Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Embracing Vulnerability and Building Confidence in Public Speaking with Sara Lohse

Tim Newman [00:00:07]:
Welcome to Speaking with Confidence, a podcast that’s here to help you unlock the power of effective public speaking. I’m your host, Tim Newman, and I’m excited to take you on a journey to become a better public speaker. Our next guest should be familiar to everybody. She’s a storyteller, marketer, and brand architect with a knack for turning narratives into connections. Through favorite daughter media, she uses her passion and talent to help mission driven brands, amplify their impact, proving that authentic storytelling and strategic marketing go hand in hand. Sara is the host of the Branded podcast with Larry Roberts. Her book, Open This Book, The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders, is currently available on Amazon. Let’s welcome back Sara Lohse, our first return guest on podcast.

Tim Newman [00:00:47]:
Sara, welcome back.

Sara Lohse [00:00:49]:
Thanks so much for having me. Excited to be back.

Tim Newman [00:00:52]:
Well, you know, you and I have been working on a number of things, and I I thought this would be a a good time to, put it out there for for the community. And, hopefully, they’ll they’ll they’ll join me in this in in what I’m working on.

Sara Lohse [00:01:08]:
Yeah. I’m I’m so proud of what you’ve been doing, and it’s been a lot of fun to be part of it. So excited to talk about it.

Tim Newman [00:01:14]:
Well, well, let let’s let’s first talk a little bit about impostor syndrome and and what that does to people so so that people understand that, you know, the impostor syndrome happens to everybody. At at some point in their life, at some point in their career, you know, even, you know, highly successful people, have had those feelings at times.

Sara Lohse [00:01:38]:
Yeah. It is I mean, it’s followed me my whole career, and I say that. I know I know I look 15, so it doesn’t feel like it means much. But it really imposter syndrome is just that feeling that no matter what you accomplish, no matter where you are in your career, you don’t belong there. And you’re just constantly living with this almost anxiety that people are going to realize you’re a fraud.

Tim Newman [00:02:05]:
Yeah. And and how has that affected you? Give me an example because, you know, when I look at you, you know, and we talked about this when we first met. You know, one of the reasons why you and I connected was because of your age, and I really wanted to work with somebody who was who was accomplished, that was younger, who who really had a knack for things that I really had no idea about. So so talk about some of those things in in your career that that you’ve dealt with and how it made you feel and how you over overcame them.

Sara Lohse [00:02:37]:
Yeah. I mean, the overcoming part is something I’m still working on every day, and I know I’ll be working on that for the rest of my life probably. But I’ve I mean, I’ve been hit with it at almost every step of my career. When I first started, I was copywriter on that agency, and I was offered, a marketing manager position from a client. And the first thing that my president at the time said was, why would he want you? You’re just a copywriter. So I’m just smacked with like, okay. I have no credential. I’m just, this is who I am.

Sara Lohse [00:03:13]:
This is the role I’ve got, and here I will be forever. No no chance of moving into another role. And that stung a lot for kind of to see the value that she saw in me, which was very little. And I could have used that as, like, I guess, this is the best. Like, this is where I’m gonna stay, but instead, I quit and decided I was gonna find a company that valued me a little bit more, which meant I did take that position, and I became director of marketing for a financial advising firm, where then I’m 24 in a director position as a young woman in a man’s industry. So right out the gate, here’s some more imposter syndrome. I’m going to conferences where I don’t feel like I fit in. I I left a conference in a full panic attack.

Sara Lohse [00:04:09]:
I was having anxiety attacks in, like, Sam’s Club thinking about things that happened that day. And it’s just a constant feeling of just, like, why am I here? And why me? And do, like, kind of who the who do I think I am kind of feeling.

Tim Newman [00:04:26]:
Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:04:26]:
And it never it never does go away no matter how much you do accomplish. And I stayed in that for a for a couple years, but I kept feeling like I didn’t belong in the industry. So I left, and now I own my own company. And I’ve been working with a business coach who kinda called me out the other day because I said, I was feeling more of like a passion project. And he’s like, no. It’s a company.

Tim Newman [00:04:54]:
That’s a company.

Sara Lohse [00:04:55]:
You are a business owner. I’m like, no. Not a real one. It’s just a thing I do for fun. He’s like, does your income depend on it? Well, yes. But it’s just a thing I do. So even as a business owner, I don’t take myself. Like, I don’t consider myself a business owner.

Sara Lohse [00:05:11]:
So it’s it never goes away. It hits me every bangle, basically.

