Why Your Fear of Being Seen Is Hurting Your Business

Making a conscious effort to be seen on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope and all the other platforms can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and even expensive. But when you're an introvert, the idea of getting your name out there can also be downright terrifying.
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Side view of joyful young woman relaxing on the front seat while her boyfriend sitting near and driving their convertible
Side view of joyful young woman relaxing on the front seat while her boyfriend sitting near and driving their convertible

One of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs is finding clients.

Making a conscious effort to be seen on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope and all the other platforms can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and even expensive.

But when you're an introvert, the idea of getting your name out there can also be downright terrifying. (Live video broadcasts? Photos of myself? Being vulnerable in front of total strangers? NO! HIDE ME!)

All of those successful coaches telling you that "getting visible = getting clients" mean well. They really do. They know that visibility is key to attracting the right kind of client.

But they already have SO many followers, and they're SO charismatic and popular, and they never have to face an empty Periscope broadcast or pour their heart and soul into a Facebook post only to hear nothing but crickets. It's just so EASY for them, right?

Well, yeah. It's easy now. But it wasn't always that way.

Every single one of us started somewhere, with zero followers and zero people on our email list and zero dollars coming in for days, weeks or even months before everything clicked and fell into place.

When my coach first suggested ways for me to start getting visible, I froze.

I was a six-figure earner who had managed a multimillion dollar business, had spoken at legal conferences and colleges, and had attorneys coming to me for advice on how to run their law firms.

You know what else I had? A complete lack of confidence in my own value.

I immediately started making excuses in my head:

"I'm not as experienced as ___________, so people won't be interested in what I have to say."

"I really want to start booking clients, but I don't know what to say or do on my discovery calls."

"The idea of selling myself feels terrifying / pushy / icky."

Sound familiar?

There's nothing like the fear of judgment by total strangers to keep you from taking action. Especially when you're putting yourself out there on the Internet.

People on the Internet can be unwelcoming. They can be rude. They can be downright mean.

No wonder I was scared.

But when I thought about the idea of being stuck in my 9-5 forever - I mean really, really thought about it...

Walking into work every morning wondering what kind of mood swings my boss was going to have that day...

Feeling tethered to my phone and email 24/7...

Having to take four different medications just to deal with the constant pressure, the anxiety, the headaches and the sleepless nights...

for the REST OF MY LIFE...

Well, that was WAY scarier than shooting a 10-minute video on my phone.

So I put myself out there. I joined some Facebook groups. I connected with some people I admired via email or private message. I submitted some blogs to Huffington Post.

And you know what?

I survived!

People were really welcoming! I felt valuable. I felt important. I felt like I was helping people. And I was actually making money doing it!

Sure, there's the occasional rude remark or dismissive comment. (And the naked spammers on Periscope, but that's another post for another time.)

That's okay. Those aren't my people. That's not my tribe.

My tribe is positive, supportive, and encouraging.

My tribe is full of women who always remember that we all have to start somewhere, and we all have the potential to change lives by shining our own unique light in the world.

My tribe knows there is enough to go around -- enough clients, enough money, enough abundance - and we cooperate, not compete, to make sure everyone gets the help and guidance they deserve.

I could have let fear stand in my way. But then I would still be stuck in my soul-crushing legal job. I would still be covering up my stress and anxiety with medication and a little too much wine. I never would have found all of these amazing women.

And I wouldn't know what it's like to feel truly free.

Don't let the fear of being seen keep you from creating the life you were meant to live.

Get visible. Share your shine. Create your freedom.

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