I have been extremely fortunate in my career and have attracted the most amazing clients. Over 29 years, there have been a small number where it turned out not to be a perfect match, but by and large, they’ve all been fantastic. Each one unique and wonderful in their own way, bringing so much to the table, and sometimes needing to learn something along the way, too.
One client in particular stands out. He had a brilliant book, was a savvy expert, and a total pro in his field. He was a successful business owner with a book published by one of the “Big 5.” But, as sometimes happens, he was nervous about showing up in the media.
He believed media success came from being bold, fast, and charismatic on cue. He thought this was something he should immediately be able to do, kind of like flipping on a switch. Ta-da!
He assumed confidence was something you either had or didn’t, and because he gave a lot of speeches and presentations, he figured he had it. That is until he realized he didn’t. Not yet, anyway.
So when he stumbled in our first mock interview, he said what so many people say:
“I’m just not good at this. I need to be louder. Stronger. More confident.”
But here’s the thing: he didn’t need to be louder. He needed space. He needed quiet. And he needed to trust himself.
I know. That sounds counterintuitive, but stay with me here.
Over the next few weeks, we didn’t just rehearse questions. We slowed down. We simplified. We stopped trying to “perform.” And yes, this may sound a little unexpected, but I had him out every day taking walks in nature.
I know. I know. That sounds a little out there.
But there was something about those daily walks that helped him start listening. Not to a script. Not to something he memorized. He started listening to himself.
It may sound simple, but that small shift began to change everything. He stopped chasing confidence and started feeling it inside himself, and that came from slowing down, being present, walking in nature, and listening to the birds.
The truth is, you don’t find your voice in front of the mic. It isn’t like flipping on a switch. You find it before you even plug it in. Confidence doesn’t show up with fanfare. It arrives in quiet clarity. In quiet calm. And other people feel it. They know you have it.
It’s built in the morning prep sessions. It’s in the deep breaths before you rehearse. It’s in the steady rhythm of a walk where your thoughts get to settle and reorganize.
You see, the most compelling media guests aren’t the flashiest. They’re the ones who are grounded, present, and real. They aren’t performing when they give an interview. They’re sharing, and when we hear it, we know it.
Confidence isn’t noise. It’s stillness. It’s knowing who you are before anyone else asks. And it shows…on camera, in your voice, and in how you carry yourself.
To your success!
Joanne
P.S. Try everything!
#MediaConfidence
#QuietPower
#MediaDarling
#BookMarketing
#BookPublicity
If you’d like to receive juicy publicity secrets directly on a regular basis, join the Savvy Sunday Community at the bottom of this page.