Tim Newman [00:05:16]:
You know, it’s it’s funny that you that you just said that because we haven’t we haven’t talked about that piece, that that, you know, that conversation. And, I have that conversation with myself all the time too. That that that conversation, it’s just it’s just the thing that I do. Yeah. Right? And and, again, to me, I for at least for me from that perspective, I don’t know that that’s impostor syndrome, but I do need to change my my thought process and my mentality. Right? Mhmm. I’ve got other other issues that I’m dealing with that that we’ll talk about here in a second. Yeah.

Tim Newman [00:05:55]:
But, you know, again, it doesn’t matter where you are in life that that you have those things. What what did you do or or what are some of the the strategies that you used to to get over the hump besides besides quitting your job and and just going for it? You know, in in the moment, you know, when you go when you go to these conferences, you know, we’ve talked to talked before about, you know, you just left in a panic attack. You know, how do you overcome that and the next time just get on with it and show the people that well, it’s not even showing the people. Showing yourself. Showing yourself that that you belong on the stage, that you that you are the business owner, that you are good at what you do, that you are an expert, that you are a thought leader, all those things that that you actually are.

Sara Lohse [00:06:44]:
It’s funny because there’s a quote. I think it was Groucho Marx, said I wouldn’t wanna be a member of any club that would have me. I feel like there’s so many things that I consider really impressive accomplishments until I do them. And it’s like, wow. Like, these people are, like, best selling, like, award winning authors. That’s amazing. And then I became one, and I’m like, oh, it’s just a thing people can do. This is it’s it’s not hard.

Sara Lohse [00:07:10]:
And yeah. And then I go to conferences, and when I first started going to conferences, I had never spoken at 1. And I would sit in the audience thinking, like, whoever this person on stages, this person holding a microphone, they must be the cat daddy of their industry. They must be at the top. They know what they’re doing. They are consummate professional. They are experts. I have to listen to this person.

Sara Lohse [00:07:37]:
This person has my respect. I’m gonna pay attention. I now speak at, like, 6 to 12 conferences a year, and I’m just like, oh, no. Someone just handed them a mic.

Tim Newman [00:07:48]:
Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:07:49]:
Because if I can do this, like, how hard is it? It’s like, how hard could it be boys do it?

Tim Newman [00:07:55]:
Right.

Sara Lohse [00:07:56]:
But they like, I suddenly like, I don’t see myself in the way that I see other people in my same position. And I think for me, one of the number one ways to battle imposter syndrome is just to identify it and to name it.

Tim Newman [00:08:14]:
Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:08:15]:
So I catch myself thinking these things, and I have to basically just reverse my own thinking. And it’s like, no. Like, I deserve to be on this stage. Like, I have something to teach. And just the same way that the people that I admired when I was sitting in the audience, I’m like, it’s the same. It’s just me this time. And I almost have to put myself back in the audience and be like, if I was one of them, what would I think of me? And it’s interesting because people have said, like, you you know, you’re supposed to spend the first few minutes of a presentation basically proving why you’re, like, you should be on stage. Like, no.

Sara Lohse [00:08:50]:
No. You proved that by getting put on stage.

Tim Newman [00:08:53]:
Exactly.

Sara Lohse [00:08:54]:
Like, you don’t just walk in, like, you get vetted. There’s a there’s a panel of people making these decisions. So, no, you don’t have to prove to the audience that you deserve to be up there. The fact that you’re up there proves it, but it’s still hard for me to see that for myself. So I’m trying every day. I’m working on it. I’m trying to reroute my thinking, but another thing I have found that’s really helpful is just having a network, like, surrounding yourself with people and surrounding yourself with people who are your number one fans.

Tim Newman [00:09:22]:
Yes.

Sara Lohse [00:09:23]:
Because we’re so supportive of other people. We’re not supportive of ourselves.

Tim Newman [00:09:28]:
Of ourselves. Right?

Sara Lohse [00:09:29]:
Yeah. So I’ll see people in my network. Some of them, I’ve never even met in person, but I’m their biggest cheerleader, and they’re mine. And I’m like, well, if they support me, they believe in what I’m doing, that makes me feel better. It makes me feel like, well, they see it, so it must be there even if I don’t see it. Right. So it’s like, kind of like treat yourself the way that you would treat others and try to see yourself in the way that these people that are your fans, that are your supporters, the way that they see you.

Tim Newman [00:10:00]:
Yeah. And and sometimes that’s hard. Right?

Sara Lohse [00:10:03]:
And Oh, it’s so hard.

