February 21, 2025 • 28 mins
Denise shares her inspiring story of resilience after being unexpectedly let go from her job in March 2024. Determined to reshape her future, Denise took the leap into grant writing and rediscovered her passion for storytelling. It’s been a challenging year, but as she explains, it’s also opened doors to opportunities and connections she couldn’t have imagined.
Denise comes from a rich background in journalism and has built a dynamic career around her love of writing. From proofreading and editing to grant writing and public relations content, she’s done it all. Denise’s ultimate passion is helping businesses tell their unique stories with authenticity. Whether it’s through blogging, web content, or long-form articles, she connects companies with their audiences in a way that’s both genuine and impactful.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
Hello hello and welcome to another episode ofthe Leap to Success podcast.
The Leap to Success podcast is the conduit bywhich we share women's stories of courage,
bravery, and success.
Each week we interview women entrepreneurs andleaders that have taken the leap in their lives
and inspire our global listeners to be more,have more, and show up more, and live a life
(00:28):
filled with joy and happiness through believingin you.
So today I am so excited to be able to spendsome time talking to Denise Kunkel.
She is a member of the LEAP community and is awriter and loves telling story through writing.
Denise, tell us tell our audience and ourlisteners a little bit about you and what makes
(00:53):
you so awesome.
Well, I'm a writer and I'm finding out thatthat is something that not everybody enjoys
doing.
I feel like a lot of people that I've talked tofind it to be a drudgery where I'm it's my
release.
It literally is where I get lost.
So, Nice.
I guess my my short story would be that Istarted off going to school weirdly enough to
(01:20):
be a nurse but I wanted to do something morecreative after about two years into college and
I I I was really drawn to advertising.
So, I thought, strangely enough, I'm like,let's go into copywriting.
That doesn't involve long form.
Yeah.
And in doing so, I found myself learning youknow, obviously too, it's just tell your
(01:43):
client's story.
And I I graduated from their their J school atMarquette University which is where that all
came but got to learn a lot of different stylesof writing and whatever I did I found a way to
work that into my job.
So if it wasn't predominantly writing I found away to do it and that never over the course of
(02:07):
you know thirty some years.
So now I've gotten to a point where in March oflast year, I was separated from my job.
And it was funny because I had been blogging atthis company as well.
It wasn't my again, not my predominant role.
Right.
But the word right just came in front of myface.
(02:29):
And I'm like, okay.
I got it.
It's time to really turn toward, you know, whatI what I've always loved to do and really do
it.
And I thought this was this was the sign toreally, like, just let go.
And like I said, take a leap.
Take I don't if I took a leap.
I'd certainly decided to do free fall, and I Idecided to ten ninety nine and see where what
(02:55):
came up and to me that was very telling becauseas as I kind of be got quiet I I heard you know
people came forward.
You know I think that's a really importantthing to do is create that space where you can
receive.
Yes.
And that's kind of what happened with mebecause I'm usually a person that likes to be
in charge.
I've had a lot of roles where I was likeproject manager or coordinator of some sort,
(03:20):
know bringing all the you know working piecestogether.
And this time I had to just be quiet and let itcome to me.
So and that's kind of what led me to get intogrant writing.
I was like a friend of a friend, you know, andit's like to me it's like communities like this
where you really do get to make thoseconnections and lo and behold things work out.
(03:42):
Right
yeah I'm excited for this year, last year wascertainly boot camp so this year is the go for
it.
I love it, I love it.
Yes, so many things of what you said I want todive a little bit deeper into.
I love that you know the message about gettingquiet and listening and then finally listening
(04:04):
to that calling that you mentioned it was thereeven when you were in college you knew there
was something that was pulling you to writeeven though you tried to go down different
paths it still pulled you somewhat some otherdirection right and you found a way through all
of your career to have that be a portion ofwhat you do even if that wasn't your main job
title, but you were always having that writingflare.
(04:26):
I love finding that thread of connectionthroughout everybody's career where you show up
in your natural gifts and talents.
I think that's so important, especially asentrepreneurs.
Sometimes we can jump into something and we'relike, Okay, I think I can do this, or I've
learned a skill, can build a business aroundthis, And we forget to go back and look at that
(04:47):
thread that we've been doing that skill orwe've been doing that thing for our whole
lives.
And it comes so naturally to us that we assumeeverybody can do it, right?
So love that you said not everybody is a goodwriter or feels like they could be a good
writer and so that's why they need your help.
Yeah, it's kind of funny I've stopped beingsurprised because a lot people are like, hate
(05:11):
writing.
Mhmm.
Really?
I'm like, oh, wow.
You know, I'm like, but I met with by accident.
There are no accidents but I was supposed tomeet with somebody on Tuesday and I we kind of
got messed up.
I didn't realize she was going be out of thecountry and the place I went, she wasn't there
and I had asked about her and she goes, oh no,she's she's not and but the woman standing in
(05:33):
front of me, I I think over time, you justlearn it's like, well, this is the year of
being bold.
I'm like, so what's your name?
And we sat in park for like forty five minutesand she was a designer and a painter and we got
to share stories and yeah she's the same way.
She goes I'm more verbal.
I'm not written.
(05:53):
You know I'm kind of the opposite.
So as I mentioned to you before we began liketoday's a little scary because this is verbal.
Yes, I'm not as good at verbal as I am aboutwriting it down.
In general I think everybody feels that wayespecially when it comes down to their story.
Right, so what tips can you give to theaudience members who are to this podcast about
(06:19):
what are some key elements that if they aretelling their story, right?
