When I first stepped into public speaking, my nerves nearly got the better of me. I spent years safe behind a keyboard, convinced my words sounded better on paper.

Being seen, really seen, felt like exposure, not opportunity.

But everything changed when I took a few seconds of courage to face my fears and stepped on stage.

In part two of this visibility series, I open up about my journey from being a terrified public speaker to becoming one of the top 100 speakers in the world.

You don’t need fancy gear or flawless delivery. You need your voice, your story, and a willingness to show up.

This episode is for every spiritual entrepreneur who wants to share their message on video but finds fear creeping in the moment the camera turns on.

• Why most “camera ready” advice misses the point for a spiritual entrepreneur
• How to get past the fear that being visible online is “unsafe” or risky?
• What’s the real reason you keep playing small (even when I know I need to show up)?
• How small steps can build confidence, even if you’re terrified to start?
• How to reframe visibility so it feels meaningful rather than self-promotion.

If you’ve been holding back because of nerves, old scripts, or just not feeling “ready,” this episode is for you.

• You don’t show up to be liked; you show up to be of service
• Simple, short videos build intimacy and trust faster than polished productions
• Your message isn’t for everyone, but it is for someone, and they need to hear it

1. Fear should not dominate your life. Fear robs you of free will.
2. People resonate with people, not with a brand or a logo.
3. Visibility will always feel like a risk instead of an opportunity unless you reframe that thinking.

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Marisa Shadrick [00:00:00]:A lot of people try to help entrepreneurs or personal brands with being camera ready by talking about equipment and lighting and transcripts, but, really, the issue can be often deeper. Coming from someone who was afraid of public speaking, I understand the struggle. Being visible, sharing your opinions, talking about a concept can be scary, and that’s what we’re gonna talk about in this podcast episode so you can become more visible and begin to share your message with the audience that needs to hear it. Stay tuned. Hey there. Thanks for joining me for this podcast episode, embracing Visibility as a Spiritual Entrepreneur. I’m Marisa Shadrick your host. I’m an AI marketing strategist and certified copywriter, and this topic is near and dear to my heart because I had a huge case of fear of public speaking.

Marisa Shadrick [00:00:58]:And it wasn’t until, well, some years back that I realized I had to overcome it. Now I was in ministry for many, many years, and it was okay to do some speaking here and there with a small group, because, after all, it was within a church, and so they’re supposed to love you anyway regardless of how bad or how good it was. Right? So you felt safe there. But outside of that, I wanted to be able to communicate better, not just in writing, but in public speaking. And I knew that this was a hindrance for me. So I joined Toastmasters, and it was very agonizing and painful going through all of that, trying to muster up enough nerve to just give my opening speech, which is usually a topic about yourself. Just tell us who you are and where you live and your family. It’s supposed to be very simple, but I struggled with it.

Marisa Shadrick [00:01:48]:And so I spent quite a number of years in Toastmaster trying to build up my confidence and figure out why do I have this, like, allergic reaction to public speaking. It was so hard for me. And it wasn’t, until a few years in that I realized it really is a skill. It’s a skill that you need to develop. And the more I learned about public speaking, I learned about techniques, it became easier. And the more I found content that I was really passionate about to talk about, it became easier. And I realized that the feedback I was getting was very positive, and so that was very validating as well. But it wasn’t until my club that I was in started really nudging me to compete that everything hit the fan, so to speak.

Marisa Shadrick [00:02:38]:They wanted me to compete, and I did little competitions. Like, I did a humorous competition, and I think I won an award for that. I didn’t go very far in it. And then they wanted to be me to do another competition, and I thought, okay. I’ll just do that one. And then they wanted me to enter the international speech competition. I thought they were crazy. So I decided, well, it’s time.

Marisa Shadrick [00:03:00]:I’ve been in this group for a long time, and so I need to put everything that I’ve learned into this and just see what happens. You know? If I bomb out, then I don’t have to go to the next level, because there were numerous levels that you had to win before you were in the semi final finals. And I never thought I would be in the semifinals. I just wanted to do it, get it out of the way, get some practice, and I started winning. And lo and behold, you know, I ended up winning the, district championship. I went to the semifinals. I was speaking at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Never thought I would do that, and it was an amazing experience.

Marisa Shadrick [00:03:43]:And I discovered something about myself, really. I was becoming the person that I was supposed to be, not this imposter with all these, limiting beliefs. I was evolving and becoming who I was supposed to be. And so even though I didn’t win the entire competition, like the world championship, I was one of the top hundred speakers in the world that year. And it really shows us, all of us, that whatever the obstacle is, we can overcome it, not overnight, of course. But most of the things that we need to develop for having an online business are skill sets, and those you can learn. And oftentimes with journaling and just really reflection, you can see where the bottleneck is, and you could begin to focus on those things. Now, I have a ministry background, so oftentimes I look and I reflect a lot, and I look at things that just shouldn’t be there just because of who I am as a Christian person.

