Over the years I discovered that the biggest thing blocking everyone from doing PR. 

From billionaire CEOs to bootstrapped entrepreneurs, it’s universal. 

It’s not time, money or lack of understanding.

It’s much simpler. 

It’s learning to be comfortable being seen.

Now, no one outwardly says to me “CLG I’m not comfortable being seen” and is hiding their face behind their hands or something silly. 

This doubt, insecurity or limiting belief that holds us back shows up in many ways. Here are common fears and blocks:

• Why would the media want to feature me? Interview me?
• There are other people out there that are more advanced or who know more than me
• I’m too old
• I don’t have a website up
• I’m redesigning my website, let me wait a couple months
• I’m a brand new business owner
• Why me? 
• I’m too small
• My company isn’t new
• I’m just a…. Soloprenuer, chef, etc. etc. 

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When you let those thoughts run the show you’re making it that much harder and it will take that much longer for your tribe of raving fans to find you. 

Don’t let your fear, doubts or what-ifs keep you small and on the sidelines.

Put yourself out there with PR.

Because guess what!? 

Public relations is something that everyone can do.

When you look at the people who are getting all the attention, it’s not because they’re the smartest people in the world or that their information is better than everyone else’s.

It’s that they’re go-getters! 

They’re willing to put themselves out there and do the work. Maybe they feel fear but they’re going to do it anyways.

They’re going to build relationships. They are consistent and that’s why you’re seeing them everywhere. 

Media are always looking for new experts. New stories to tell. They want different ideas and unique voices. 

There are many many thousands of PR opportunities every day that could be yours if you decide to pursue them. 

If you’re waiting until you are perfect, you’re going to be waiting forever. Just get started on your PR.

Give your permission to take imperfect action.

Mindset Shifts

It’s super easy for me to promote other people, ideas and companies. It gives me extreme joy to share their stories with the world. 

But when I launched my tangible goods business and had to do PR for myself, I felt utterly uncomfortable. It took the encouragement (aka forceful hand) of one of my PR friends to get me to put myself out there and be seen.

If you are struggling with being seen, I’ve been there. I feel you!

Here are three mindset shifts that worked for me and will help you get comfortable with PR. 

#1 Don’t play the comparison game

Please be yourself because only you can be you! When it comes to ourselves, we are always our own worst critic.

And it’s never as bad as we think.

I’ll be in an interview and criticizing myself as the words are coming out and then have someone on my team watch the interview and say, that was really good! When all I can see is that I said “like” too many times or why can’t I stop touching my hair!

#2 Take imperfect action

You have a vision of where you want to be. Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. [bctt tweet="We can’t judge where we’ve been in order to get to where we are going." prompt="tell a friend"]

It’s a disservice to compare ourselves to where we are right now and where we want to be. We can’t judge where we’ve been in order to get to where we are going. 

We don’t see what happens behind the scenes for those people we admire to get to where they are.

There’s nothing wrong with having high expectations for ourselves. When you think about the thought leaders, experts and the personalities that you admire, they seem so comfortable, eloquent and poised. The thing that you forget is that they’ve been doing this work for five, 10, 15 years or more. 

They’ve worked on their talks multiple times. They’ve done dozens, if not hundreds of interviews times. They’ve hired expert PR peeps like me to help coach them. 

On day one, comparing yourself to the top leaders in your industry is not fair to yourself.

The only way to reach our potential is by doing the work and getting our story out there!

Don’t aim for perfect, instead each time getting better and better!

#3 It's not about you

When I first started doing PR for myself I was constantly thinking. How do I look? What if I mess up? Will my voice sound too girly?

The thing is we put all that pressure on ourselves and it’s inward, “me, me, me” focused. We’re not focusing on the right thing. 

The entire point of getting your work out there into the world is so that you can help and impact more people’s lives. 

Ask yourself: Did I show up to this interview and give it my all? Was I generous with my knowledge and my advice?” 

If the answer is yes, then you did an ah-mazing job. There’s no need to think about it further or go into analysis paralysis. 

Get out of your own way and do it!