In this interview segment, Rachel discusses the transformation she experienced while working with the interviewer's team on her writing and messaging. She explains that, although she already had a Substack and a writing practice, collaborating with the team helped her strip back her previous habits and refocus on who she was writing for. The core achievement she is most proud of is clarifying her message from a place of service, aiming to benefit readers and potential collaborators. A pivotal moment occurred when Phil Powis made a comment that triggered a "penny‑drop" realization: Rachel recognized she had been operating with a subtle arrogance and an outdated writer identity. She describes the process of unlearning those old habits and shedding former identities as nourishing, leading to a stronger ability to hold space for her audience.
Chapters
I know, Rachel, you've been at this for a while now. And, you know, just in the time that we've known you, I've seen incredible— what I've witnessed is incredible growth in your ability to kind of own your message and what you're creating and all of this. But like for yourself, what would you say you are most proud of? And, you know, I'd love to hear about any results, of course, but I'd also love to hear even more so, I think, just like, you know, how you're feeling about being proud of yourself or who you've been becoming, you know, through this process.
Yeah, well, I mean, it's a bit huge thanks to you guys, actually. You talk about messaging. So, you know, when I arrived and, you know, started working with you, you know, I had a writing practice. I had my Substack up and running. I've been on there for a while, but, you know, I feel like the work that I did with you really, really helped me to kind of strip it back and to kind of to think more about who I was writing for. So I think I was in this habit of writing in a certain way because of the context I'd come from, from the work that I used to do. So I've clarified my message a lot, and I feel like that's been my biggest— that's the thing I'm most proud of, to be able to clarify my message, not because of the messaging itself, although it's beautiful, isn't it, when messages are clear and simple, but more because I'm doing it from a place of service. That I'm really understanding and I'm there to benefit the people who might want to read my stuff and/or want to work with me. And that is the internal shift that I have made the most, I think, and that I'm most proud of. I remember there was a penny drop when I think Phil Powis said something. I'm like, oh yeah, I've not been humble with this thing. And it's not like I was particularly kind of arrogant, but just there was something something in my writing, there was something in the way of the connection between me and the reader, which is kind of like, given that I am a writer, but I've said this before, I feel like I've had to unlearn how to write in many ways. And so unlearning that, unbecoming that, dropping away of that kind of old identity or those old identities is just amazing. And yeah, just very nourishing to me and I'm sure makes me a better holder of space and all of those things.
