One thing I have been learning on my own journey as a business owner, is not caring too much what others think of you.
Focusing on what others think of you can cripple you and your business, and cause you to make some really bad decisions.
For example, the most successful Paparazzi consultants go live regularly.
So when I talk with consultants who AREN’T going live, that is the first thing I recommend.
Even though I can show data about the effectiveness of live sales, some consultants are still resistant to the idea.
When I start to dig, and figure out “Why are you resistant to live sales?” The answer almost always comes back as some version of “I am afraid,” or “I don’t think I will do a good job,” or “people won’t like me.”
When you did into all of these reasons, the root cause of all these reasons is “Caring what people think about you.”
It comes down to being afraid to be embarrassed, or that people won’t like you, or they won’t like the way you are doing things.
These fear of other people can cripple you and your business, and cause to you to make bad decisions regarding your business.
Now, I want to be clear, there are times when you want to take into consideration how people “think” of you.
Proverbs 22:1 says “A good name is more desirable than great riches,” and I agree with that.
In some areas, what people think is very important.
For example, it is very important to me that myself and my business have a good reputation in ethical and moral areas.
I do not want to be known as a cheat, I do not want people to think I steal, etc. In those ethical and moral areas, it is very important to me what people think.
But in areas of just “self-consciousness”–your appearance, your actions, the way you carry yourself–it is best to not care at all what people think, and just be yourself.
When you are self-conscious about the way you look and the way you act, your actions reflect that self-consciousness.
If you think you are “awkward” on camera, you being to become awkward on camera.
The most comfortable looking people on camera, are those who have stopped thinking about if they are awkward or not, and have just decided they are going to be themselves, and not care what people think.
Another great way to grow your Paparazzi business is by talking with strangers.
But again, when I ask people why they don’t talk with strangers about their jewelry, it usually boils down to “I will be embarrassed.”
This is yet another example of caring what people think about you blocking you from achieving your goals.
Not only does this improve your presence on camera, open you up to speaking with strangers, and open up new areas of your business, but it makes you free as a person.
Some people are so wrapped up in what people think about them, that they are suffocated really from doing anything in their life.
How to stop caring what people think
There are a couple of things you can do if you struggle caring too much what people think about you.
First off, realize the truth that most people don’t think about you.
I remember one day when I was in high school, I had a huge zit on my face. I wanted to skip school (what is more traumatic in high school than a zit on your face?)
I thought “Everyone will think negatively about me!”
I explained my reasoning to my mom, and that I “had to skip school that day.”
Fortunately, I had a good mother, so she wouldn’t let me stay home. I went through the entire day self-conscious, and trying to cover the affected area of my face.
At the end of the day, I asked one of my friends (who I had spent the whole day with), “isn’t this zit awful?!?” And he replied “what zit? Oh, I didn’t even notice.”
What that taught me, is that I had created a story in my head.
That everyone was looking at me, and that everyone would notice and think negatively about me.
But it was not a true story at all. In reality, everyone is too focused on their OWN faults to even notice most of yours.
Conclusion
I hope this is helpful in getting you over your fear of “what other people think of you.”
What areas of your life and business do you see the fear of what other people think holding you back?
