I hereby invite you to critique me on a poem I drummed up last night.
Please feel free to post a reply and tag me, since I don’t have comments activated here. I’m happy to have people see your insights.
DEPARTURE by: Sheralyn Pratt
Goodbye— not farewell. This is a good bye. I never heard the difference until now. Until you. Until I fared you well when I should have bid you goodbye. I didn’t know… I thought they were the same. I didn’t hear the difference ‘til I paired them with your name … a goodbye vs. a farewell… two compound words with very different flipsides. And the truth is, you have fared well enough and to survive I must bid you goodbye.
In nature, hundreds of thousands of sea turtles lay millions of eggs each year in prime beach sand. 90% of their eggs will hatch. but only 1% will survive and thrive in maturity.
I’ve found that dreams can be much the same — mesmerizing as they emerge in tiny perfection before sand-crawling their way to the great sea of possibilities where predators lurk, challenges never flinch, and competition doesn’t blink or share.
It’s no wonder we often hold our dream hatchlings close when they first emerge from their nest. It’s a rough world out there and so few dreams survive. It makes sense to want to play Peter Pan and hold on to every tiny possibility like a child… but the truth is we must let dreams go — let them crawl the beach and swim — and know that those that brave the sea of life will evolve and bring new life again.
One of my favorite poems by my grandma is “One Sheep.”
In truth, I have many “favorite” poems by my grandma. I was around 20 when I first read it online. The internet was just becoming a thing and my uncle posted all my grandma’s published work on his website.
I was manning a receptionist desk when I discovered “One Sheep” — reading it again and again while marveling how well she captured a sentiment I think nearly everyone can relate to.
Below is a scan of the poem, as originally published, followed by a recording of me reading it.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
One Sheep. All rights Reserved. Copyright 1941, 1997, 2019.
The 2016 election caused a bit of a social kerfuffle in the US.
Uncounted conversations with friends in the aftermath led me to this write this poem:
DISEMPOWERMENT 101
by: Sheralyn Pratt
It is old wisdom that the way to weaken a people is to get them to think outside their sphere of influence. If it’s beyond their horizon, it is but a play on a stage. Spectators can watch but they hold no true sway. They can only cheer or speak outrage to claims and hearsay —hands tied, thoughts bound to a place far away— until those far-away thoughts disrupt their own day-to-day. This is no accident. It is all a design to train the masses to have impotent minds. For unempowered souls are easily led and when the 99 feel helpless… well, you know what comes next. The good news is returning to power is a flip of a switch. Every animal does it— it’s that easy to fix: Tend to your sphere and all you can touch. See to its care and make it top-notch. Then, perhaps, if a call leads you to go far-and-wide, you can go, you can give, and improve what you find.
Ask anyone who’s known me all my life and they’ll attest to the fact that I have never self-identified as a poet.
Yet as I get to know the fictional characters I write for, I find myself describing their POVs (points of view) in poetic fashion.
Or, as I like to call it: Poetisophical™ — philosophical bedrock that allows you to deduce the state of heart.
This is a little different than traditional poetry, in my opinion. Maybe it’s actually poetry upside-down.
Poetry is known for its invitation to sit for a moment in someone else’s experience. Good poetry inspires sympathy or empathy in the listener — transporting them into a vicarious experience that allows them to see something in a new way.
My “poetisophical” poetry is a bit different in that the genesis is often the motives of fictional characters in a story. They might be the good guy, they might be the bad guy, or they might be some form of chaotic neutral in the middle.
But they have their points of view and their motives, and the poems I write often speak to the bedrock of their character.
Then, to beat the character in the story, you must beat their bedrock.
Here’s one such poetisophical poem that has most people split 50/50 on loving it and hating it.
What do you think?
CHASING DOGMA
By: Sheralyn Pratt
A truth becomes a lie the moment it arrives. For truth cannot be stopped —sometimes it is, sometimes it’s not— it holds its space and plays its part but holding still is not its art. For truth is on the move, you see, it has things to prove and places to be. So if you spot it once and proudly mark its plot, remember this: truth cannot be caught.