Tim Newman [00:10:05]:
You know, when and you and I talked about this just yesterday. I’m very I’m good at at seeing that in other people and Mhmm. Getting them through that and and, you know, just moving them forward. But for for me, it’s it’s death. Oh, it’s Oh, yeah. It’s just not gonna happen. I mean, there’s you know, we no. We’re we’re I’m just gonna I’m not gonna do that.

Tim Newman [00:10:27]:
I’m just gonna stop here and, you know, I’ll I’ll I’ll find another way around it. Mhmm. You know? Because I tell people all the time, I’m really good at getting out of things that I don’t wanna do. I’m I’m one of the best. I you know, if I don’t wanna do it, I’ll find a way out of it. I’ll get somebody else to do it, you know, what whatever. But if I wanna do it, I’m I’m all in. Right? You know, I I whatever it takes to to get good at, to learn, you know, to to learn the craft, to to study, to do whatever, I’m all in on.

Tim Newman [00:10:59]:
But if I don’t wanna do something, I’m the exact opposite. And it’s Yeah. And it’s it’s nuts. It’s it’s it’s crazy.

Sara Lohse [00:11:07]:
It’s it’s hard to do the things that you’re not comfortable doing, especially Mhmm. In the positions that people like you and I are in. Like, if I’m trying to do something, I’m probably not trying to do something in the privacy of, like, an office. I’m doing it on camera. Right. I’m doing it on a podcast. I’m doing it on a stage. So we don’t have the grace of being able to fail privately.

Sara Lohse [00:11:34]:
And I so when I launched my business, my focus was podcast guesting. And I had been producing podcasts, I had seen the best and the worst guests, then I had come up with this, like, best practices and what it takes to be a great guest, and I wanted to teach it to people because I I thought podcasters deserve better guests. And when I launched that company, I was not a podcast guest. I was a producer. I was on the other side. And suddenly, like, to promote my business and to grow my brand, I had to start guessing on podcasts, and I was not good at it. I hated doing it. And it’s really hard to be trying to talk about the thing that you can teach and you’re an expert in when it’s not as easy to do it yourself, if that makes sense.

Sara Lohse [00:12:24]:
Mhmm. It’s like I guest on podcast talking about how to be a great guest, and if I’m not being a great guest, then I’m losing my credibility.

Tim Newman [00:12:30]:
Right.

Sara Lohse [00:12:31]:
But it’s like, no. I know what I’m talking about.

Tim Newman [00:12:34]:
And, you know, I I look at it like this. You if you if you look at at at the best athletes in the world, professional football players, baseball players, hockey players, basketball players, soccer I mean, pick something. Doesn’t really matter. The people that are coaching them are not very good at that sport.

Sara Lohse [00:12:51]:
Does it can’t do teach?

Tim Newman [00:12:52]:
Some of them may be good, but they’re good at teaching. They’re good they’re they’re good at at coaching. They’re good at at getting the best out of out of them doing whatever. Right? I mean, look at take Apple as a for example. Steve Jobs was not a computer guy. He was he was an idea marketing guy, and he hired those people and got the best out of them and and did those types of things. So, you know, why why would we expect ourselves, you know, especially in some of the things that we do, to be the best at something and never fail and to always have the, you know, the the the best performance, the best podcast, the best interview, you know, the best presentation, you know, the best written work, what what whatever it is. Why do we do that? Why do we expect that of ourselves?

Sara Lohse [00:13:47]:
Yeah. I mean, part of it is, like, when you’re talking about the thing you’re an expert in, you feel so much more pressure.

Tim Newman [00:13:53]:
Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:13:54]:
And I have found that just being transparent about it and basically just asking for grace has been the easiest way that I found to almost cope with it. So one of the first blogs that I had published, I actually ended up publishing it in my book. But one of the first blogs was a title, like, can you keep a secret? And I talked about how I’m guessing on podcast now because I I feel like it’s what I have to do Mhmm. In the role that I’m in, and I don’t think I’m good at it. I know the best practices. I know how to do it, but I’m not confident in my delivery. I’m not confident in how I speak and how I present myself, and I get, like, trip over my words, and I say, and like too much. Like, I’m just not comfortable doing this.

Sara Lohse [00:14:39]:
And this was years ago. Like, I’ve I’ve gotten more comfortable. I host a podcast now, but I had just started, and things take practice. So I had to say right there, like, I need y’all to give me some grace because I am learning as I go as well. I know the principles. It’s the practice that’s the difficult part. And I, like, invite you to come along with me as I learn and that as I get better and watch my progress. And, like, let’s do this together.

