We ask the tough questions
You’ve got a free half hour during your work day. What do you do?
Catch up on some news. I have newspapers dating back months lying around the house because I will get to them “someday”.
Who, or what, is your biggest inspiration?
My friend and talented metal sculptor Anna Small of A Small Art Factory, who showed me by example that you can follow a different path and be very successful and happy.
What's the biggest thing you've learnt this year?
You really do need a water-tight business plan, and you need to stick to it. I'm learning this the hard way as I stumble along trying to figure out the financials. Numbers make my brain hurt.
What's the best bit of feedback you've ever had?
A client told me I had moved his newsletter from bronze to gold, I was chuffed. Until he took about three months to pay his bill :)
What’s your number one stress relief tactic (keep it clean!)?
Cranking up the iPod, putting on the trackies and walking along the beach. Sand and salt water must the world’s best therapy.
What’s the smartest bit of marketing you’ve ever done?
You mean apart from Flying Solo? Getting off my butt and heading to local business networking events.
What or who has the most grounding influence on you?
My kids. Seriously, if there’s one thing that can bring you down to earth it’s your eight year old telling you he doesn’t like the colour of the shoes you are wearing.
What’s the best thing about being a soloist? And the worst thing?
The best thing is I can go for that stress-relieving walk in the middle of the day. The worst things are the isolation, and the feeling that I really should wash the breakfast dishes.
What’s one habit you’d like to change?
Poor time management. My clients don’t suffer, but my well-being does!
What is the one regret you do not want to have in this lifetime?
That I never had the guts to follow my dreams.
How did your school report describe you (in three words)?
Talkative, friendly, disruptive!
Do you have a designated ‘work’ wardrobe?
I used to when I worked in an office. And those clothes are now sitting in the wardrobe, unloved. Maybe giving them to charity will be the final admission that I will never go back to the corporate life.
And now comes the plug!
What do you do? Who for? And how does it benefit them?
I help clients increase sales and improve brand recognition through compelling business copywriting. Not only marketing copy (websites, flyers and more), but articles for trade and academic publications, media releases and articles, hard- and soft-copy newsletters and more. I also work with other communications professionals to deliver “full service” agency work without the “full-service” agency price. My clients are primarily small business, but I also do some work for a couple of academic research schools.
And where can we find out more?
- Flying Solo Directory: blackcoffeecommunication.flyingsolo.com.au
- My website: www.blackcoffeecommunications.com.au
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlackCoffeeCommunication
- Twitter: @blackcoffeenic
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/nicole-leedham/18/374/aa
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