Next up in our Small Business Inspirational Series is Crystal Carney, Owner, Writer and Editor of Crystalline Editing Services. Crystal shares how staying curious and openminded has led to some of her most valuable growth as a person, writer and business owner.
"In college I fell in love with the publishing industry. I loved the written word and knew that I would spend the rest of my life discovering the art intrinsic to telling stories in various forms. I had professors who would tell me that my best quality was listening before offering feedback and that I had a knack for reframing scenes to clarify authors’ intentions. When I first started my business, I was told to never stop learning and to stay curious.
I took these comments and put them to use as foundational ideas in my editing business. I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to stay curious in both personal and professional settings. As I learn more about how to be an entrepreneur and more about my industry, I realize how much more there is to know. I had made assumptions about the nature of different publishing avenues authors might take and what my clients might be looking for. After committing to market research in order to reach my intended audience, I realized that every assumption I had made was incorrect in some fashion or another. Lesson learned .
I continue to put my clients first in the collaborative nature of an editorial relationship because I believe it should be defined as a conversation. In fact, it wasn’t until I became immersed in the literary community that I recognized that not everyone approaches editing a book in this way. More than most people, I understand how easy it is for intentions and tone to go unnoticed or misinterpreted. Having clear communication is vital to the success of an author or publisher and the book.
I’ve attended literary festivals and events where I made connections with writers and other publishing professionals in an effort to further the conversation. My efforts have rewarded me with connections and volunteer opportunities with writer groups and literary journals where I can better establish my presence in the literary community.
A portion of my time every week is spent investigating resources from other small business owners including marketing methods, metric tracking techniques, and financial records in order to bring the most relevant knowledge to my clients. I see my client connections as part of the larger literary community and everything I do is to serve my community. Whether it is to better my own understanding and revise my business model or advise another industry professional in their journey to publication, the key to progress is seeing the part I play in the whole.
In the spirit of shared knowledge empowering others who might be on a similar path, I am in the planning stages of organizing a blog and newsletter service that will offer lessons and insights into the often nebulous industry. My hope is to attract clients who are interested in learning more and who, themselves, are feeding their curiosity to grow their successes. I’ve already encountered clients who have helped me to become better at my craft simply by providing honest feedback in kind conversation.
The best advice I ever received was to listen and be curious. This is true in both life and business. I’ve learned that you must find wisdom imbedded in feedback, whether intended or not. As Bill Nye once said, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t”. If you listen carefully and pay attention, you can learn from a new teacher every day."
-Crystal Carney
Thank you for sharing the advice you received and how it impacted your business journey Crystal!
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