This past weekend I attended a Brazilian Zouk connection-based intensive in Washington DC.
If you’re unfamiliar, Brazilian Zouk is a social partner dance that emerged in Brazil in the early 1990s.
The goal was to make our dance feel truly “good.”
And there were several badges we could earn based on how well we displayed the following traits…
- Adaptability
- Comfort
- Floorcraft
- Musicality
- Smell
- Presence and Playfulness
As for my own goals, I wanted the “carebear” badge, which goes to those who scored consistently high in the “comfort” category.
But I wasn’t graded on my technique.
I was graded on how well these traits resonated.
It was about seeing how well my partner could feel me.
And each time we danced with someone, we’d give them a score on each trait using the resonance scale below…
- Quiet resonance (where connection was barely felt).
- Soft resonance (connection felt briefly but not consistently).
- Emerging resonance (more consistent, almost consistent throughout).
- Clear resonance (very enjoyable and comfortable throughout).
- Strong resonance (going beyond consistency and into unique creativity, depth and personality).
- Deep resonance (a seamless adaptation of emotional tone that adds more nuance and confidence, leaving a lingering impression).
- Unforgettable resonance (being beyond physical to the point of wow).
Most of my dances fell in-between soft-clear on the resonance.
I did have one strong resonance dance that I was really proud of though.
But I’m still chasing the elusive “carebear” badge.
Here’s the thing I noticed though.
It wasn’t a skill problem.
I’ve been dancing Zouk for a long time. I know the steps. I’ve even had two dances I’d grade on the unforgettable scale (based on my own subjective interpretation). So I have an idea of what high resonance actually feels like.
But at times during the event, I noticed I was on autopilot a lot. I wasn’t as present or relaxed as I could be.
And I would see a direct correlation between the times I was on autopilot and the times I scored lower.
I noticed this is also true when I’m writing.
For example, when I sat down to write a finance email for Karim Rahemtulla at Oxford Club about how he hated crypto and was done trading it, I knew exactly what I wanted to say. That email had very few edits and was one of the most engaged with emails that week.
It’s the same in my own writing.
When I know what I want to say…
When I know my brand voice inside and out…
When I actually understand what my audience needs from me in that moment, then the writing comes out smoother.
There’s a real energetic charge behind it.
The best part from a business angle is the writing performs better too.
More people open the emails.
More people respond in the comments.
And if they’re ready, they’re more likely to buy.
Even if the writing isn’t “technically” perfect.
So if you want to start writing from a place of deeper resonance more consistently, I encourage you to check out The 2-Minute Writing Spark.
It’s a guide I created for the purpose of finding ideas that resonate most with you. All in just 2 minutes a day.
You’ll learn…
- How to get ideas flowing without forcing them
- How to find the ideas that actually make you want to keep writing
- The real reason most writers get blocked, and how to stop hitting that wall
- How to never run out of things to write about
All in a simple 8-page guide.
Keep in mind, The 2-Minute Writing Spark is NOT a copywriting book. It’s designed to change your relationship to writing from “ugh I gotta do this” to a deep, embodied process to connect with yourself.
Click here to download the 2-Minute Writing Spark today.
To less autopilot and more resonance.
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