So we work with, I work, and you work withmaybe primarily entrepreneurs, right?
Or we're in the LEAP community with other womenbusiness owners.
And so we need to tell our story through ourwebsite, through our social media, through just
how we're showing up, or whether we're doing apresentation.
(06:41):
So how do we what are the kind of the keyelements that we might want to make sure we
have included in our story?
I think initially when people you know kind ofsit down with that blank page in front of them
it's a bit overwhelming And we're so trained,you know, as we, you know, get into our careers
and things, the thirty thirty second elevatorspeech.
(07:03):
And really, it isn't about that at all.
It's about you.
What I tell people is, you know, your businessmight make this kind of widget or do this kind
of service but that's not what makes youunique.
It's your story, it's your why.
Really think about why did I start this?
And it doesn't have to make sense.
There's a great course I took called Just ShutUp and Write.
(07:26):
That's what it is.
It's like take your brain out of it a littlebit and just kind of jot, if it's not full
sentences, jot down those notes of things thatreally get you out of bed in the morning.
What drives you to do the business that you do?
What you enjoy about it?
And that's kind of what shapes your story andreally it's what becomes authentic.
(07:49):
I know there's a lot of talk about AI which isartificial intelligence.
I like to say writers and people who work withcompanies were authentic intelligence.
So you may use that as a tool but when it comesdown to coming across with your own voice you
don't have one and I think the other thing toomore, I mean, more metaphysically, it's like we
(08:10):
we don't think we have the right to boast ortell our story and we totally do.
You know, that's what that's what, you know,I'm like, I bump into people all the time and
maybe that's the affliction of writing.
It's like everybody's a story.
So, that's you kind of like start to interviewthem unconsciously and I, you know, if
(08:30):
anything, if it's easier for you to sit downwith somebody and you want and you because you
really can't get started writing, have theminterview you.
You know, and ask those questions about, youknow, hey, how did you get started in the
business and talk very little about thebusiness itself.
That'll come but at the same time, people wantto know you.
Most people want to work with a person not justa company brick and mortar.
(08:54):
Right yeah I love that I love that and manypeople do just especially when they have to
talk about themselves or their own story.
And we kind of have these, you know, invisiblerules like, Oh, if I'm in business, I can only
be professional and only talk about mybusiness.
And I can't talk about my personal life andcan't blur those lines.
(09:14):
But I think especially on COVID, when everybodywas on Zoom and we got to see people's homes
and we got to see their cats walking across thescreen and their kids in the background.
It really made us more human and realized thatwe are doing business with other humans who
have dynamic lives going on in the backgroundtoo.
(09:34):
I think it's given us a little bit morepermission to be more human when we do write
about ourselves or do have to share our story.
But there's always that block with people.
It's like I can't brag about myself right or Ican't I don't yeah so how do you help people
get through that?
(09:55):
Well you know and I honestly I suffer with ittoo.
I I feel that it's kind of funny in talkingwith, you know, some practitioners that I've
worked with.
The word unworthy comes up a lot.
The word fear comes up a lot and I think that'sparticularly true for women.
You know, if I could understand it for myself,I explain why it happens to other people but
(10:18):
again, you know, have somebody sit down andsay, ask them, what do I do well?
What what do you find that, you know, I excelin because if you if you pick especially like
three or four people you're going to find a lotof the same things being said.
And that's really what you need to understand.
It's like this is what they see.
Own it.
Yes.
Okay.
(10:38):
Run run with it.
And I, like I said, I I the lady I met with onTuesday by accident, she used the term sphere
of brilliance.
We all have a sphere of brilliance.
What you do too, you know, what is that, youknow, that you could do easily, you know, and
that's maybe that's the question you ask like,oh, what can I do all day long?
(11:00):
When I stumbled into grant writing, I realizedhow much I did love storytelling and how much
of all the things that I had done in the pastled up to it because it involved a lot of
journalism.
It's research, it's interviewing, it's reallybuilding relationships to get people to tell
you their story, know, building that trust.
So, I, you know, I think we just need to tapinto what, when we are feeling comfortable and
(11:27):
we don't think about a thing when we're doingit, that's our spirit of brilliance.
And, you know, I, you know, and if it takessomebody else telling us that, great.
Ask those for that feedback.
I think that's so important.
Yes, I do too.
I teach a class called Pinnacle Gift and it's afull day of us focusing on what is our
(11:50):
brilliance, are our natural gifts and talents,what is that thread of things we've been able
to do our whole lives and we just assumeeverybody else can do it and it's not special.
But it is special because it's unique to us,right?
So I love tapping into that and being able tofind that in other people is such a gift.
(12:11):
Something you said earlier about the grantwriting: How does storytelling help you be a
better grant writer?
It begins because you're working with peoplewith funds and you're working on behalf of your
nonprofit.
This is maybe a board of people and what to mehelps is that if you come across with a story
(12:34):
that resonates with them, obviously a lot of,you know, most grant applications also ask for
budget, they ask for your paperwork.
But to me it's the story that really makes itthree-dimensional.
It kind of leaps off the page and says wow youknow I feel that.
A good story emotes or evokes emotion.
(12:59):
And as much as they want to talk about theblack and white of things, also look at what
they're doing, what their funds can mean.
And that's where the storytelling is soimportant is to really illustrate, paint that
picture through words of what the issue is, howit's being solved currently and how it could
(13:22):
continue or be improved.
Kind of casting that vision and that's whatstorytelling does in in that regard for for
grant writing and that's been, it's been such ablessing to be able to do this.
