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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 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.
Angie @ Home Business Solutions\’s last blog ..Product Launch Planning &amp Product Launch Training

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.
Lisbeth Tanz\’s last blog ..5 Ways to be a Better Web Content Writer

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.

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
lisa rothstein\’s last blog ..Craig Ferguson – Multi-talented on purpose

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
Amy Sue\’s last blog ..What’s That Smell

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.

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.

Yep, only one way to overcome it. :) You can do it!

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?

Somehow there’s great comfort in knowing our fears are shared. ((hugs))

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.

Love that honesty – pulling the levers… :)

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.

Whipped cream? Oh my that could send the wrong message. I promise to be on good behavior there. :)

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.
Shel Horowitz\’s last blog ..Slashing the Energy Consumption of the Next Generation Supercomputers

LOL Well perhaps we should just let Nancy know if we don’t show up one morning, please send a search party. :)

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.