65 Comments
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Jane Pike's avatar

I was one of the upgrades but I didn’t do it out of pity. I upgraded because you are awesome at what you do, I was planning on it anyway, and at the end of the day, you are the jewel and that still exists in spite of any lost work ♥️

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Lucy Werner's avatar

I truly appreciate this so much. Thank you! Do let me know if you had any old favourites that I can bring back quickly!

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Nina Lenton's avatar

I was too, also had been meaning to upgrade for a while. 🙂

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Julie Babis's avatar

Lucy, your resilience through this is absolutely inspirational. Thanks for staying here. Ironically, I write all my long posts in Word because of a Substack weak point: drafts don’t synchronise across the app and the browser. I work on stuff wherever I happen to be, which might be at my desk, in the car waiting for child at music lesson, or in the stands at an athletics competition. I guess I’m going to keep on doing that.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Yes! I wish I had done that! I’ve always just written straight into the app. 🤦🏻‍♀️

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Claudia Brose's avatar

that's what I always did, write everything first in Word, so I can go back and tweak etc and just "have it" on my computer and can work on it offline from anywhere. It actually didn't occur to me to directly write in the Substack draft.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

I will try to do this moving forwards. I had 100 drafts half started and I used to go in and update whatever felt right 🥹

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Claudia Brose's avatar

keep going. You have the right attitude. And remember the story of inventor Thomas Edison who lost everything to a fire and reacted with "I start all over again tomorrow" - and started from scratch with new inventions.

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Nina Lenton's avatar

I have exactly the same approach, for any long social media posts too - too many experiences of really good posts disappearing before they publish. I use OneNote as I write quite a lot of stuff!

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Julie Babis's avatar

I use the dictation feature on OneNote sometimes if I don’t happen to have anything to write on

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Nina Lenton's avatar

That’s a good idea - it’s so hard when you’re itching to write something down and can’t!

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Chris Anselmo's avatar

This guts me. It sucks. It absolutely sucks. But it will get better. Not in the artificial optimism-looking for the positives--seeing the sunny side of life way. It will be a slog. You will probably question if the effort's worth it. But it is worth it. You will look at this time someday and (understandably) cringe, but everything you're doing will be the foundation for something better. We are here to help, root you on, and cheer for you.

It's time we hype you!

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Lucy Werner's avatar

I don’t think I’ve ever needed to read all your content more 😂. It’s been a BIG 5 days. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate you supporting and sharing. It still feels really raw.

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Chris Anselmo's avatar

I'm not sure I've quite covered THIS topic but I hope it can help a little bit!

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Lucy Werner's avatar

I think all resilience tips come into play at this moment!

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Dominique van Werkhoven's avatar

Between the Forbes article & your recent Michaela Coel quote “Do not be afraid to disappear”*… there is SOMETHING special going on here & I’m here for this whole self Lucy.

As always, no rush to healing, it’ll take as long as it needs - you & your fam already have gold stars in mending broken hearts. 💛

*Appreciate you did not mean disappearing literally, for SS to wipe everything. Still so gutted with & for you.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Haha maybe I’ve accidentally manifested it🤦🏻‍♀️

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Jen Baxter ✒️'s avatar

I second the Jane - who just up graded to paid. I'm one of those too, and I didn't upgrade out of pity either. I've wanted to upgrade for awhile:

1) because you're awesome at what you do

2) because you're such a great community builder & champion of people and we need as many people like you on here as possible right now. And we need to see them SUCCEED !

So this is the opportunity to lend a helping hand 🤲

Keep going - we can do hard things.

And love the new mug 💕

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Thanks for the mug love. I appreciate this so much. Honestly, thank you for coming on over.

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Judy Andrews's avatar

Lucy, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I can’t even imagine the stress. Your resilience and positivity is inspiring.

Your post resonates, the part about you vs your company you. I feel the same way. And working on building my confidence for just me. When I think about my company it feels bigger than me and my confidence fits. When just me it shrinks. It’s ongoing, but like you I feel like it’s my calling, building confidence in myself and others while I’m on the journey.

I’m a supporter and big fan and will continue to be. Thank you Lucy. 🧡😊

Sending you lots of love.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Yes, I think it takes time to adjust to the new 'me' and whatever that looks like. Appreciate you being here so much and being on of my OGs!