Because it includes your craft but it alsomakes you aware of how other people might be
thinking because it's there's always two sidesthat you're working with.
The people that have the funds and the peoplethat need them.
(13:44):
So you're speaking to both and speaking to oneand speaking on behalf of another.
It's finding that voice to really reach thosepeople.
Nice, I love that.
I love that Denise.
So really being able to tell that story becausesometimes we hear the word grant or grant
writing and we think it's all data, right?
(14:05):
Fill in the blanks and put this spreadsheettogether and all this stuff.
But really what people want to do is tell thestory of their nonprofit, the passion, tell the
impact they're having.
And yes, can do that sometimes with thenumbers, but you really need to have the story
behind the story so that it does, like yousaid, leap off the page when people are reading
(14:28):
it, when the people are reviewing the grants.
And maybe it's my journalism background, butwhat I really want to do is the one I work
predominantly with is based in Mexico and I'veI've told them that in a couple of our calls,
I'm like, I'm going.
I'm I'm like, I wanna spend like a weekend oryou know, like a volunteer week helping.
(14:48):
Like, that's really going to help me immerseand.
Right.
With your voice.
I mean, even before I, you know, write anythingfor a client, I I want to talk with them
because I can I call it channeling?
You know, I hear what they're saying, how theyspeak, you know, where their where their eyes
light up, and to me that all becomes woven intothe words.
(15:10):
Nice!
That's another differentiator between you andAI, right?
So AI can do a lot of things and it can come upwith a lot of content but it can't hear the
inflection of your voice or the light in youreyes or your energy that you're beaming out
when you talk about a certain subject or aclient that you worked with or something like
that.
That's where another human being really canpick up on those nuances and help you focus on
(15:35):
those things.
Or they'll notice, Oh your energy totallydrains when you talk about that, so let's build
that into your story.
How do you help?
How do you work with your clients?
What's the process that you go through withthem?
I feel like for many of them again you knowmaybe they're a little hesitant or they're not
(15:57):
they're not sure where to start and again Ithink I put my journalism hat on and I just I
just interview them.
Nice.
Maybe we'll talk about their business, know butinitially it starts with you know what do you
like to do and you know you kind of talk aboutthat and I feel like that opens it up so that
when you do want to ask those other questionsabout their business they're comfortable.
(16:18):
I think that first part is just buildingrapport and trust to let them know that you
know they're giving you such a gift.
Their story, everybody's story is a gift.
And that is probably the scariest part for meas a writer is from when I take that and then I
put it on a page and I send it to them and sayhow did I do?
(16:39):
You know did I nail it?
You know and a lot of times you know you knowthey're like oh this is so great!
When I my very first grant proposal that I did,know, we were kind of in a safe space where I I
I wrote it but you know, it didn't go to theclient first and my grandmother goes, this is
perfect and you know, I was just over the moonlike, oh my god, you know, we can't.
(17:00):
Yeah.
But I think that's, you know, that's theresponsibility that we hold to realize, you
know, how precious somebody's story is becauseit is literally like a snowflake.
There's no toast.
And so that's that's what I take into theprocess is like this is a privilege and how I
(17:20):
can tell it it's very important and you're veryaccountable and responsible for it.
Nice, I love that.
I love that.
And your passion just we talked about energyyour passion just came through so profoundly
when you're talking about that and what aprivilege it is to take somebody's story and
help shape it and mold it and then give it backto them and say, Did I capture you?
(17:45):
Right? I'm
Right? Sometimes I'm sure that's very emotionalfor people if they've never had themselves
reflected back to themselves in the writtenword.
Can you share a client's story about you know Iknow you just shared one about the grant but
are there other client stories that you want toshare with us just about the reaction that
people have when you're able to tell theirstory?
(18:08):
So I spent three years really being ajournalist.
I was the company I I'm pretty sure they stillexist and they run a site but it's called
Patch.
They're owned by AOL.
And their idea was to go into communities thatwere underserved through their media because
(18:29):
there might have been a big city that, youknow, they broadcast their news, but, you know,
occasionally, maybe your city got a story outthere because it was usually tragic or
whatever.
Right.
We were put into cities to say this is theirnews site.
We're going to cover their news.
And I had the amazing privilege of of writingon behalf of my own city.
(18:52):
The city I lived in.
Nice.
One of a few people that actually lived in thecity they wrote for.
And they had been used to getting a newspaperthat only published once a week, got the story
wrong, or you know, didn't you know was just ina rush to get to print.
And again you know as far as journalism goesthe news was late by the time people got to
(19:18):
read it.
So this was online, it was real time and afterthree years even though we were seeing growth,
you know our revenues were coming up, theexpenses were coming down, they decided to
shutter the sites as far as having a localeditor there.
(19:38):
I was terrified to to break the news to mycity.
It's like, I'm not going to be here because allthese years, they've been, you know, they're
building that trust to say, hey, you have yourown news again.
Right.
So, I'm gone and I'm like, oh.
So, I got a call from the chief of police.
He says, you know, he goes, I have nevertrusted media.
(20:01):
He goes, but I trusted you.
Oh, nice.
That made me feel wonderful.
It also broke my heart.
I'm like, so hopefully, you know, they havefound another way to get the news out there
through a trusted certain thing.
To me that was like gold star.
Yes.
Yes.
I forgot that.
I'm like, and we we talk, know, and every oncein a while he would call before I was, let go.
(20:23):
He would just literally call and talk with meto tell me, hey, this is coming up.
I wanna let you know.