Sara Lohse [00:15:07]:
Like, I can help you with it too. And just publishing that made me feel better. And, like, it made me feel like it was less pressure because I publicly acknowledged, like, I know I’m not crushing this, but I know how I could.

Tim Newman [00:15:23]:
Right.

Sara Lohse [00:15:23]:
I just have to follow my own advice, and I’m working on it.

Tim Newman [00:15:30]:
And you’re great. I think you’re great.

Sara Lohse [00:15:32]:
I mean Oh, thanks. That was, like, 2 years ago. You know? I’ve done it I’ve done it a few times since.

Tim Newman [00:15:37]:
So we met, like, at right just the right time then. You know? Right right as you started getting great. Right? When you stop being a just a copywriter and and start being great at other things. Right?

Sara Lohse [00:15:47]:
Love the character development.

Tim Newman [00:15:49]:
You know, for for me, and and, again, you and I have been have been working together for for a little bit, and we’ve been talking about this. And I pitched my I pitched myself to a major podcaster to be a guest on their on their show. And he asked for some things. I gave it to him. And he came back and he said, well, you know, you you you gave me a lot of information, but I want you to break it down into the one thing that you’ve mastered and you’re an expert at. And my reply to them was, well, I didn’t I haven’t mastered anything and I’m not an expert in anything. That was my response. And so, you know, we when when we when we’re in charge of promoting ourselves, we we don’t do a good job because of these other feelings.

Tim Newman [00:16:38]:
And and for for we we have to the only way to get it for me, I I think in one of the ways that I coach people to do it is, number 1, you have to trust in yourself. You’re there for a reason. You have these these opportunities for a reason. Embrace it and do it like you said. Have the grace. Get over it. Do it, and do it, and do it, and do it. And I think one of my strengths overall in in my entire life has been my work ethic and my my preparation.

Tim Newman [00:17:08]:
I prepare. I mean, I’m I’m you know, it’s hours hours of research and and, you know, how how am I gonna make this interview different than, you know, interviews that this person has done on the last 10 podcasts that they’ve been on in the last 5 weeks. You know, how what what information am I gonna be able to drag out of this person that can make people wanna come listen to my podcast as opposed to somebody else. Right? And so that’s kind of what I what I pitched to him. And I got something back. He said that’s a great idea. So so kind of thinking thinking that through and and and hopefully other people that are listening to this can can grab something from that as well. As as we get ready to start talking about what you and I are actually working on, to to get better.

Sara Lohse [00:18:01]:
And I love that you said that you’re not an expert in anything, but then you just explain what you do because you just, in my opinion, define yourself as an expert. So I I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what it meant to be an expert. It was something I had I had to do it for my book. I have a whole chapter in it, and I just really wanted to understand what exactly it meant to be an expert. And I couldn’t figure it out because I there were so many definitions of expert and what it takes to be 1, and none of them are resonating with me. And expert is kind of this term that it’s it can change its subjective. So I didn’t need to find one exact like, just go into the dictionary and, like, that is the definition. Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:18:53]:
I wanted one that made more sense to me and that resonated with me. And it was actually Emily Crookston. She is the, pocket PhD. I found a blog she had written that I ended up, quoting into my book. And she talked about experts as people who are just endlessly curious. People who are like, if you’re if you think that you know everything about a topic, you’re not an expert. Mhmm. And you’re probably really annoying at parties.

Sara Lohse [00:19:26]:
But if you’re just endlessly curious about something, I consider you an expert in that because you are actively trying to learn more, and you are aware that you don’t know everything, and that with every answer that you uncover, you’re gonna also uncover, like, 3 new questions. But you’re always looking for those answers, so you are continuously learning about whatever that topic is. So you said, I’m not an expert in anything, but but then you said, like, I do all of this research, and I’m always learning about it. I consider you an expert. I I’m an expert in storytelling. Do I know everything? Absolutely not. But do I spend all of my time telling stories Yeah. And dissecting stories and stories and listening to people tell stories and trying to understand what made their story great and what made the story not good? I’m endlessly curious about it, and that is why I understand it as well as I do.

Sara Lohse [00:20:26]:
And you’re constantly learning about great ways to be a speaker and all what it takes and all of that, so you are an expert in that.

Tim Newman [00:20:34]:
I I appreciate that. I I do, and and, you know, the, you know, as pretty much I spent my my entire career, you know, as an educator in in helping people become better better communicators. Whether Mhmm. It, you know, it doesn’t really matter what what industry it is. You know, if you’re not if you can’t communicate with people, you’re not gonna be successful. That doesn’t matter. It it just doesn’t matter. And and it seems to me that that things have gotten worse, you know, with with the younger generations.

