Do you remember your favorite teacher from when you were in school? Or a teacher who could make a subject you usually didn't like come alive? Or better yet, a teacher who could break down a subject in a way that could make you understand even when others couldn't?

 

And they may have been saying the exact same thing or reading from the exact same textbook as all the other teachers who taught that subject, but for whatever reason you could just hear it better from them?

 

 

Someone out there needs to hear your area of expertise, but they need to hear it from you.

 

Even though there are already people who are saying some version of what you're saying, or doing some version of what you're doing, there are still people out there who still need to get the goods from you.

 

Why is that?

 

I can't explain it. Just like you can't explain how two cooks can follow the same recipe but turn out completely different dishes. Even though both taste good, one is crispier and you like it that way. But then if you ask someone else, they prefer it less crispy. It's all a matter of preference.

 

But my point is, you are someone's preference.

 

 

That's a part of why you have to package your genius - aside from the fact that it will call you until you answer it as I've said before.

 

But if you're one of those people who gets so caught up in what other people are doing, or the fact that the market is saturated, or there are so many coaches in this space, or there's already five other books out on my topic there's no point in me even getting in the game - you're hurting yourself because you're not expressing what you need to express, and you're hurting the people who need to hear it from you.

 

Now. There may be thousands of people who claim to do what you do, serve how you serve, support others how you support others.

 

But they aren't you.

 

They don't have your spirit. They don't have your story. They don't have your energy. They don't have your humor. They don't have your journey. They aren't from your hometown. They don't have whatever it is that gives you the power to connect with someone who may find themself on a similar path.

 

They aren't going to say it the way you'd say it.

 

They won't write it the way you'd write it.

 

They won't use the same analogies and metaphors.

 

And because they aren't you, your people may SEE the others in your field, but they won't be able to HEAR them.

 

It's about connection. It's about bringing your you-ness to the table so others can connect with what they need in you, and you can connect with what you need in them.

 

When you can truly understand this, you can stop wasting your time getting frustrated with why you can't land corporate clients but he seems to attract all the corporate clients. Or why the same people who read her book aren't flocking to read yours.

 

And another thing, I'll leave you with: you have to understand that some people have "mass appeal". Others are for a more discerning palate.

 

Both are great, both are necessary. Neither is better than the other. They're just different. Remember - it's a matter of preference.

 

So whether you find yourself in the category of being for the masses or being for the more discerning - it doesn't matter. Either way, you're for who you're for. Don't discount a smaller audience that may have a deeper connection to your work if you like to go deep.

 

Don't get discouraged when the masses seem to respond to someone who is saying a version of what you said six months ago, but they didn't want to hear it from you. You have to understand, they couldn't hear it from you. Who needed to hear it from you heard it, but those that couldn't hear it aren't your people. Your people caught it, digested it, and are waiting on your next insight, your next big idea, your next aha moment.

 

We have to learn to trust - and release comparison which I know is difficult to do in the age of social media - but we have to learn to trust that what we have to share is of value and can set someone else free if we give ourselves permission to give ourselves away.

 

Will you give yourself permission to give yourself away?

 

I sure hope so. It's so much more fun when you do, trust me.

 

If you're new to the podcast, I welcome you for coming on this journey with me. Don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen so we can reach more people like us.

 

I'm super excited to be hosting an opinion page editor for the New York Times for our Maximum Exposure PR mastermind this week. In addition to meeting with the mastermind students in our closed session, she's also agreed to answer a few questions for the podcast. I'm so excited.

 

If you have ever wanted to know what it takes to get your ideas published by a major outlet like the New York Times, email me your questions so I can ask her on the podcast. You can email your questions about op ed publishing to support (at) packageyourgeniusacademy (dot) com and I'll be sure to cover those when we do our interview.

 

***

 

Enrollment is open for the second cohort and we're getting excited. For our first cohort, we've landed media mentions in the Washington Post, WJLA, ABC, NBC, Fast Company, Washington Post Express, Fox, News Channel 8 in Washington, DC and more.

 

If you want to learn more about the ME program and how we help our students brainstorm story ideas, craft timely pitches and contact the media each month, visit the website and learn more and apply.

 

In closing, I hope what you've heard here today will set you free. I hope I've inspired you to stop over thinking it and finally package your genius.

 

Because someone needs to hear it from you.