It's All Relative
When I began expanding my freelance business, I strongly resisted the idea of involving family and friends.
I felt that my social life should be separate, reserved for gatherings and celebrations, not intertwined with job searches.
It only stands to reason that those who know you best - our family and friends - are the ones most likely to help you the most.
Enter my secret resource: Cousin Randi Londer Gould. Randi wears many professional hats—a seasoned writer, meticulous editor, published author, skilled video producer, and masterful storyteller.
🩷Tapping Into Your Bloodline
To understand why I reached out to Randi, it's essential to grasp the 'All for One and One for All' ethos of the Milstein family network.
Our ancestry can be traced back to pre-world war Hungry and England. Our mothers are first generation United States citizens who hold the eldest and youngest spots of birth order among the five Milstein siblings, made up of four girls and one boy. Randi’s mom, now age 92, and my mom, who passed at age 67 in 2016, were 16 years apart.
Throw back, fun fact. When Randi was born, my mom was four years old and saw Randi as more of a plaything than a niece. Legend has it that my mom would play house using Randi as her baby doll.  The two grew up on opposite sides of a generational spectrum. My mom epitomized the era of "Leave it to Beaver," dreaming of marriage and raising a family. Meanwhile, Randi took on more of a peace, love and Woodstock vibe, forging her own path. Despite their differences, both shared vivid imaginations, a love for reading, and a passion for science. |
Professional Prologue
Randi and I affectionately refer to ourselves as "The Bookends". Just as our moms’ claimed the eldest and youngest spots as siblings, Randi and I do as well amongst the ten Milstein cousins.
Just as our moms’ claimed the eldest and youngest spots as siblings, Randi and I do as well amongst the ten Milstein cousins.
In many ways, our respective careers as writers also represent opposite ends of the journalism / content writing spectrum.
Randi On the Scene
Randi's embrace of the 60's counter-culture movement eventually catapulted her to the bustling streets of New York City. Her first foray as a paid writer occurred during college shortly after returning from a junior year abroad in Jerusalem where she witnessed the unrest of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Upon her return, her college campus magazine beckoned, asking her to write about her time in the Middle East amidst the chaos. The article "A Short Course in War," was published for which she earned $35. To Randi this felt as though she'd hit the big time - getting published and paid.
Since then, her career has flourished as a writer and managing editor for esteemed science journals and a cancer magazine for patients, leaving her indelible mark on the scientific community.
📝Side Note: Also claiming space in her portfolio are a few freelance pop culture stories written for Redbook and Playgirl under a pen name. The cousin code prohibits me from releasing the name. |
Heidi on the Scene
In stark contrast, my path to courting journalism led me to fictional worlds. After college graduation, I earned my first dollars as a ghost writer for brand mascots, including the Trix Rabbit and Betty Crocker.
In 1996, Betty Crocker launched a limited-edition Team USA cake mix in honor of the Olympics, and I served as a Betty ambassador delivering Team USA cakes to Olympians' families to drum up publicity. I, too, felt as though I'd hit the big time as I made the rounds conducting local newspaper, radio, and TV interviews.
How This Sets the Scene
Despite our divergent paths - investigative writing versus brand promotion - my consistent trips to New York brought us together. We'd talk about our personal quests for quirky adventures, and revel about the places and people met in unexpected places. Get two storytellers, or maybe it's two Milstein cousins, around a table and you'll have thousands of great conversations.
Putting Words to Work
During one fateful visit to New York, I poured my heart out to Randi, sharing my dreams to start up my own content writing business. Without blinking an eye, she offered her assistance.
Randi connected me with editors she knew at Inside Dentistry, a trade publication managed by the same company where she was employed at that time.
Suddenly, I found myself navigating the world of trade journalism.
My twelve-year-old self, who once dreamed of being part of the press corps, was elated. And my five-year-old self, who loved discussing all things teeth (yes, you read that right), felt a sense of pride.
Since that serendipitous encounter, I’ve penned three cover stories for Inside Dentistry. Each article allowed me to weave words into narratives that mattered, stories of innovation, compassion, and resilience within the dental community.
FootnotesAs a conversation warm up, I emailed Randi a few lightening round questions for her to answer. Leave it to her to write well thought out and entertaining answers. For your enjoyment I'm including a few of these Q & As below.  First job ever? Career Highlight? Advice on building a professional network? Zoom etiquette: Camera off or on? Background blurred, natural or graphics? Last TV Show You Streamed? Favorite food to cook? Favorite food to be served? |
Put Words To Work
Heidi Geller writes about mid-career networking, offering valuable insights and musings for those seeking guidance on exploring new opportunities, overcoming obstacles, and identifying meaningful pursuits. In 2021, she embarked on her independent journey, founding HGC Consulting, a business specializing in B2B content writing and stakeholder communications strategy.
Navigating the breadth of choices, identifying allies, and discerning worthwhile paths can be overwhelming. Heidi shares her personal encounters and introduces the remarkable individuals she meets along the way. If you have a mid-career networking tip, or would like to collaborate on a future project, feel free to reach out at heidigeller@hgcgo.com.
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