I've lost count of the number of times I've heard this complaint when I've been working with ladies who are creating online coaching programmes. I don't like the sound of my voice, I sound odd/weird, I've got a funny accent, no-one will understand me, I'm too nasal, I speak too quickly, blah, blah, blah!
I have to admit, when I recorded my first tutorials and webinars I felt exactly the same. I've got a bizarre British accent, half Yorkshire and half Durham which is a bit drawly with flat vowels - certainly not what I'd class as a 'perfect' recording voice!
The thing was, when I started recording my first tutorials I was up against a deadline. I needed to make some money - fast, and I'd given myself 6 weeks to create a new business with online programmes and products. I didn't have time to get prissy or worry about how I sounded. I just cringed and got on with it - and it did me the world of good.
The more I recorded, the less it bothered me. The more live webinars I hosted, the less I worried. It quickly became clear that I had worried over nothing. I made sure I talked slowly (nerves make you speak more quickly). I had a script typed out for the first few, to make sure I didn't 'um' and 'ah' too much. And do you know what? People COULD understand me, in fact some of them even liked my accent, but in 18 months I've not had one person say that they couldn't understand what I said. I've had to explain the odd word if I've accidentally used a British colloquialism but that's rare nowadays.
And what dawned on me, after a few weeks of tutorials and webinars, was that it's not about me. It's not about my voice. It's not about anything to do with me. People listen to my calls because they want to learn. They want to learn what I teach but it's not about me. As long as they can understand me, they don't really care what I sound like (as long as it's not too annoying), they are only interested in what they can learn and how they can apply it to their business and their life. And once you realise that, it takes a huge amount of pressure off and you stop being so concerned with the sound of your voice.
Stop worrying about being judged. Stop worrying about sounding silly. Stop worrying about all of that. Focus on creating clear teaching points and messages that give your listeners what you promised. If you keep giving them what they want and need, they will keep coming back and buying from you - and that's the beginning of a great business.
Your challenge is to get over yourself and record something to use in your business this week - either a podcast or a webinar or video. I dare you!