Sally's Story

What a day with Jules can do!

I always thought I had a good level of self-confidence. I am an approachable person with a great circle of friends and family around me. What's not to feel confident about?!

However, when entering a business networking event after having a break with networking for a few months due to workload, I felt excited but also a little anxious about walking into a room full of people without knowing anyone.

I made it! I walked in, smiled, picked up a drink and walked over to a couple of people who I introduced myself to. Suddenly my heart sank. I didn't get the reaction I expected. It was awkward. They gave the impression they didn't want to talk me which then made me instantly clam up and get an awful lump in my throat.

A few moments later I spotted someone I knew walk through the door so I thanked the group for their time and moved over to my comfort zone. I then spent the rest of the night worrying, and when we sat for the presentation I thought "Great, I can chill and be myself now" but then when it finished I found myself in a group with more people I didn't know. Someone was directly asking me questions but whilst asking, feeling the need to look at me from toe to head and back again. Throughout the time she was doing this I was trying to stay calm and concentrate on what I was saying but it didn't work. It just made me feel so 'not confident'.

I left the event feeling deflated, insecure and asking myself – "Why have you lost your confidence?". I was telling myself "you're really not good at networking" and so on and so on in a self-destruct spiral.

I had met Jules a few years ago and since tuned into her Confidence Question Time Facebook Live sessions. So when I woke up the next day, I thought "I know, I will ring Jules".

I picked up the phone (surely you need confidence to do that?) and rang Jules, trying to hold back the tears as I told her my experience. She spoke calmly and asked me a couple of questions which made me think.....hang on a minute what is going on? I put the phone down and instantly felt better.

Then I saw communication from Jules for her one–day 'The Truth About Confidence' workshop and I instantly booked on.

I arrived for the workshop and to be honest, I did feel anxious — who would be there, will I know anyone, what will happen today.......?

As soon as I walked through the door and saw Jules standing there smiling I felt I could breathe. I even felt a little emotional, just at the thought that I was ok and that the day was going to be a good day.

There were, in fact, people there that I knew. In a funny way, this made me feel so much better. We each told our story, I was the first one to crack and cry. I don't even know why I cried. I think now, perhaps it was just because I dared to say how I felt instead of having to keep it all inside.

As a business owner and employer of people, I feel there is a judgement made that you must be ok all the time and that you can't show any weakness but now I believe it's ok to do this, we are all human.

Back to the story...throughout the day, it became a standing joke that when one person made a comment everyone else in the room nodded their head.

Jules has an amazing style — relaxed, informative, approachable and bloody knowledgable about her subject!

We practiced exercises. We broke down our barriers. We learnt that it's all just 'BS' really!

We set ourselves a few goals and guess what, I only went and blumin' achieved them both!

Since that day, I have been to networking events. I have dared to introduce myself again to people. I have made new business connections and I have even presented a talk to over 30 students. Big pat on the back to me!

We are all amazing people and if we were all the same life would be boring.... Wouldn't it?

I loved the day, I would highly recommend it to everyone, even if you feel you have all the confidence in the world......

You never know when you need something in the tool box to pull out and use to help you!