As someone who helps businesses and individuals promote themselves for a living, you might think it’s odd that I’m sharing that I’m not the best at self promotion. I mean, as an overall brand I think I’m pretty good, but the detail? The things I can actually do to help you and what you do? The big ask? I’m not always that good at that. Why? Because I’m in the really fortunate position that a lot of my clients have found out about me through word of mouth or my content, and I’m only one person so I’m usually fully booked. But it’s all changing now… and here’s why.

Why do we find self promotion so difficult?

I hear a lot of incredible stories. People who have created products from nothing, or have endured horrific journeys to get them to where they are today, or had that genius spark that changed the game for them. I see new products from people where I can see the time, energy and love that’s gone into the design and creation. I see the same with service providers too. I see all of this. And then I see nothing. Because for the vast majority of people, putting themselves out there is REALLY scary.

What if someone doesn’t like what we’ve done?

What if someone PUBLICLY doesn’t like what we’re doing?

What if there’s an error somewhere?

What if it’s not good enough?

What if I’m an idiot?

Any of those sound familiar? When we switch into self promotion mode on a larger scale, ALL these thoughts run through our head. Oh, and the exposure. Oh God the exposure. Because if what we’ve done isn’t good enough – if it’s rubbish – and we’ve told people about it and they call us out then by God we’re exposed, aren’t we? We’ll look like idiots. The years of credibility that we’ve built up will be blown to pieces and we may never be able to show our faces in public again. Am I right?!

Introducing the gremlin

Of course I’m not… but that’s what the little voice that chats away, trying to keep us safe, would have us believe. My ‘gremlin’ is risk adverse. And what he sees as a risk and what is actually a risk are quite different. Crossing a road with your eyes closed and earphones in – I’m with him, I could well die and that’s a big risk. But telling someone about something I’ve created for people? The consequences aren’t on the same level.

When I launched my very first digital course Social Supercharge: Riders, these fears were there. It was ready to go. It had been tested. The feedback on said test was great. So I just quietly launched it, told maybe six people, and then that was that for day one. If those six people didn’t immediately visit the checkout it must be crap – right? Well no – as it seems – because since then I’ve had a word with myself, I’ve actually told people about it, people have paid for it and are loving it… and the feedback has been beyond my wildest dreams. The response has given me a buzz like nothing I’ve had for quite a while, but it has pushed every comfort zone. The content – the thing I was teaching – was never going to be a worry because I talk about it every day. So the core of the course- the thing I was selling – I KNEW was good. But what if I’d messed it up and people just hated it?!

What if?

Well I was very wrong. They love it. But the thing is, if I didn’t get a grip of my little gremlin, I would have never told anyone about the course. It would have sat there. I would have put it on my website. I wouldn’t have actively promoted it. It wouldn’t have done that well. But instead I’ve had the ability to help people – really help people – and make a big difference to their world – and who am I do that? If I let my own ego and fear of looking a bit of an idiot get in the way of true change? Really helping people? That upsets the gremlin more.

So next time you’re thinking ‘who am I to shout about what I’m doing?’, I want you to ask yourself who are you not to? Because none of us gain by playing small – and not just us – none of the people we could help, inspire and change the lives of do either.

Am I right?