We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Corrie Myers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Corrie below.

Corrie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Growing up, my parents loved to have people over for dinner.

We had an open-door policy — literally — where the front door was always open. Neighborhood kids and friends driving by would stop by and pop their heads in and, every single time, my dad would say, “Hey! Want to come over for dinner?”

Then they’d come in, my mom would figure out how to double the dinner recipe, and our visitors would sit and eat. And stay.

This would happen at least once a week for most of my childhood.

On the other hand, I would have preferred rationing food and hunting for bison on the “Oregon Trail” for the rest of my life.

I didn’t like:

Having to listen to people talk about their lives, especially if they were struggling
Having to be “on” during dinner
Having to talk about things that weren’t important to me or hear my parents be more interested in our guests than us
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But if I’m honest, it’s because I felt uncomfortable.

And as a kid, especially as a teenager, being comfortable was the hot fudge on my Cold Stone Creamery birthday cake ice cream.
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(Did anyone else spend all their baby-sitting money at that joint?!)​

Now that I’m in my second career, running my own copywriting and consulting business, I realize this is how I learned to be good at my job.

Look, there’s a lot I still want to accomplish. I’m not a fully-evolved human by any means.
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But I had a great career as a teacher with bosses and students who liked me, and I’m running a full-time business as a copywriter. The resume looks decent.
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The reason for all of this?

Sure, the resume helps.

But really?

So much of what I know about people I learned from my parents.
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And especially around that dinner table.​
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Because if you look at what I rolled my eyes at as a 14-year-old, it’s exactly what I needed to learn.​
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How to listen to people who are having a hard time
How to converse with people who have a different life experience than me
How to be present, positive, and understanding even when you may not feel like it
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You know, all the things that make you a better human being.​

All at the dinner table.

Corrie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My job is to help brands sound as awesome as they actually are with people-driven copy and messaging strategy. But, I didn’t start here. Let me back up.

Whether it was helping build award-winning programs in public schools or creating and leading teams to help students see their potential outside of the classroom, I loved the work I did in education. Until, as often happens, I was pregnant with my second child and realized I wanted more autonomy over my time.

So, using my younger sister’s laptop during maternity leave, I sent off a pitch email to a potential client. A month later, I landed that gig and started building my copywriting business.

After taking courses and growing my side business in the barely-existent margins for two years, I went full-time as a copywriter and messaging strategist, helping brands sound as awesome as they actually are through brand voice guides, website copy, and emails people can’t wait to read.

Now I spend my days helping clients get real results—20% conversion rates on a sales page, 60% newsletter open rates, and relentless confidence in their unique position in the market.

The deeper I’m in the copywriting and consulting industry, the more I see the through line between what I did as a teacher and what I do with clients. I help them see the best version of themselves and bring their ideas to life with clear and relatable messaging.

We can see through marketing mumbo jumbo real easily. I think we’re craving human connection in the brands we consume, whether that’s from the clothes we buy or the services we invest in.

At the heart, my job is to connect business with their people in the most human, relatable way.

If you run a business where the messaging feels outdated or impersonal, I’d love to help you bring out the best — for you and your customers.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Disclaimer: I’m in camp “normal person reader.”

By that, I mean I read about two books a month.

If you want to up your reading or business game, I highly suggest these books. They’ve helped me move the needle as a small business owner and stay sharp even when I’m overwhelmed.

Here are a few of my favorites:

This is Marketing by Seth Godin
I’m a new fan of Seth Godin, and oh my GOSH, was I missing out. What I love about him is that he’s smart. Not wooed over by flashy stuff. He breaks down marketing concepts in a normal, personable way. This is a must-read.

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
This book is a great story and an incredible reminder of how important the early years are. How everyone has late nights, makes crazy hunch decisions stress-inducing mistakes, and has that dreamy “I can do anything!” feel, all in one day.

Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
Look, if you own a small business, you’re going to be lonely. It’s a fact because you are the brand, even if the company’s name is not yours. I can never get enough of Brené’s work; this book is no different. It’s the hug and encouragement you need to keep going.

Deep Work by Cal Newport
If you haven’t read any work by Cal Newport, this is a great start. He is very different from the social media-ified world. In fact, he doesn’t have social media at all. I tend to have a squirrel brain that never turns off, so I love his approach to managing work so that the most important, high-level tasks are given “deep work” time, free of distractions.

What should I read next?

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I’m a people person and always have been. Yes, it’s a part of my upbringing. I am the oldest of four kids, so we were used to lots of people being around.

But it’s also a reflection of my deepest values. I am an encourager by nature. I believe everyone needs and wants to be seen for who they are — in their best and fullest self. It doesn’t matter if you are the CEO of a multi-million dollar company or a solo entrepreneur; you want to be seen and valued.

And so, with the help of a well-connected community and my genuine desire to help bring out the best in my clients, at the risk of sounding woo, I believe my heart is what built my reputation.

That and the fact that I genuinely like to work. I know, it’s a bit weird, but I got a job at a deli when I was 17 and quickly learned how much FUN it was to work hard and make money.

Never underestimate what your character can do for your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: corriemyers.com
• Instagram: @corriemyers
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrie-myers-consulting

Image Credits
Photos by Albright and Co.