Exposure treatment

In addition to the plus size classes I also have my own project management consultancy firm.

This week I had to share a post on Linkedin announcing the fact I now work for myself.

This way I would get the word around hopefully potential new clients.

But I was very self conscious about writing this post down and sharing it with this audience of previous colleagues, clients, fellows and peers.

I tried to break it down to understand what is blocking me and realised it was a mixture of things. But, the main part was me being uncomfortable saying things out loud and taking a space for myself.

I started working on myself and addressing these points - out loud and ta

I reminded myself that I have been doing this job for over 15 years as an employee and am going to do the very same thing, with a bit more focus on female entrepreneurs, on my own.

This helped a little but I was still a bit uncomfortable stating it to everyone on Linkedin so I addressed the “network” part.

I removed the people I never really liked but connected because it would have been strange to decline an invite when we work together. And removed people I only accepted because they are friends of friends. It took me a few days to understand I get to decide who is there on my professional network. Just because I happened to work with someone does not mean I have to be forever connected with them if I don’t want to.

The next step was to work on my confidence and remind myself that I did scarier things.

Scarier for me - being a private person and having a public instagram account where I don’t just post nice flattering photos, but actual videos of me working out and stretching was significantly scarier than this.

I even have countless photos of me with a sleeveless shirt, something that was unimaginable for previous versions of me.

After this self reassurance I was ready to polish my draft, make sure it is short and concise and to officially announce to my entire network that I am self employed and open for business.

It was a scary and difficult thing for me to do, but if I am being completely honest, posting the first video of me stretching and leaning forward in a tight shirt was much more scary!

Xxx Moranna