Svaha: the time between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder
You have given words to a process that defies words. And you’re constantly in a position to help me continue to hone that, deeper and deeper and more and more resonantly, who I am and what I offer, which is truly invaluable. — Jon Hansen, The Remembering Room, Richmond, Illinois
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Working together was absolutely key, and I think that’s what made it such a great experience. I felt like you were my partner in this. I felt like my success was your success. To me, someone who has that attitude and the skills to go with it — that’s an unbeatable combination! — Daniel Stone, www.danielstone.com, Washington DC, New York City, Delaware, South Carolina, and India
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I have a website I’m proud of — but for me, the hugest benefit has been increased self-confidence. Because of the process we went through, and the validity that came with the process, I trust what I think and I trust myself to speak about it. I have greater confidence and clarity in my message about who I am and what I do. — Bev Dwane AICI CIP, www.bevdwane.com, Durham, North Carolina
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... and I love what I do!
I came to it after 25 years in the corporate world — mostly in software development and business analysis, systems consulting management, and executive leadership.
It wasn’t a journey. I’ve always been a writer — and I’ve always had an intuitive sense of what people are really trying to say, behind the words they often struggle to articulate.
I’ve been fascinated by language since I learned to read at the age of three. It’s not only writing and reading; I love the psychology of language and linguistics, the ways people respond to word choice and sentence structure. It’s so cool that by changing just one or two words, your message can have the same literal meaning, but create a wholly different impact!
It’s the same with hearing what people really mean, beyond what they’re able to express. It’s a natural, intuitive talent for me, and it’s one that I honed and developed over my years of business analysis, translating between business users and the technical developers. (Yes, that can be just as challenging as it sounds!)
In short, I’ve made a lifelong study of language and how people express themselves in the world, how and why they miscommunicate, and how to help them convey their message in ways that make powerful sense to their audience.
So when I had the opportunity to start my own business, my decision was obvious.
Helping people find ways to describe their work — the words that, as my clients keep telling me, they’ve been trying to find for years — is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
And I bring all those years of corporate experience to bear on every client project.
All those years of experience with technology, with deadlines and customers and projects that took on lives of their own — this is experience that most small businesses simply don’t have access to.
It’s absolutely delightful to me that I can bring that to you — my clients — to help you have a rewarding, profitable business.
I love what I do for a living — and I love doing a lot of other things as well.
I’m a “fiberholic” — I knit (somewhat obsessively and definitely continuously; ask me about my sock drawer!), spin, and weave.
In fact, in 2002 I won the “fastest knitter in America” title, and I appeared on Good Morning America that October to compete for the World title. (I lost, by two stitches in three minutes. Oops.)
I am revitalized and reconnected by time outdoors, which is one of the many reasons why I live in southern California. The beaches, deserts, mountains, and my own back yard — even after over a decade here, I still pinch myself in disbelief that I actually live here!
After about 20 years of being a multi-cat household, I have only one left of the original herd: the Truffle-cat. He’s over 18, but he still plays like a kitten, begging me for games with his feather toy, and chasing his catnip fish across the floor!
Since I can’t be a single cat household, I recently adopted a five-year-old tiger-stripe tabby Maine Coon. Maya is still coming out of her shell, but I caught her chasing her tail the other day, which is definitely a good sign!
And after many years of thinking I didn’t really want to go, one summer some friends dragged me to Disneyland — and now I’m a total addict. Come ride Space Mountain with me!
The time between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder.
I first encountered the word with that definition in a book by Charles de Lint (Svaha). He identifies it as an Amerindian word. Neither he nor anyone else I’ve talked to has been able to confirm, but it’s probably Navajo. (If anyone knows more, by all means contact me and tell me about it!)
Its sense of anticipation and expectation is central to my work.
Meanwhile, I’ve learned that it’s a multi-lingual word. And every meaning I’ve encountered so far has added depth, significance, and heart to what my business offers.
You can read more about the other meanings, and contribute any that you know of, on my blog at “What’s Svaha, Anyway?”