I’ve been blogÂging for ten years — to improve my English.
Ten years ago today, I hopped on a plane to go and live in New York.
“Go and live” was optimÂistÂic, givÂen that I had nowhere to sleep when I landed; I had to put down my agency’s address as my home address.
The flight from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Newark International Airport took over ten hours, so I had time to think. I thought mostly about one thing:
How much I needed to improve my English.
Finding someÂplace to live was a secÂondÂary concern.
I was already an estabÂlished PR proÂfesÂsionÂal in Sweden with reputÂable experÂiÂence advising globÂal cliÂents. Like most Swedes, I spoke English well enough for everyÂday situations.
The issue was that much of my proÂfesÂsionÂal conÂfidÂence oriÂginÂated from being a fast and robust writer in Swedish.
Writing well in Swedish was how it all starÂted for me. The opporÂtunÂity to make a livÂing by writÂing drew me into pubÂlic relaÂtions in the first place.
I had this feelÂing that the team in New York were expectÂing me to do what I had been doing so well in Sweden in America.
But I knew that my busiÂness English wasn’t up to par.
The abilÂity to express oneÂself creÂatÂively is born out of a sense of freeÂdom to experÂiÂment conÂfidÂently using words and senÂtences as “willÂing” buildÂing blocks. If you only have one rudiÂmentÂary set of buildÂing blocks, that freeÂdom to roam disappears.
The team in New York probÂably had no idea how much of my useÂfulÂness came from being a solÂid writer… in Swedish.
C’est la vie. English was like my non-existÂing livÂing situÂation; anothÂer thing I would have to figÂure out once the plane touched the ground.
During that 10-hour flight, I decided to retire my Swedish blog (“Doktor Spinn”) and breathe life into Doctor Spin, a PR blog in English.
Read also: I Was Blogging Before, During, and Long After It Was Cool
Alas, I had no intenÂtion of runÂning a PR blog for the sake of runÂning a PR blog. I just wanted someÂwhere to pracÂtise writÂing busiÂness English. The proÂposÂiÂtion of being indexed by search engines — and then found by interÂested readÂers — only served to introÂduce accountability.
Friends and colÂleagues thought launchÂing an English blog was a straÂtegic move. As an NYC-based PR adviser and starÂtup COO, maybe blogÂging in English was a calÂcuÂlated attempt at scalÂing my perÂsonÂal brand. Of course, it wasn’t, but I nevÂer corÂrecÂted anyÂone about this, either.
I just kept writÂing to improve my English.
Today, after ten years of focused effort, I declare this proÂject finalised.
The proÂject isn’t done because I’ve someÂhow learnt enough. It’s done in the sense that I can now express myself freely. I’ve reached a point of diminÂishÂing returns, even.
I will nevÂer be as good a writer as I am in Swedish, but the conÂfidÂence in using English is there now — and that was the whole point of this decÂade-long exercise.
In any case, I’ll conÂtinÂue to blog in English. Not because I must pracÂtice but because Doctor Spin is a PR blog writÂten in English now.
As I close the books on this proÂject, do I have any insight to share with you? Well, getÂting an apartÂment in New York City took three days. “The English Project” took ten years.
That’s just the way these things work, I suppose.
Thanks for readÂing. Please supÂport my blog by sharÂing artÂicles with othÂer comÂmuÂnicÂaÂtions and marÂketÂing proÂfesÂsionÂals. You might also conÂsider my PR serÂvices or speakÂing engageÂments.
PR Resource: More Projects
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My Renaissance Projects
The Renaissance was a periÂod of sigÂniÂficÂant culÂturÂal, artistÂic, politÂicÂal, and sciÂentifÂic rebirth in Europe, lastÂing from the 14th to the 17th cenÂtury, marked by a renewed interest in the clasÂsicÂal art and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome.
Inspired by lifelong artists and learners, I strive to always develÂop my creÂatÂive intelÂliÂgence, physÂicÂal strengths, and menÂtal well-being.
This is a list of my “Renaissance Projects”:
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PR Resource: Drafting
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Communication Skill: Drafting
Drafting, creÂatÂing, and refinÂing writÂten docÂuÂments are funÂdaÂmentÂal comÂmuÂnicÂaÂtion skills cruÂcial in everyÂday life. From comÂposÂing emails and writÂing reports to craftÂing perÂsonÂal letÂters or social media posts, the abilÂity to draft and edit docÂuÂments ensures clarÂity, coherÂence, and effectÂiveÂness in conÂveyÂing messages.
“The first draft of anyÂthing is shit.”
— Ernest Hemingway
Many indiÂviduÂals struggle with writÂing not because they lack ideas but because they underÂesÂtimÂate the power of reviÂsion. The iniÂtial draft is rarely perÂfect; it’s through revisÂing this draft — transÂformÂing it into a second, third, or even fourth draft — that one hones the mesÂsage, sharpens the lanÂguage, and strengthens the overÂall communication.
Developing a habit of draftÂing and editÂing allows for explorÂing ideas, refinÂing thought, and elimÂinÂatÂing ambiÂguÂity, makÂing the final product more impactÂful and underÂstood by its intenÂded audience.
To become betÂter at draftÂing, conÂsider these five tips:
Incorporating these strategies into your writÂing routine can elevÂate your draftÂing skills, leadÂing to preÂcise, comÂpelÂling, and effectÂive writÂten comÂmuÂnicÂaÂtion in every aspect of your life.
Learn more: Communication Skills (That Everyone Should Learn)
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