Tim Newman [00:21:07]:
I’m I’m saying your generation, but you’re you obviously don’t really have that that that issue. Right? Yeah. But but you’ve dealt with people, and the way that they communicate or or lack of communication, is is limited to them. And they’re only gonna be able to go so far. And so when when I started this podcast this is this is my second podcast. I’ve got another one that I do. It’s golf related and I take it just as seriously as this, but it’s a this one’s fun too, but that that’s really fun. It’s it’s a it’s a it’s more of a fun topic and

Sara Lohse [00:21:45]:
Yeah. That’s your hobby show.

Tim Newman [00:21:47]:
It’s yeah. It’s my hobby. But when I when I started this podcast, it was, you know, there’s no way we’re I’m being on camera because the other one’s on camera. You know, I’ve got I’ve got the the face for radio and the voice for silent movies, and nobody really wants to hear what I’ve gotta say anyway. I mean and and I’ve told you that. Right? Mhmm. And, you know, we’ve had we’ve had that that conversation.

Sara Lohse [00:22:12]:
And I’ve talked to.

Tim Newman [00:22:14]:
This is the this will be the first podcast that goes out that’s on video. Yeah. So we’re we’re, you know, the kinda like the movie What About Bob? We’re baby stepping. We’re doing the work. Right? And, you know, we we’ve got plans to do a bunch of other things. And we talked yesterday about I’m putting out, you know, minute to minute 22nd videos on speaking topics.

Sara Lohse [00:22:42]:
Mhmm.

Tim Newman [00:22:42]:
And that was that’s kinda what led into us deciding to have this conversation today. And why why don’t you share what your thoughts were for everybody?

Sara Lohse [00:22:53]:
Yeah. I said it very nicely. First of all, I wanna make that clear.

Tim Newman [00:22:59]:
I cried. I cried. You cried.

Sara Lohse [00:23:03]:
Your wife is so cute. She’s just, like, he seems to be a bit speechless. That’s hard that’s hard to happen. I’m like, no. It happens every time I talk to him. But now you challenged yourself to put out these minute long videos on social, like, every day. And are they perfect? No. But I’m so proud of you for doing it, because I know that is a big challenge for you.

Tim Newman [00:23:29]:
Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:23:30]:
And it’s just like when I was a guest on podcast talking about, here’s how to be a great podcaster. You have so much pressure on you when you’re doing these because it’s like you talk about speaking with confidence and how to be a great speaker, a great presenter. And now you’re on camera trying to talk about it and be it at the same time, on a completely new media. Mhmm. And that is not easy. Like, every medium is different. And, like, being on a podcast, being on stage, being on video, all of these things are different experiences and a different skill sets. And you are putting yourself out there to do it just to, a, get information out that’s helpful, and, b, challenge yourself to do something new and try that new media and get better at it.

Sara Lohse [00:24:24]:
But I can watch those videos and see where, like, okay. I would have done that differently. Like, he probably shouldn’t have done that. And it’s interesting for me because I know you’re watching it doing the same thing.

Tim Newman [00:24:35]:
Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:24:37]:
Because you know what you’re doing. You know how to teach what you’re doing and how to explain it, but doing it under that pressure is a different experience, and it’s harder. And one of your things, like, you talked about, you you prepare. You are a preparer. And I think that was the the feedback I gave you about your most recent one was you prepared too much. It’s sound scripted, and you’re like, there’s a reason for that. I’m like, I know because you wrote a script. Right.

Sara Lohse [00:25:07]:
Can’t get anything past me, but it was scripted, and you can tell. And at one point, you put in the script, like, oh, heck. But you said it, like, oh, heck. Like, okay. But where’s where where’s the personality? Like Right. Did you put an exclamation point or a period in the script? And it’s because you’re just you’re reading the script, and it was a period. Yeah. You need to add an exclamation point.

Sara Lohse [00:25:30]:
But it’s like you need to read it the way that you would say it or just not read it at all, And I know you know that. Right. I know I’m not giving you information that is news, but it’s harder to do it when you’re in that pressure situation. And I even told you, like, you should go back and pull some of those old videos and critique yourself publicly. Like, say, okay. Here’s what I did wrong. Here’s what you should have done if you were me. And because it’s just acknowledging that, like, you know you’re not perfect, but you still know what you’re doing.

Sara Lohse [00:26:02]:
You just don’t know what you’re talking about. Right. And that’s the important part.

