I'm Christine Russo, building my third media company using the learnings from each time. This is my build. You have yours. And I've decided to share my feelings along the way because maybe you feel that way too. And it's cool to not feel alone. And I'll share how I deal with it. Maybe that helps you too. I share thoughts inside my head which range from neurotic to confident to second guessing myself.

If you are building anything: a company, your personal brand, your career, a non-profit then I hope these thoughts inside MY head connect with thoughts inside YOURS.

We speak our fears to overcome them. And for strength. And for community.

I walked up to a high-profile event this week, and out of nowhere, anxiety hit me.

After a quiet summer of solo work, walking into a room full of people felt like drinking from a fire hose. I literally cried right at the check-in desk.

The woman at the desk didn't blink. She handed me a tissue, made me do a quick stretch, got me a snack, and essentially treated me like it was my first day of Kindergarten. Exactly what I needed.

I forced myself into the room. I saw three familiar faces, took a breath, and ended up having a great time. But here's my actual advice:

Give yourself grace: If your mind and body need you to leave, walk away.

Leave if you have to: But don’t go too far. Take is slow and make your way back.

Look for a familiar face OR someone alone: Someone alone would probably like someone to speak to. You can be that person.

Maybe You Too?

If you're facing down an uncomfortable room or overcoming a fear this week; I'm rooting for you.

I pulled Google Trends data for "social anxiety at work" over the past three months. Search interest spiked hard right as September hit, right after months of quieter summer months.

That tracks with what I felt this week. Building and creating this summer was a lot of solo work and stepping back into high-density rooms hit my nervous system like a wall. If you felt the same thing this month, you're not imagining it. The data backs you up.

If you're sitting there thinking everyone else has their shit together and you're the only who doesn't. You're not. We're gathering to address the voice in your head. Colleagues reach out to me all the time: "Can I run something by you".

We are building ourselves and each other. Let's do it together.

▶Let's Get It

▶Am I falling behind

▶Am I the only one who cannot turn off work?

▶Dwelling on rejection.

▶Get your butt out there.

Want to discuss? Or join a room full of people who probably have the same concerns? email me at [email protected]. And I'll email you back, meet you for coffee, or invite you to our dinners.

This will go out every Sunday. Each week has a different topic. They are mostly based on my personal emotional swing that week but sometimes they are based on a conversation someone had with me. I’m feeling really vulnerable about this but I have a lot of positive feedback! I always welcome positive and negative feedback- feel free to send it to me anytime.

And, if you know someone who my enjoy reading this, please forward. They can sign up below.