Photo Credit: http://stockfresh.com/gallery/dolgachov
Or is it just me? Yeah, I’ve been gone from my blog a few days (apparently I need another blog challenge!). Actually I’ve just been really wrapped up in doing two teleseminars (get the replays: twitter and ezines) and prepping for my presentation in the Your Path to Success Telesummit, working on client projects, and dealing with more of that “head stuff.”
Stepping out and branding ME. It makes me uncomfortable. I’m still exploring why. Maybe it’s because I like to be the one behind the curtain, not the one on stage. Jumping into the spotlight makes me want to hide under my desk. Anyone else?
Or maybe it’s the amount of steps outside my comfort zone I’m taking lately. Ya’ll know I’m an introverted wall flower. But I’m helping teach a children’s craft class (I keep telling myself that 8-12 year olds really aren’t scary), cooking dinner later this month for a large group (under the guidance of a real cook, of course!), doing teleseminars like crazy to get comfortable with them, and attending a live event next month (join me?).
The last live event I went to I broke down half way through and had a nice little tearfest in my hotel room, tried to convince myself to go home, then came to my senses and survived the rest of the seminar. Like I mentioned – serious introvert. One evening of social interaction I can survive, but several days is definitely pushing it. Good thing I pushed through though, since I made some fabulous connections who’ve turned into true friends and a bunch of great clients.
My point? Get outside your comfort zone. That’s when big things happen. If I can do it, you can do it. Now, do it with me.
“Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.” — Robert Allen
“Their comes a moment when you have to stop revving up the car and shove it into gear.” — David Mahoney
“You have to recognize that every ‘out front’ maneuver you make is going to be lonely, but if you feel entirely comfortable, then you’re not far enough ahead to do any good. That warm sense of everything going well is usually the body temperature at the center of the herd.” — John Masters
What will you do to get comfortable with being uncomfortable this week?
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3Shares
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This one really gets to the heart of matters for me. Thanks for sharing a nice big chunk of honesty.
Even though most people probably think of me as an extrovert or maybe even a social butterfly … it ain’t true! I’m a loner and I always have been. What’s unusual about me is that I’m dynamite in front of a live audience – upbeat, personable, entertaining, the whole enchilada. But after the performance, I just want to escape to a quiet location of solitude … as quickly as possible. It’s such a relief to meet someone else who isn’t exactly the life of the party either.
Still in all, as online marketers and small business owners, I fully understand the importance of branding yourself and your biz as well as stepping (way) out of your comfort zone. There’s definitely rewards and payoffs that are well worth the moments of “uncomfortableness”.
Melanie
I would totally have thought you were a social butterfly, Melanie! You’re right about the payoffs – it’s worth it, just got to bust through the uncomfortable part.
I feel your pain, Michelle. I can blab all day on my blog, but get me in a room full of people and not a word. :) Despite wanting to attend some of the blog conferences, I have avoided them like the plague for the same reasons you mention above. The fear of a breakdown is too much.
It seems silly when I try to rationalize it. And there is only one way to overcome it.
Yep, only one way to overcome it. :) You can do it!
Michelle,
I’m an introverted extrovert. Or an extroverted introvert. I can’t remember which. Anyway, I’m fine in a group of people – it’s GETTING ME THERE that’s hard. Seriously. I’ve been known to grip doorframes to avoid being taken somewhere. I’m much better than I used to be – but I still tend to go to the worst case scenario – which almost never happens.
Deep breaths. Lots of them.
LOL So, what you’re telling me is that I need to bring a can of whipped cream along to I Heart My Biz to spray the doorframes in the morning so I can slide you right out of the room?
Whipped cream? Oh my that could send the wrong message. I promise to be on good behavior there. :)
LOL Well perhaps we should just let Nancy know if we don’t show up one morning, please send a search party. :)
Michelle, Angie, and Lisbeth – isn’t this wonderful? I’m really appreciating this conversation. Lis, I’ve been a door frame gripper a time or two in my life or it’s been a case where I just can’t push myself to leave the house. A bulldozer couldn’t shove me out the front door! I’m serious.
Michelle – you’ve started “something” here and I think it’s a really good “something”. :)
YAY and YIPPEE! I’m not alone. What a great feeling.
Somehow there’s great comfort in knowing our fears are shared. ((hugs))
So true!! I have a phone call coming up today with a new prospective client and I am feeling a lot of the discomfort that you describe…but that’s making it about me, not about her. Our own resistance and fear robs others of our support and talents. I’m so glad you didn’t let your shyness keep you from attending the seminar where we met last year. If you had, I wouldn’t be getting all this great advice (not to mention wonderful and supporting hosting for my blog with http//tinyurl.com/creohost ! ) plus I wouldn’t know this great, smart, fun woman! Note to self: don’t let discomfort keep you playing small in my own life and in service to others!
:-)
Lisa
Excellent point – it really is important to remember it’s about them, not us, and about who we can help and how. That focus shift really makes a difference!
And I’m happy I’ve met you, too. Your perspective on multi-talents has helped so much in how I look at things.
I hear you – I’m an introvert too. I’ve learned to cope but still HATE public speaking, especially when there’s a microphone. I’m OK with blog posts until someone “in real life” mentions something I’ve written – then I want to sink into the floor, even if it was a compliment. I’d totally prefer to be the man behind the curtain, pulling all the levers! (That fulfills my control issues too, LOL!)
~Amy Sue
Love that honesty – pulling the levers… :)
Hey Lisa and Amy – welcome to our special club! We have a HUGE membership. :)
This conversation could not have happened at a better time for me. As I work on developing my second business, I’m addressing these issues all over again and seriously want to step out of my comfort zone this time–and be successful at it. It helps so much to know that there are other entrepreneurs out there who deal with the same issues.
Yep, it’s a big club!
I’ve heard people say if you want to work on personal development, start your own business. Boy is that ever true! Nothing forces us to get past our own issues and out of our comfort zone like entrepreneurship.
Michelle, beleive it or not, I started as an introvert.
And one of the smartest things I did when I got online was to brand myself rather than a company name. That has been essential to my business success (as has your services, BTW). All the various brands (frugal fun, frugal marketing, principled profit, green and profitable, etc.) I’ve been involved with also carried my own identity, and when I switched brands, I still had my core ID, and my base.
These days I’m focused much more on green and ethical and much less on consumer frugality. Still the same values and intentions, but a very different focus (and still keeping all the old websites). Not having to start from zero was a huge help.
That is hard to picture! :)
But I can definitely see where branding with your own name was a smart move. I should have watched a little more closely and done it sooner myself.