Meet Amanda and Nathan
We're Every Further Mile!
We love to combine local and international travel to inspire families to do the same. We've spent too much time in front of the TV and decided to make changes that allowed us to instead make memories that will last a lifetime.
JOIN US ON OUR JOURNEY!
The best place to see what we're up to is on our Youtube channel.
How many times do we sit down to write content or copy and draw a blank? We look for ways to learn about what struggles our audience have and use this to try to connect with them only to have it fall flat.
Sometimes we get it right. We feel them and know those struggles well, but other times it doesn’t connect.
There’s something missing.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to know your audience inside and out, but nothing can prepare you better for real connection with them than vulnerability.
Online marketers often talk about being authentic in business. While this encompasses many aspects like embracing your own personality, being honest and trustworthy, and being open about your struggles, I think it all boils down to the need for vulnerability.
Brene Brown is an expert on this subject and talks about how vulnerability is important for learning and connection. She claims, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of connection.”
Being vulnerable is “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.” True connection happens when we are emotionally vulnerable with others.
Be Yourself.
When working with my clients, I have seen a trend in struggling to be themselves around others, especially new people. I regularly worked with groups of nearly complete strangers and each new group started in silence. They were terrified to meet new people, but after doing some games and having group discussion which opened people up, created moments of vulnerability, many in the group began to connect. It was one of the most effective aspects of these groups.
While working 1:1 with a client, I wanted to know why they were struggling to approach new people. I asked if when they were with friends and family, were they also quiet or more animated and open. Their response, as I suspected, was that they were more animated and open, but with strangers they worried that their style of humor wouldn’t connect. That they would think she was weird.
‘Aha!’
I have found myself describing my character to others as ‘weird’ all the time. It’s like I just want to be upfront about it. Like I’m preparing the people around me for my quirks. It helps me feel more comfortable in being myself…to show my true character.
I find the best ‘aha moments’ when I’m able to see struggle in others and relate it to my own self reflection.
What I heard here…people inherently worry that others will think we’re weird. That’s what makes us uncomfortable and uneasy when meeting new people.
Will they accept my brand of weird?
But what is weird? At the root of it, weird = our unique personality. We are afraid of exposing our true selves in fear of being seen as strange. It keeps us closed off, quiet, careful.
But when we meet someone that is confident in themselves enough to show their ‘weird’ we are put at ease. We connect better. It’s why I talk openly with each of my groups about my weird traits; I joke, make animated hand gestures, own up to foibles and mistakes… because they need, and I need, to see that weird is okay. That everyone makes mistakes, not to fear them and that being yourself will help you be your best self.
Vulnerability is being open with your uniqueness/weirdness; open about fears and mistakes. It’s about being your authentic self.
Being vulnerable builds connection which builds trust.
Now that we’ve established this, it’s time to look at how vulnerability can be the difference between great content and content that falls flat.
You want to build trust with your community? You want an audience that connects with you and your message? Then you’ll have to learn to be vulnerable.
Commit to more self reflection. Consider your fears, you’re disappointments, what makes you excited, what captures your attention, what makes your heart soar or makes your heart plummet. Reflect on what is true for you and use this knowledge to connect with others.
The more you reflect, the more inspiration you’ll get for good vulnerable content.
Then go out and get to know what’s in the minds of your audience. What thoughts and feelings can you connect with? Where have you also felt what they felt, thought what they thought? With this knowledge, you can truly connect to not just have great content, but to really start changing lives.
We want people’s lives to change for the better, so we need to create great content because great content perks up ears, makes people sit up and listen.
For this to truly work, you need to be prepared at all times. There is a limit to how open and vulnerable we can be with ourselves, so always have something for taking notes when the moment hits.
When inspiration hits… write it down. Don’t miss those opportunities to write something that will inspire you and others.
If you haven’t ever watched Brene Brown’s talk on vulnerability, do it today.
But first!
Grab a piece of paper or, better yet, a small writing book that you can keep with you and start the process now.
Be self aware: What makes you worry? What brings you joy? What thoughts run through your head when you’re scared? Thoughts when you’re happy?
You are not the only one with these feelings and thoughts. Use this self-reflection to really get into the minds of your audience and deliver great content.
