Hey Reader,

Glad you're here. Things were getting suspiciously productive.

You're not shy, you're just “practicing” it.

Here's something most people get completely wrong about themselves: they walk around convinced they're "a shy person," like it's tattooed on their DNA, and there's nothing to be done about it.

Spoiler: it's not.

“Shyness” isn't a personality trait you're stuck with forever. It's a collection of behaviors you've been repeating so long they started to feel like "just who you are." Quiet voice. Small body language. Eyes darting everywhere except the person in front of you.

Stack those habits on top of each other, and yeah, it looks like “shy”.

It feels like shy. But it's just... practice. Lots and lots of unconscious practice.

Here's the flip side of that. “Confidence” is also just a collection of behaviors. Bigger gestures. More volume. Actual eye contact that says, "I see you, and I'm not afraid of this conversation." The good news? You can practice those too.

And this is where it gets fun for my introverted friends especially…

When you're practicing confident behaviors, and something feels "too much" or "way over the top," that feeling is actually your signal that you're getting it

“Just right”!

Your comfort zone has been set so low for so long that "normal" feels loud to you. It's not. Trust the discomfort and keep going.

This is exactly why recording yourself matters so much. You can't fix what you can't see. And when you watch yourself back, you'll catch every dropped eye contact, every shrinking shoulder, every swallowed word.

If you want hands-on help spotting those patterns and replacing them with behaviors that actually move the needle for your podcast or your events, let's talk.

(Link below)

Stellar Marketing Quotes

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

Coco Chanel

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston Churchill

Mustard on fries and celebrity laps

Lillehammer, Norway. Winter 1994. Picture a "Radio Row" set up inside a department store window, where celebrities would stroll down to do “interviews” every 15 minutes, like a conveyor belt of famous people.

Radio stations from New York. Chicago. San Diego. (me)

All broadcasting “live” from the Winter Olympics.

People strolling by could see us through this huge storefront.

Some celebrities were incredible. Others... well, let's just say “Screech” from Saved by the Bell was there. You do the math, Reader.

But the real story for me, was figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

Being from San Diego, she felt right ‘at home’ and kept coming back to sit on

my LAP between her appearances! Every single time.

My wife knew. Kristi knew my wife knew. Everyone was fine. Moving on.

Norway itself was a whole education. The Norwegians were warm, generous, and completely convinced that Americans preferred MUSTARD on their French fries. Not as an option. Not on the side. Already on the fries before they handed them to you. You had about three seconds to react before the damage was done.

And oranges? They called them "Sun Apples." Which honestly makes more sense than "orange" when you think about it. Round, bright, grows on a tree.

Sun Apple. Nailed it.

And their toilet paper!

If you're old enough to remember, back in grade school, did you have

“Scratch paper,” the teacher would hand out that looked like it still had chunks of wood in it?

That's exactly what the Norwegian TP looked like! (I even took a picture)

The whole experience was a reminder that sometimes the way YOU see things, based on your background and your world, is completely different from how everyone else sees them. Neither one is wrong…

It's just perspective.

Diversions

📌 BONUS

Networking Lifeline

I was reminded of a great networking technique for when you FORGET someone's name.

When engaging with them, simply ask…

“Can you tell me your name again?”

“It’s Susie”.

(you) “I know your name, Susie! I meant your LAST name.”

Boom, they've given you their name in a totally natural way! 😉

Your Thoughts

How serious are you about improving your speaking skills this year? Just curious — I like learning tips It’s something I’d like to improve eventually I’m actively trying to get better right now I’d invest in coaching or training if it helped