Social Media Doesn’t Always Feel Transparent: Here are 6 Things I Deeply Struggle With
Episode 833: Show Notes
There’s a new trend popping up on social media where people are sharing the real struggles they face in life and in business. Even after nine years of business, there are things I still struggle with, and today I want to let you in on what some of them are. These are things that deeply bother me, things I talk to my therapist about, and that hold me back from doing what I really want to accomplish. Let’s get into it!
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One Surprising Fear Despite What I Have Built
Although I have already built a large business, I am terrified of growth! I am constantly slowing myself down from what’s possible and what I truly want. That is because the more people you reach, the more unwanted criticism you will get. People may question what I teach or push back on a strategy, but it’s all the other stuff that really holds me down. It’s comments about my body or the way I do my makeup or my personal choices. The more you let people in, the more ammo they have to throw back at you, and that can be really hard.
What It Really Feels Like to Be On the Outside
Not feeling accepted by any circle in this industry has really bothered me. Aside from a few close personal one-on-one relationships, there’s a heck of a lot of people who know who I am, but very few have made me feel welcome. I have always experienced life like this. When I was in high school, everyone knew who I was, but I wasn’t invited to their celebrations, I was the person they waved to in the hallway. It can feel so isolating! In a world where relationships are so key to building a business, this is not a fun place to start.
The Real Reason Women Don’t Talk About Money
Although I am an advocate for talking about money, I continue to question my own motives. I was never shown opportunities when I was growing up. I didn’t have any examples! All the women in my life worked very hard jobs or stayed home. Talking about money was not a thing. There was no financial education. Part of my motivation is to build a business that allows more people to become financially free. When you want that for people, you have to talk about money. It’s a requirement. But you would be baffled to know how people respond online when you choose to share the numbers!
How I Trick Myself Into Talking to Strangers
It’s not that I’m shy. I’m just not super comfortable talking in front of strangers. In fact, it makes me extremely uncomfortable! That is really weird when you are trying to grow awareness of your business. The reason I have been successful this far, is because I can do it without having to see you all! I spent a lot of time being quiet in rooms until the time was right, and then I would raise my hand more often. But if your goal is to grow, you have to spend more time talking to people that you don’t know.
One Way I May Never Be Able to Relate to My Audience and Why It Hurts
Sometimes, I will see posts by people online saying that ‘I’m not going to listen to XYZ business coach anymore because they don’t have kids.’ This makes me so deeply sad! This isn’t a choice for me. I can’t biologically have children. Most of the people around me have children. Feeling like I can’t be there for someone or understand just hurts. Although it’s not the same as having my own children, I’ve spent a lot of time caring for my sister’s child from the time he was six weeks old. I definitely understand — you think you know what love is, but it’s just so insane what you would do for these little babies!
Why It Can Be So Hard to Meet People Where They’re At (And Why You Should Do It Anyway)
The mission for this business has been the same the entire time. I want to see more people financially free. The problem is, I can’t solve that problem with one solution, product, or offer. In reality, if I’m doing my job right, I have to help you solve a ton of problems. If I tried to sell you one thing, you wouldn’t believe me anyway! To stay in business and have a fighting chance of actually tackling this larger issue that I want to solve, I often have to sell and solve problems that feel really frivolous. But they’re important! It’s only possible to fulfil my mission if I meet people where they are at.
If you can take anything away from today, I want you to know that regardless of how far along someone is, how long they’ve been doing it, or how many people they have reached, they still have insecurities. There are so many more like you than you will ever realize! All of those things can be true and you can still be driven to do more and to impact more people. If you don’t have a place to talk about these things, and you’re looking for a community that acknowledges that all of these parts of you exist, I would love to have you be a part of the Co-op!
Quote This
If your goal is growth, you have to spend more time talking to people you don’t know.
Highlights
One Surprising Fear Despite What I Have Built [0:03:55]
What It Really Feels Like to Be On the Outside [0:09:30]
The Real Reason Women Don’t Talk About Money [0:12:10]
How I Trick Myself Into Talking to Strangers [0:21:36]
One Way I May Never Be Able to Relate to My Audience and Why It Hurts [0:25:35]
Why It Can Be So Hard to Meet People Where They’re At (And Why You Should Do It Anyway) [0:31:30]
OUR HOST:
Abagail Pumphrey
Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook
Abagail Pumphrey, the Co-Founder & CEO of Boss Project, has been a driving force in the creative entrepreneur industry since 2015. With a passion for empowering service-based business owners around the globe, she became internet-famous after the launch of the transformative training, "Trello for Business." This innovative system revitalized the operations of over 10,000 business owners, making a significant impact on the online business landscape.
Under Abagail's leadership, Boss Project has been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes, Marie Claire, INC, and HuffPost. Her twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, is a staple in the business community, continuously topping Business and Management Charts on Apple with millions of listeners from around the world.
Abagail's superpower lies in her ability to break down complex concepts into easy-to-implement, duplicatable systems. As an expert in online sales and a data-driven strategist, she has turned a layoff into a 7-figure work-from-home business. Abagail's mission to help more female founders become financially free, without letting their businesses take over their lives, continues to inspire and guide entrepreneurs on their path to success.
Key Topics:
Struggles, Social Media, Relatability, Audience, Confidence, Acceptance, Community
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