The Fear of Publicity

Like many of you I am a small business owner. I've been a professional auctioneer for 17 years and I am the director of Whisker City, a feline rescue organization. Both careers keep me very busy.

With the help of user friendly business tech tools and my association with some really cool people, I've been able to take do-it-yourself and multitasking to a new level. I produce audio trainings, video trainings and I have my own internet television show about to launch a second season. I'm writing a comprehensive how-to book and developing presentations for the speaking circuit. My good friend Eric Green suggested I get involved with the video revolution and join youtube. I fell in love with the technology and have over 100 videos on my auctionapril site. I am drawing remodeling plans to turn our barn into a video production studio so I can produce my television show from my home. We just closed on second house for the shelter and we are planning an auction to raise money for a new building.  I love learning new stuff and I especially love the independence of producing my own content at my own pace.

With all that said, the one area I have avoided is publicity. The idea of calling editors and producers and pitching my story is about as appealing as hemorrhoids.  To get those deciders interested, my story needs a hook--a revealing moment or span of time that exposes a poor choice or experience that readers, viewers and listeners will care about before they care about what I'm selling.  My current powerful and productive life isn't newsworthy with out the common denominator of human tragedy. As another mentioned, who wants to be a stupid pet trick?

The first time I heard about "my story selling" was from Eric Green. Eric is the founder of Gutz Social Media Marketing. He is a good looking and likeable Go-To guy for internet marketing. He knows my story and has tried to get me to tell it for years. I struggle with the connection between my story and my business. After 38 jobs over 42 years I am finally really good at something and I want to talk about the joy of my work. I don't want to rehash bad memories of dysfunction and destructive relationships. It is what it is and it's over.

I must admit that I do admire people that are able to move beyond shame to understanding. I am sure their examples have helped guide me and avoid further pitfalls. I also get that my life hasn't been so tough by comparison. I often wonder about all the people who play by the rules and are skilled at good choices and have no story to tell. Are they relegated to obscurity? A local personality tells of how he went from living in his car to hosting a TV show. Do we like him more because he lived in a car or because he is a good host? Would we care about Oprah, Roseanne or Louise Hay as much if they had not been pregnant as a teenager? Would Dr. Phil be as popular and trusted had his father not been an abusive alcoholic? Is Martha Stewart watched more today because of her incarceration?

I attended Nancy Juetten's PubliciTea yesterday. Nancy teaches do-it-yourself publicity. Nancy invited Susan Harrow to show us how to get on Oprah and engage with the Gods of Getting On - powerful producers and editors. It was a button pushing day. Emotions welled, tears perked and the ugly cry gripped my face further reinforcing my fear of publicity. I attended both the morning and afternoon seminars and let the information repeat and help disarm this phobia.

Like my friend Eric, both Susan and Nancy spoke of the importance of "my story" and in seeking publicity I need to be prepared to tell several stories. Then the story must be shortened to 30 second, 2 minute and 8 word sound bites so hosts like Pat Baccili of The Dr. Pat Show will find my story compelling for her listeners. Imagine that. Who cares about the details behind the headlines anyway? So here it goes.

How one right decision on one Sunday morning took April Brown from shame to fame.

Okay... I'm still working on it.