Let’s keep it real—it is hard to put yourself out there. Maybe there’s a book you want to write. Or a new job you want to apply for. Or a business you want to start. But, you can’t get out of your own head long enough to actually take any steps forward.
Many of us are paralyzed by self-doubt, fear, or naysayers (internet trolls are the freaking worst). However, most of us won’t give truth to power and admit this. Instead, we make excuses like, “I don’t have enough time!” or “my [spouse/kids/job] take all of my energy!” or “I’m just too busy to do this right now.”
Of course, everyone deals with real obstacles and challenges in life. But, at some point we all have to face the fact that we often dress up our excuses because we don’t want to risk the consequences of failure.
One of my favorite memes online says, “be brave enough to suck at something new.” This is my entire #schmood for this year. It isn’t about not having fear, but about sucking it up and doing it anyway.
In this Thursday Thoughts episode, I provide thoughts to a listener who seems to be experiencing aaaaallll of the things that keep us from taking action. I share some of my own self-doubts and fears and provide three strategies for how you can keep pushing anyway.
Check it out below.
How to Put Yourself Out There
To recap, my basic suggestions are to:
- Give yourself grace
- Start with your strengths
- Get over it and do it anyway
Questions & Action: Take a Baby Step
After you’ve had a chance to watch the video, I’d love to hear from you in the comments section!
Please answer these questions for me:
- What is holding you back from putting yourself out there?
- What brave baby step can you take this week?
Please give as much information as you can in response to these questions. I’d be happy to share more tools and resources that help you get what you want. And, I know the other folks reading this can learn from your experiences! We are all in this together.
Finally, I always say that I’m on a mission to help people build the brands, businesses and lives that they love. We can learn from each other on this journey, particularly when we have accountability partners. This is why I am building a whole nation of side-hustlers, creatives and business owners who hold each other–-and me–-accountable.
You can join my network online and via app. Check us out at programs.shontavia.com or via the Mighty Networks App.
Download the Mighty Network app by clicking here. Once it downloads, click “Find a Mighty Network” and search for Shontavia Johnson. You’ll find content there that I may not share elsewhere.
Thank you so much for joining me on this roller coaster of an experience. I am eternally grateful that I get to do this work with wonderful people each day.
Let’s make it happen,
