One of my frequent readers, who shall remain nameless because I don’t know if they want to be called out said:
“I like your emails, but then you’re always selling or promoting something. I skip that part at the end.”
Fair observation.
I am selling something in most of my emails.
A workshop. A conversation. A community experience.
Sometimes, I’m selling a DragonHeart Quest that involves creativity and strangers.
I think that’s a good thing. A strength, even.
Here’s why I say that.
I’m guessing you don’t enjoy being “sold” with obnoxious marketing and pushy salespeople. I don’t, either.
But I’ve come to see sales differently.
I used to do all my selling in long direct response style sales letters because I dreaded it so much.
Then I started writing helpful emails where I’d share stories and offer insights, hoping people would somehow discover they could hire me.
It worked about as well as hiding in a cave and hoping someone would wander in looking for coaching.
Eventually, I came to see that if what I offer is genuinely valuable, then pretending it doesn’t exist isn’t modest. It’s withholding.
The invitation is part of the gift.
Not everyone wants that. I get it. That’s totally okay.
You can skip the invitation, just like my reader does. Many people do.
But some people read an email on exactly the right day and think, “Wait. That’s what I need.”
If I don’t make the offer, they never get the opportunity.
And there’s another reason I sell in my emails; selling is what allows me to keep writing them.
These emails take time to write. Creating takes time. Helping people takes time.
Getting paid makes that time possible.
It’s still mind-boggling how uncomfortable so many generous people get when it comes to selling.
Coaches, artists, writers, therapists, healers. The helpers of the world.
The people who most want to help often struggle with asking for money, as if the beauty of their gift is contaminated by the invitation to buy.
But it’s the invitation that allows the gift to keep flowing.
Just like a bakery sells bread and a musician sells tickets, the therapist sells sessions and the coach sells coaching.
The creator sells their creation.
It’s an ordinary and even generous thing to do.
So yes, I’ll probably continue writing daily emails and selling things at the end of them. Or maybe even in the beginning, if I’m feeling particularly feisty.
It’s not a pressure thing or an expectation that everyone should buy. Inviting is how people discover what’s available.
Now I’m curious about your relationship with selling.
Do you enjoy it? Avoid it? Put up with it?
I’d love to hear.
Yours in love and play,
