Owning Your Own Video Confidence

There are two reasons why you’re holding back…

Published in

Marketing And Growth Hacking

5 min readApr 29, 2018

I’ve been there. I didn’t like the camera — I didn’t like how I sounded until I realised that to the rest of the world my Aussie accent is pleasing to the ears. Now, I’m scared of losing that accent through excessive traveling. When I first started, video made me self-conscious of how I look. So, I began to study body language and to use fashion to help visually present myself. Even my glasses are a contributing factor for people to watch my videos on LinkedIn’s newsfeed.

But even with those insecurities, I never questioned my knowledge or my skills as a communicator. 4 years ago, I first began my hyper-focus on video — because I realised it was the future of marketing (and I was right). Video is a scalable way of amplifying and sharing your message. Since then my confidence has grown, and I have become a better presenter and communicator. I gained business because of my video communication skills.

I became even more fearless when I began to believe in myself. Sounds super corny, right?

There’s a reason I say that.. conviction comes from confidence. It shows on camera, we sparkle when we’re talking about the things we’re passionate about. In the B2B world, professionals care about the numbers and the value you provide. Your knowledge and how you can help improve their business is what they want to hear. They want to listen to domain experts.

Link to full LinkedIn post here

It’s true, people need to realise that the problem isn’t with the camera or lack of skills, it’s with themselves. I must confess, I don’t have a degree in video. Instead I have mad skills in being creative and I do love telling stories. I want to share the latest cool geeky stuff about the future of tech and marketing.

Video is a great amplifier, it amplifies when it comes to people who utterly believes in what they do. I look at Oprah and Tony Robbins and I’m inspired by them.

You’re expecting how to develop your video skillset. Instead, I’m going to give you life skills on developing your confidence and self-esteem.Video skills is something that comes later, you should focus on You.

Here is a list of tactics that will help YOU build your camera presence:

Be part of the #wakeupchallenge: it started off as a dare during a LinkedIn Local meetup at San Diego. I said “First thing in the morning, make a video. Anything after that will always be better”.
Write a list of what you’re strengths are — what’s awesome about you?
Use the list above and give yourself a morning mirror pep talk. Say to yourself “You have amazing skills in eating fried chicken”.
Stop listening to NAYsayers, by the way, we actually have internal naysayer in us. Stop listening to them. Publicly, we’re not meant to be popular with everyone. Be okay with being likable to a few key people that care about you and what you have to say. Does it matter if only 10 or 1million will listen?
Dance silently in the middle of the street, if you can do this — camera is even less scary. Join #DancingDiana and create a dance with her.
Go out and present, what the difference between public speaking and video speaking?
When someone compliments you: smile and accept it gracefully. It’s okay to say “thank you”
If you’re starting out, then do the Gary Vee thing, and document your learning and failings.
Go on Instagram Stories and create short daily vlogs, you can follow my American journey here (instagram.com/stringstory)
Don’t stop with one video — a personal brand is a daily grind. I create content every day. I did this for 4 years. Practice makes perfect.

Every day, my LinkedIn inbox gets filled with messages about how to start with video. I’m going to send this very link — and ask them: “Do you believe in yourself and what you do?”

The goal is to wake yourself up, go deeper, question yourself; why do you want to do video? Are you ready to level up and share a part of yourself to the world? Do you love yourself.

It’s not about being egotistical. I’m not saying to cultivate your ego and develop arrogance. I want to see a confidence that comes from within and hear what you have to say about business and your life. LinkedIn is all about personal development and business chat.

I’m looking forward to hearing your stories about dancing, and how you’re singing serenades to yourself. Or share your lists of awesomeness with me.

It’s a process and part of your journey to be the best version of you.I know I’m a working progress and every day, I think about how to contribute back.

Love from SF,
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The best chicken this month was in San Mateo, a place called Three.