You can work your way up to 2000+ word articles down the line.

The first piece I ever published online was called 5 Life Lessons from The Wire (the HBO show) — I no longer have a copy of it, and it was almost certainly awful, but hey, at least I took some input and turned it into writing!

You’ll need to find your own voice as a writer, and I simply encourage this style because it generally results in a good give-and-take. You’ll find yourself giving experiences a special sort of attention in order to write about them later, and you’ll find that the “writer’s ear” will start to form.

If you’re just looking to jot down personal thoughts by hand, definitely look into getting a Moleskine notebook. If you prefer to type, but never want to publish, I really enjoy ZenWriter, or plain ol’ Microsoft Word.

If you want to publish your writing online, you can do it with the following tools:

If your budget is between $0 and zilch… No problem! You can use a platform like Medium (which Joel uses above) or Svbtle, which are my two favorite free platforms at the moment.
If your budget is between $3-10… You’ll find that you have more control here, as the free platforms above don’t let you do much at all (and actually own your content, yikes!). The most reasonable choice here would my preferred setup for new writers, WordPress + Bluehost, which sets up with one-click and includes a free domain for $4.95 (referral, my thanks if you use it).
A version of this article first appeared at SparringMind.com.

For most of us, our work lives are pretty good. Our jobs are OK, we get along with most of the people we work with, and our careers are moving along at a reasonable clip. And outside of work, our lives are pretty good, too. We have friends and family and significant others, and we're generally happy with the way things are going.

But who hasn't thought that maybe, with just a slight change in some aspect of what we do each day, our lives both in and out of work -- could be significantly better? It's true: sometimes it takes just a slight change in the way we live our lives to make a huge difference in the outcomes we experience.

Try these 11 simple habits for radically improving your life right now and see if the outcomes you experience aren't significantly better.

1. Do what you say you're going to do.

Long ago I learned the importance of following through on your promises. Always do what you say you are going to do -- even if you've changed your mind. You'll build bridges of trust that will continue to improve your life over time.

2. Start moving.

The deeper we get into our careers, the more time we spend at our desks and the less exercise we get. Researchers have found that exercise doesn't just improve your physical health, it improves the way your brain works, giving us more focused concentration, sharper memory, lower stress, and more.

3. Change your scenery.

Sometimes it just takes a change of scenery to shake things up for the better. Travel to a different part of town -- or a different part of the world -- and break out of your old routines.

4. Give of yourself.

We all want to feel like we're making a difference in the world. Guess what? We can. Volunteer with a nonprofit or community-based organization that is devoted to a cause you're interested in, whether it's finding a cure for cancer, helping veterans find work opportunities, or teaching entrepreneurship skills to high schoolers.

5. Get a new set of friends.

While your old set of friends may be just fine, you can shift your life into a higher gear by constantly adding new friends and acquaintances -- and the new perspectives and experiences they bring with them -- to the mix.

6. Change your career.

Are you happy in your current career? If not, then get serious about doing what you really want to do for a living. What are you waiting for?

7. Take a nap.

We all work hard and have lots of responsibilities, both in and out of the office. Sometimes the best way to improve your life is to take a break even if it's just a quick nap.

8. Be real.

Quit trying to be someone you're not. Just be yourself. There's only one of you, and you're perfect just the way you are.

9. Go back to school.

There's nothing quite like going back to school to keep your mind sharp and the opportunities to progress in your career flowing.

10. Forgive someone.

We all have someone in our lives who has mistreated us, cheated us, or otherwise done us wrong. Instead of letting that person hold you back, forgive him or her, and then move on, once and for all.

11. Get out of your comfort zone.

It's easy to get stuck in a rut, and the best way to get unstuck is to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Do something each day that you normally wouldn't. Start small, and work up to more daring experiences that really push you.

Gandhi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

And one of the most effective ways to serve is through small acts of kindness developed into everyday habits. They may seem like little things, but most of us can recall a time when a seemingly little thing a kind word, a helping hand--has made a memorable mark and a big difference.

Here are some simple ideas on how you can leave your mark:

1. Give your undivided attention. Be present and available to those you're with.

2. Be a problem solver. Become known as a person who has solutions and answers--or who knows where to find them.

3. Remember people's names. It makes them feel valued and leaves a great impression.

4. Ask "How can I help?" Be the person who is always willing. Just the offer communicates that you value someone.

5. Set high standards. Let others always see you doing and giving your best.

6. Make your contribution greater than your reward. Always give a little more than you get.

7. Lead with integrity, no matter how much it costs. It's the right thing to do in any case, but it also makes it easier for those who see you to do the same.

