Why Hire Me?

The Short Version

Hi, I’m Angie Dixon. Assume you’ve called me, or walked into my office, and asked me to tell you, in fifty words or less, why you should hire me to write your current project.

The answer to that question is:

I’m principled. I’m honest. I meet deadlines. I listen to my clients. I read and write fast. And I write very, very well. I’ve been doing this for over twenty years, I do it because I love it, and I give it everything I have.

I hope that short description of my work and my style would be enough to convince you, without my also having to throw in a clever joke or two (I also have a great sense of humor, according to everyone except my daughter, who’s 10 and doesn’t want to be seen with me).

But I like to form relationships with my clients. I don’t want to work “for” you on one project and then disappear. I want you to know who you’re hiring, know that you’re making the right choice, and understand who I am as a writer and a person.

So for that, I give you...

The Long Version

The Seven Habits

I love The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. I read it about once a year, and I try very hard to live the habits, though I know I fall short. I’m not just saying all this; I really think that these principles have made a big difference in my life, and it’s important that potential clients understand that.

Habit 1: Be Proactive
I know that I am not just responsible for the events in my life, but, as I often hear, response-able. I can respond to what happens in my world, and I can make things happen. I prefer to take on as much responsibility as possible, because that gives me more control over the outcome. I want everything I do to turn out well, and I love getting involved in insuring that result in every project I take on.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
This one habit has had more impact on my life, both personal and professional, than anything else I’ve ever learned. By beginning “with the end in mind,” I can help my clients realize their vision for their businesses and create results we can both be proud of.

Habit 3: Put First Things First
This is one of the most difficult habits for me, and when I chart out how I rank on the habits, it’s the lowest, but it’s still much higher (better than good, less than very good) than it was five years ago. I sometimes find myself juggling, rather than balancing, client projects, kids, husband, best friend and personal time. I’ve come to believe that no matter how much I improve at this, I’ll always wish I had more time. As it is, while I sometimes feel a little frazzled, everything comes in on time and everyone gets what I promised, when I promised it.

Habit 4: Think Win/Win
Covey talks about “Win/Win or No Deal.” I never enter anything thinking that I’m going to somehow “win” over the other person. Certainly when I take on a project, I believe that we both win, I in having challenging work that pays well, and you in having the best writer for your project. Competition is great, when I’m playing Clue with my kids. It’s not appropriate, or desirable, in working with clients.

Habit 5: Seek First to Undertand, Then to Be Understood
Your project is your project, and I will absolutely listen to you and attempt to do whatever you ask. If I think there may be a better way, I’ll suggest it, but I’ll always take your feedback and respond with what you’ve asked for. That’s my job, and I work very hard to be responsive.

Habit 6: Synergize
I believe that when you and I come together to work on a project, we create much more than just a combination of your business and my business. It’s a chemical reaction, not a combination or a physical mixture. We become more than either of us would be alone, and we create great work together.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
As a writer, I pride myself on not only writing well, but also writing and reading very fast, and very well at the same time. I read, on average, two to three hours per day, and I read anything I come across. For a writer, reading is a very important method of sharpening the saw, and what I read helps me write more informed and productive projects for my clients.