Why I Wrote “You Want Me to What? Public Relations and Marketing for the Shy Person”

Posted on Jun 29, 2010 | 0 comments

When I accepted my first marketing job well over a decade ago, I immediately hit the bookstores to educate myself. Just reading through the titles, made me want to drop the books and run from the store. There were two problems with this, however. I’m painfully shy. I don’t really like to draw any unnecessary attention to myself so throwing books was out of the question (and that just seems such a rude gesture toward the Barnes and Noble employees). And running, well, I don’t run (although I can break out into a brisk walk). So, what I did was quickly tuck the guerrilla marketing books back in their places and went home empty handed wondering why I had entered a profession so ill-suited to my personality.

Determined to excel, I attended numerous trainings across the nation, yet still harbored concerns. From a girl so painfully shy I didn’t speak until my teen years (even though I’d held jobs from a very young age, running a CocaRola game full-time at the age of eight and washing dishes on the midnight shift at a local truck stop, often falling asleep while bent over the then seemingly tall sink with my nose encased in soap bubbles by age 11) to a professional expected to be pushy and loud was just unthinkable. So I looked at my goals and decided to achieve these quietly and with the utmost integrity. What did I find on my journey? Success and marketing awards while staying true to myself and my core values.

I didn’t “shift my paradigm,” “get out of my comfort zone” or “synch my synergy” because frankly, life is too short. I have a serious heart condition and just want to be me for every wonderful day I have to live: shy, results-oriented, joyful. I increased profits 300% within nine months at a Girl Scout retail store, increased revenue from $250,000 to about $500,000 within four years at an educational institution among other endeavors all while being true to my core values. I know there are other shy people out there who seek success in marketing and public relations. If you know how to channel it, being shy is not detrimental; it is actually an asset.

Even if you’re not shy, I recommend reading “You Want Me to What? Public Relations and Marketing for the Shy Person.” Ok, yes, I recommend it because I wrote it; that’s true. But, it’s a quick read and marketing is shifting. It’s shifting to more personal connections. Traditional advertising isn’t nearly as effective as it once was between overly busy schedules and the advent of the likes of TiVo. “You Want Me to What?” is about building those human connections in a way that is comfortable and effective.

It works for me; I bet it can work for you too. Please remember comments are always appreciated. Thanks and best wishes, my friend.