Marisa Shadrick [00:04:47]:And I realized fear should not dominate my life. Fear robs me of free will. Fear will take over and make all the decisions for me, and I didn’t want that either. And fear is just ugly. It’s not of God. And I said, I don’t want this. And so I was on this quest to overcome those things that may be very fearful. So in this podcast episode and I kind of give you that to kind of give you context for this episode.

Marisa Shadrick [00:05:11]:It’s probably nothing you haven’t heard before. It’s more of a reminder. Because in today, in marketing online, if you’re a personal brand, we really need to show up more. I mean, it’s critical. It’s it’s what it is. Right? It is what it is. I have a friend, Michelle Raymond, that she is just a sweetheart that I really love. She is a LinkedIn expert.

Marisa Shadrick [00:05:33]:And I worked with her on my LinkedIn platform, and she said, Marissa, you’re posting all the time. You’re posting every day, except the weekend. Right? You’re posting great content. You’re developing, you know, you’re writing voice, and you’re posting newsletters, and images, and a mixture of things, but I don’t see you anywhere. Where are you? Where is Marissa? She said, you’re hiding. I can’t see you. You need to be visible so people get to know you, and hear you, and are able to see your personality. Why aren’t you on video? And I went, Michelle, really? Do I really need to do this? Still, after all this time and after everything I went through, I had to do some soul searching.

Marisa Shadrick [00:06:19]:And I really didn’t want to be on video because I didn’t want, again, the same limiting beliefs. You know, what do people say? I’m not one of these young people on video. I don’t wanna do all that postproduction work on the videos. Even those little minute and a half clips, they have all this post production stuff. I don’t wanna do that. I have to put my makeup on. Ugh. You know? And I gave all these excuses, but it really was fear creeping in.

Marisa Shadrick [00:06:45]:And so I accepted that challenge, and I decided I need to be on video more. And it’s interesting that video content just attracts, and I was able to get clients through it. Now I’m not gonna say directly from the video, because oftentimes, I don’t even give a call to action on these videos I’m doing, and they’re just a minute and a half. But I’m starting to realize that people just wanna hear the person. So people wanna hear you. They wanna hear your opinion. They want to see you, and then not in a polished format with all of the mistakes and everything else. They want to see the human being because pea people resonate.

Marisa Shadrick [00:07:29]:See, I just made a mistake right there. But that’s okay. I’m gonna leave it in there just to prove to you. People resonate with people, not with a brand, not with a logo. And so when we show up genuinely speaking to our audience, and just sharing what we’ve discovered, what we’ve learned, our challenges, we don’t have to give, you know, our whole personal history. That can be overboard. Right? But if we’re just real with them, and we just share some of our struggles, some of the the things, maybe something that’s working really well, or something that you found really easy to do, that maybe they can do too, that’s valuable content. You don’t have to be the all in all, all knowing person.

Marisa Shadrick [00:08:09]:You could just be sharing your journey. And that felt more comfortable, because I didn’t want to show up, like, do as I do. Right? Because everybody’s business is different, and everybody needs a different strategy. I I couldn’t do that to people, because I don’t know what their business is, or how long they’ve been in business, or if they’re startups, or, you know, seasoned. But sharing some insights of what I’m discovering, or what I’m doing, or, you know, some of the things I’m gonna try and test, and maybe it’ll fail, maybe it’ll succeed, those things resonate with people. And so I started doing that, and I’ve noticed some great results. So I’ve got some notes here. I’m gonna cover three tips here.

Marisa Shadrick [00:08:50]:Redefining visibility, especially for spiritual entrepreneurs. And the reason I say this is because oftentimes, people that come from a ministry background, there’s some kind of transformative message, mindset, some kind of life change that they’re offering, those intangibles, finding your purpose, that kind of thing. And oftentimes, we can feel more vulnerable being ourselves, because visibility isn’t just about being on camera. It’s about sharing your thoughts and your beliefs and your convictions in public, and that could be super darn scary. And it means letting people hear what you actually think, and knowing that they might disagree or misunderstand or judge you. Now that’s probably one of the things that makes me really nervous that I would be misunderstood. Because sometimes when I speak, I take shortcuts, and I don’t, like, elaborate on something that I’m saying. And so sometimes when I do shortcuts, people can misunderstand what I’m saying.

