🌟 Welcome to another inspiring episode of Pathways with Amber Stitt! We had the pleasure of speaking with Venchele Saint Dic, the founder of PathwayCoachWriting.com.
🖋️ Venchele takes us on a journey through her passion for writing, which began in her college years and has since evolved into a thriving coaching business.
🙌 You'll hear how Venchele works with a diverse range of clients, from students to business owners, and emphasizes the importance of adapting to the ever-changing landscape of writing, especially in the age of ChatGPT.
📝 Listen in as we discuss the impact of writing on personal development, the challenges and rewards of being a female entrepreneur, and the vital role of community and support in achieving success.
💡 Venchele also shares some of her favorite books that have inspired her along the way. Don't miss this insightful conversation that will motivate you to pick up a pen or hit the keyboard and start capturing your own unique stories.
We Discussed:
🌱 Venchele's transition from personal journaling to professional writing.
🌱 The evolution of Pathway Coach Writing and adapting to industry changes.
🌱 Strategies for overcoming procrastination and incorporating writing into your daily routine.
🌱 The importance of storytelling and how everyone has a unique story to tell.
🌱 Tips for writing in different environments and balancing writing with other responsibilities.
🌱 Leveraging writing skills for networking, business, and personal growth.
🌱 The role of niche communities and social media in building a successful writing business.
Mentioned Books:
📚 "Daring Greatly" by Dr. Brene Brown
📚 "Words That Work" by Dr. Frank Luntz
📚 "The Making of a Manager" by Julie Zhuo
📚 "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
🚀 Don't miss out on Venchele's invaluable insights and practical advice for aspiring writers and entrepreneurs alike!
To Connect with Venchele Saint Dic:
Website: http://www.pathwaycoachwriting.com
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/venchele.dic?mibextid=ZbWKwL&_rdc=1&_rdr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/venchele-saint-dic-drph-student-mph-baph-70480811/
To Connect with Amber Stitt:
Website: http://www.amberstitt.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberstitt_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-stitt-acp-chfc%C2%AE-cltc%C2%AE-clu%C2%AE-gallup%C2%AE-1b186821/
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring content!
🔔 Don’t forget to hit the bell icon to get notified when we post new episodes!
📢 Let's take action today and start on the path to success together!
#PathwaysWithAmberStitt #WritingCoach #Entrepreneurship #AmberStitt #VencheleSaintDic #StrengthBasedPsychology #OvercomingProcrastination #Storytelling #BusinessGrowth #Inspiration #Motivation
Amber Stitt [00:00:00]:
Hello and welcome to Pathways. I am your host, Amber Stitt, and today we welcome Venchele Saint Dic to the show today. Welcome, Venchele.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:00:09]:
Hi, Amber. Thank you for having me.
Amber Stitt [00:00:11]:
You have a beautiful website and a beautiful coaching process. You have PathwayCoachWriting.com, correct? That's your website?
Venchele Saint Dic [00:00:19]:
That's my website.
Amber Stitt [00:00:20]:
And how did you get into writing? Did you always love to write?
Venchele Saint Dic [00:00:24]:
So, yes, I've always loved to write. As I was sharing with you earlier, my passion for writing sort of started during my college years. And again, you know, before I was just journaling, but then I finally realized that I could use it. I could monetize this gift. I could turn it into something that's going to be useful not just for me, but for my future clients. And so that's how Pathway Coach Writing was born. And again, I'm continuing to always evaluate, the relevance of Pathway Coach Writing in this industry now with ChatGPT and then also trying to figure out if the needs of my clients have changed and whether or not I need to pivot my approach, because at Pathway Coach Writing, I use strength based psychology. When I'm working with my clients, I mostly focus on their strengths.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:01:17]:
I do pay attention to the weaknesses, but I try to figure out if I can push them to see opportunities to learn from their weaknesses and turn these weaknesses into strengths. And so I do a lot of that work and then providing content feedback, doing the editing work for businesses and for other individuals. And then I also cater to students because sometimes I think people think that students don't have money to pay for coaching. But you'll be surprised. There are many...people will find a way. Where there's a will, there's a way. And I enjoy working with them just because I think that this segment of the population really pushes me never to sit on my laurels and always trying to figure out what's new out there. Like, how can I make Pathway Coach Writing better, not for me, but for my clients?
Amber Stitt [00:02:02]:
So that demographic would be more student based, or is it going beyond, you work with business owners, too?
