This may come as a surprise... because I'm all about sharing myself and love and smiles and hugs....
I am shy.
I am VERY shy.
Like, I always thought there was something wrong with me because people would always point out that I was "too quiet". I know, now, that I wasn't lacking or broken, I had social anxiety. But at the time, I thought the best way to "cope" with it, was to hide it. So I hid my shyness behind fake gregariousness. Fake energy and what would seem to others to be a deep well of time and space for people.
And it was SO EXHAUSTING. The funny thing is, I had a dear friend and work colleague literally tell me that she thought I was lying to her about being shy, because I had so perfected the act of pretending to not be...
So how does this all fit together?? Because I AM genuinely all about people and personal connection and love... but I'm also super shy... Honestly, it wasn't until just a few minutes ago that I figured it out, so I wanted to share:
The way I balance my shyness with a genuine love of people is that I forge deeply personal relationships with everyone who comes into my life. And I'm selective about who I let into my world. Inside the Meg Joyce/inKind Design bubble, it's all rainbows and sunshine and love and work and magic!!! And it doesn't take much to be let in. The price of entry is connection.
I don't just want to know your name and to add you to the rolodex in my head. I want to know what makes you laugh. I want to know what hurts you and what heals you. The people in my world aren't boxes that I check or trophies I put up on my wall, although they are a great accomplishment that I should give myself more credit for. Being in my world means that no matter how long it's been since we last spoke, or how many times we've spoken for that matter, I am always thinking of you.
Just the other day, I popped into a recent client's inbox with a handful of Canva templates that had made me think of her. I had redesigned them to fit with her brand and sent them over as template links so she could literally turn around and use them that day. I love thinking up cute gift ideas and making things from scratch solely for the purpose of making someone smile and to remind them that they're not alone.
I combat my shyness with connection. With genuine caring.
There's nothing more exhausting for someone with social anxiety than small talk, so if you see me at a networking event, let's grab a drink and sit in a corner where we can discuss our wildest hopes and dreams. Leave the business cards at home, let's get to know each other in a way that will last for a lifetime. That's what I'm here for. And that's why my work in brand building is MAGIC. The design is great, don't get me wrong, but the magic is in that connection. I don't design for a task, I design for a dream. I design for the future you're too scared and hopeful to let yourself imagine. I build brands based in the souls of people, because at the end of the day business and happiness are about people.
So, I'm shy.
And that means I don't just want to "know" you, that means I NEED to KNOW you. And beautiful things happen in the lives of people I KNOW. My little bubble-world is amazing. I can't wait to share it with you!!