Marisa Shadrick [00:09:54]:And so I have to be really careful that I don’t offend someone, and that’s probably still one of my greatest fears that I don’t offend anyone. But we we have to step forward and develop the skill for the sake of others. And so redefining visibility means visibility isn’t about becoming a performer or creating a persona. It’s just being yourself. And when they begin to hear that authenticity, when they begin to see that you have integrity, then they’re going to realize even if you make an oops, oh, but she would never mean it that way. Right? Because they get to know you. And visibility equals intimacy with your audience. Yes.

Marisa Shadrick [00:10:39]:There is a deeper level of intimacy when you’re on video. So it’s really helpful to connect, which is what we’re trying to do online is to connect with our audience. And that’s why we feel so vulnerable, but that’s exactly why it’s so effective. So two edged sword. Right? It’s effective, but we feel vulnerable, and you can’t have one without the other. Number two, why visibility feels unsafe even when it’s a strategic way to market. And remember, marketing is all about building trust. I don’t care what people say.

Marisa Shadrick [00:11:13]:Doesn’t matter if it’s a blog post, if it’s a video, any kind of marketing you’re doing. You’re trying to develop some kind of trust. Right? Because if they don’t trust you, know you, like you, they’re not gonna keep following you. They’re not gonna keep listening. So everything that we’re creating as far as quote unquote marketing, is we’re trying to develop that trust with people. And I think video is a great way to do that. So, number two, why visibility feels unsafe. Being seen can activate our nervous system, our responses to freeze, to stop, to retreat, to run, because we’re trying to stay safe.

Marisa Shadrick [00:11:48]:So it can trigger that where we start getting cold sweat. I know when I was trying trying to do that speech competition, step on stage, my palms would get all sweaty, and I’d have to just say, you know, I’m not doing it for me. I’m doing it for the people that are gonna be listening to this in the audience. I’m doing it for them because someone needs to hear this message. And so I would just step on that stage knowing it wasn’t about me, it was about serving the audience. So just know that being seen can trigger, your body to want to freeze or stop or retreat, but that’s normal. And pretty soon, that will change to more of an excitement. It does take time.

Marisa Shadrick [00:12:30]:It doesn’t happen overnight. And again, on top of that, you may be playing those internal scripts, like being visible is dangerous. You know, you have to be careful what it is that you’re saying to yourself. Like, I’m gonna bomb. I’m gonna forget my lines. This is not safe. People are gonna judge me. You got to stop that.

Marisa Shadrick [00:12:49]:Stop it, because that’s gonna just make things worse. And then when you you do start speaking, you’re not going to be fully present. It’s not gonna be you. It’s gonna be the scared side of you. It’s not gonna be you. And so, all of those things that we keep thinking, we have to stop for a minute, and we have to take whatever it is that we’re thinking about, and change it and align it to truth. And that’s how I got over that is I had to align it to truth. What is the truth? Because that was a lie.

Marisa Shadrick [00:13:22]:A lot of the things that were going through my head was a lie. So you have to look at that that way and stop and take captive that thought, and figure out what is the truth about this, and then anchor yourself on that truth. And this is especially true for people who’ve been taught to be quiet. And that could be a result of society, of culture, of upbringing, could be all kinds of reasons where we’re taught to be quiet. So we have to realize, you know, what’s triggering this for me? Is it something in my past? Is it something that I’m just imagining and trying to unpack that and figure that out? And for spiritual entrepreneurs, it could hit even harder because of spiritual upbringing, which I touched on that in part one of this two part episode series. So if you missed part one of this two part series, you might wanna go back and listen to that. We’re often not selling the widgets and the gadgets and the tactics. We’re sharing insights, wisdom, lived experience, which means we’re becoming more vulnerable with our audience, and that could be scary.

Marisa Shadrick [00:14:36]:And because it matters so deeply to us, it’s very personal. That’s why showing up on camera or on stage can feel like walking into a spotlight without armor, because it’s so personal. It’s so important to us. Right? It’s important, and we’ve dedicated our life to do this. And so that’s why it feels so risky as well. Okay. Number three. Let me give you some tips on how you can create a safety net when it comes to public speaking, so that you can begin to develop the skill without freaking out.

Marisa Shadrick [00:15:12]:Okay? So the first thing is that whenever you’re creating videos, you can always record the video first. And if you don’t like it, you can delete it. Especially, like, the minute and a half videos that I do on LinkedIn, I can record them, and if I totally blunder the thing, because I usually just shoot it off the cuff and I don’t really prepare a full script. I just it’s only a minute and a half, and sometimes it’s a minute. You can record if you don’t like it, and you can delete it. So you can start by just recording. Right? Recording. If you’re doing some type of course, you can record it, you can edit it, you can modify it, you could throw some overlay over it, you know, where you can have some b roll or some kind of image that you show in it, so that you’re not all, you know, face to camera.