Venchele Saint Dic [00:02:08]:
Yes, I work with business owners, students, and then also other individuals who are not affiliated with any organizations, regardless of writing ability. I should say that.
Amber Stitt [00:02:17]:
Okay, so I want to go there because I know that you talk about words being tools and there's certain techniques. Sounds like you had a supportive family growing up. Where did it cross over where you saw there was a need for maybe people that don't have that support system, how to help them and bring these techniques to all markets, really all economic environments.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:02:37]:
I think I started realizing that there was a need for my skillset when I realized that there weren't many women in the industry. There was a time when there was, but that number slowly but surely dwindled over the years. And then I said to myself, well, I'm a firm believer that you should use what you already have right in front of you. Because I know sometimes when we're building businesses, people will, again, if you have a brick and mortar, they will tell you you need to have this amount to start a business. Like I said, I went the unconventional route. I did not do any of this. I only had pen and paper, literally, and an address book, if I remember correctly, and the Internet. And so I used it to my advantage.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:03:23]:
And I realized that when I was doing my market research for my business, I noticed that there weren't many women. And I said, I want to be part of this movement. And that's when I started putting myself out there. I conducted several interviews with potential clients and ask them what they were looking for. And I started, now that I think about it, I started reaching out to people of color first, just because I wanted to see if there were any gaps there as well. I cater to all gender, all people from different races. I've been lucky. I've been lucky to attract some great clients and clients who are intentional in doing the work, not just saying that they want to write a book and then they don't put in the work.
Amber Stitt [00:04:08]:
Yeah, I think with clients, you have to let them know there's certain expectations to take this seriously, because it's so important now when it comes to writing, do you think that people literally need to be writing with a pen, paper, pencil, or is verbally speaking into a transcription to then transfer it over to edit and maybe add your own words after? Is that another form of writing that we finally realized is an option? Is it all good? It's all important?
Venchele Saint Dic [00:04:37]:
Yes, that's another form of writing. And then also, I have to take into account that when I work with my clients, I try to gauge during the first two sessions where they are, where do they live, what their environmental situation is. For example, if you're a parent, I'm not going to say to you, "Well, you need to dedicate 1 hour to write." That's just not my job.
Amber Stitt [00:05:00]:
I have to get up at 4:30 sometimes to get my daughter up so I could get things done. And it's like, what if you need more coffee by that time, that might not work for me. Yeah, it's meeting people where they're at. And that's what's kind of neat about the journey, is you might have seasons.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:05:16]:
And literally all you need is 15 minutes, or 10 minutes. And like you said, depending on where you are you could be at the grocery store, and then an idea hits you, you're not gonna have time. Let's be real.
Amber Stitt [00:05:29]:
To go, Otter.ai!
Venchele Saint Dic [00:05:30]:
Pen and paper.
Amber Stitt [00:05:31]:
Oh, my gosh. We gotta take this down. I'm amazing right now. Everyone needs to hear this before I forget.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:05:37]:
Exactly. And so that's the reason why I even tell my clients to record themselves, too. I mean, if that's going to make things easier, because there's so many apps, like there's Scribd, there's Google transcribe, there's so many apps that people can use now to transcribe their voices into text. It's unbelievable. But yes, this is a different type of writing.
Amber Stitt [00:05:56]:
I know that other people that are successful, I'm not a scientist, so. But writing things down actually does do something. I think, from a brain science perspective, that might be different than verbally just speaking it into the app, but it's all important. But I do know that people that journal and combine meditation, other things, seem to have some other health benefits, which is probably for another day. But any strategies that just help people to get through that procrastination. It's like, almost like if you have the project with a deadline, sometimes that just gets in your head and then you just can't. But if you have all the time in the world, the ideas keep coming. So any strategies there for just getting it going?
Venchele Saint Dic [00:06:34]:
I think to complement what you said. I even think about my 9 to 5. If I'm giving 100% to my 9 to 5, what would happen if I don't give 100% to this writing project? Especially if you have clients who are going to use this product and sort of brand themselves using that product. I always have to remind my clients and ask them, like, okay, but who would you be? Or where are you going to be if you do not do this right now? If there's no sense of urgency, and that's something to be very candid with your audience is something I cannot teach, that urgency has to come from within. The change has to come from within.