“Would you like a sample?” a weathered man asked, holding out a sample stick with a twirl of honey at the end.
I looked up from the display of beeswax candles and Mason jars of honey — belatedly noticing the woman playing the harp behind his booth.
The harpist was far enough away so the man didn’t have to talk over her, but close enough that it was a good bet that the gentle tones of her playing were what had caused me to pause at their booth in the first place.
And now the question was: Did I want to sample local honey while listening to harp music?
Okay. Twist my arm. This tagteam had officially talked me into it.
Next to me, another customer stepped up to make an order. A regular. He wanted two large jars of honey.
They only had one large jar left.
A swipe of a card later, they had zero large jars left. Only medium and small remained.
When that customer went on his way, a couple stepped up in his place.
“Would you like a sample?” the vendor asked. “This is our signature honey — harvested 800 colonies from across the valley to create a flavor reflecting the botanical spectrum of the valley.”
Okay, he didn’t say that.
But those were the tidbits my brain pieced together as he talked to customer after customer — making three separate sales while decided whether I needed more honey in my life.
How long had it been since I’d had honey any more elaborate than what came in a squeezable bear bottle at the grocery store?
Finding myself mining childhood memories for such a time, I realized it might be time to lean into rediscovering honey as a delicacy.
And what better place to start than a local business that had turned selling honey and beeswax candles into a multi-sensory, harp-accompanied sampling experience?
Gotta support that level of local quality, amiright?
I was about to buy one of their few remaining medium-sized jars when the vendor looked at my bag and saw flyers I was carrying with me.
“What you got there?” he asked, pointing to them.
“I’m hosting a writing contest,” I said. “and giving flyers to anyone who’s interested.”
The harp player took a break as I said this and moved into the booth. The man looked her way, “She’s a great poet.”
“I’d love to see your work,” I said to her, handing over a flyer. “Please, enter.”
She took the flyer, then surprised me by reaching for a jar of honey.
“Poetry is important,” she said. “It’s a good thing to keep alive. Here. Can we give something to the winner? Some honey for a gift basket?”
I must confess this wasn’t an idea I remotely had on my radar, but the offer was so sincere and the honey was so good that there was only one answer:
“Yes. Someone in the poetry category can win your honey. I’m not sure exactly how that will play out, but we’ll make that happen.”
And that’s why one lucky poet will get a small jar of honey this year in The BATTLE of the BARDS. Because a local honey company believes in the craft and wants to thank you for keeping it alive.
What is the difference between a fairy tale and a parable?
Are either type of story the same things as a fable?
All 3 of these story types are considered morality tales with the goal of helping people better understand the world around them and who they want to be in it.
But how do you tell which type of story you’re writing?
Ask Yourself 3 Questions
Question 1 – Are all my characters animals or insects?
Question 2 – Are some of my characters animals and some humans?
Question 3 – Are all my characters human?
Check Your Answers
If your answer to Question 1 = Yes, you are likely writing a FABLE.
If your answer to Question 1 = Yes, you are likely writing a FAIRY TALE.
If your answer to Question 3 = Yes, you are likely writing a PARABLE.
The scorpion and the tortoise, a.k.a. the scorpion and the frog. A famous fable.
Checking your answer to Question 1 is a good thing to do before submitting to the BATTLE of the BARDS competition because there is no Fable category. Only Modern Fairy Tales and Modern Parables.
So, if all your characters are animals, you will need to change at least one of them to be a human for this contest.
While fables deal with straightforward actions and consequences in nature, fairy tales and parables invite us to examine the human motives that can put us in tough spots.
In traditional tales, these decisions can lead to terrible consequences — up to, and including, death.
Originally, Little Red dies. So does the little mermaid; she goes all-in for the man of her dreams, loses her voice and turns into seafoam (then an earthbound spirit) while the Prince marries someone more suitable.
In fairy tales, little kids get thrown into ovens, boys who cry wolf are left to fend for themselves, and boys seeking treasure end up murdering to acquire the wealth.
Actions and consequences. Fairy tales and parables both explore this theme.