Tim Newman [00:26:06]:
And to kinda put it in perspective, and I don’t know if you know this or not, but I would say 2 months ago, I couldn’t take a selfie. Mhmm. Because I I I never know where to look. You know? Mhmm. You look here. You look there. I mean, where’s how do you, you know, how do you frame it up? And so, you know, when when I’m doing these videos now, number 1, I’m just proud of myself that I’m I’m somewhat in the frame. Yeah.

Tim Newman [00:26:34]:
It’s getting better. I mean, it’s Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:26:36]:
I I I fixed it.

Tim Newman [00:26:37]:
I’m I’m hitting the record button Mhmm. And I’m I’m actually looking at the camera. So that in and of itself is is a is a huge, you know, learning curve for me. And, you know, it’s the it’s the feel feel uncomfortable in the camera. Even, like, even right here. You know, I’ve done a lot of online teaching with with the, you know, with with the camera zoom and and and those types of things. And that that’s okay. But to learn to even when I’m when I’m teaching, like, if I’m teaching, I may look at my notes here, but now I’m there’s not I have no notes.

Tim Newman [00:27:19]:
I’m just talking to you and make making sure that I’m comfortable in looking at at the camera as opposed to looking at you over here on the screen. And that it’s it’s those those those types of of keys that that are important. Yes. I know to do that and to teach people to do that. But then, me doing it, it’s something that that I don’t necessarily think about as we’re as we’re really in the moment.

Sara Lohse [00:27:46]:
Yeah. It’s learning a completely different medium, and it’s hard to do, but the point is that you’re trying. And like like you said, like, you came from, like, I can’t take a selfie to I’m putting out daily videos. And I think a lot of the times we let perfection get in the way of something great. There’s a book that I always recommend to everyone. It’s called Show Your Work by Austin Kleon. And if we’re not showing our work, if we’re not do like, showing people what we’re doing, why are we doing it?

Tim Newman [00:28:20]:
Right.

Sara Lohse [00:28:21]:
So you’re publicly just allowing people to see your journey and see, basically, you teaching yourself what you teach other people.

Tim Newman [00:28:29]:
Mhmm. And I

Sara Lohse [00:28:30]:
think that’s really cool. And I’ve always been the kind of person that, like, I’ll fail publicly. If, like, our podcast, we put out we leave our bloopers in because, yes, we’re professionals at this. We run a podcast company. We produce podcasts for other people, but that we’re still people. We still mess up. We still say the wrong thing. We still start laughing and forget how to stop and have to retake an entire scene well, set segment.

Sara Lohse [00:28:59]:
I don’t know. Segment. But it’s it’s just showing that we’re people and that, like, this is what it would be like to work with us, and that’s that’s fun. That’s us. And we want people to work with us because of who we are and because they know, like, okay. They’re not gonna be the tyrants to work with. They’re not gonna be the ones that make us feel dumb if we mess up because we’re gonna also mess up. Yeah.

Sara Lohse [00:29:22]:
And having that, like, I mean, it takes, like, bravery to put that stuff out into the world and show people, like, social media is all about highlight reels, but instead, we’re showing our blooper reels. And it’s something that you have to be willing to do, and I love that it’s something that you are doing.

Tim Newman [00:29:40]:
Yeah.

Sara Lohse [00:29:41]:
And I I’m excited for, like, to see how much they improve, and I hope that people are watching them and seeing that too and taking the advice at face value whether you’ve, like, look comfortable on the camera or not. Because you’re gonna get more comfortable. Nobody starts out there for everyone’s first podcast interview is a train wreck.

Tim Newman [00:30:03]:
Yeah.

Sara Lohse [00:30:04]:
If you go back to the first episode of any podcast, it’s probably a train wreck.

Tim Newman [00:30:09]:
Not not good. Right?

Sara Lohse [00:30:10]:
Yeah. Like, it is embarrassing. And my first podcast interview was on one of the biggest finance shows in the country. That’s not how you’re supposed to start. No. You’re supposed to start on the shows and, like, no one listens to. So you can practice.

Tim Newman [00:30:24]:
Right.

Sara Lohse [00:30:24]:
But when we do practice things publicly, people get to see us starting out as crap, but they also get to see that we are willing to learn and willing to improve.

Tim Newman [00:30:38]:
Right. As as as long as you’re willing to do that. As long as you’re willing to to to do the work and and and and put forth that effort. That’s that’s the that’s the other key that that most people have to understand. You can know you can know that you’re not good at something, but if you want, the only way to get good at it is to continue doing it, continue practicing, you know, doing the things that you need to do to to be getting better. So so so really just kinda keep that in mind. And and, you know, for me, you know, I tell people these things all the time. You know you know, what’s holding you back from you know, you need to do this.

