How do I get over the fear of putting myself out there?

That niggling fear of putting yourself out there. It's something that prevents many small business owners (particularly females) from marketing their business and getting the business growth they deserve. Here are my top 5 tips for dealing with this fear, so you can start marketing your business confidently.

 

 

 

So, you’ve quit your day job, launched a business and invested your savings in something that may or may not work out. I don’t know about you, but I think that takes a bucketload of bravery.

And yet, so many business owners stop there.

They happily take on all the risks involved with starting a business (and there sure are a lotta them) but baulk at the thought of putting themselves out there. The thought of opening yourself up to criticism, online trolls and negative comments feels kind of like opening up the door when you’re already cage diving with sharks.

But, you know what? Everyone else feels like this too.

It’s a huge topic and I talked about this a bit more over on my podcast but here’s the quick run-down:

The simple difference between people who put themselves out there and those who don’t is that they feel the fear and do it anyway. When the fear pops up – that niggling voice at the back of your mind – you have two choices: You can let it get the better of you and stop you from moving forward, or you can look it dead in the eye, give it a wink and just do it anyway.

Spoiler alert: It gets easier the more you do it.

If you keep hiding behind your fear and making excuses as to why you can’t do that Facebook Live or post that video to Instagram or go to that networking event, you’re going to find that your progress stalls.

As much as you might like the idea of hiding behind your anonymous online business, you really can’t. Ever heard the saying “People buy from people”? Well, it’s pretty bloody true. You’ve got to put yourself out there as a person, expand your personal profile and grow your network.

You’re never EVER going to be ready to do that thing you’ve been putting off. The magic lies in doing things before you’re ready – committing to them and then figuring them out along the way. Doing things before you’re ready is a great hack for growing your business quickly. It’s an excellent way to take a brand new business and push it up to the big leagues, in a relatively short space of time.

But… What if someone says something mean and nasty?

The online world sucks. There are bottom-feeders out there who thrive on negativity. Yes, you might fall victim to a nasty comment, but you can choose to either let it get to you or let it go.

People who make these sorts of comments are coming from a “lack” mindset; the mindset that they aren’t enough or don’t have enough. Their negative comments say a whole lot more about who they are than who you are.

Ignore and block them (if it’s appropriate).

But… I'm an introvert

That's great – so am I. Let's be friends, so we can constantly make plans only to cancel them to stay in and binge watch Netflix instead?

Just because you're an introvert doesn't mean you can't put yourself out there. You'll probably just find it more exhausting than an extrovert would. I sure do.

What about if you feel like an impostor?

You know what? We all do. None of us really knows what we’re doing, and that’s ok.

Maybe you’re not as experienced as your competitors, and that’s fine. You bring some other magic to the table and that’s what makes you YOU.

Focus on being yourself and bringing your own magic. Don’t stress about being better than everyone else, focus on the things that make you different. Rather than putting yourself out there and trying to “sell, sell sell!”, let your personality shine through. Your audience will connect with your personality and then you can avoid the icky-yucky-sales-talk that we all hate.

Here is my challenge to you: This week, I want you to commit to something that scares you. Maybe you’ll reach out to host a workshop, or you’ll tell your audience you’re hosting a webinar, or you’ll get on a Facebook Live.

Yes, I know you’re not “ready” – but you’re never going to be. And, there’s no better time to put yourself out there and start growing your business than NOW.