The Power of Words

I always knew I would work with words. From the time I was ten and won the school spelling bee, I just knew. The word that helped me win was itinerary. And I realized somewhere, in some part of the world, that word meant everything. I made it all the way to the county finals. For weeks, I spent every hour, reading words from the dictionary like I could drink them and quench my thirst. And then I would use all of them in sentences and build stories and worlds and galaxies that transformed my life.

At that age, we don’t think about how important our actual words are. We just fling them out into the ether and use them as shields or weapons. But as we grow up, we start to see the weight that words hold. How they shape us, form us, ignite us, or destroy us.

In my work, I use words to inform, inspire, and influence.

As a writer and editor, I am a cultivator and purveyor of words — both beautiful and boring. I work with people to help them channel the right words to get their point across. To persuade an audience. To educate readers. To establish a brand. To build deeper relationships with customers. To connect to others in a tone and voice that feels aligned with their values.

In any given day, most of us interact with at least 5 people a day, and some even more than that. If we think about how our words impact those 5 people, who then connect with at least 5 people, and so on. The power our words have radiates outward in a spiral of impact so profound, it’s almost mind-boggling. And that’s just face to face conversations.

When I consider my work — writing web content, PR articles, email marketing funnels, sales copy — it feels secondary to true personal conversations. But I’ve started to think differently lately.

If we connect physically with at least 5 people every day, then the number of people and connections we come across online must be multiplied tenfold. And those are just people. Now imagine how many pieces of content — long-form and short — that we digest. Think about the impact each piece can have.

• A social media post that raves about customer service at a local restaurant.
• A blog on a site that outlines how to make cookies just like your grandma's.
• A website for a restoration company that can help remove flood water.
• An article for small businesses about best practices in their industry.
• The comment section on that funny video on TikTok.

Every single one of these pieces of content creates an impact that inspires, influences, and informs. These words affect the readers emotionally, physically, mentally, and socially.

Some people might read that restaurant post and go visit the business, bringing a ton of new customers. The girl who wants to surprise her mom with her grandmother's cookies is excited to give them to her on her birthday. The couple whose house flooded after a hurricane is relieved by what they've read on the restoration site. That small business is a startup and is soaking up all the help they can get. And that TikTok comment section provided some much needed comic relief for someone having a very bad day.

What I love about my work is that every day, I get to tell a story. I impact more than just 5 people. Hundreds, maybe thousands. Every day I get to transform the world and connect people to each other. I show them new ways to do things. Tell them stories that inspire them to take a leap of faith. Give them info to take the next step. Help them solve problems, learn things, have adventures.

With just letters strung together like a tapestry of intent, I make things happen. I inspire. I inform. I influence. And I ignite. Word by word.

Because I am a writer.