I'm like, I'm pretty sure I was the onlyjournalist he told that to.
Wow.
I I felt so blessed by that you know it's likeit was like I said it's a privilege you know to
get that.
Yeah and that comes through so powerfully isthat level of trust that somebody has to have
(20:47):
with you but you you exude right?
Like you're a calm and trusting presence.
So anybody out there listening if you need totell your story or you're a nonprofit who needs
to tell your story through a grant applicationright Or you're a business owner who just needs
some help talking about yourself, whetherthat's on your website or your social media, or
(21:09):
you might want to go out and start telling yourstory to other people, right?
And sharing that.
Please please please reach out to Denise andwe're going to have all of your contact
information in the show notes, so whereveranybody is listening to the podcast, whether
it's on YouTube or any of the podcast streamingservices, we'll have your information in the
(21:29):
show notes.
Is there a particular type of work that you'relooking for in 2025 or types of clients that
you'd like to, you know, ask for on thepodcast?
I think in some ways I would like to do morework with I feel like I pair well, to use a
wine analogy, I pair well with people who arein the web space, designers because those
(21:58):
professionals don't want to write.
They don't want to do content.
Want do content and I'm the same way where I'mlike I do web content but I don't I won't
design your web website.
So to me it's a nice it's a nice pairing tohave to give to a client together.
So if anybody's out there that in those spaceslike yeah you know people always want me to
write stuff and I have no idea what to dobecause I you know I I'm coding their website.
(22:21):
I'm like you know I'm I'm working on theirJavaScript.
Whatever.
It's two different disciplines.
So I I with people like that and then on a muchsmaller basis I know I've had a couple of
people ask me it's like do you do resumes?
Do you do like LinkedIn profiles?
And then the answer is yes you know becausethat's also story.
Yes.
And if you need to stand out that's one of thesocial media in that regard for on LinkedIn is
(22:46):
really you know you really want to stand outand be separate.
Yes and your resume and cover letters reallyneed to have a good story your cover letter
especially because your resumes are being readby bots now to get you through a certain
algorithm.
That cover letter can really help you standapart from everybody else that's applying for
(23:07):
those jobs.
So that would be a great thing to reach out toDenise for.
And I love that you asked for web designers,those kind of people, because typically I know
in working with web designers in the past, dohave that issue where their clients kind of get
stuck with the content.
Like we can build a great website but we needthe content to go on the site and that's one of
(23:31):
the most frequent places where people start todrag their feet and then the deadlines start to
get because nobody's giving the content.
Because people just again don't know how totalk about their products or their services or
their own story in a way that's compelling orwe just get stuck and we think it's no good.
Having having you as a person could really behelpful there.
(23:53):
Yeah and a website is never one and done.
You have to refresh it to make Google happy.
To show that there's new content out there andtruthfully a blog is a great way build that
those SEO scores.
I know it's changed over time but in generalyou want to you want to create that traffic.
(24:13):
Yes, yes I love it.
Love it.
So congratulations again on taking the leaplast year and jumping into being your own boss
and following that passion.
If you were going to give some advice tosomebody who is on the precipice of taking a
big leap, whether in their career or personallife, what kind of advice would you have for
(24:37):
that person?
I think the advice I would give because I hadto give it to myself it's just to be bold.
That's this year's mantra.
It's like be bold.
In in receiving and in asking.
(24:57):
And it's amazing.
It don't don't overthink anything.
Just if especially I feel like a lot of peoplefeel that coming up and then they put it down.
Even if the thing is simple as you know you'reat the supermarket and somebody has a great
blouse on.
Say it.
Yes.
That's, you know, and then, I think our earliermeeting that we had, it's like, that's your
(25:18):
subconscious going, do that.
Yes.
Think that's what we need to pay more attentionto because it's amazing the relationships we
end up with and and the support we get from it.
And I think it makes us feel good too.
So just ask, know be bold.
Nice, I love that.
(25:39):
Love that both of those things be bold and justask.
Sometimes as women and as entrepreneurs wethink we have to figure everything out
ourselves and we don't want to ask for helpbecause we don't want to bother anybody or we
feel like I should be able to learn everythingon my own because there's so many resources
available.
We do need other people and we do need to askfor help sometimes and so if you are out there
(26:01):
listening and you need some help with writingyou know you need an update on your website or
you know you need fresh content for yourLinkedIn profile or you have something that you
know you need to have written please pleaseplease reach out to Denise.
You've already heard her and heard her passionfor telling your story so please reach out and
(26:22):
let her help you.
Okay anything else that you have to share withour listeners today Denise?
Not really.
No great revelations.
It's been a wonderful year.
I hope I'm a you know, if I can do it, so canyou.
Type of thing.
I know a lot of people hear that often but I Iwould have to say jump in the net will will
(26:45):
appear.
It's.
Yes.
We can all do and as you mentioned, bold hasone connotation to it but in being bold you're
also vulnerable which is equally as alluring topeople.
Nothing more authentic.
Yes I love it.
I love it.
So okay well thank you again for being part ofthe LEAP for Ladies community.
(27:07):
It's such a special group of amazing womenentrepreneurs just like Denise.
So if you're interested in joining the LEAP forLadies community you can find that in the show
notes as well.
And again reach out to Denise and just have aconversation with her about how she can help
you with any of your projects that you need toinfuse more of your personal story into.
(27:30):
Great!
Wonderful well thank you so much for being ourguest today Denise and again reach out to
Denise with any of your writing concerns orprojects and if you're a grant writer if you're
a nonprofit that needs a great grant writer tohelp tell your story please reach out to Denise
and if you're an entrepreneur that just needssome help please reach out to her as well.
