"You're not shy!"

Have you ever felt a pudgy little hand around your ankle?

When I was but a chick and we had visitors, I'd hide for a minute or two. Excited and shy, I'd come out of hiding and say "hello!"

Yes, I really was shy.

Then, I'd squirm, because I didn't know what to say next.

So, I'd sit on the floor and hold said visitor's ankle. Maybe ping the top of a sock. It was warm and safe there. Smiles and laughter guaranteed. Ice broken.

Not sure I could get away with that these days!

But I've carried that label with me for over half a century.

Until...

I went to a netwalking event.

Relaxed, casual, Neville Longbottom the studio dog strolling along beside me, we got chatting. About life, work, the universe, anything and everything.

"I'm actually quite shy" I laughed. "You're not shy!" she said. "Oh!" I thought.

Those words have swilled around my brain for a while.

I mentioned it to my bestie.

She said: "I've never thought of you as shy!"

Oh. Again.

" You're a calm observer. You don't feel the need to speak until you've set your barometer. You're a shapeshifter. You're grounding. You find the spaces, go into the nooks and crannies that others won't or can't, listening and striking up conversation."

Listening's a core skill when it comes to my work - two ears, one mouth and all that. The thing is, now I'm wondering how many more beliefs I'm carrying around unnecessarily. Maybe you're doing the same?

What are you telling yourself when you walk into a pitch? What are you telling yourself your clients are thinking? It's worth pondering.

Why?

Because we grow.

Obviously. But how often do we stop to question our beliefs about ourselves? Beliefs that we've grown out of without realising it? So often we mistake those beliefs for facts.

"I'm not good enough, confident enough, bold enough, funny enough..."

Really? For what? By whose standards?

Show me the evidence!

Shall I start? OK, here's some of my evidence when it comes to that shy label..

I've co-hosted networking zooms for a hundred people.

Given guest lectures at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Broadcast live to countless people for almost 20 years.

Carried on when the tech' fell apart around me.

(Cue gratuitous video about tech that this little bird voiced recently...)

I've voiced projects with up to 20 people listening in on the line (there are usually fewer, but it has happened!)

In fact, this commercial is on your telly right now!

I've nurtured relationships with hundreds of clients and colleagues.

Donned of daft voices for an entire podcast series (new series is in production).

Coached a senior BBC broadcast journalist through presenting a huge ten part podcast series.

Met strangers in cafes who've become friends.

Heck, I even gave a speech at my own wedding!

And I promise you, I haven't touched a single ankle for years, so

maybe it's finally time to retire that little word shy...

What redundant beliefs are lurking in your too-small socks?

Whip out your evidence and transform them into something that fits!

Even better, work with me

and we can send them off into the sunset together, and have a laugh along the way. I'll even be the ears for your next pitch if it helps? You'll find demos, here.

It's never 'just talking', it's all about that precious human connection.

That's my mantra as a voiceover artist, but it also applies to you, whether your pitching, writing or speaking at an event.

Oh, and the good news? The only ankle grabbing I do these days, is with my voice when you send me an arresting script!

Thanks for reading, l'll be back to fluff up your feathers again soon!