It was one year ago last month that Now Hear This was promoting the latest single from recording artist client Natalie Duque. She’d put out a song called “Imposter,” which is based on Imposter Syndrome and was timed for release then because of the lead up to May being Mental Health Awareness Month.
This is about the time you see a courageous sole (or two or ten) putting up a social media post revealing that they’re actually not doing well, despite what Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and/or Snapchat might otherwise imply.
It’s tough to be vulnerable like that. I know because I recently posted a picture myself that I really struggled with just because of being so self-conscious of having my shirt off and not liking what I see. Yuck. But something has really made an impact on me over the last year or so where the awareness of people struggling but keeping quiet is very much on my radar, my mind, my heart, and so on.
To that end, I refer you back to the final blog for 2021 that I’d published on this site, entitled, “Be Careful with Your No,” in which I reminded the reader that you never know what someone might be going through.
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Someone that I used to work for once said, “I ask for so little and I receive even less.” Sadly, I’ve really started to have quite a strong connection to that.
As someone who for 18 years now has managed and promoted indie artists (and other clients), I’m used to always propping up and supporting people in the industry who I form a connection with. The guests on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast become more than just interviewees to me. I consider our recorded conversation to be the foundation for building a relationship.
I go to people’s shows. I meet them for breakfast or lunch. I follow and engage with them on social media. I offer them a helping hand, whether that’s a media interview I can get them or a performance opportunity or connecting them with someone I feel can help them. I do it all because it’s just in my nature and I really feel we all need to be helping each other.
But I’m here at this virtual meeting to stand up and say, “Hi, I’m Bruce, and I’m secretly carrying around a LOT of disappointment.”
When people post on social media that they’re here in my area but they don’t contact me to see each other or I contact them to try to initiate it, only to get no response, it hurts. Similarly, when I send word saying I’m coming to their city but there’s no response or I get an answer that feels weak, it honestly does wear on me. Sadly, it forces me to wonder if people only want to know me when I can do something for them.
I ask for so little, but I receive even less.
Today is only May 9th, which means there are still more than three weeks left in the month. Watch and see how many times you notice something about Mental Health Awareness Month. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you’re being too focused on receiving instead of giving. Do a self-audit about your communications skills. Practice the Golden Rule whether it’s personal or business. Stand out for all the right reasons, not the bad impression you make on people.
And then let me know, where and when can we meet?
I have been running Now Hear This, Inc. for 18 years now and would love to talk about providing services for you. Or, if you simply need a one-on-one online video consultation to talk about something that’s challenging you in your indie creator career, book a session now and let’s get online together to work through that and keep you moving forward.