Are you dying to get out there?

If you consider yourself a “best kept secret” the answer is, most likely, NO...you are not dying to get out there.

On the contrary, those that identify as a “best kept secret” are more likely to think they’ll die if/when they put themselves out there!

Putting yourself out there is the equivalent of going for what you want, showing your work, letting go of control, asking for referrals, asking someone out on a date, and selling/pitching.
This is the vulnerable act of BEING OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

When you see yourself as a “best kept secret,” you spend more time THINKING about putting yourself out there than actually DOING it. 
After all, with intentional and consistent exposure over time, the best kept secret would quickly become a well-known business that is open for all to see and experience.

So what’s getting in the way of you illuminating your OPEN sign?
A lack of belief: in yourself, others, and in the Universe (possibility)?

It’s safer, and easier, to hide and assume you are the best, than to get out there and be seen.
Prioritizing safety, i.e., hiding, over self expression and exposure can become debilitating.
And yet, being a “best kept secret” protects you from being exposed to the perceived hypothetical pitfalls that can come with the responsibility of being OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

Here’s a list of common concerns that drive the desire to stay a “best kept secret”:

“What if I don’t actually like doing the work?”
“What if this isn’t want I want?”
“What if I am/it is not good enough?”
“I don’t know how to begin”
“What if I fail?”
“What if people criticize me/my work?”
“What if it’s not possible?”
“What if it’s bad?”
“What if I make a mistake?”
“What if it doesn’t sell?”
“What if people don’t like me?”
“What if it’s not perfect?”

We fantasize that a “best kept secret” is something special, a rare gem, someone modest, humble, and/or a diamond in the rough.
These are all misconceptions.
There is nothing positive about being a “best kept secret.” In fact, it’s selfish. People feel left out when they are on the outside of a secret.

And the idea of the best kept secret reinforces the scarcity mindset by perpetuating the notions of not enoughness, discrimination, and insufficiency.
Being a “best kept secret” is antithetical to generosity and masks insecurity with superiority.

Here is what you can do to break free from the best-kept-secret mental pitfalls (tried and tested by yours truly!): 
1. Take responsibly for your gifts and talents

2. Put yourself on the hook (tell people about your work #everydamnday)

3. Believe in your creativity

4. Believe that others want what you have to offer

5. Believe that what you seek is possible

6. Create a practice of creating, sharing, and making offers daily.



Is all that uncomfortable? Do it anyway.
The practice of sharing your work daily comes from commitment, dedication and planning.
When you wait for the "right" feeling to act, you place what matters most to you at the mercy of your emotions. By sharing your work (what matters most to you), you are inviting your muse in. You are accepting your emotions, embracing your desires, and creating a powerful practice of being truly open for business.

It’s time to retire your “best kept secret” hat and hang your OPEN FOR BUSINESS sign with generosity, courage, and commitment. 
The next time you catch yourself asking, “what if...?” answer your question.
When you leave it as a rhetorical question it becomes a statement instead of a question. Example: “what if I fail” becomes “I will fail” or “what if I’m not good enough” becomes “I’m not good enough”.

Keep answering the what if question until you get to the bottom of your fears. It might feel like a dark hole and that’s OK... You are shining a light on what's holding you back, and this light will eventually set you free.