This week’s Awesomely Fantabulous Woman is Liz Scherer. She is a wordsmith of the first order, beginning her writing career at the old age of 7. If you don’t know her, you should follow, friend and connect with her ASAP. We had a great conversation and I learned a lot about Liz and her secret to success, which makes me want to be even more like her.
I began by asking Liz how she would describe herself:I’m a writer and a journalist specializing in health, particularly women’s health. I’ve been writing since I was a child, and I was first published when I was 7, it was a poem. I transitioned to non-fiction after I graduated from college. I wanted to combine my business skills and my passion for writing, which lead me to healthcare public relations. This is about the time I also started getting published as a medical writer. I didn’t know you’re a writer, I thought you were in marketing?
People don’t know how to classify me because of my different hats. Marketing is an underlying foundation, but I’ve always been a writer. The 80s were when I started getting paid as a writer; I was first published in 86. Then I began health reporting as the digital space grew. I know you’re passionate about women’s health, what was the impetus for your blog, Flashfree?
I started my blog in 2008 because I finally had something to say. Come on Liz, those of us who know you, know you always have something to say.
Seriously, I had gotten away from creative writing for some time and I needed to write about what was happening to me, my body, in my own voice. Why write about such a personal issue?
Well, I’ve been a long time advocate of women’s health, it’s a key interest of mine. As I started my journey through this stage of life, I began doing research, and I found there wasn’t a lot being written for me. I’m a “tail gater” not quite old enough to be an official baby boomer and I’m a little too old to be part of Gen X. I was unhappy with the information I found about perimenopause. In particular, there was also limited information on natural alternatives to HRT.How much longer do you think you’ll keep writing about menopause?
Right now, I do it because there’s a need and I enjoy it. When there isn’t a need or it stops being fun, then I’ll stop.You’re also a contributor to Women Grow Business, how long have you been in business and how have you managed to stay relevant?
I attended a TEDxEast event and heard a presentation by Baba Brinkman about evolution, and from there I was able to put a name to something I had been doing my entire career. I call it “Evolutionary Marketing,” which is based on a three -ronged algorithm: performance, feedback and revision. Please explain.
Sure. Performance equals quality control, for instance, making sure I deliver well-researched, well-written content on schedule. Feedback means client retention, am I listening to my clients, am I still meeting their needs, is my business growing? Finally, revision is the evaluation and adaptation stage, these are my business drivers. So, these are the keys to your longevity?
Yes, I keep adding new skill sets, offering a mix of services to my clients. “My adaptability has allowed me to run my own business and be successful since 1992."