(27:52):
Thank you so much for being on the podcast andfor those of you listening please make sure you
subscribe to your favorite podcast channel orour YouTube channel so that you don't miss any
of these future podcasts coming up.
Thanks so much!
Hello hello and welcome to another episode ofthe Leap to Success podcast.
The Leap to Success podcast is the conduit bywhich we share women's stories of courage,
bravery, and success.
Each week we interview women entrepreneurs andleaders that have taken the leap in their lives
and inspire our global listeners to be more,have more, and show up more, and live a life
(00:28):
filled with joy and happiness through believingin you.
So today I am so excited to be able to spendsome time talking to Denise Kunkel.
She is a member of the LEAP community and is awriter and loves telling story through writing.
Denise, tell us tell our audience and ourlisteners a little bit about you and what makes
(00:53):
you so awesome.
Well, I'm a writer and I'm finding out thatthat is something that not everybody enjoys
doing.
I feel like a lot of people that I've talked tofind it to be a drudgery where I'm it's my
release.
It literally is where I get lost.
So, Nice.
I guess my my short story would be that Istarted off going to school weirdly enough to
(01:20):
be a nurse but I wanted to do something morecreative after about two years into college and
I I I was really drawn to advertising.
So, I thought, strangely enough, I'm like,let's go into copywriting.
That doesn't involve long form.
Yeah.
And in doing so, I found myself learning youknow, obviously too, it's just tell your
(01:43):
client's story.
And I I graduated from their their J school atMarquette University which is where that all
came but got to learn a lot of different stylesof writing and whatever I did I found a way to
work that into my job.
So if it wasn't predominantly writing I found away to do it and that never over the course of
(02:07):
you know thirty some years.
So now I've gotten to a point where in March oflast year, I was separated from my job.
And it was funny because I had been blogging atthis company as well.
It wasn't my again, not my predominant role.
Right.
But the word right just came in front of myface.
(02:29):
And I'm like, okay.
I got it.
It's time to really turn toward, you know, whatI what I've always loved to do and really do
it.
And I thought this was this was the sign toreally, like, just let go.
And like I said, take a leap.
Take I don't if I took a leap.
I'd certainly decided to do free fall, and I Idecided to ten ninety nine and see where what
(02:55):
came up and to me that was very telling becauseas as I kind of be got quiet I I heard you know
people came forward.
You know I think that's a really importantthing to do is create that space where you can
receive.
Yes.
And that's kind of what happened with mebecause I'm usually a person that likes to be
in charge.
I've had a lot of roles where I was likeproject manager or coordinator of some sort,
(03:20):
know bringing all the you know working piecestogether.
And this time I had to just be quiet and let itcome to me.
So and that's kind of what led me to get intogrant writing.
I was like a friend of a friend, you know, andit's like to me it's like communities like this
where you really do get to make thoseconnections and lo and behold things work out.
(03:42):
Right
yeah I'm excited for this year, last year wascertainly boot camp so this year is the go for
it.
I love it, I love it.
Yes, so many things of what you said I want todive a little bit deeper into.
I love that you know the message about gettingquiet and listening and then finally listening
(04:04):
to that calling that you mentioned it was thereeven when you were in college you knew there
was something that was pulling you to writeeven though you tried to go down different
paths it still pulled you somewhat some otherdirection right and you found a way through all
of your career to have that be a portion ofwhat you do even if that wasn't your main job
title, but you were always having that writingflare.
(04:26):
I love finding that thread of connectionthroughout everybody's career where you show up
in your natural gifts and talents.
I think that's so important, especially asentrepreneurs.
Sometimes we can jump into something and we'relike, Okay, I think I can do this, or I've
learned a skill, can build a business aroundthis, And we forget to go back and look at that
(04:47):
thread that we've been doing that skill orwe've been doing that thing for our whole
lives.
And it comes so naturally to us that we assumeeverybody can do it, right?
So love that you said not everybody is a goodwriter or feels like they could be a good
writer and so that's why they need your help.
Yeah, it's kind of funny I've stopped beingsurprised because a lot people are like, hate
(05:11):
writing.
Mhmm.
Really?
I'm like, oh, wow.
You know, I'm like, but I met with by accident.
There are no accidents but I was supposed tomeet with somebody on Tuesday and I we kind of
got messed up.
I didn't realize she was going be out of thecountry and the place I went, she wasn't there
and I had asked about her and she goes, oh no,she's she's not and but the woman standing in
(05:33):
front of me, I I think over time, you justlearn it's like, well, this is the year of
being bold.
I'm like, so what's your name?
And we sat in park for like forty five minutesand she was a designer and a painter and we got
to share stories and yeah she's the same way.
She goes I'm more verbal.
I'm not written.
(05:53):
You know I'm kind of the opposite.
So as I mentioned to you before we began liketoday's a little scary because this is verbal.
Yes, I'm not as good at verbal as I am aboutwriting it down.
In general I think everybody feels that wayespecially when it comes down to their story.
Right, so what tips can you give to theaudience members who are to this podcast about
(06:19):
what are some key elements that if they aretelling their story, right?
So we work with, I work, and you work withmaybe primarily entrepreneurs, right?
Or we're in the LEAP community with other womenbusiness owners.
And so we need to tell our story through ourwebsite, through our social media, through just
how we're showing up, or whether we're doing apresentation.
(06:41):
So how do we what are the kind of the keyelements that we might want to make sure we
have included in our story?
