\n\t\t Entrepreneur \t<\/p>\n
\n\tThis article is part of the America’s Favorite Mom & Pop Shops series. Read more stories<\/p>\n
Lynn Smith, former NBC and CNN anchor and founder of Lynn Smith Media, never imagined her fear of public speaking would one day become the foundation of her business. But after mastering the art of public speaking and overcoming her internal critic, Smith leveraged her professional expertise and personal experience to help small business owners and executives confidently connect with their audience and unlock growth in the process.<\/p>\n
Despite spending over 15 years as a news anchor, Smith had a crippling fear of public speaking and was constantly held back by what she calls the \u201cbrain bully\u201d. \u201cIt\u2019s that voice in your head that\u2019s saying, Nobody wants to hear from you<\/i>, or You\u2019re gonna screw this up<\/i>,\u201d Smith says.<\/p>\n
Related: He Lost His Job and Quickly Started a Side Hustle \u2014 Now This \u2018Queer Eye\u2019 Star Heads Up a Major Brand<\/b><\/p>\n
Using this idea of beating your internal bully, she now teaches business leaders how to quiet that self-doubt and communicate with clarity, confidence and presence.<\/p>\n
Smith pointed out that many businesses often focus on product, ad placement and distribution but overlook articulating their message \u2014 and lose money by doing so. Many business owners fall into one of two traps: overpacking communications with scripted language that sounds robotic, or underpreparing and rambling.<\/p>\n
The solution isn\u2019t to memorize or improvise; it\u2019s to develop the skill of being a magnetic communicator. To stand out to your audience, Smith suggests you need more than just clarity. You need presence and visibility. That means showing up with confidence and intention. She calls it being a \u201cmagnetic communicator.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about showing up; it\u2019s about making sure when you do show up, that it\u2019s magnetic,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd that\u2019s 100% a learned skill.\u201d<\/p>\n
Related: These Restaurateurs Relied on One Tactic to Help Them Tackle Their \u2018Most Ambitious Challenge Yet\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n
Presence extends beyond the stage or screen. Smith emphasized that how business owners respond to feedback or handle a brand crisis can make or break customer trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you say no comment, in the viewer\u2019s mind \u2014 whether that viewer is watching television or on the internet reading the review \u2014 they\u2019ve decided that clearly there\u2019s guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rather than letting others shape the story, Smith suggested that a response to critical feedback can actually turn a review into an opportunity to build credibility and a reason someone chooses to work with your business.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a crisis happens, acknowledge what it is, acknowledge the feedback,\u201d she says. \u201cCommunicate what you plan to do about that. Take any responsibility that you might have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Related: She Started a Business That Broke the Mold for NYC Caf\u00e9s \u2014 And Grew It Into a Multi-City Brand<\/b><\/p>\n
In terms of branding, Smith also recognizes the trust and value that can be built through strategic choices that align with your target audience. Smith recently rebranded her own company, shifting from a pink-heavy color palette to bold blue and yellow tones that better engage her audience of enterprise companies and entrepreneurs. She encourages other entrepreneurs to revisit their branding as they grow, and not to be afraid of strategic change.<\/p>\n
She also offered advice for small business owners looking to pitch themselves to the media: Tie your story to a relevant news topic, keep your pitch short and include video clips so producers can see how you\u2019ll come across on camera.<\/p>\n
\u201cFind a topic that\u2019s already being talked about in the news, and provide the expertise,\u201d she says. \u201cYou become the subject matter expert in it. And in that pitch, start with a powerful headline or subject line that gets their attention and makes them want to open it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her newest venture, a children\u2019s book titled Just Keep Going<\/i>, teaches kids how to manage fear and build confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are actual physical techniques that we can teach children to ease their anxieties around fear,\u201d Smith says. \u201cWe can raise the next generation of confident and magnetic communicators and leaders because they\u2019re not hindered by these fears.\u201d<\/p>\n
Related: This Venezuelan Entrepreneur Craved His Favorite Comfort Food \u2013 So He Started a Business Selling It<\/b><\/p>\n
After turning a personal fear into a thriving business, Smith\u2019s advice for entrepreneurs is clear:<\/p>\n
Watch the episode above to hear directly from Smith, and subscribe to <\/i>Behind the Review for more from new business owners and reviewers every Wednesday.<\/i><\/p>\n
Editorial contributions by Candy Vorasadhit<\/i><\/p>\n
This article is part of our ongoing America\u2019s Favorite Mom & Pop Shops\u00ae series highlighting family-owned and operated businesses.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Lynn Smith, former NBC and CNN anchor and founder of Lynn Smith Media, never imagined her fear of public speaking would one day become the foundation of her business. But after mastering the art of public speaking and overcoming her internal critic, Smith leveraged her professional expertise and personal experience to help small business owners and executives confidently connect with their audience and unlock growth in the process.<\/p>\n Despite spending over 15 years as a news anchor, Smith had a crippling fear of public speaking and was constantly held back by what she calls the \u201cbrain bully\u201d. \u201cIt\u2019s that voice in your head that\u2019s saying, Nobody wants to hear from you<\/i>, or You\u2019re gonna screw this up<\/i>,\u201d Smith says.<\/p>\nKey Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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