#MeetCoolPeople MCP108: Overcoming Fear and Making Video Work for Your Business w/ Kerry Barrett
Today’s episode gave me a chance to sit down with Emmy award-winning broadcaster Kerry Barrett. If you’ve ever felt awkward talking on camera, this one’s for you. Kerry Barrett has more than two decades on air, and now guides professionals through looking and sounding confident on camera.
We talked candidly about what holds most people back. It’s rarely the tech. It’s that uneasy feeling of speaking to “no one,” or worrying about messing up and freezing mid-sentence. Kerry Barrett was refreshingly honest about her own stumbles, laughing off the moments that didn’t go as planned both in her reporting days and during live webinars.
She insists all you need to start is a phone and your face. Stop overthinking gear, lighting, and the finer points of background noise. Instead, begin by narrating a piece of your day. Record for 30 seconds and play it back. Watch for one thing you’d like to adjust. Don’t try fixing everything in one go.
Here are a few highlights:
- The “performance” fear is real: People freeze on camera, even if they’re fine speaking on stage. Just jump in and keep practicing.
- Recovery matters more than perfection: Have a handful of “outs” or one-liners ready. If you blank, just acknowledge it and move on.
- Progress is about repetition: Kerry Barrett and I both needed dozens of takes when we began. There’s no shortcut for reps.
- Start simple: A weekly “teach-it” video on LinkedIn is a solid first step. Don’t let tech or editing scare you off.
- It’s about sharing, not showing off: Audiences don’t care about a minor mistake. Don’t over-apologize or dwell on it.
If you want more support, Kerry shares regular tips on LinkedIn. Connect with here here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrybarrett/
If you want to really dive in with what Kerry can help with, learn more on her website at:
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