Tim Newman [00:31:16]:
What’s holding you back? Let’s let’s let’s find a way to to get you to start doing it. And, you know, I’d say probably for the last 5 or 6 years for myself, I haven’t been doing those things. And so it’s another good kick in the pants to you know what? I need to get I need to get back to doing the things that I I know that need to be done to to getting better at at my craft. Right? You know, whether it’s whether it’s teaching, whether it’s podcasting, whether it’s, guesting, whether it’s, you know, now it’s when now it’s doing these doing these 1 minute videos, but now content that hopefully are helping people.

Sara Lohse [00:31:55]:
Yeah. I am a huge victim of the do as I say, not as I do, mentality on accident. Because I don’t do the things for me that I know I should because I’m busy doing them for my clients or teaching other people how to do it. And that makes it a big challenge to prove things because I’d be like, oh, so you like like, how do you promote podcast on social? I’m like, cool. Well, don’t look at mine because I’m not doing it well. But if you look at my clients, they’re crushing it. Like, go go look at this social media. Don’t look at mine.

Sara Lohse [00:32:32]:
Mine doesn’t exist. Just pretend it’s pretend it’s not there, but go look at my clients.

Tim Newman [00:32:36]:
My hobby is not

Sara Lohse [00:32:37]:
really Yeah. This is just this is just my little passion project. Because it’s like, I could spend the time doing this stuff for me, but I’m not paying myself. So I’d rather spend time on projects that I’m get making money for. And that’s not the best mindset to have because I have to have all of this in place to prove that I know what I’m doing, that I’m doing it well. But then I just don’t, because there’s not enough time in the day.

Tim Newman [00:33:04]:
But you’re still pretty good at it. You’re still I mean, just say yes. Just say yes.

Sara Lohse [00:33:12]:
I’m good at it. I just don’t do it for myself.

Tim Newman [00:33:19]:
Well, you told me yesterday when we when we talked that when I when I do my walk to to you you gave me a a tip Oh,

Sara Lohse [00:33:26]:
I gave you homework.

Tim Newman [00:33:27]:
Yeah. And, so I’m gonna give you I’m gonna give you that homework for you. You start doing something similar or or that’s where that’s in those same lines so that you can do what you need.

Sara Lohse [00:33:41]:
Actually posting to my own social media? Yeah.

Tim Newman [00:33:44]:
Yeah. Yeah.

Sara Lohse [00:33:44]:
I know I should. But no. Let’s talk about that homework because anyone that’s listening, it’s a great exercise for them as well. I assigned you when you go on walks, whether it’s, like, just walking around your neighborhood, walking through a park, walking on a treadmill, or even if you’re if you’re driving, just doing something kind of mindless. Open up your voice memos, and just start talking. Because it’s one of the things that I have found the most challenging with this whole content creation world is talking to nobody.

Tim Newman [00:34:20]:
Right.

Sara Lohse [00:34:21]:
And when we’re talking on just like you’re making those 1 minute videos or, like, if I try to make, like, a TikTok, I feel so stupid, because I’m not talking to anybody. I’m just talking to a phone, or I’m talking to a camera, I’m talking to myself, and I feel so stupid. So we have to get used to just talking to nobody, and you had scripted these videos, like, word for word, even though you already know it. You don’t have to write it down. You know what you wanna say. You know the information. You know how to talk about it. Mhmm.

Sara Lohse [00:35:01]:
But you feel weird doing it in front of a camera.

Tim Newman [00:35:04]:
Yes.

Sara Lohse [00:35:05]:
So if you just you’re walking around your neighborhood for half an hour, spend that entire half an hour just talking about the topic that you’re going to be making that video on, because you’re going to uncover new thoughts, because you just have to fill that time. And you’re going to be so used to just having those conversations. You’re gonna be so used to just talking about that topic that when you do pull up that video and you have one minute, you’re just like, alright. Screw the script. Like, I wanna make sure I say this because I said it before. It was so good. I got this. You won’t need the script anymore, and you’ll feel so much more comfortable just talking.

Sara Lohse [00:35:46]:
So now everyone has homework.

Tim Newman [00:35:48]:
Get it done? Mhmm. So so when I when I walked this morning, it was raining, so I did not bring my phone in the rain. But tomorrow, it I’ve got I’ll be in the car for, like, 10 hours. So we’ll have we’ll have something in 10 hours. We’ll we’ll we’ll see see what it turns out to be.

