I wanted to talk to you about something that comes up with all my entrepreneur friends and clients A LOT.

The fear of “putting yourself out there.”

As the owner of a brick and mortar business, I was always able to connect with people in person, and have my clients in photos and videos for my marketing. I was able to use word of mouth and referral marketing to grow my business. I could very easily hide behind my brand (which suited me just fine).

But when I decided to build an online business and a personal brand, the game TOTALLY changed. Suddenly, all my mentors were telling me that I HAD to put myself out there and create a brand around ME… do Facebook live videos, record videos, and have pictures of myself plastered everywhere.

I have been building brands for 20 years, but doing it for myself was foreign and frankly pretty scary…

I was so afraid of being seen as “self promotional,” full of myself, or worse, vain or salesy… even though I knew none of those words described me.

But then someone said to me, “Amy, it’s NOT about you, it’s about you using your gifts to help others.” After that, I breathed a sigh of relief and really resonated with that sentiment.

“Putting yourself out there” is NOT about YOU… it is about them and all the people you could touch and serve with your gifts. It is about allowing your dream clients to get to know you and creating CONNECTION.

That feels better doesn’t it?

So I want to give you a quick exercise that helped me… Get the F over myself:

1. Think about everyone whose opinion really matters to you… make a list (I can tell you MINE is very short)
2. Do those people support you in following your dreams? Who else REALLY matters?
3. Will you allow the judgment of strangers to interfere with your life’s purpose and what you know to be your mission?
4. What would you like to say to someone whom you really want to help? What issues do you struggle with that you know they are facing too? What information or advice do you have for them?
5. How can you CONNECT with you audience to build trust and credibility without selling them anything?
6. Lastly, make a “put yourself out there” plan… list 3 things you are going to do in the next week that you have been afraid to do. Ex: a video, a photoshoot, a more vulnerable post, a webinar, send an email to get a project started, an advertisement for your business, hire someone to hold you accountable…

Too often, we are worried about what the entire world thinks… but really, only a few people matter in addition to ALL those people who would benefit from your gifts.

AND if you want some accountability, leave a comment below or write an email and tell me what you plan to do!

P.S. If you would like to book a FREE Brand Clarity Call to discuss what your brand will “put out there”, you may book your schedule here or through the button below.