So what’s the difference?
The quick take you can use that will guide you right in choosing the correct category of submission in The BATTLE of the BARDS is this:
Fairy tales share principles, based on an understanding of basic human/animal nature — incorporating both animal and human characters as metaphors.
Parables share principles couched in an understanding of human cultures and practices — where setting and roles can replace the laws of nature as being the first line of consequences the characters have to deal with.
For example, if you have a morality tale about a girl in the woods who runs into three animals, you probably have a fairy tale; if you have a morality tale about an inmate in a prison who has a run-in with three other inmates, you probably have a parable.
Parables require an understanding of cultural setting to explore the world the character lives in.
Fairy tales require an understanding of basic natures to explore the character’s journey.
So, to summarize:
What’s in a parable?
One of the first signs that you are writing a parable is:
All the characters driving the story are human.
Setting, culture, religion, politics, or cultural circumstances are embedded into the dominoes of the actions and consequences.
The more you know about the culture/dynamics a story is set in, the better you understand the arc and outcome of the parable.
Take the parable of the Ten Virgins, for example.
Anyone know who this artist is?
Understanding the culture the story is set in can change your understanding of the 5 prepared virgins not sharing their lamp oil from:
Why didn’t they just give their friends half? What difference does that make?
to:
Why didn’t the five girls who had the $10 bills to get into the party just tear their bills in half and give the other half to their friends so they could all get in?
Because, in parables, cultural practices and situations are context to the dilemma presented.
What’s in a Fairy Tale?
Fairy tales explore the dynamics we can all relate to, using both humans and animals as metaphors.
Anyone from anywhere — human or not — can relate to a wolf being at their door.
Everyone can relate to the temptation to play rather than work, stray off a safe path for a bit, or wanting to escape an isolated tower.
The use of universal metaphors in fairy tales makes them easy to understand across time and cultures.
Because whether they’re talking about losing a mom and gaining a step-mother who only cares about her own children or underestimating wolves, there is a level of understanding that can be universally applied by the audience.
Summary: Parables and Fairy Tales — Similarities and Differences
The thing that parables and fairy tales have in common is that they invite discussion and reflection on things we deal with every day.
The main difference is that fairy tales invite all to examine our basic, universal natures while parables invite us to explore situational ethics.
Said another way: Fairy tales explore different actions and outcomes tied to our basic natures; parables dive into the morality of our cultures, practices, and more complex behaviors.
Thus, the challenge for the fairy tale/parable author is to see the dynamics and drives of each character with clarity that leaves personal bias on the cutting room floor.
Keep these tips in mind as you submit and your entry should be solid!
Want to start a conversation?
Think more/better information should be shared on this page?
Share this link on social media and tag me. Let me know if there are any other tips that MUST be included, and I’ll add them below.
Out of everything that’s been written about managing cash, what one idea—if implemented— would make the greatest difference in your business?
These 2 questions provide a clue:
How much cash does your company have right now?
How much do you expect to have in 6 months?
Having a solid grasp on these numbers tells you how you’re doing. If you don’t know the answers, this article is for you.
Managing Cash Flow
Essential to having a successful business is
knowing how much money is coming in and how much is going out. This is where the
idea of “cash flow” comes from. Your money is moving from one place to another.
If you don’t know where it’s flowing to, you are blind and can’t make any strategic business decisions. And if more is going out than coming in, you’re in trouble.
Awareness of spending is the first and most
important step in managing your cash. You can’t manage what you don’t measure.
Why focus on cash and not profit?
Because cash is what you put in the bank. Profit
tells you if you’re bringing in more than you are spending. There is a time and
place for everything, but for now we are focusing on cash.
Having cash and profit is the best scenario. You
can have cash without profit, but not for long. Profit without cash doesn’t do
you much good either but it’s better than no cash and no profit.
Put simply: you spend cash, but you can only report profit.
If you can’t see where your money is going you
can’t decide if there’s a better use for it somewhere else.
It’s better to manage things now than when you
hit a cash crunch and have to manage costs. You may not have enough time
to get a loan and being strapped can make it hard to find people willing to
lend you money.