Amber Stitt [00:07:12]:
I've never had problems with my clients taking initiative to protect their families, life or death. That doesn't even scare them. So try to scare them into writing. Gotta do it. But I think sometimes people almost feel that their story is not important. And if there's not some trauma or something, that's like, here's why you need to listen to me. It doesn't mean you don't have a story to share, to tell. You might inspire somebody, and it's important to keep doing that out there in the world.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:07:41]:
Well, maybe they should talk to the author of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". I'm not sure if he went through any sort of trauma, per se, but he turned this, well, I would like to say this mundane character into someone that we could relate with. Because for whatever reason, all I can remember from these books is that the main character always thought that everyone else was messed up except him. You know, there was always something wrong with everyone else around him but him.
Amber Stitt [00:08:09]:
So just build your bubble of greatness.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:08:12]:
When people say to me, I don't have a story to tell, I don't believe it. I think that it's just a question of taking the time to look back over your life. And also, when we talk about writing books, maybe the book may not even be about you. It may be about an experience that you've had, and you want to impart some knowledge and some wisdom through that experience. That's a story right there. Does it need to be 490 pages long? No, as a matter of fact, there was one project that I worked on, and I kid you not, it was 800 pages. And I literally looked at my client, I said, "No, you do understand that even with Harry Potter, there was a page limit."
Venchele Saint Dic [00:08:50]:
And I even suggested, why not break this project into two separate projects? You have a sequel, so it's kind of like, let's get to the year of "Yes."
Amber Stitt [00:09:03]:
Ooh, I like that.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:09:05]:
Yes. You may want to just have that one book that's 800 pages long. But let's think about it for a second. Are people going to have the bandwidth to go through 800 pages? I mean, the attention span is probably, like, what, five minutes? You're trying to get people's attention within a couple of seconds.
Amber Stitt [00:09:21]:
Right.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:09:21]:
And I said that if you want this book to sell, we have to think of smarter strategies for us to get to your year of "Yes", into your year of success. Some clients are going to be fine with it, and some people will wrestle with you, but ultimately, you have to help clients see what's in it for them if they don't pivot their strategies and their approach to branding.
Amber Stitt [00:09:45]:
What I heard was, "Oh, my gosh, you already got a second project done. That's awesome. Now, you already have two books!" Build a lot, and then you can condense and repurpose it. And we're seeing that a lot with marketing and different things. So let's pivot to writing and building connections and how that can help networking, business. I know that you organically found your passion through people noticing your strengths, and sometimes we might downplay it.
Amber Stitt [00:10:12]:
"Oh, no. Oh, it's just. I'm okay. I'm all right over here with this or that." People that are telling you things, that could be your next business line. So pay attention to people that are making comments, don't downplay it. And I know that that's really where it started with you. So how are you seeing this really starts taking shape out there in a social media friendly, community networking world that we are in?
Venchele Saint Dic [00:10:33]:
I think that right now, I have had to just revisit not just my website, but revisit the initial business plan that I had created right after I started the business. And I think that maybe in the beginning, I had a myopic view of what I wanted my audience to be. And one of the biggest lessons I've learned is to allow the evidence to lead you to a conclusion. And I think the evidence showed, well, actually just working with my clients and talking to them all the time showed to me that maybe I wasn't broadening my audience because I was just focused on just attracting writers and coaches. But there's also a niche, for example, executive coaches. There's also a niche for entrepreneurs, which is something that I had not thought about when I first started. And then also, I think it's a bigger question on figuring out whether it's writing or another field of expertise, how you can cut through the riff raff, how can you be relevant in other sectors? So, for me, I work in public health, and then I have this passion in writing, but writing could be cross cutting. It doesn't have to be me writing memoirs.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:11:46]:
It could be me writing manuscripts, or textbooks, or policy. And so I think for me, the biggest advice I could give to people is try to figure out how your passion project or your skills can be used in other sectors.
Amber Stitt [00:12:03]:
Yeah, I feel like I'm hearing a common denominator with you of really being open minded. I think you have been. We talk about a framework, which I didn't really talk about with you today. We call it "Pathways of Peak Performance". So then when I see you in pathway, I'm like, yep, we're doing this. Everyone has their own path, but building that multifaceted opportunity where you can repurpose. A female could talk to another female, but also a sister, we can build this list of...I understand what it's like to be a spouse, a sister, a daughter, a mother, a business owner, a person dealing with fertility, all the things. Okay, well, there's a way to link and be able to assist in an area that I understand and anyone can try to figure out what their list might be for them.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:12:51]:
But even when we're crafting the list, we have to also let go of that expectation that it's going to resonate with everyone. You know, as I was listening to you earlier, I kept thinking like, yes, we're in different fields, but we know that it's not the product that we sell may not be applicable to everyone. And letting go of that expectation.
