Not long ago, I worked one-on-one with an author who reached out for media training. She told me right up front, “I don’t think I’m ready. I’m not polished enough for interviews.”
Fair enough. Many authors feel this way. But within minutes of talking with her, I knew: she was more than ready.
She was smart, full of energy, deeply passionate about her work and her book. She took coaching beautifully because she listened, responded, and adapted in real time. She didn’t shy away from the hard parts either. She was actually quite inspiring.
But there was one hurdle she hadn’t anticipated.
A big one.
Perfectionism.
Oh that sneaky word. We’ve all heard about it but don’t always recognize it in ourselves. We prefer to call it “having high standards” or “I’m a hard worker” or “I’m detail-oriented” or “I’m a planner.” There are a lot of ways it can hide, and it’s time to call it out for what it is. Let’s take a look at this particular situation:
- This author second-guessed every word she said.
- She would stop mid-sentence to correct herself.
- She wanted to script every answer before we even got to the questions.
Her desire to “get it right” was so strong that it was actually blocking her brilliance from coming through. It was obvious to me, but not so obvious to her.
And this happens more often than you might think.
Because the truth is, being media-ready doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being present. Clear. Human.
I’ve talked about this before in Savvy Sunday News, and it’s worth exploring again. And here’s what I told her (and I’ll tell you, too):
You’re more ready than you think.
What you need is a trusted space to practice. You need a guide who knows how to shape your message without muting your voice. Plus, some grace to let your confidence catch up to your capability.
By the end of our session, she was much more relaxed, smiling, and delivering answers with warmth and authority. Her voice came through—not a perfect one, but a real one. And that’s exactly what media wants.
Beating yourself up because you aren’t what you perceive to be “perfect” is such a waste of energy. It hurts you and it’s time to stop that. Now.
Treat yourself like your best friend and give yourself a break. Take a little time to get some training so that you can get on with letting the world know about your book and its message. I’m here to help.
To your success!
Joanne
P.S. Free to Be Me!! You’re free to be you!!
P.P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to all moms everywhere!!
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