{"id":10541,"date":"2025-11-05T16:44:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T22:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/?p=10541"},"modified":"2025-11-05T16:44:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T22:44:19","slug":"how-showing-up-even-when-youre-scared-builds-marketing-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/?p=10541","title":{"rendered":"How showing up \u2014 even when you\u2019re scared \u2014 builds marketing confidence"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Woman<\/div>\n

Author and professor Bren\u00e9 Brown once said, \u201cVulnerability is not winning or losing; it\u2019s having the courage to show up when you can\u2019t control the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

That quote sums up my journey. On the outside, I may seem like a confident speaker and author \u2014 but in truth, it\u2019s all built on vulnerability. Every time I publish an article, post on LinkedIn or step on a stage, I\u2019m opening myself up to judgment and hoping my message resonates.<\/p>\n

That same vulnerability runs through my work here on MarTech. This is my 47th column since 2021, covering everything from A\/B testing and AI to buyer psychology and smarter email programs. After nearly three decades in this industry, writing books, teaching courses and giving countless talks, you\u2019d think it would come naturally.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t. Even now, I feel that flicker of nerves when I hit \u201cpublish.\u201d Because being visible means exposing not just your ideas \u2014 but yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What does this have to do with marketing, automation or strategy? Everything. Because embracing vulnerability can make you not just a better marketer but a more confident leader.<\/p>\n

Finding my truth<\/h2>\n

When I was little, I used to hide behind my sister when we walked into a room so I wouldn\u2019t have to greet anyone. I was happiest when invisible. Even as an adult, my first networking events terrified me \u2014 my heart would race, my breath would shorten and I could barely get my words out.<\/p>\n

When I began writing and speaking publicly, I felt like that younger version of myself, walking into a room full of strangers. Only this time, I didn\u2019t have my sister to shield me.<\/p>\n

Ironically, I\u2019d once been comfortable performing on stage as a singer. But singing someone else\u2019s words is easy compared to sharing your own. Speaking your truth means being completely exposed \u2014 no script, no character, just you.<\/p>\n

Dig deeper: Why every marketer needs a \u2018do-not-do\u2019 list<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The turning point<\/h2>\n

I remember the presentation that changed everything for me. Until then, I was consumed with nerves \u2014 worrying about how I looked, how I sounded and what people would think. I was completely in my own head.<\/p>\n

Then one day, I realized something: this isn\u2019t about me. It\u2019s about my content, my message and the value I\u2019m sharing.<\/p>\n

I stopped focusing on my fears and started focusing on helping my audience \u2014 giving them something useful to take away. In an instant, my fear disappeared.<\/p>\n

From that moment on, I\u2019ve never felt a flutter of nerves before going on stage. Today, I genuinely love presenting. It\u2019s fun. My passion for what I do comes through \u2014 and audiences feel it. Passion is contagious. When you\u2019re truly connected to your message, it\u2019s less about performing and more about sharing energy and knowledge.<\/p>\n

Vulnerability is strength<\/h2>\n

Entrepreneurship has a way of forcing you out of hiding. When you\u2019ve always bootstrapped your business, the most cost-effective marketing strategy is to get out there and educate your audience yourself. That means showing up \u2014 again and again \u2014 even when it feels uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s tempting to believe vulnerability is weakness. But it\u2019s not \u2014 it\u2019s courage in action. Every time we show up, even when our voice quivers and our knees shake, we build strength, resilience and connection. It\u2019s also how you persuade people to believe in your vision.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s my message to marketers who want to drive change but need to win over a boss, a team or anyone standing in the way. You are the CEO of your work \u2014 no matter your title.<\/p>\n

If your company is like most, you have to fight for every scrap of funding \u2014 whether it\u2019s an extra team member, a better automation platform or just a share of your boss\u2019s attention. Maybe you\u2019re not used to advocating for yourself, or you hate being put on the spot. You\u2019re where I was before I changed my perspective. Now it\u2019s time for you to change yours, too.<\/p>\n

What helped me move past my vulnerability was faith in my knowledge, trust in my expertise and a sincere desire to help my audience succeed. You can build the same confidence by mastering your facts and framing them around how your proposal or project benefits your company. That\u2019s where true growth begins.<\/p>\n

Dig deeper: How un-marketing builds trust in a world of invasive advertising<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Stop hiding from your audience<\/h2>\n

Whether you want to build credibility for your own business or strengthen your email presence within your company, you need to give your audience a reason to believe in you. If that visibility terrifies you, start small \u2014 every small act builds confidence.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to begin on a conference stage or with a viral post. Start with a single LinkedIn comment in a group where influential people will see it. Add your perspective to someone else\u2019s post. Then share something of your own \u2014 a short story, a lesson learned or a question that invites discussion.<\/p>\n

To grow your program, begin by building a solid knowledge base that combines your experience with facts about your industry, your customers and your company\u2019s goals.<\/p>\n

As pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock once told new parents, \u201cTrust yourself. You know more than you think you do.\u201d That applies to marketing, too. You\u2019re the expert in the room.<\/p>\n

Request time with your chosen audience \u2014 host a lunch-and-learn or ask for a few minutes on the next leadership agenda. Frame your insights around the benchmarks that matter most to decision-makers. Don\u2019t fixate on the outcome. Have faith in yourself and your material \u2014 it will come through as authentic and powerful.<\/p>\n

Before you know it, you\u2019ll have a voice people recognize and trust \u2014 not because you were fearless but because you were brave enough to start. That\u2019s what vulnerability really is: the courage to show up even when you\u2019re scared.<\/p>\n

Courage starts with showing up<\/h2>\n

Today, my business requires me to film more videos. Each one \u2014 like every course, blog post or column \u2014 is another exercise in vulnerability. But I remind myself that visibility isn\u2019t about perfection; it\u2019s about connection and courage.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s my encouragement to you: be brave enough to be seen. Your words might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not sure where to start, start by learning. Take courses, read, ask questions, join conversations. Every new skill builds confidence \u2014 and every time you put yourself out there, it gets a little easier.<\/p>\n

Courage isn\u2019t something you\u2019re born with. It\u2019s something you build, one brave act at a time.<\/p>\n

Dig deeper: It\u2019s time for a better approach to change management in marketing<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Fuel up with free marketing insights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The post How showing up \u2014 even when you\u2019re scared \u2014 builds marketing confidence<\/a> appeared first on MarTech<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author and professor Bren\u00e9 Brown once said, \u201cVulnerability is not winning or losing; it\u2019s having the courage to show up when you can\u2019t control the outcome.\u201d That quote sums up my journey. On the outside, I may seem like a confident speaker and author \u2014 but in truth, it\u2019s all built on vulnerability. Every time … <\/p>\n

Read more “How showing up \u2014 even when you\u2019re scared \u2014 builds marketing confidence”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"medium":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"large":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"inspiro-featured-image":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"inspiro-loop":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"inspiro-loop@2x":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-thumbnail":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-thumbnail@2x":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-masonry":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-masonry@2x":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_cinema":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait@2x":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_square":["https:\/\/martech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ChatGPT-Image-woman-standing-on-stage-at-a-conference-about-to-begin-speaking-800x450.png",0,0,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10541\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/attentionmedia.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}