So the other day, I got an email in my inbox from the editor at Adorn Jewelry (spelled jewellery in London, I guess). She was writing to let me know that my jewelry line, AnneyFriday, would be featured in the next week’s blog. You can see the write up here if you’re interested…and really, you should check it out. ;-)

The thing is, I think it’s exciting, every time my designs are featured in the press. But this time was a bit different for me – they contacted me! She also let me know it was a big week – London Fashion week to be exact – which meant lots more traffic, even more exciting.

But here’s the thing, I had to put myself out there in the first place.

I know firsthand how terrifying that can be. Five years ago when I launched AnneyFriday, I was faced with an incredible amount of fear that frankly, caught me off guard. I mean, I’d been making jewelry for as long as I can remember and never questioned my designs or my style. So why was I freaked out about putting it out there? I always got great feedback and compliments… Maybe it was because I had just spent the previous decade in professional financial services. Or maybe it was because I was doing something completely new and unknown to me (launching a business I knew nothing about in an industry I knew nothing about), or maybe it was just because I didn’t know any better than not to care what other people thought about my career change. None of those fears really matter in the end…I moved forward and did it anyway.

Be it for business, like pitching media publications and facing rejection from potential clients or simply trying something new, like a new recipe or exercise class, trusting your intuition and putting yourself out there can lead to a new world of possibilities. For me, it was trusting that others might find these mosaics were as awesome as I did when I found my first one, then following through to bring them through the production process. This last piece of press has already lead to more (press, business and possibilities), and who knows where else it will go.

You don’t know what putting yourself out there will lead to…

And it can be really exciting. Just go for it.

How are you putting yourself out there? Or are you holding yourself back from putting yourself out there based on fear? What have you done that seemed completely crazy to you, but really paid off? Or did you just flop? If so, did you learn anything from the process? Would love your feedback, as always. ;-)