You really do only have one chance to make a first impression. Trite, but true. But it's not just about grammar and spelling, it's about readability. Is your writing clear enough that your ideas can shine through? Do your readers ever have to stumble through run-on sentences or wonder exactly what you mean?

START NOW by using this five-step readability checklist to improve anything you've written. Style Guide readers, see page 99 for a link to the list of "troublesome words" and make sure you're not making these common writing errors.

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Head back to the Content Creation Manifesto Summary for links to #1-7.

You are a unique individual with a specific set of opinions, experiences, skills and ideas. As my coach Charlie Gilkey says, you may even be a bit of a weirdo. Accept it, embrace it and let it show in your writing. The truer you are to your personality, the easier it will be for the right clients to find you.

START NOW by channeling more of your personality into your writing. Imagine that you’re talking to a close friend – a situation where you really feel like you can be yourself – and see what comes. Pare that down if it feels a bit too scary or revealing; you’ll still end up with an article that’s a truer reflection of you.

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Head back to the Content Creation Manifesto Summary for links to #1-7.

Self-care is a necessity, whether you’re creating content, a business or a life! You cannot give back what you don’t have, and you cannot create something from nothing.

START NOW with some basic self-care strategies. Then as you go through your day today, stop and make one healthier choice. Reach for water instead of coffee – just once. Reach for whole-grain instead of refined – just once. Or reach for the pillow instead of the remote control – just once.

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Head back to the Content Creation Manifesto Summary for links to #1-7.

When you share a well-written, relevant, helpful article, it’s like a bright flash that lights up the online world for a moment, an hour or a day. There are links, tweets, retweets, accolades, introductions, referrals and maybe even a sale or two.

Then, in the span of a moment, an hour or a day, someone else shines their light and people move on.

Good writing is pointless unless you’re doing it consistently.

START NOW by drafting an editorial calendar and blocking out time to write.

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Head back to the Content Creation Manifesto Summary for links to #1-7.

You can inspire, teach, correct, incite and motivate with every piece of writing, regardless of whether you ever know the full impact of your words, or exactly who you’ve reached. In turn, you will build the kind of meaningful, trusting, long-term relationships that will allow you to sustain your business and continue your work.

START NOW by clarifying precisely who your ideal clients are and what they need help with, so that you can write about that.

Note: Thanks to my long-time mentor, Andrea J. Lee, for sharing and embodying this concept, which Mark Silver also reinforced in his presentation at the Wealthy Thought Leader training.

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Head back to the Content Creation Manifesto Summary for links to #1-7.