I think initially when people you know kind ofsit down with that blank page in front of them
it's a bit overwhelming And we're so trained,you know, as we, you know, get into our careers
and things, the thirty thirty second elevatorspeech.
(07:03):
And really, it isn't about that at all.
It's about you.
What I tell people is, you know, your businessmight make this kind of widget or do this kind
of service but that's not what makes youunique.
It's your story, it's your why.
Really think about why did I start this?
And it doesn't have to make sense.
There's a great course I took called Just ShutUp and Write.
(07:26):
That's what it is.
It's like take your brain out of it a littlebit and just kind of jot, if it's not full
sentences, jot down those notes of things thatreally get you out of bed in the morning.
What drives you to do the business that you do?
What you enjoy about it?
And that's kind of what shapes your story andreally it's what becomes authentic.
(07:49):
I know there's a lot of talk about AI which isartificial intelligence.
I like to say writers and people who work withcompanies were authentic intelligence.
So you may use that as a tool but when it comesdown to coming across with your own voice you
don't have one and I think the other thing toomore, I mean, more metaphysically, it's like we
(08:10):
we don't think we have the right to boast ortell our story and we totally do.
You know, that's what that's what, you know,I'm like, I bump into people all the time and
maybe that's the affliction of writing.
It's like everybody's a story.
So, that's you kind of like start to interviewthem unconsciously and I, you know, if
(08:30):
anything, if it's easier for you to sit downwith somebody and you want and you because you
really can't get started writing, have theminterview you.
You know, and ask those questions about, youknow, hey, how did you get started in the
business and talk very little about thebusiness itself.
That'll come but at the same time, people wantto know you.
Most people want to work with a person not justa company brick and mortar.
(08:54):
Right yeah I love that I love that and manypeople do just especially when they have to
talk about themselves or their own story.
And we kind of have these, you know, invisiblerules like, Oh, if I'm in business, I can only
be professional and only talk about mybusiness.
And I can't talk about my personal life andcan't blur those lines.
(09:14):
But I think especially on COVID, when everybodywas on Zoom and we got to see people's homes
and we got to see their cats walking across thescreen and their kids in the background.
It really made us more human and realized thatwe are doing business with other humans who
have dynamic lives going on in the backgroundtoo.
(09:34):
I think it's given us a little bit morepermission to be more human when we do write
about ourselves or do have to share our story.
But there's always that block with people.
It's like I can't brag about myself right or Ican't I don't yeah so how do you help people
get through that?
(09:55):
Well you know and I honestly I suffer with ittoo.
I I feel that it's kind of funny in talkingwith, you know, some practitioners that I've
worked with.
The word unworthy comes up a lot.
The word fear comes up a lot and I think that'sparticularly true for women.
You know, if I could understand it for myself,I explain why it happens to other people but
(10:18):
again, you know, have somebody sit down andsay, ask them, what do I do well?
What what do you find that, you know, I excelin because if you if you pick especially like
three or four people you're going to find a lotof the same things being said.
And that's really what you need to understand.
It's like this is what they see.
Own it.
Yes.
Okay.
(10:38):
Run run with it.
And I, like I said, I I the lady I met with onTuesday by accident, she used the term sphere
of brilliance.
We all have a sphere of brilliance.
What you do too, you know, what is that, youknow, that you could do easily, you know, and
that's maybe that's the question you ask like,oh, what can I do all day long?
(11:00):
When I stumbled into grant writing, I realizedhow much I did love storytelling and how much
of all the things that I had done in the pastled up to it because it involved a lot of
journalism.
It's research, it's interviewing, it's reallybuilding relationships to get people to tell
you their story, know, building that trust.
So, I, you know, I think we just need to tapinto what, when we are feeling comfortable and
(11:27):
we don't think about a thing when we're doingit, that's our spirit of brilliance.
And, you know, I, you know, and if it takessomebody else telling us that, great.
Ask those for that feedback.
I think that's so important.
Yes, I do too.
I teach a class called Pinnacle Gift and it's afull day of us focusing on what is our
(11:50):
brilliance, are our natural gifts and talents,what is that thread of things we've been able
to do our whole lives and we just assumeeverybody else can do it and it's not special.
But it is special because it's unique to us,right?
So I love tapping into that and being able tofind that in other people is such a gift.
(12:11):
Something you said earlier about the grantwriting: How does storytelling help you be a
better grant writer?
It begins because you're working with peoplewith funds and you're working on behalf of your
nonprofit.
This is maybe a board of people and what to mehelps is that if you come across with a story
(12:34):
that resonates with them, obviously a lot of,you know, most grant applications also ask for
budget, they ask for your paperwork.
But to me it's the story that really makes itthree-dimensional.
It kind of leaps off the page and says wow youknow I feel that.
A good story emotes or evokes emotion.
(12:59):
And as much as they want to talk about theblack and white of things, also look at what
they're doing, what their funds can mean.
And that's where the storytelling is soimportant is to really illustrate, paint that
picture through words of what the issue is, howit's being solved currently and how it could
(13:22):
continue or be improved.
Kind of casting that vision and that's whatstorytelling does in in that regard for for
grant writing and that's been, it's been such ablessing to be able to do this.
Because it includes your craft but it alsomakes you aware of how other people might be
thinking because it's there's always two sidesthat you're working with.
The people that have the funds and the peoplethat need them.
(13:44):
So you're speaking to both and speaking to oneand speaking on behalf of another.
It's finding that voice to really reach thosepeople.
Nice, I love that.
