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

Shari, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

This is going to sound corny, but my mom is my hero.

Growing up, we didn’t have much. My mom had even less when she was growing up and was determined to make sure my sister and I had the advantages she was denied. Despite our lack of resources, my mom always found a way to support the things that truly mattered.

One of my favorite stories is how she bought the saddle shoes my sister and I needed for cheerleading in elementary school. We had made the team (a proud moment for us because the competition was fierce) but wouldn’t be allowed to participate without the right uniforms, which included expensive saddle shoes. It would have crushed us if my mom had said we couldn’t join the team because we couldn’t afford the shoes. She knew we worked hard to earn our spots and what being part of the squad meant to us.

She never complained. She took on some extra work and cut back on some of the things she needed so we could have our moment in glory. It wasn’t the last time she’d deny herself or work extra hard so we could have a happy childhood.

I had no idea the sacrifices my mother made for me as a child because she never complained. She always found a way. It wasn’t until I was an adult looking back on those experiences that I understood what she had done for me. Her resourcefulness is something I admire and aspire to and I’m proud to say it has shaped the person I am today.

It’s ironic that those saddleshoes were one of her first sacrifices because I think of my mother as my #1 cheerleader. No matter what challenges I’ve encountered in my 50 years on this earth, she’s always been the person in my corner rooting for me. Anytime I’ve suffered a defeat in my personal or professional life, she’s been there to remind me to get back up swinging. Whenever I’ve celebrated a milestone or achievement, she’s the first person to tell me she knew I could do it. Because of her, I don’t say “I can’t” when encountering roadblocks. I buckle up and find a way around.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started my career as a journalist. I always knew I wanted to be a writer but wasn’t sure how I would support myself writing. Then, I got bitten by the journalism bug in high school while working on the student newspaper and decided to pursue that career.

I worked in the industry for over a decade as a political and education beat reporter. When I decided to have a family in 2005, I quickly realized my hectic and unpredictable schedule wasn’t conducive to family life, so I quit my job to stay home with my son. It took me less than a year to miss writing and I knew I had to find a way to tell stories again. I contacted some of my former colleagues. They helped me get started in freelance writing. I wrote for a local daily newspaper (Pittsburgh Post Gazette) and a magazine (North Hills Monthly). Freelancing allowed me the flexibility to raise my son while fulfilling my intense desire to write.

As my son got older, I began taking on more clients who needed my expertise. I dabbled in public relations for a few years before returning to my first love – writing. I quickly discovered that my journalism skills were valued by organizations interested in connecting with their ideal customers. As a journalist, I have excellent research and interviewing skills. My natural curiosity helps me uncover those golden nuggets that lend themselves to strong storytelling. I believe everyone has a story to tell. You have to know how to find it. These qualities help me create compelling content for customers across all industries.

One of the things I’m most proud of in my career is uncovering those hidden gems that turn into fantastic stories. One of my editors told me it was my super power. While still a full-time reporter, I worked on a special tab for Veterans Day with other editorial staff members. We were all assigned veterans to interview for the section. One of the other reporters refused to interview a WWII veteran, claiming that he wouldn’t answer questions and was a bad interview.

My editor sent me to the interview room to complete the interview. My colleague was correct in his assessment. The elderly veteran wasn’t very keen on answering questions. So, I decided to take a different approach. I asked him about his family, which led to information about his grandchildren, pets, and hobbies. He told me all about how he met and fell in love with his wife of 40 years. I spent nearly an hour getting to know him and helping him feel comfortable with me. Then, he started down a road I wasn’t expecting. He told me he had been a POW. His experience was brutal and he shared it all – every uncomfortable piece of it. His wife told me afterward that he had never talked to anyone – not even her – about his time as a POW. He had only talked to his counselor, and even then, wasn’t very candid about his trauma. I walked out of that interview room with one heck of a story. To this day, I count it as one of my greatest achievements.

I got that exclusive because I cared enough to get to know the veteran before pumping him for information. I take the same approach with my clients today. When they work with me on copywriting or content strategy projects, I never rush the process. It’s how I create copy that helps my clients build the kind of brand loyalty and trust that earns them repeat business from their ideal customers.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele isn’t creating viral posts on social media or making the right connections on LinkedIn. It’s not even about investing money into paid advertising on the platforms where my ideal customers spend their time. I’ve done all of those things and none of them has been a reliable resource.

I’ve been building my business at The Write Reflection since 2005. The most effective marketing strategy to grow your clientele is hands-down giving every client 100%. I do my absolute best for every client I serve because happy clients recommend you to their colleagues and friends.

Most of my new business comes from client referrals and word of mouth. It was one of my happy clients who recommended me for this magazine interview, providing me with an amazing opportunity. You can’t go wrong when you do a bang-up job for every client you serve.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is a bit selfish but it does ultimately benefit my clients.

What drives me to create is my deepest desire to write. It’s not an exaggeration to say that since I was old enough to hold a pencil, I’ve been telling stories. It’s not something I can explain easily, and I’m betting other creatives will know exactly what I’m talking about when I say this. I can’t not write. It’s part of who I am at my core.

I’m a firm believer that everyone has a story to tell. I’ve never met one person who didn’t have something interesting about them. They may not realize it, which is why it’s my job to uncover those golden nuggets I mentioned earlier. I want to tell as many stories as I can in my lifetime. That’s what drives me. I don’t care about making six figures or becoming a famous author. I just want to tell stories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thewritereflection.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writereflection/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriteReflection/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shariberg/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shari_TheWriteReflection
• Other: https://shariberg.substack.com/