We recently connected with Tobi Brun and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tobi, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
When I was a child, I had a vivid example of self-discipline and established work ethic from my father- who is a entrepreneur and self-made businessman of many talents. A handful of memories stick out to me from my early years that helped grow this standard of perseverance and dedication in me. When I was 6, I got stuck too high on the jungle gym in our backyard, and my dad came to my rescue. He reminded me gently to “-not get yourself into anything you can’t get yourself out of”. A good reminder to not bite off more that you can chew, even when you are pursuing heights beyond what you believe capable. The second memory is listening to my dad lay out all of the things he had to do for work before he would be able to go to bed for the night as we were driving down the highway one cold winter when I was 11. The list was never-ending and I couldn’t help but ask, “Wouldn’t you be able to do a better job if you slept and got back to it tomorrow morning”. This was a cornerstone in my approach to avoid workaholism- the logic of my preteen mind reminding myself that sometimes there are neverending lists of to dos, but there is only limited capacity inside ourselves to devote between work, life, and love.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a writer, creative instructor and business owner based out of Dayton, Ohio. I started The Words Faire in spring of 2024, and since we’ve begun, we have published multiple collections and anthologies of local to international creatives. Through our digital and print platforms we have reached an audience of over 100k. and have published over 300 creative in 32 countries. Our forthcoming anthology, “Across Worlds: A Meet Cute Anthology” is our first Romance themed collection, and will be published on December 30th, 2025. You can find more about us, our work, and our daily literary publications on thewordsfaire.com.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The qualities that have served me in my journey as a professional writer and as a business owner are perseverance in the face of rejection, the desire to never stop learning, and the not being content to settle for mediocrity.
The advice I’d give to young creatives setting out to establish themselves in a field that is oversaturated with the most consumer friendly content is to find your individuality, and not cater to the whims of the market. It is far more important to speak to your audience of few that really listen than the many.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The book that changed my life was “101 Essays to Change the Way You Think” by Brianna Wiest. This book brings exactly what it claims to the table and helped me understand myself, the people around me, and hown I want to live my life better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thewordsfaire.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewordsfaire/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