Building a Cash Model
Building a simple cash model for your business
can go a long way towards keeping you in the black. It is a powerful tool for
helping you stay on track.
A cash model is different than a cash flow
statement.
A cash model lets you change different inputs to
see what the effect is on your cash position. Expect some big expenses in a
couple months? This lets you see the potential impact to your business. Will
you have enough cash? If not, what can you do now to help get you through?
You don’t need special software; a simple
spreadsheet will work. You will need a way to update it with your cash ins and
outs. If you have all your transactions handy you can probably build one in an
hour or two.
Cash model entries are on a cash basis. This is
not accrual accounting. Each transaction is entered in the period it occurred.
You cut a check for inventory on March 3? You enter the expense on March 3. You
make a loan payment on the 15th of each month, that’s when it’s recorded.
You can track your cash on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. This will depend on how far ahead you want to look and how closely you need to manage your cash. Looking at short-term needs (a week or two out to 2-3 months) requires greater detail (i.e., daily or weekly), but looking farther out to a year it might make sense to do it by month.
Cut Waste to Grow
Modeling the cash flows of your business helps
you identify waste. Knowing where to cut costs is sometimes more effective than
generating sales. If you keep 1/10 of what you sell, then you have to sell $100
to get $10. But eliminating $10 of waste is the same as generating $100 in
sales.
Tracking and forecasting your cash needs also:
help you plan ahead and avoid surprises
help you avoid having to say “the check is in the mail”
lower your borrowing costs by letting you know exactly how much you need
help you negotiate better terms for loans because you can set them up before you have to go hat-in-hand
SCORE has a cash flow template you can modify to suit your needs here. The “Estimate” columns are optional, you can hide or delete those columns if you’re just starting out. I prefer to have my categories across the top with dates going down, but arrange it however makes sense to you.
Imagine the difference it will make in your business knowing how much cash you have today and how much you will have 6 months from now.
Develop your cash flow template today to discover how big a difference this simple tool will make in managing your business.
When you’re in the business of doing a specific thing very well, partnering with symbiotic talent can result in a win-win situation.
Right now, a toy maker is in search of such an alliance with a seller who knows how to make money on handmade toys.
TOYMAKER ISO RETAIL SELLER
This toymaker is an elderly gentleman and a generational craftsman who makes all his toys out of reclaimed wood. One of the most captivating aspects of his builds is that all the moving parts work.
Wheels roll, levers lift, and doors open.
His toys aren’t static showpieces; they are meant to be played with.
A century ago, such toys might have been common. Today, they are a dying breed because no one makes them anymore.
Well, almost no one.
THE OFFER
This craftsman can make the toys—including custom designs—and sell them to you at fixed, small-town prices. You can then mark them up as the market allows and sell them customers he can’t reach, due to age and other restrictions.
“What do the toys look like?” you ask.
Let’s take a look.
This is what you see when you walk into his remote shop.
You’ll notice that he has plenty to sell, but this is a good time to point out that he has enough inventory in storage to fill this shop 3X over.
Also, to get a sense of scale, take a moment to note of the semi trucks off to the right in the picture. Sizes of toys vary, but I would estimate that most of them average between 4″ to 7″ tall.
Keeping that in mind, here’s a closer look at a few of his designs.
His selection of construction toys are fun because, as mentioned before, everything that you want to play with does what it’s supposed to do. Levers lift, diggers dig, and wheels roll.
Take this dump truck, for example:
Or this carriage that sits on elastics that make the coach sway as it moves.
Note: This one is closer to 10″ tall.
And if you’re wondering if the carriage door opens…
… yes, it does. All you need is a size-appropriate horse and you are on your way!
He’s got planes.
He’s got trains.
He’s got automobiles
He’s even got aircraft carriers.
But my favorite might be his semi trucks.
Yes, he will make specific models as custom designs.
No joke, if I owned a semi company that gave out honors for drivers that hit benchmarks of excellence, I would buy him out, varnish them up, and put custom metallic placards on them.
