We were lucky to catch up with Arlene Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.
Arlene, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
I hope my legacy will be one of empathetic service and integrity. I operate with a high sense of integrity mostly because that’s how I was raised but also as an adult and someone working within Corporate America I can see examples of how that trait can be lacking in business and within others. I am in the business of people, and I believe in always treating people with dignity and respect. I believe in sharing knowledge, setting clear expectations, and being transparent, In my opinion, it’s the base of how positive relationships are established and maintained. I don’t think anyone has much control over what their legacy will ultimately be but my hope is that I’ve made a positive impact on the people I’ve crossed paths with.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have been in the People & Culture space for about 10 years now, specializing in talent acquisition/recruitment. I decided to start my part-time business, Harris Writing Services, LLC, back in 2017 due to the limitations of support I was able to provide within my primary employment. In addition to wanting more exposure to different industries and problems to solve, I truly just wanted a larger platform to share knowledge and what’s bigger than the internet.
I provide resume writing, interview skills/career coaching, and consulting services. I would say the most popular service is the resume writing service. Something that I think sets me apart is my empathetic approach, I’m humble by nature and don’t pretend to have all the answers, but what I do share is my experience which includes resources to refer back to later. I share that with my clients to not only help them with the service they selected but provide them the “why” and “how” so that they feel empowered to try/do things on their own. Some might say I’m trying to put myself out of business, but I believe in leaving people in a better space than you found them in, so when you aren’t leaving something impactful behind things can feel very transactional and I want more of a human element behind my work.
For anyone that might be interested in working with me, I would say be prepared to have open/honest dialogue, remember that respect is a two-way street, and be ready to learn & collaborate!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I think my experience has helped me build my reputation. With the work that I do, the proof is in the pudding so to speak. So word of mouth goes far, and I’ve built credibility based on my career. I don’t claim to know everything but what I do know, I share and share pretty freely and I think people know when someone is full of crap or being authentic. I don’t know how to be anyone other than myself, so it makes it a win/win.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I actually feel like I’m currently in a time period of a pivot in business. I’ve scaled back a bit as I am a new mom and I’m still learning how to navigate my primary work, my business, and home life. While I am not a fan of saying I am my job, I will say that I love what I do for a living, and not doing something you love in any capacity can leave you feeling like something is missing. But after some health scares, I’ve learned that I can’t be everything to everyone, I need to put my health first and then prioritize the rest. I can’t say I’ve figured it all out but I have developed better boundaries and learned to be more present when I’m in the moment with my loved ones.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.harriswritingservices.com/
- Instagram: https://twitter.com/HarrisWServices
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harriswservices/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harriswservices/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.harriswritingservices.com%2F
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarrisWServices
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/harris-writing-services-round-rock?osq=harris+writing+services%2C+llc