Amber Stitt [00:13:14]:
Yeah, what's that saying? Jack of all trades is a master of none.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:13:18]:
None.
Amber Stitt [00:13:18]:
I remember going to a marketing seminar this year and. And it's basically an exercise, technically, make that list, kind of hone in, but do the work to figure that out. There's a way to do it to then figure out who can you speak to and relate to because you could be helping that person.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:13:34]:
Yes. And that's where Facebook groups really play a role, because that's one way that I've been able to not only figure out what worked for me and what worked for others, but it also allowed me to build a community. And that's. I hate to put it this way, but it's sort of an underrated strategy. But I think looking for niche Facebook groups is definitely a great strategy to use and then also doing this, you know, podcasting as well.
Amber Stitt [00:14:02]:
Yeah. There's so many people to meet and, you know, you just changed my perspective on writing, too, because it doesn't always have to be about you. It could be about a story you need to share about someone someplace, some other thing.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:14:15]:
It could be a poem about an apple. Let's just be real.
Amber Stitt [00:14:18]:
Yeah.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:14:19]:
And it will resonate with someone out there.
Amber Stitt [00:14:22]:
Yep. So before we let you go today, tell us maybe your top couple books that are just...Are they ones you would reread over and over or you just...There's this one I love...
Venchele Saint Dic [00:14:33]:
Okay, well, I'm even looking at my set of books here. There is one book that I would recommend. It would be "Daring Greatly" by Dr. Brene Brown.
Amber Stitt [00:14:46]:
Yes. I have...Yeah, I'm like, the cover is in my head. It's like a turquoise font, black and white...
Venchele Saint Dic [00:14:51]:
I have this book that I'm reading right now. It's called "Words That Work". It's not what you say, it's what people hear by Dr. Frank Luntz. There's another book that I was reading. I think it's by Julie Zhuo. I think it's called the manager's guide or "The Making of a Manager", because I am really big on reading leadership books. But again, take that with a grain of salt, because you can read 1,000 books on leadership, but if you're not given an opportunity to lead, you're not going know what you're really made of. You know, when we talk about leadership, it is going to vary depending on where you work, in the environment that you work, and the people that you're leading.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:15:31]:
That's one thing I've learned. You know, you don't manage people. We lead people and we manage things.
Amber Stitt [00:15:37]:
If you don't get the opportunity, I think that's why you hang out in communities that see your value, because they tend to be the ones that I'll push you into. Maybe it's leading just on a podcast, or maybe it's on stage. Maybe it's in a nonprofit space. Whatever it is, get around people that see the potential, want to grow with you and have that mentor menteeship. I've seen that even happen for myself.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:16:00]:
Yes. And then let's not forget, I mean, I saved the best for last, "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. I mean, it really helps you specifically, daring to dream. And I think that's...
Venchele Saint Dic [00:16:13]:
Even as I'm reflecting on our conversation today, the work that we do requires us to have courage to step outside of our comfort zone and to be open minded to different perspectives, and then being willing to say, you know what, I don't have it all together. I don't know everything, but I'm willing to try. I'm willing to go in a different route that's going to be beneficial to me and to others. I've been hearing this theme throughout our conversation today, and that's beautiful to see the linkage.
Amber Stitt [00:16:46]:
We will let the audience know where to find you. We'll link up your information, and if you just google your beautiful name, they'll find you.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:16:54]:
Thank you.
Amber Stitt [00:16:55]:
I had so much fun hanging out with you today. I think there's going to be more in store. So thanks so much for spending time with us.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:17:02]:
Thank you so much, Amber.
Amber Stitt [00:17:04]:
It was fun. All right. We're going to do great. We're going to say, "Yes". Yes. Okay. Thank you.
Venchele Saint Dic [00:17:11]:
Thank you.
Amber Stitt [00:17:12]:
Thank you for joining us on this episode of Pathways. For more information about the podcast, books, articles, the blog and so much more, please visit my website at: www.AmberStitt.com And remember, let's take action today! Thank you for listening!