Talk about an award everyone would actually want to get that might get passed down to future generations. It would be a killer way to build your brand.
Reminder: All wheels roll.
There’s more I could show, but you get the idea: There’s a toymaker who lives 90 minutes from anywhere who reclaims wood and fashions it into old-school toys you really don’t find very often anymore.
On top of that, if you have a design you want, he’ll make it for you. Like this toy rifle a customer wanted:
Complete with crosshairs in the site:
He’s a man with skills looking for a partner who can take him to market.
Are you that partner? If so, contact me.
Are you not his partner, but know someone who might be? If so, share this post.
A few answers to FAQs:
SELLING POINTS
All toys:
are handmade
use reclaimed wood
100% Made in the USA
have moving/functioning parts
are easily marked up from wholesale prices
CHALLENGES
Partner lives in a remote location
Partner has no internet communication
You will likely want to handpick inventory if you are a stickler when it comes to variations in quality
Want to know more and find out if there is a profitable work relationship in your future?
Follow and DM me (Sheralyn) on Instagram or Twitter, and let’s get a conversation started.
Welcome to my new web page–your new home for great brand-building ideas.
Those of you who read my books are probably thinking: Wait. Why is this a business page?
Those of you who are here to brand might be wondering: Why are their fiction books here?
It’s best practice to focus on a narrow identity on your website–to really hone in and make it clear who you are and what you do. Juggling three focuses, like I’m about to do on my page, is not something I would advise a client do.
Yet, I have my reasons for breaking best practices and trying something a bit off-trend, which means I’m going to offroad a little bit when it comes to best practices for two reasons:
First of all: I am an explorer, which means I often tread on ground I wouldn’t advise for others.
Second, I am a teacher who likes to explore things firsthand to better help clients. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches can help guide clients to take action with focus and strategy.
These are two of the qualities make me a great consultant.
But I don’t expect you to take my word on that. As they say in the book-writing business: Show, don’t tell.
I plan to do just that for anyone looking to build their own brand or business. I will be using this website, along with Twitter and Instagram to provide you with useful content that helps you make strong choices for your business.
Watch Me Build a Brand
I will also be doing some advertising for a product I will be building from the ground up. You’ll see me start from Ground Zero as I practice what I’m preaching and see how it plays out.
We live in markets that are constantly shifting, which means constantly updating practices. This is best done with an active product in the existing market.
So watch for my new product: Coming Soon!
Navigating This Site
As for how this site works: Each tab should be a bit of its
own experience.
There are three main pages to take note of on my site:
The main Scroll page
is a collection of tips and thoughts (from me and others) you can return to
anytime you need to stimulate a little thought.
This Blog page is
all about topic deep diving. Sometimes, I’ll write the post, other times I’ll
invite someone to write on a topic they are knowledgeable about. No matter who
writes the post, however, useful information will be explored.
The Consult page is where you schedule to meet with me to either refine your brand or consult on next steps.
Updates and additional thoughts will be shared on Twitter. Take a moment to follow me (@SheralynPratt) now. My timeline will be full of helpful tips for things to keep in mind as you continue to grow your brand.
Additionally, I will be using Instagram (@SheralynPratt) to show you what I’m seeing as I’m out and about visiting companies. The information on Instagram will be more on the personal side of business and the people I meet along the way. I will also likely share the developing process of my new product and brand.
More Than One Lane? Is that Allowed?
Some might say: You can’t be a consultant AND sell things!
You’ve got to pick your lane.
I would reply: What kind of consultant am I if I can’t build
a business that tempts me away from consulting?
So join me on this ride. It’s going to be fun and we’re all going to learn a lot while exploring best practices while seeing if we can suss out some better practices.
Get Started Now
Step 1: Follow me on Twitter so you can check out updates on your own schedule and not miss a thing.
If you like pictures and exploring local businesses, follow me on Instagram, too. But, if you have a business, you should definitely have Twitter, so make an account and come follow me. I’ll make dropping in worth your while and introduce you to some other people worth learning from.
You might be a small fish now, but that doesn’t mean you need to think like one. Think like a big fish and grow.