Sara Lohse [00:36:05]:
Yeah. And if you send me a 10 hour recording and tell me to

Tim Newman [00:36:08]:
Well, you’re not listening.

Sara Lohse [00:36:09]:
Edit it, I’m not gonna do that.

Tim Newman [00:36:10]:
Nobody’s listening.

Sara Lohse [00:36:11]:
Just a heads up.

Tim Newman [00:36:13]:
Yeah. Nobody’s listening to that. And the the only other thing I I I want to to challenge everybody on is to to start doing the things that make you uncomfortable. Yep. Come come along with us on this and and find something that, you know, you you know that you need to be doing and get outside that comfort zone and just just start doing work. Start baby stepping. Start putting yourself out there. If it’s if it’s public public speaking and and you’re in a team meeting, ask a question.

Tim Newman [00:36:47]:
Give your thoughts because, again, they hired you for a reason. They didn’t hire you to to warm the chair. They hired you because you’re qualified to be there. They want your input. They want your your insight. If you’re giving a presentation, they they ask you to present because they wanna hear what you have to say. So it’s it’s okay to to to feel like you belong and just start doing those those types of things.

Sara Lohse [00:37:13]:
Yeah. No. I think that’s I think that’s great advice, and I would just add to it. Like, when we’re doing these things, like, everyone else around us is doing something that makes them uncomfortable. And I think we lose sight of that, and we think, like, I’m the only one trying to do this. I’m the only one who doesn’t know exactly what I’m doing. Right. Because news flash, none of us know what we’re doing.

Sara Lohse [00:37:39]:
Like, life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. We’re all just doing our best, and it’s okay if that’s all you’re doing too. And just don’t feel like you need everything to be perfect, and, like, look back, like, the one minute videos that Tim’s been putting out. Go watch them and, like, take in that information, but also pick out the things that you would do differently.

Tim Newman [00:38:05]:
Right.

Sara Lohse [00:38:07]:
And then make your own video. Like, do challenge yourself to do the things that other people are doing, but do it in your own way. Because I think we also have that challenge of, like, well, I don’t have any like, what original thing can I do? Doesn’t have to be original. Nothing is original any like, anymore. We’re out of ideas.

Tim Newman [00:38:25]:
You’re absolutely So

Sara Lohse [00:38:26]:
we’re remaking every Disney movie. Mhmm. We’re out of ideas. So find something that someone else is doing. Find work that you admire. Find things that you respect and just copy it. Steal like an artist, another Austin Kleon book. Find the pieces that inspire you and do it your own way.

Sara Lohse [00:38:46]:
Put your own spin on it. It’s a lot easier to create content based on something else than to just start from 0.

Tim Newman [00:38:55]:
And make it yours.

Sara Lohse [00:38:56]:
Mhmm.

Tim Newman [00:38:57]:
Do it

Sara Lohse [00:38:57]:
your way.

Tim Newman [00:38:58]:
Again, like you said, make make put put your your spin on it so that, you know, put put your your personality into your your your your flare, because that’s really when people look at that or or learn from that. That’s what they’re learning from. Learning from from you. They’re buying you and and and the way that you present it.

Sara Lohse [00:39:19]:
Mhmm.

Tim Newman [00:39:19]:
You know? Yeah. Well, Sara, thank you so much for coming on again. The first repeat guest in in in history. Tell everybody Making history. About your book because, again, we used to want people to buy the book and where they could find you and listen to your podcast and all the other good things that you’re doing.

Sara Lohse [00:39:39]:
Yeah. Well, my book is called Open This Book, The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders. It’s a guide for anyone that wants to be a better communicator, because the number one way to communicate with people and actually connect with them, on so many different levels is through stories. So if you wanna learn how to tell your story, how to find your story, how to figure out what the hell your story is supposed to be, you can grab my book. Go to open this book.com. And while you’re there, you’ll find links to my podcast called Branded, links to all my socials to see that I’m not doing anything on social media. And, feel free to reach out and get in touch with me. I’d love to hear from you.

Tim Newman [00:40:19]:
Well, again, Sara, thank you thank you so much, and you and I will be talking again real soon. And I’m sorry. What what you didn’t mention is you got 3 big presentations coming up this coming week at a major conference, and I know you’re gonna do great.

Sara Lohse [00:40:33]:
Thank you.

Tim Newman [00:40:34]:
Be sure to visit speaking with confidence podcast.com to join our growing community and register for the appointment for public speaking course. Always remember, your voice has the power to change the world. We’ll talk to you next time. Take care.