8. Smile. A smile is an invitation to connect.

9. Compliment the person in the first 30 seconds of the conversation. Pick something specific and personal. It will make the person feel valued.

10. Make people feel good about themselves. Acknowledge their gifts and talents.

11. Listen silently. Listen is an anagram of silent. Try to listen without interrupting.

12. Make eye contact. As the saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul. When you can look someone square in the eye, you are saying you value the person and want to connect.

13. Show respect. It's the bottom-line due of every person you meet.

14. Share the credit. When something important has been accomplished, share the credit. Remember, nothing great was ever accomplished alone.

15. Talk with people, not at them. Engage people by truly connecting with them.

16. Send it. When you discover an article, blog post, or book that you think someone can benefit from, send it with a personal text or note. Forward information that adds value and brings benefit to others, and let them know why you thought they would find it helpful.

17. Dream big for others. Instill a passion in them that they can be more and do more.

18. Stay away from toxicity. Help others learn what is toxic in their lives and how to avoid it.

19. Don't hesitate. Try to be the first person to reach out to someone when you think the person might need help.

20. Keep a positive attitude. Attitude is contagious, so spread only good feelings.

21. Celebrate special occasions. Remember people's birthdays and anniversaries; make a point of sending them a note or a card, giving them a call. Even a quick text is thoughtful. Use technology to help you remember.

22. Help people focus on their strengths, not their weaknesses. Point out their strengths and unique qualities, and gently help them with the parts they are struggling with.

23. Send handwritten notes. It's much more personal and shows you have invested time in expressing yourself.

24. Give without being asked. As long as you know it's appropriate, do something helpful without being asked.

25. Always bring something to the table. Resources, ideas, opportunities--even an article or a good quote can communicate your interest and investment.

26. Give people your trust. It is the foundation of all great relationships.

27. Communicate appropriately. Adapt your communication to fit the time, place, and person. Not everything deserves the same attention.

28. Highlight what may be overlooked. Make a point of noticing the things that others may not notice.

29. Make meaningful connections. Don't always talk about work; ask about something personal that is meaningful and appropriate.

30. Be on time. When you are on time, you show respect for others.

31. Go the extra mile. If you're already in the habit of performing small acts of kindness, think of ways to go further. Extra effort makes people feel extra good.

32. Be a sounding board. Be available if someone wants to run ideas or think things through. Offer help when blind spots occur or new ideas are needed. Help take someone else's thinking to a new level.

33. Give someone a special task and watch the person accomplish it. Let people know you believe in them by making them stretch. Valuing someone goes a long way.

34. Express deep appreciation for the ways that people add value to your life. People often have a hard time taking compliments, but acknowledging their strengths and work is a concrete way of making them feel good.

35. Renew confidence. Everyone struggles; find ways to bolster someone's confidence.

36. Treat people the way you want to be treated. This is the most fundamental rule of being with others.

37. Be sincere in your sincerity. It's not something you can fake.

38. Pay it forward. Model generosity and kindness always.

39. Offer constructive feedback. Feedback is a gift when it's presented positively.

40. Delegate. It makes people feel valued and empowered.

41. Catch people doing something right. And then praise them for it or otherwise show that you noticed.

42. Invite people to be part of a cause that is greater than they are. Invite them to dream big and play even bigger.

43. Don't keep score. Give because you want to give and not because you're adding up the tally.

44. Make it win-win. Supporting others isn't a zero-sum game.

45. Don't let people down. Keep your promises and commitments.

46. Bring your best. Give everything you do your best effort. It matters.

47. Meet people halfway. There is always a way to work through a conflict.

48. Add value constantly. It takes discipline and sacrifice, but it's worth the effort.

49. Start a movement. Inspire others to inspire others.

50. Live every day like it was your last. Show that you cherish your life and those around you.

Imagine what could happen if we spend our time bringing value to others even if we do one thing on a daily basis. Remember, the smallest gesture can make a big difference and leave the deepest mark.

Everybody wants to get more done, but unfortunately all the time management tips in the world can't help you overcome one of the biggest issues affecting your productivity your attitude. Fortunately, it's easier to change your mindset than you might think. All you have to do is change what you say to yourself.

Be honest most of us have a constant negative monologue playing in our heads all day. You tell yourself how tired you are, how disorganized you are, and how much you hate what you have to do. But what if you told yourself something different? Whether you say it out loud or in your mind, what you say to yourself matters.

