Meet Lib Aubuchon | writer + personal brand strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lib Aubuchon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lib, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk-taking is an essential part of being in business for yourself. For most of us, the choice to become an entrepreneur implies a healthy amount of risk. Will Rogers (look him up, kids!) is credited with saying “Go out on a limb — that’s where the fruit is” and I wholeheartedly co-sign that saying. Before tacking any new goal, I think it’s worthwhile to think through your own comfort with risk and maybe nudge yourself gently past it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For someone who makes money as a writer, I really don’t enjoy writing. Let me walk that back a little. I don’t enjoy the process of writing for about 92% of it. I don’t care how much experience you have (and I have a lot) there’s always a little period of creative loneliness when you’re trying to use words to create something new. There’s a wishing and hoping that it all weaves together and makes sense or inspires people or elicits a feeling — whatever the purpose is. Creating a piece of writing requires constant battles with my inner critic, who I’ve named Kelly for absolutely no good reason. But I’ve learned that no matter how painful that first 92% of the process is, when you get to that last 8% it feels amazing. When you know it’s working and you’re about to put something totally new into the world, it’s pretty great. I guess it’s a lot like childbirth. We forget all the pain the minute we hold that new baby. It’s the only thing that convinces us to do it all again!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Due to the pandemic, I haven’t been out and about in my beloved city much at all over the last year. I’m missing my favorite bars and restaurants so much. That said, I would insist we pick up burgers at Slutty Vegan — especially if my best friend wasn’t vegan. I’m not strictly vegan but if I could only eat one burger for the rest of my life, I would choose the One Night Stand. I would also visit the High because I love the building as much as the collections. Westview Cemetery is also a great, off-the-beaten path spot I’d love to visit with an out of towner. Would definitely skip most parts of the Beltline and swap in Sweetwater Creek for the “nice walk outside” part of this imaginary visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t moved to Atlanta 30 years ago. I mean that literally, of course, because I live here. But I also mean it figuratively. Atlanta is and has always been a huge source of creative inspiration for me. There is so much vibrancy, perseverance and soul in this city and there are still times when a certain view — downtown, Grant Park, West End — takes my breath away. (I still miss that “Home of So So Def Recordings” billboard greeting me every drive home from the airport.)

Website: www.libaubuchon.com

Instagram: @storyandstrategy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libaubuchon/

Image Credits
Kay Hillman