Wednesday Wisdom: Step into the Limelight

Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Media Advice for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners

At ten o’clock today, a young man with alopecia named Evan Dourdas and I appear on the popular television show called Bridge Street to talk about how sports and baldness are who we are. The appearance isn’t happening because the producers saw me biking bald or him coaching a basketball team without hair; it happened because I reached out to the media about September being Alopecia Awareness Month.

If you follow the blog I started in 2008 and read yesterday’s post, you will have discovered golden nuggets of information on how to ‘leverage the media’ for yourself or your business. One of my favorite Central New York writers, Deborah J. Sergeant, asked me if she could be a guest blogger for the next four weeks to share her knowledge on media relations.

One of her tips is to be comfortable and confident to reach out to the media with a story, similar to what I have done most of my entrepreneurial career and did to appear on Bridge Street today. I wanted to share the limelight with this fantastic 26-year-old guy who inspires me with his tenacity to live boldly with alopecia and shine a light on our autoimmune disease.

Being on television to bare my round head has more to do with inspiring others than bringing in sales, but sometimes my past appearances have helped, not only promote but brought in some event ticket or book sales. The media will look for sincere, non-used-car saleswomen, for their guests because they have a purpose of sharing information not selling your products. They will tell you that is what paid advertising is for.

Today’s Wednesday Wisdom is to encourage you to read Deb’s blog post today for media tips, and to mark your calendar for the next three weeks of guest blog posts intended to make you more comfortable reaching out to her and the media when you have a story to share. Most media are very approachable and always looking for stories.

I also hope if you are reading this between 10-11 a.m. you turn on your local television or internet connection to Bridge Street and see how easy a 5-minute interview can be and how simple it is to share afterward on social media. I hope the glare of my bald head doesn’t shine too brightly!