With that in mind, here are 15 phrases you should say to yourself every day to help you meet your goals:

"I'm going to succeed at _." When you tell yourself you'll succeed at a specific task, you're contradicting the self-doubt that could otherwise hold you back.
"I've been successful in the past." Rehearsing specific past successes helps build self-confidence when you need to stretch yourself and try new things.
"I can overcome my fear." Acknowledging your fear is very empowering, and making a choice to overcome it will give you strength and confidence as you face it. Remember, fear only has power if you let it.
"That wasn't as bad as I thought." Many times, the things we fear aren't all that bad even when they actually happen. By reminding ourselves of this, we empower ourselves the next time we're afraid.
"I did something no one else was willing to do." Big or small, there's something you've done that no one else was willing to do. By patting yourself on the back for it, you strengthen your ability to maintain good habits.
"It's my fault." Taking responsibility for the things we did empowers us to apologize and make the situation better. Just don't blame yourself when it's not your fault!
"I got started!" The first step is always the hardest, and celebrating it is something we all do too little of. Congratulate yourself on getting started--every step from here will be easier.
"You're awesome." No one hears this enough, but it's true of absolutely everyone. We all have different ways that we're awesome, so take the time to remind yourself of yours!
"I don't care what other people think." The truth is that most people think about you far less than you'd assume. So, every so often, remind yourself that other people's opinions don't matter. Be true to yourself.
"They're no different than I am." When you start to judge others to lift yourself up, you're giving yourself a false sense of pride. Instead, admit that everyone is more like you than you realize, and you'll find yourself feeling less isolated and alone.
"I can do this!" Right before you step into a difficult situation or take on a challenge, tell yourself you can do it. Because if you believe you can, you're right!
"This time is an appointment with me." Many people don't make enough time for themselves. Instead, find a time you can set an appointment with yourself--to look over goals, hit the gym, or just rest. Then keep it!
"I'm not perfect--and that's OK." Feeling like we have to be perfect before we can launch our business or take our next step in life holds many of us back from success. Take a second today to admit that you're not perfect, and that that's perfectly OK.
"That's not my job, but who cares?" Being willing to step above and beyond your specific role is a great way to stand out and get noticed in your work and life. Even if no one knows it but you, you'll feel great knowing you made a difference.
"You're good enough, right now, just like this." We all want to improve, move forward, and accomplish more. However, sometimes we just need to remind ourselves that we're good enough, right now, today. You'll feel relief and a sense of peace as you accept yourself for who you are.
Talking to yourself may sound like an odd thing to do, but it's extremely effective. Most people have an ongoing monologue in their minds already success is just a matter of making yours more positive. By saying these 15 things to yourself every day, you'll be well on your way to being successful, accomplishing your goals, and getting more done.

Do you make it a point to say positive things to yourself every day? Why or why not? Share your thoughts below in the comments!

It’s a fact of life: Everyone makes mistakes. People who are at the very top of their game make mistakes. If you’re trying something new, there’s an even better chance you’re going to make a mistake.

Should you let that stop you? Absolutely not. In fact, I’d go so far as to say if you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t really living.

If you insist that you are trying new things, but you aren’t taking any missteps -- well, I’d advise you to look at your actions a little more closely. Refusing to acknowledge when a misstep occurs is even worse!

I used to let mistakes upset me, because I’m a perfectionist. But over the years, my attitude has changed. Now I just want to move on quickly. Even so, I’m still interested in minimizing the impact of my mistakes as much as possible. Yes, mistakes will be made. But I like to think that I have at least some degree of control over how much they affect my business.

On social media, mistakes play out in front of the public eye all the time. I think how companies and individuals respond to their mistakes is as telling, if not more, than the mistake itself. Whatever you do, don’t panic. Wait until you’ve had time to process to acknowledge and respond to a mistake. People are more forgiving than you might think. After all, we’ve been there.

These are the strategies I use to help me.

1. Take control of managing the mistake

Dealing with a mistake requires a strategy. If you’re the boss, you should be in charge of implementing that strategy, because it’s your business that’s on the line. More often than not, the person who made the mistake does not have as much invested. They are not going to look at it the same way you do, which is why you need to take full responsibility for how it’s handled.

2. Listen deeply

When a mistake is made, it’s natural to become emotional. Before you react, make an effort to listen. If you want to learn from the mistake, you must understand why it happened in the first place. The only way to do that is to listen deeply to all who were involved. Did a breakdown in communication happen somewhere down the line?

It’s also worth adding that there’s a difference between active and passive listening. When I say to listen deeply, I don’t mean wait until someone is done speaking so you can get your turn in. I mean focus intensely on what the person is saying. Give them a chance to explain themselves fully. Pause before speaking.

3. Always think of your customer first

When a mistake has been made, I ask myself, “How is this going to affect my customers?” Doing so reminds me of what is really important. My business is about my customers. They are my first priority. Putting things into perspective makes me less likely to overreact. Most mistakes just aren’t a big deal.