I love that Denise.
So really being able to tell that story becausesometimes we hear the word grant or grant
writing and we think it's all data, right?
(14:05):
Fill in the blanks and put this spreadsheettogether and all this stuff.
But really what people want to do is tell thestory of their nonprofit, the passion, tell the
impact they're having.
And yes, can do that sometimes with thenumbers, but you really need to have the story
behind the story so that it does, like yousaid, leap off the page when people are reading
(14:28):
it, when the people are reviewing the grants.
And maybe it's my journalism background, butwhat I really want to do is the one I work
predominantly with is based in Mexico and I'veI've told them that in a couple of our calls,
I'm like, I'm going.
I'm I'm like, I wanna spend like a weekend oryou know, like a volunteer week helping.
(14:48):
Like, that's really going to help me immerseand.
Right.
With your voice.
I mean, even before I, you know, write anythingfor a client, I I want to talk with them
because I can I call it channeling?
You know, I hear what they're saying, how theyspeak, you know, where their where their eyes
light up, and to me that all becomes woven intothe words.
(15:10):
Nice!
That's another differentiator between you andAI, right?
So AI can do a lot of things and it can come upwith a lot of content but it can't hear the
inflection of your voice or the light in youreyes or your energy that you're beaming out
when you talk about a certain subject or aclient that you worked with or something like
that.
That's where another human being really canpick up on those nuances and help you focus on
(15:35):
those things.
Or they'll notice, Oh your energy totallydrains when you talk about that, so let's build
that into your story.
How do you help?
How do you work with your clients?
What's the process that you go through withthem?
I feel like for many of them again you knowmaybe they're a little hesitant or they're not
(15:57):
they're not sure where to start and again Ithink I put my journalism hat on and I just I
just interview them.
Nice.
Maybe we'll talk about their business, know butinitially it starts with you know what do you
like to do and you know you kind of talk aboutthat and I feel like that opens it up so that
when you do want to ask those other questionsabout their business they're comfortable.
(16:18):
I think that first part is just buildingrapport and trust to let them know that you
know they're giving you such a gift.
Their story, everybody's story is a gift.
And that is probably the scariest part for meas a writer is from when I take that and then I
put it on a page and I send it to them and sayhow did I do?
(16:39):
You know did I nail it?
You know and a lot of times you know you knowthey're like oh this is so great!
When I my very first grant proposal that I did,know, we were kind of in a safe space where I I
I wrote it but you know, it didn't go to theclient first and my grandmother goes, this is
perfect and you know, I was just over the moonlike, oh my god, you know, we can't.
(17:00):
Yeah.
But I think that's, you know, that's theresponsibility that we hold to realize, you
know, how precious somebody's story is becauseit is literally like a snowflake.
There's no toast.
And so that's that's what I take into theprocess is like this is a privilege and how I
(17:20):
can tell it it's very important and you're veryaccountable and responsible for it.
Nice, I love that.
I love that.
And your passion just we talked about energyyour passion just came through so profoundly
when you're talking about that and what aprivilege it is to take somebody's story and
help shape it and mold it and then give it backto them and say, Did I capture you?
(17:45):
Right? I'm
Right? Sometimes I'm sure that's very emotionalfor people if they've never had themselves
reflected back to themselves in the writtenword.
Can you share a client's story about you know Iknow you just shared one about the grant but
are there other client stories that you want toshare with us just about the reaction that
people have when you're able to tell theirstory?
(18:08):
So I spent three years really being ajournalist.
I was the company I I'm pretty sure they stillexist and they run a site but it's called
Patch.
They're owned by AOL.
And their idea was to go into communities thatwere underserved through their media because
(18:29):
there might have been a big city that, youknow, they broadcast their news, but, you know,
occasionally, maybe your city got a story outthere because it was usually tragic or
whatever.
Right.
We were put into cities to say this is theirnews site.
We're going to cover their news.
And I had the amazing privilege of of writingon behalf of my own city.
(18:52):
The city I lived in.
Nice.
One of a few people that actually lived in thecity they wrote for.
And they had been used to getting a newspaperthat only published once a week, got the story
wrong, or you know, didn't you know was just ina rush to get to print.
And again you know as far as journalism goesthe news was late by the time people got to
(19:18):
read it.
So this was online, it was real time and afterthree years even though we were seeing growth,
you know our revenues were coming up, theexpenses were coming down, they decided to
shutter the sites as far as having a localeditor there.
(19:38):
I was terrified to to break the news to mycity.
It's like, I'm not going to be here because allthese years, they've been, you know, they're
building that trust to say, hey, you have yourown news again.
Right.
So, I'm gone and I'm like, oh.
So, I got a call from the chief of police.
He says, you know, he goes, I have nevertrusted media.
(20:01):
He goes, but I trusted you.
Oh, nice.
That made me feel wonderful.
It also broke my heart.
I'm like, so hopefully, you know, they havefound another way to get the news out there
through a trusted certain thing.
To me that was like gold star.
Yes.
Yes.
I forgot that.
I'm like, and we we talk, know, and every oncein a while he would call before I was, let go.
(20:23):
He would just literally call and talk with meto tell me, hey, this is coming up.
I wanna let you know.
I'm like, I'm pretty sure I was the onlyjournalist he told that to.
Wow.
I I felt so blessed by that you know it's likeit was like I said it's a privilege you know to
get that.
Yeah and that comes through so powerfully isthat level of trust that somebody has to have
(20:47):
with you but you you exude right?
Like you're a calm and trusting presence.
