Female Disruptor Lianna Patch: "Say yes to things that scare you"

Lianna Patch has no problem raising her hand, sharing big ideas, and inspiring other females.

She knows how to think on her feet. As a stand-up comedian and founder of Punchline, a thriving copywriting business, Lianna is a true female disruptor. I met her at a recent Baby Bathwater mastermind, and it was the last session of the three-day event when Lianna took a small step for women entrepreneurs. There was a call for members to come on stage and share our best strategies and tactics.

Me to self: “I’m not worthy.”

That imposter syndrome feeling started to set in, and I lost all confidence and courage to share anything. The syndrome has been found to impact men and women in roughly equal numbers.

Not Lianna. She realized no women had submitted to the Baby Einstein challenge.  After about ten mostly bearded and insanely successful men shared their best strategy tips, I started to think, hey I could have contributed *something* worthwhile.

Lianna raised her hand.

It’s a fact women worry more about being disliked, appearing unattractive, outshining others, or grabbing too much attention.

“Is it too late?” Lianna asked the moderator. And just like that, she stood up and shared some copywriting secrets and a few laughs. The punchline? We all have our niche and something to offer.

In the video below, wait for it…Lianna is last up.

Here’s the scoop

Lianna is the CEO and Founder of Punchline Copy specializing in conversion copywriting with a sense of humor. Based in New Orleans, she makes a few things clear:

“I can take your online words and make them work harder to make you cash. Or fame. Or love. The only thing I can’t do is bring people back from the dead.”

Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was trying to figure out a way to mesh two big loves: comedy and copywriting. And then a mentor and a couple of friends sort of… gave me permission.

When did the entrepreneur light bulb go off?

I was 19, in college, majoring in English and looking to make some money on Craigslist.

What advice would you give other women wanting to start a biz?

Don’t be afraid to niche down quickly into what YOU love doing and do best. Figure out what only you can offer.

How do you bring goodness to the world?

I’m a good listener, and I hear I give empathetic, useful advice.

None of us can achieve success without some adversity along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My former mentor, Joanna Wiebe, who came up with the term “conversion copywriting.”

I was in a mastermind she led, and she encouraged me to explore combining comedy and copy. I rebranded as Punchline Copy and never looked back.

What are your “5 Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Experience” and why?

1. People work with you for YOU — so don’t be afraid to show your personality. It’s OK if you’re not a fit for some projects, or vice-versa.
2. Managing contractors and employees is HARD. It’s a skill few people naturally have, and it’s worth knowing whether that’s something you want to work on, or not. For me, I’m not a natural manager, so I have to do a lot of systems creation to get the results I want from those working for me.
3. Say yes to things that scare you. I’d rather be able to say “I went for it” than “I was too scared to try.” That goes for standup comedy, giving presentations, mountain biking, skiing for the first time in 15 years…
4. No one experience in entrepreneurship will make or break you. No one client will end your business.
5. The end goal should be to run a business you love. It’s a cliche, but sometimes it’s easy to let the business run you instead of the other way around. And that’s not going to lead to fulfillment.

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?

Michael Pollan.

Love his books, enjoyed his show, and the food would probably be fantastic! Not to mention the conversation.

Secret Talent?

Karaoke!

Zodiac Sign?

Leo

Currently Reading?

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan (got him on the brain)

Where will social media in five years?

Inside our skulls, with optional hardware upgrades… for a price.

Favorite Drink Order?

A glass of light-to-full-bodied red.

Had a glass of Earthquake Zinfandel recently and it was fantastic.

Lianne’s Favorite Instagram Accounts

HAAA. Hmm, either

@kittenxlady or @binchcity.

Must-Have Technology?

Podcast apps! Bluetooth headphones! Spotify!

God technology is amazing.

Favorite Way to Decompress?

It’s a tie between a long bike ride at sunset along the Mississippi River levee, and a glass of wine or five.

Insert “Why can’t we have both?” meme here.

Women You Admire?

Any woman who can find and live in true self-sufficiency and happiness.

Linkedin?

Lianna Patch

What are you excited about for this year? Share something you want to promote or latest news/launches for your brand.

I’m coming off three months of nonstop travel, speaking, and client work. Excited to start building some more internal processes, hire and train an executive assistant, and work on the sex toy I’ve been sort-of passively inventing for a few years…

I specialize in conversion copywriting with a sense of humor.

What does that mean? I write stuff that makes people say yes.
And, like, laugh.

If you are looking for the perfect copywriter who is obsessed with conversion and comedy – you found your match. Follow Lianna’s path to female disruption on Twitter and connect with her on LinkedIn.

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