This past week, I had the opportunity to speak at the Badass Business Summit in Arlington, Texas. It was a wonderful experience. But I wanted to share a huge breakthrough going through this process evoked for me.
In the couple weeks leading up to the conference (including when I was on the plane, and even when I first arrived), I felt pressure to perform well. I was totally in my head about wanting to nail my messaging, and absolutely terrified that I wasn’t going to land something critical during the presentation itself, and that nothing was going to make sense to the audience.
On the plane I was frantically writing notecards and practicing my speech. But I was even feeling some type of way about even having to have notecards. The pro speakers don’t use notecards, right?
Your feelings about the experience are normal.
When I finally got to the conference (the day before), I started meeting the other speakers. Several of them have spoken at more events than I have, but in talking to them, something happened. I started realizing that they felt excited and nervous too. They were talking about how they wanted to practice more, about how they were going to bring notecards on stage, and wanting to run through their slides again. I felt relieved. And I sunk into that feeling that they were all experiencing the same emotions as me.
And I saw that the way their messages connected with the audience was not so different, but there was something about how they were choosing to show up.
Shifting to Service
Even when I got on stage though, it still took me about 5 minutes to get into a rhythm. But the shift was, I wasn’t focusing on being perfect. I wasn’t focusing on the message. I was focusing on the faces of the people in the audience, and about how I could serve them. Even if it was one glimmer of information that could help them in the future, I was determined to support each and every audience member at that summit. I wanted to show them what was possible for them when they decided to show up as the face of their business.
I wanted to show them that the future is bright. I didn’t want them to feel alone. And while I was up on stage, that’s what I dedicated myself to–the audience looking back at me.
It felt really good. Because it wasn’t about getting anything right or wrong. It wasn’t about being flawless. It was about showing up and doing my best to serve.
You probably know the benefits of giving back in some form. Whether it’s through your career, or in a volunteer capacity, when we shift our focus to service and away from ourselves, we feel more fulfilled.
What I discovered is that when we’re worried about how someone perceives us, we’re bound to miss out on the opportunity to connect in a real and meaningful way.
Everyone is concerned about something . Everyone has self-doubts and questions that haunt them. This makes it easier for us to relate with each other when we stop trying so hard to prove ourselves worthy of being here. And shifting from “doing” to “serving” can help you find your foothold on stage, or in any other situation.
Your focus on the audience’s experience makes all of the difference.
And while serving others is an incredible practice for business, it also applies to romantic relationships; friendships; and even relationships with family members. Whatever way that you connect with others–and whoever you connect with–you can shift your focus to serving and see how it changes the dynamic.
Whether we’re on stage, asking for help from our peers, pitching investors or talking to significant others and loved ones, we’ll feel more satisfied and fulfilled by approaching the situation in this way. Because everyone has something to give. You just have to ask.
Serving as the face of your brand.
Ultimately, that’s what personal branding is about. You get to go deeper and figure out how to SERVE. But, it requires intention. You get to determine who you’re serving and who you want to show up as to do it. Honestly? It takes a huge weight off your shoulders when you have that level of clarity. It’s easier for you to attract new clients. It’s easier for you to serve because you know what’s in alignment and what isn’t. You’re finally getting the right people in your business — the ones who NEED what you do. And, as a bonus, I truly believe that it helps your relationships overall. It creates more positive interactions. And, it makes you feel better about yourself — which is what everyone wants anyway, right?
How can shifting to an attitude of service make a difference in your relationships, brand and business right now? Are you ready to serve as the face of your brand? Let’s chat about how brand photography can support you.