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Nina Lenton's avatar

You’re setting such a positive example of resilience and openness by rebuilding and sharing what you’re doing. It’s easy to doubt ourselves and lose heart over much smaller challenges - although I find that for me it often happens when I don’t believe anyone cares about what I’m sharing, so it also shows the power of a supportive community.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

I don't think I know any other way - but I'm glad my honesty is resonating.

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Natasha Scullane's avatar

This may not apply right now, you're totally valid to feel how shitty this situation truly is, and I just wanted to share my mum always used to tell me behind every challenge is a gift. Some gifts (the community rallying) are present now, and some may appear is unexpected places soon or much further down the line.

It's interesting to hear you're thinking about leaning more into Lucy Werner the woman, mum, life-pivoter! Maybe you've (accidentally) given yourself a huge permission slip to do whatever you want!! With the greatest hits as your soundtrack 💜✨

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Yes, the glimmers when I feel like it will all be ok link to this way of thinking.

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Adam Forbes's avatar

Lucy I don't think I could love you more for your honesty, your pick-yourself-up grit, your focus on service (to us lucky people) and generally for being a battler - you inspire all of us solopreneur types. And you make me want to stop complaining and get on with life and make every moment matter.

I am so so sorry this has happened but I have such confidence that you will build back even better.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

I’m holding onto that last sentence. I am trying to believe that I can too! Really appreciate the words of support.

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Marwan Digital's avatar

Hope you get back to where you were before! I just discovered you and I love your writing style!!

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Thank you. Probably not this month but I'm hoping to get it better than back, I'm hoping to make this even better!

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Francesca Bossert's avatar

What you say about not being the same person in your work as in real life is true for many people I think. I am always floored by my daughter's business confidence when she gives talks, and does her podcasts! She's in her element, and shines. Like you in your job. You bought a lovely cup, by the way. May it runneth over!! xx

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Lucy Werner's avatar

May it runneth over indeed! Thank you so much Cesca!

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Danusia Malina-Derben's avatar

You’ve handled this like a total pro and a total human Lucy, which is why people trust you. I know firsthand how hard you’re working to rebuild from the ground up, and watching you do it with clarity, strength, and dignity intact is a bloody masterclass. That artisanal pottery cup has nothing on the backbone you’ve shown. Proud of you, pal. You are so much more than PR, and the comeback’s already unfolding. ❤️‍🔥

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Thanks for the encouraging words. I can't tell you how much I needed them.

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Nelly Bryce's avatar

Life doesn’t half throw in some curve balls. Still so gutted and pissed off for you, really unacceptable levels of customer service from the platform, esp when it was their glitch 🤬 But also, REALLY interesting where this is taking you. Love how you are open to exploring that. I’m excited for you too, if that makes sense. I mean this is gonna be THE best story at some point, right?? Were u planning to write a non business book?? 🤷‍♀️✨. Also, I’ll double check I wasn’t one of the “lost” subs xx

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Yes, totally makes sense. I'm excited to see what 2.0 brings.

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Sarah Lynas's avatar

Woah…. I’ve been offline corn while and just catching up. Mate… what a journey. And I know, and you know (right?) that good, good things will / have come about as a result of this. I’m excited to watch the unfolding of this next stage for you 💛💫

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Lucy Werner's avatar

I am struggling to fully accept the good good part in the future as a bit flat now but trying to believe it’s all unfolding as it should in a good way.

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Sarah Lynas's avatar

It’s early days… stay gentle with yourself.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Thank you 🙏🏼 I will endeavour to do so!

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Carrie Swatten's avatar

Lucy, Im sorry this happened to you. Its devastating! You have worked so hard and I love your advice and posts so much! Keep going, we need you x

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Nicole Lulinski Weill's avatar

Never waste a crisis! This will be a blip one day.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Doing my best. Still firefighting for now….

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Nicole Lulinski Weill's avatar

You’re doing great.

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River Selby (they/them)'s avatar

Oh Lucy, it especially breaks my heart that you had to send refunds during this terrible time. I was in the middle of going through your Greatest Hits, and I am happy to wait. Take your time. I hope other folks upgrade because you are such an excellent resource and just a lovely human. I think Substack should be compensating you in some way– it's unbelievable to me that something like this can happen through a tiny glitch. I have over four years of archives and now I know I must back them up, because it can happen to any of us. Ugh. Hang in there <3.

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Lucy Werner's avatar

Thank you so much for your words. Yes definitely back it up! Still updating the Greatest Hits day by day….

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