Marisa Shadrick [00:16:00]:So there’s things that you can do with recorded video. And then, once you have the recorded videos, and you do short videos, you can do maybe a live, and to get used to it. Right? And after you do a live, maybe you can do interviews. Maybe you can go on podcasts and do some interviews. Nowadays, a lot of them are video and audio. You can begin to get used to that. Right? Speaking on your feet and just being able to answer questions. Then maybe you could do a workshop.

Marisa Shadrick [00:16:31]:You can host a workshop and begin to notice how each time you’re growing and it’s more content that you’re providing. So from the workshop, then maybe you can create a keynote, and you begin to build on the skills that you’ve already established. But you can start with a really, really short recorded video and then go from there. So visibility will always feel like a risk instead of an opportunity unless you reframe that thinking. I’ll say that again. Visibility will always feel like a risk and not an opportunity until you reframe the thinking. You don’t show up to be liked. I hate to tell you that.

Marisa Shadrick [00:17:10]:You don’t show up to be liked. You show up to be of service. You don’t show up to be liked. You show up to be of service. Your story isn’t for everyone. So it’s not gonna land for everyone, but it’s for someone. So we need to think about that. The story, the message that we’re sharing, it’s not gonna be for everyone, and that’s okay.

Marisa Shadrick [00:17:30]:That’s a good thing. But it is for someone, and that someone deserves to hear what you have to say. And visibility that creates engagement is the result of alignment, not algorithms. So I’ll say that again. Visibility that creates engagement is a result of alignment and not algorithms. So I have some reflection questions for you so that you can consider, you know, if you’re hesitant and you’re not creating videos and you feel a little stuck there, here’s a question you can ask yourself. If I believe that being seen was part of my service, I’d stop blank and begin sharing blank. So what would that be for you? If I believe that being seen was part of my service or my contribution, I’d stop blank and begin sharing blank.

Marisa Shadrick [00:18:20]:Here are some examples. If I believe that being seen was part of my service, I’d stop withholding my story and begin sharing those moments to help others. Or I’d stop softening my opinion, and begin sharing what I really believe about healing, about growth, about vision, about goals, whatever the case may be. Or I’d stop filtering my content, and begin sharing my lived experience as a guide. Right? As a mentor. Or I’d stop downplaying my offers, and begin sharing how I can actually help people, and the value that your offers bring. Or I’d stop minimizing the depth of my work, and begin sharing what truly happens when people work with me. And you can confidently begin to share case studies.

Marisa Shadrick [00:19:20]:So video is very, very effective. And if you’re not using video right now, just know that it is a skill set that you can develop, and you can start with a safety net and create short recorded videos. And that way, you feel a little more confident, and you’ll begin to grow. Those little videos will help you build those skills that you need. So here are some last thoughts. There’s a reason visibility feels like a stretch, because it’s not about attention. It’s about obedience and vulnerability. That’s why it feels so difficult to do it.

Marisa Shadrick [00:19:56]:When you choose to show up fully, it’s not to spotlight yourself. You’re making yourself available. You’re thinking beyond your fear and choosing to serve others, and that’s pretty powerful. Being seen is an act of generosity. It says, I’m willing to be known so others can find their way. You’re not waiting to feel safe. You’re being faithful to the message you’ve been entrusted with, and that takes courage. It’s the kind of courage that’s willing to be misunderstood, rejected, or to even be a little bit uncomfortable.

Marisa Shadrick [00:20:38]:And finally, when you’re on video, it’s not about self promotion, because I hear that a lot. It’s really about stepping into your leadership, because out there, there’s someone who is waiting to hear your message. So it really is an opportunity to serve and be available to others. So I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode. And if you did, I’d love a rating and review. I’d really appreciate it. And if you haven’t tried videos yet, I would encourage you to do that. It’s very different than just audio, and it’s very different than written.

Marisa Shadrick [00:21:12]:Gives people an opportunity to get to know you. And you’re a wonderful person. You’re a beautiful person. Why not? You know? And a minute and a half is nothing. You can even do a minute if you like. If you feel more comfortable with a minute, do a minute, and you can get started. It’s prerecorded, very safe. And unless you like it, it will not go online.

Marisa Shadrick [00:21:30]:And if you feel comfortable with it, you can put it online. And I’d love for you to tag me too on LinkedIn. Tag me and let me see your videos. I’d love to share it with my community as well. So until next time, take care. Bye bye.