4. Resist the temptation to blame someone (or something) else

Just last week, Rolling Stone published a note to its readers that implied that the “discrepancies” in the magazine’s article about rape at the University of Virginia were the fault of the story’s protagonist, Jackie, and not its reporting. The reaction on Twitter was swift and merciless. Quietly, over the weekend, Rolling Stone changed the note’s wording. By failing to acknowledge its own culpability, the magazine’s reputation suffered even further. Don’t make the same mistake.

5. Prepare for potential fallout in advance

We recently recognized that we needed to have our website redesigned -- but we didn’t ask the right questions before doing so. We should have asked an expert what to expect. Because we didn’t, we were ill-prepared to deal with what came next. Asking someone who had gone through a similar experience would have helped us a lot.

6. Understand the difference between temporary and long-lasting solutions

Some fixes are just Band-Aids. They may even end up causing more problems for you in the long run. Take some time before you act.

What are the strategies you use to minimize the impact of your mistakes?

At the end of the day, isn't the only life worth living one that you’re proud of? Of course, it sounds cliché, but life’s too short not to dream about the “what if” if the “what if” can make sense for you.

I hear from many people that feel they'd be better off braving it on their own vs. working for someone else, especially when the jobs picture can get so bleak. It makes sense, as our new normal is full of not-so-pretty things such as job uncertainty, financial uncertainty, pay cuts and furloughs.

So maybe it’s a conscious choice to become an entrepreneur, or maybe it’s the result of a layoff or other job loss that’s given you the itch. Whatever the impetus, I think we have all seen that the traditional American dream -- 2.5 kids, a white picket fence and a pension fund -- is dead. But your dream isn’t.

Small business resources online have democratized entrepreneurship, helping anyone create business cards, buy domain names and hire virtual assistants. It’s easier than ever to go into business for yourself, at a time when job frustration is at a fever pitch. So, if you're thinking about striking out on your own ...

1. Flirt first with being "fun-employed."

Being fun-employed is not making the most of an unexpected “vacation” from work (thank you for the layoffs, Mr. Recession). Instead, fun-employed people can have seemingly oddball jobs that they love, like being an alpaca farmer or owning an artisanal chocolate shop. For others, it’s running a computer fix-it company, being a travel writer or a YouTube songstress or working as a manager for a touring metal band.

It’s about choosing your own adventure (I loved those books as a kid). Sure, with all of that fun comes uncertainty, but there is a ton of opportunity, too.

If you already have a job, try your passion as a part-time job first. Dip your toes in the entrepreneurial water before diving in. Going all in too early is like being a firework that is fantastically extravagant but quickly burns out -- and is soon forgotten.

Take your time. Does alpaca farming sound awesome in theory but, in practice, you hate raking poop? Know that now, before you burn your corporate bra, so to speak, and dive in. Knowing what you don’t want to do is just as important as, or even more important than, knowing what you do want to do. Don’t go all in until you get your tootsies wet.

2. Ask if you are really ready

To determine if you truly are ready to start your own business (or at least if you’re the ideal candidate to become an entrepreneur) ask yourself these eight questions:

• Do you have six to nine months of expenses saved up?
• Have you researched the profession? Have you studied the competition and talked to others who are already in the business?
• Have you come up with a business plan?
• Are you already established in the industry, with a good resume, complete with experience and references?
• If your grand plan fails, can you quickly get another job?
• Do you need extensive health coverage for you or your family?
• Have you recently become frustrated with work and want to pursue what seems like a cool idea?
• Do you have a new idea for a business, almost every day?

If you answered yes to questions one through five, it seems like you just might be the ideal candidate to pursue your grand scheme. If you answered no, well, you need to do more homework.

If you answered yes to six through eight, you might need to give your idea a reality check. That doesn’t mean that it’s destined to fail, it just means that you may want to give it a bit more thought.

3. Assume you are going to suck at starting your own business

No matter how big your dreams are, how much you have researched your field, how many people you have spoken with, how many books you have read, how prepared you think you are -- you are probably going to suck at it at first.

In the beginning, it’s better to have low expectations, then you can exceed them. Just because you’re a small-business owner doesn’t mean that you know how to be a boss. A great chef doesn’t necessarily know how to run the restaurant. An internet wiz doesn’t necessarily know the ins and outs of marketing. A celebrity personal trainer isn’t necessarily capable of attracting new members to the gym.

Know what you don’t know. You can learn what you need to know, or you can know a little about a lot and get to a point where you can hire people way smarter than you are for the rest. My manager always says, “If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.” Think about it.

Delegating is a must, but you still have to get your hands dirty. Don’t think that someone else is going to make you successful. This is your business, career, vision, technique, voice, style and flair -- that can’t be hired out.