Scarier than a phone call…

1. This Week’s Encouragement:

Picture this: it's an unassuming Tuesday afternoon. You’re cruising through a productive day filled with emails, meetings, and deliverables. Suddenly, your phone rings. Cue the spooky music! An unscheduled call? Talk about terrifying! Who could it be? What do they want? What should I do?!

Ever found yourself on the giving or receiving end of one of those unexpected phone calls? Why does the mere thought of picking up the phone feel like walking into a haunted house?

For the past few weeks, I’ve been waxing poetically about email, but let’s face it—sometimes a quick phone call is the way to go. You can get straight to the heart of the matter without bullet points, attachments, or the infamous “per my last email.”

So, what’s with all the hesitation? Here are a couple of things I've noticed as an outsider peering into the corporate world:

1. The Illusion of Wasting Time: Sure, a phone call takes time, but it’s often way more efficient than endless strings of unread or lightly skimmed emails. One clear conversation can move a project forward faster than you can say “reply all.”
2. Fear of the Unknown: The unpredictability of a conversation can be unsettling. You can prepare all you want, but what if the other person throws a curveball? The uncertainty of their response can feel daunting.
3. Conflict Avoidance: Let’s be honest—nobody likes conflict. The thought of tackling a potentially tense topic can make anyone want to hide under their desk.

So, before you dive into that scary phone call, try this: take a deep breath, ask for permission to chat, be clear about what you want, and set the expectation of time commitment. Say something like, “Hey, can I borrow 10 minutes of your time? I’d like to chat for about 5.”

With a little preparation, those frightening phone calls can become a lot less scary! Who knows? You might even start to enjoy them.

2. Event Reminder: Success Bully Demo Day

Introducing Inside Bully: Beating Your Inner Critic

?? Thursday, November 14, 2024 | ?? 9:30 AM PST | ?? Virtual Event

Please know...that I will be talking about this event no less than 25 more times before November 14th. Get ready to face your fears at Success Bully’s Inside Bully Demo Day!

If you haven't seen me in action before, join us for a spine-tingling virtual experience where you’ll get an exclusive first look at our powerful framework designed to help you conquer the biggest barrier to success: your Inside Bully.

What is the Inside Bully?

Think of the Inside Bully as the ghost of your inner critic—the sneaky little voice that plants seeds of doubt, fuels imposter syndrome, and keeps you from unleashing your full potential. At Success Bully, we’ve crafted a unique approach to exorcise this pesky spirit, empowering you and your team to transform negative self-talk into powerful, positive action.

What You’ll Learn:

• Introduction to the Inside B.U.L.L.Y Framework: Uncover how our communication techniques can banish the haunting whispers of self-doubt and enhance your performance.
• Hands-On Strategies: Participate in live exercises to identify and challenge the lies your Inside Bully tells you, replacing them with empowering affirmations.
• Transformative Mindset Techniques: Discover how to rewire your brain and reinforce confidence and resilience in both your career and personal life.
• Q&A with Keita Williams: Join an open conversation with our founder as we explore how the Inside Bully framework can help you build a strong, supportive mindset to face any challenge.

Event Details:

?? Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024

?? Time: 9:30 AM PST (12:30 PM EST)

?? Location: Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration)

Don’t let your Inside Bully haunt you any longer! Register now to secure your spot and learn how to silence that inner critic once and for all. It’s time to embrace your power!

3. Scene & Heard: Dante Wins Halloween

I must confess, I’m a terrible mom-ager to my budding social media influencer, Dante Jermaine. Despite having thousands of adorable photos, I haven’t shared nearly enough of my charming pup. So, without further ado, I present to you my handsome boy in his Halloween costume.

Meet Dante, my four-year-old Shar-Pei who perfectly embodies the introvert to my extrovert, the aloof, refined gentleman to my gregarious, good-natured self.

People often ask if they can pet him, and while the answer is technically “you can try,” be prepared for a judging glance or two!

But look at him—Isn’t he the cutest little spider for Halloween?!

4. Quote:

"Emails can be misinterpreted, but a conversation reveals intention." — Unknown

5. Ask Keita:

Q: Hi Keita,

I’ve been following your newsletter and appreciate your insights! I have a bit of a dilemma. I often find myself avoiding phone calls because I fear the awkwardness that can come with them. I prefer to send emails because they give me time to think, but I know this can lead to miscommunication. How do I overcome this phone phobia and build my confidence in having conversations?

— Phone Phobic

A. Dear Phone Phobic,

Thank you for reaching out! Your phone phobia is more common than you think, but there’s hope. Here are three tips to help you build confidence in making calls:

1. Start Small: Practice with short calls to friends or colleagues to ease into the process.
2. Prepare: Jot down key points you want to discuss before the call to help reduce anxiety.
3. Focus on Listening: Pay attention to what the other person is saying. This will help you respond naturally and keep the conversation flowing.

And speaking of enhancing your communication skills, I invite you to join us for our Success Bully Demo Day on November 14! It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore our Inside Bully framework, which can help you face your inner critic and improve your communication habits.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this week’s Take 5 Tuesday! I truly appreciate you being part of the Success Bully community. If today’s thoughts resonated with you, feel free to share them with someone who could use that extra boost. Don’t hesitate to comment, like, CALL ME, or drop me a line—I love hearing your thoughts!

Ready to take the next step? Let’s finish this year strong together! Book a call to schedule a custom training for your team, or join us at Demo Days on November 14th to experience our B.U.L.L.Y. framework in action.

Let's get after it!

Keita -- Your Favorite Success Bully