23/05/2022
I started speaking publicly at least 20 years ago from small groups in my home church to Nsukka High School boarding house.
It continued till the days of my campus fellowship, NYSC, and about 3 years in radio.
In fact, since November 2020, there is hardly any Sunday I don't stand to lead a Bible study group in my church.
So typically, you will expect that I am not 'people shy' and should do videos easily.
But that's not the case.
I am so camera shy. I even no like to dey show my face for camera at events.
But why?
What if I am not looking well when I was captured?
So, with the emergence of video as a major format for content distribution, my camera shyness kept me from embracing it.
I would rather do a podcast than a 1 minute video. I mean, I have 120+ podcasts on with over 1.5+ million cumulative downloads.
As I geared up for sharing video, I bought a phone with Camera spec in mind.
Then came the next hurdle: how am I supposed to keep my face? Should I shave or go with my favourite bushy hair? Which part of my apartment is suitable for the video? How do I even make a point in less than 60 sec?
Well, all of that worry vanished about two weeks ago while I was gisting with MaKams in my sitting room. I launched my Instagram app at that moment, raised my index finger to signal silence and talked for 15 sec and shared.
Thereafter, I spent the next couple of minutes worrying how I had disgraced my ancestors with the video. 🤣
Then came the first reaction, the next and I became relaxed and switched from wondering whether it's a flop to wishing more people would see it.
Ever since, I have shared at least three videos online.
While reflecting on this recently, a lesson struck me: the first step is often the hardest to take because of fear of the unknown and self doubt, but once you step out, subsequent steps become a lot easier.
I found that with the first step comes the evaporation of the fear, giving way for confidence to do better. With little results comes the energy to forge ahead despite challenges ahead.
Nwanne, step out today; no dull yourself and deny us your awesomeness.