We were lucky to catch up with Carri Helman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carri, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Gloves for Grief is a 501(c)3 nonprofit located in Southern California. The Foundation was launched by two young mothers trying to process the loss of their children, so they now create boxing events to support individuals and families grieving their own individual losses.

These events are SO powerful and cathartic for those who participate and I was thrilled to be a part of their growth by writing several email campaigns for their in-person events and Giving Tuesday collections.

https://glovesforgrief.org/

Carri, 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?

I was raised in a small town in Central PA, where becoming an entrepreneur wasn’t a common conversation when it came to choosing a career. Nurse, teacher, accountant… these were standard lanes to travel – none of which appealed to me as a writer.

And I was a writer. I knew from a very young age that I was meant to make an impact with words. But I decided to forgo college at that time because there were few opportunities to write for a living, other than a novelist or journalist – again, neither was appealing. Instead, I spent many years reinventing myself as a waitress, bartender, radio DJ, bank teller, legal assistant, and quality engineer. Along the way, I was able to get my AA in Business, but I still never felt like I belonged in these roles. What impact was I actually making?

During the pandemic, life felt like it was shifting – I didn’t know how, why, or where, but something was misaligned, and I knew I had to make changes. I began to find myself in social media spaces where topics like “multiple streams of income” and “entrepreneurship” were common conversations – I was SO in!!!

From there, I took several reputable courses, attended webinars and networking events, attained my Digital Marketing Copywriter Certification, and officially launched Copy by Carri, LLC in the summer of 2021. For another 9 months, I balanced my full-time role as a Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) in heavy equipment manufacturing with client acquisition and editorial deadlines until March of 2022, when I formally bid farewell to the SQE life and launched full-time into copywriting.

Since then, I’ve helped countless clients boost their brand, communicate their passion, and gain visibility online – WITH WORDS!!!! I’ve written full websites, personal/professional development courses, marketing emails, newsletters, social media posts, op-eds, and well over 150 blogs and digital articles. One of my proudest moments (so far) as a Copywriter was interviewing Atlanta’s very own Shanti Das. Not only are her influence on the hip-hop culture and contributions to the “Dirty South” (Ludacris, Goodie Mob, OutKast, etc.) awe-inspiring, but her current mission to promote mental health and suicide prevention comes straight from her heart. That piece will stick with me forever.

That’s the coolest thing about copywriting for me – there’s soul embedded in each piece. There’s a heartbeat that sets an emotional tone – intrigue, joy, validation, success, grief, hope, determination. It’s SO much more than simply stringing letters together. It’s creating an entire vibe that’s forged by my words. *goosebumps*

Many of the entrepreneurs, small businesses, and start-ups I work with are doing something they’re deeply passionate about, so they can talk about their craft for days. But writing about it can prove to be really difficult because most are either too close to it, or they’re not sure exactly how to convey their core message to their target audience. This is why investing in a talented copywriter is such a clutch move.

And let’s be clear – copy is an investment more so than a cost – the ROI on effective SEO is unmatched!

Words hold tremendous power. The right combination and sequence can stir emotion, empower, educate, liberate, and elevate. This is where I live – at the intersection of impact and outcome. Like my website says… “You’re not here to blend in… and neither am I!”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I don’t know all there is to know about Zodiac signs, but I do know that I’m a Pisces, and we’re born creatives. I understand now that this creativity comes from deep within and deserves to be explored and honed. The world needs beauty and culture and dreamers to turn impossible ideas into unforeseen possibilities.

Painters, sculptors, photographers, designers – creatives walk and talk in all shapes, sizes, and colors. But one thing I believe we all have in common is a fire burning inside. Something that constantly pushes us towards an awakening that almost forces us to lean into the softer side of ourselves and embrace the uncomfortable fluidity we experience when we actually do.

Creatives bring depth and wonder to an often two-dimensional world, and I love being a part of that expansion.

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

That working for a large organization was safe and satisfying.

As an only child, independence came to me naturally from a very young age. But like many Gen Xers, I was ‘trained’ to believe that I had to work FOR someone in order to make a decent living.

During the 17.5 years I worked for one global organization, I witnessed at least four major layoffs. I watched trusted colleagues and friends get escorted out of the building after decades of value-added loyalty and leadership. The anxiety of knowing my future prosperity and provision were being repeatedly dangled in front of my fully qualified nose like a carrot was nauseating and I wondered… why is it up to THEM? Why is MY VALUE being measured by people who don’t even know what I’m actually capable of?

Now, I’M the one assessing what I’m capable of and deciding when to push harder, work longer, go further, and learn more vs. being told to do so to make sure the corporate stock prices don’t drop.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.copybycarri.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copy_by_carri/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copybycarri
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carri-helman-copybycarri/