So anybody out there listening if you need totell your story or you're a nonprofit who needs
to tell your story through a grant applicationright Or you're a business owner who just needs
some help talking about yourself, whetherthat's on your website or your social media, or
(21:09):
you might want to go out and start telling yourstory to other people, right?
And sharing that.
Please please please reach out to Denise andwe're going to have all of your contact
information in the show notes, so whereveranybody is listening to the podcast, whether
it's on YouTube or any of the podcast streamingservices, we'll have your information in the
(21:29):
show notes.
Is there a particular type of work that you'relooking for in 2025 or types of clients that
you'd like to, you know, ask for on thepodcast?
I think in some ways I would like to do morework with I feel like I pair well, to use a
wine analogy, I pair well with people who arein the web space, designers because those
(21:58):
professionals don't want to write.
They don't want to do content.
Want do content and I'm the same way where I'mlike I do web content but I don't I won't
design your web website.
So to me it's a nice it's a nice pairing tohave to give to a client together.
So if anybody's out there that in those spaceslike yeah you know people always want me to
write stuff and I have no idea what to dobecause I you know I I'm coding their website.
(22:21):
I'm like you know I'm I'm working on theirJavaScript.
Whatever.
It's two different disciplines.
So I I with people like that and then on a muchsmaller basis I know I've had a couple of
people ask me it's like do you do resumes?
Do you do like LinkedIn profiles?
And then the answer is yes you know becausethat's also story.
Yes.
And if you need to stand out that's one of thesocial media in that regard for on LinkedIn is
(22:46):
really you know you really want to stand outand be separate.
Yes and your resume and cover letters reallyneed to have a good story your cover letter
especially because your resumes are being readby bots now to get you through a certain
algorithm.
That cover letter can really help you standapart from everybody else that's applying for
(23:07):
those jobs.
So that would be a great thing to reach out toDenise for.
And I love that you asked for web designers,those kind of people, because typically I know
in working with web designers in the past, dohave that issue where their clients kind of get
stuck with the content.
Like we can build a great website but we needthe content to go on the site and that's one of
(23:31):
the most frequent places where people start todrag their feet and then the deadlines start to
get because nobody's giving the content.
Because people just again don't know how totalk about their products or their services or
their own story in a way that's compelling orwe just get stuck and we think it's no good.
Having having you as a person could really behelpful there.
(23:53):
Yeah and a website is never one and done.
You have to refresh it to make Google happy.
To show that there's new content out there andtruthfully a blog is a great way build that
those SEO scores.
I know it's changed over time but in generalyou want to you want to create that traffic.
(24:13):
Yes, yes I love it.
Love it.
So congratulations again on taking the leaplast year and jumping into being your own boss
and following that passion.
If you were going to give some advice tosomebody who is on the precipice of taking a
big leap, whether in their career or personallife, what kind of advice would you have for
(24:37):
that person?
I think the advice I would give because I hadto give it to myself it's just to be bold.
That's this year's mantra.
It's like be bold.
In in receiving and in asking.
(24:57):
And it's amazing.
It don't don't overthink anything.
Just if especially I feel like a lot of peoplefeel that coming up and then they put it down.
Even if the thing is simple as you know you'reat the supermarket and somebody has a great
blouse on.
Say it.
Yes.
That's, you know, and then, I think our earliermeeting that we had, it's like, that's your
(25:18):
subconscious going, do that.
Yes.
Think that's what we need to pay more attentionto because it's amazing the relationships we
end up with and and the support we get from it.
And I think it makes us feel good too.
So just ask, know be bold.
Nice, I love that.
(25:39):
Love that both of those things be bold and justask.
Sometimes as women and as entrepreneurs wethink we have to figure everything out
ourselves and we don't want to ask for helpbecause we don't want to bother anybody or we
feel like I should be able to learn everythingon my own because there's so many resources
available.
We do need other people and we do need to askfor help sometimes and so if you are out there
(26:01):
listening and you need some help with writingyou know you need an update on your website or
you know you need fresh content for yourLinkedIn profile or you have something that you
know you need to have written please pleaseplease reach out to Denise.
You've already heard her and heard her passionfor telling your story so please reach out and
(26:22):
let her help you.
Okay anything else that you have to share withour listeners today Denise?
Not really.
No great revelations.
It's been a wonderful year.
I hope I'm a you know, if I can do it, so canyou.
Type of thing.
I know a lot of people hear that often but I Iwould have to say jump in the net will will
(26:45):
appear.
It's.
Yes.
We can all do and as you mentioned, bold hasone connotation to it but in being bold you're
also vulnerable which is equally as alluring topeople.
Nothing more authentic.
Yes I love it.
I love it.
So okay well thank you again for being part ofthe LEAP for Ladies community.
(27:07):
It's such a special group of amazing womenentrepreneurs just like Denise.
So if you're interested in joining the LEAP forLadies community you can find that in the show
notes as well.
And again reach out to Denise and just have aconversation with her about how she can help
you with any of your projects that you need toinfuse more of your personal story into.
(27:30):
Great!
Wonderful well thank you so much for being ourguest today Denise and again reach out to
Denise with any of your writing concerns orprojects and if you're a grant writer if you're
a nonprofit that needs a great grant writer tohelp tell your story please reach out to Denise
and if you're an entrepreneur that just needssome help please reach out to her as well.
(27:52):
Thank you so much for being on the podcast andfor those of you listening please make sure you
subscribe to your favorite podcast channel orour YouTube channel so that you don't miss any
of these future podcasts coming up.
Thanks so much!
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