Master of Words - CEO, Ayana Burch - Polished Editing, LLC

Ask The Expert - Ayana Burch, CEO of Polished Editing, LLC

Editor, Writer, Scholar

"...trust is an ingredient to a good business relationship and partnership."

N.A.I. Magazine recently had the opportunity to speak with Polished Editing’s CEO and Founder Ayana Burch about her entrepreneurship journey. She launched her company a year ago, during the COVID-19 Pandemic and had some great insights to share and inspire other entrepreneurs.

N.A.I.: Tell me about Polished Editing.

AB: Polished Editing began as an editing company. But it is quickly evolving into a communications consultant company. I told friends and family members that I enjoyed editing, so they asked me to edit their written content. Then, I was asked to create bios, write speeches, audit websites, and even build a website – which I didn’t know I could do – and it turned into so much more than an editing company.

N.A.I.: What was your key driving force to becoming an entrepreneur?

AB: I always knew I wanted to have my own company, but my desire was really to help others communicate better. I started Polished Editing because so many friends and family members asked me to edit their content. I love what I do, and I believe God told me to start a business doing exactly what I love.

I relish helping people improve their messages. I recall my mother and I reading books together and correcting the grammar just so we could make it through the books. I enjoy taking content that may be a bit confusing and making it come to life through recommendations, rewrites, questions and discussions. I also appreciate helping people obtain new business or engage with a particular audience.

N.A.I.: What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?

AB: One of my biggest failures was working with clients whose values didn’t necessarily align with mine. As the saying goes, “All money isn’t good money.” I’ve learned to say "No" to content that I don’t want to review and to clients who I don’t want to work with.

N.A.I.: Describe yourself in three words and explain how these words have been instrumental in the success of your business.

AB: Transparent: To be an editor, I must be transparent, honest and direct. The client is trusting me to provide my feedback to make the content better. The readability of the content depends on me.

Trusting: I have always been a very trusting person. I trust God to help me make good decisions. I make my expectations clear and ask them to do the same. I think trust is an ingredient to a good business relationship and partnership. I have repeat clients because I’ve earned their trust, and I believe I have theirs as well.

Accountable: Having mentors is so important in life and in business! I have people who help keep me accountable in my business, and I discuss my goals and challenges with them so they can advise me. I hope to do the same for someone else one day soon.

N.A.I.: If you were to write an autobiography, what would you name it and why?

AB: My autobiography would be entitled Honest Thoughts. I pride myself on being transparent, but I am working daily to become more honest with myself. If I’m going to write a book about my life, I’m going to be truthful, as I am striving to be every day personally, in my relationships and with God.

Biography

Ayana Burch began her career as a communications specialist for a Tysons, Virginia hotel. Once she obtained her Masters degree, she worked as an employee engagement communications specialist for a defense contractor, where she created engaging communications materials for more than 170,000 employees. Ayana holds more than 10 years of hands-on communications experience, which included executive coaching, strategic communications planning, event planning, editing, website designing and auditing, presentation skills, employee engagement and more. She also holds a bachelors degree in Interpersonal and Organization Communications as well as a masters degree in Strategic Communications, both from George Mason University

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Ayana began a communications consulting company called Polished Editing, which provides communications and editing consulting services to individuals, commercial, not for profit and government organizations.

She also partners with a variety of businesses to produce price packaging, business capture materials, biographies, capability statements, website audits, etc. Ayana enjoys engaging with projects and diving headfirst into the research, investigation, and production of storytelling.

Ayana has worked with companies such as The C.A.S.E. Engineering Group, Premier Productions, Jackson Publishing, and others.

Website : Polished Editing, LLC - Instagram : @Polished Editing - E-mail: Ayana@Polishedediting.org