We recently connected with Jessica Bross and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?

I once heard the keynote at a networking event say you should spend three percent of a client’s total invoice on thanking them for their business. For me, that’s about $30, since I often sell writing coaching packages valued around $1,000. The gifts I came up with are useful to both me and the client. At signing, I send them a box with the following: a high-quality wooden teaspoon, a bag of apple cider tea, biodegradable tea bags, and a bar of locally-produced apple cider soap. The spoon is branded with my company’s name (Cider Spoon Stories) and will hopefully be used again and again long after the tea is gone, reminding them each time of the “Cider Spoon experience”–which I strive to make warm, safe, and inviting.

Jessica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello! My name is Jess and I own Cider Spoon Stories, Austin’s premier ghostwriting and editing service. A lot of people associate ghostwriting with celebrity memoirs, but my services are for “regular” people, too. Because I got my start by interviewing my grandfather about his life story and ghostwriting his memoirs, it brings me great joy to work with other grandparents wanting to preserve their stories for the next generation. I also have a particular fondness for working with military veterans processing war experiences, sexual and domestic abuse survivors triumphing over their traumas, immigrants and non-native English speakers, and fellow small business owners writing books on their areas of expertise. *Anyone* can use a ghostwriter. It’s a fun and easy way of sharing your story with the world! The whole process, including interviews, writing time, editing, layout, and book production takes an average of six months.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I grew up believing that anything was possible if you only worked hard enough. Now I know that all that road leads to is burnout. I’ve had my business for eight years and been ready to quit more than eight times. Find ways to “work smarter, not harder.” It’s a cliche aphorism for a reason. For me, that’s meant selling pre-recorded writing classes instead of teaching live classes all the time, which I find really draining, and hiring interns to manage Cider Spoon’s social media, a task I’ve never enjoyed.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

So many organizations exist solely to support small businesses, which today account for almost 50% of all American jobs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers loans to small businesses. SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, offers free workshops and 1:1 mentoring. The Chamber of Commerce (and the Young Chamber, if your city has one) offers social and networking events and meaningful opportunities to give back to your community. Don’t forget about those organizations targeting your specific creative field, either–which for me as a ghostwriter and editor in Austin, TX include the Writers’ League of Texas, the Austin Bat Cave, and the Writing Barn, among others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.CiderSpoonStories.com

Image Credits
Alicia Leigh Photography