I recently attended a conference and was approached by a fellow lawyer who I like and respect – and she admitted to being a fan of this little blog. Now I’m aware of the blog’s stats and intellectually understand that folks read it on occasion. But having someone tell me in person that they read it and like it was a surprise. It caused me to panic a bit and for the first time realize that I’m not just writing this for myself. I’m out there for better or worse. I had voluntarily opened myself up to compliments or criticism.

As I usually do, I dug around for helpful articles to help me overcome the panic and stumbled upon this gem in Forbes by Jodie Cook, How to Master the Art of Putting Yourself Out There. The opening paragraph sums up how I was feeling:

There’s a terrifying moment that comes after you hit publish, or send, or pick up the mic. A split second of realization; that you are out there. You’ve volunteered yourself upon the world. You’ve poured your heart and soul into the work that will now be revealed. There’s no going back. Everything has led up to this point.

But as Ms. Cook states, “Living completely within your comfort zone means passing up on these moments” …. ”Shying away from limelight because of what people might think or say is a tragic excuse for inaction”.

If I’m not scared or uncomfortable every once in a while, I know I need to push myself into something new and expose my belly to the world. The article provides the following useful tips to master the art of putting yourself out there:

1. Increase attention to detail: If your all has been given, the fear will be replaced by an excitement to present. You will feel confident and more inclined to share with others if you are proud of the work you’ve put in.
2. Create an alter-ego: I did this the rare times I attended court as a young lawyer. What makes writing this blog somewhat difficult is it is me – not professional me – so here I am. However, Ms. Cook points out that the character may only be subtly different to the person you really are. So for today, I will be Melania the helpful blogger….
3. What’s the worst that could happen? You might stumble or fumble. Or in my case, someone might actually like what you do and you feel extra pressure. So what. We all have our ups and downs. And if there are no downs in your life, it’s a good indication that you haven’t pushed yourself enough. As Ms. Cook states, “The worst that could happen, if you don’t put yourself out there, is that someone else will.” Oh the regret!
4. Don’t take it personally: Don’t let compliments or criticisms define who you are. Distance yourself from them both by cultivating indifference to both. Easier said than done and I suspect the most difficult tip to master for most folks.

Keep the following in mind and keep putting yourself out there. Say “Here I am, come and take me”.

Ten years from now, you’ll look back over the decade and wish you’d had the confidence to go for it. Twenty years from now you’ll feel silly for taking yourself so seriously. Thirty years from now you’ll think you’ve missed your chance. Make good art and put it out there.