Recently, I was invited to be a guest on a show. Not unusual—I host my own every week. But this time something unexpected happened.
Midway through, the interviewer, my friend Scott Mason, stopped the recording and said: “Let’s start over.” So we did. I came back with more gusto, more of what I thought they wanted. Scott kindly said: “Good job—I’ll edit and see what we can salvage.”
And in that moment, I realized something hard to admit: I am great on paper. Great at what I do. But when it comes to being interviewed? I’m… not.
Here’s the truth:
I’m vulnerable, authentic, and knowledgeable.
But when the spotlight is on me, I freeze.
I stop speaking from the heart and start guessing what people want to hear.
That’s not me. That’s me pretending to be me. And the energy disappears.
So what did I do? I leaned on my community—the LinkAbility Network led by the remarkable Lynnaire Johnston. I shared openly: “I need help. The way I’m coming across in interviews isn’t showing my real value.”
And do you know what happened? Every single person in that circle raised their hand. “Get on my calendar. I’ll coach you. I’ll walk you through it. I’ll help you see yourself the way others see you.”
That’s leadership. That’s humanity. That’s what happens when you stop pretending you have it all together and say the words: I need help.
If you’re a leader, take note:
Admitting you’re not great at everything is not weakness—it’s wisdom.
Vulnerability isn’t a liability—it’s the bridge that brings people to your side.
Asking for help doesn’t diminish your value—it multiplies it.
This Tuesday, September 23rd at 5 p.m. (ET), Lynnaire and I are going live. No script. No polish. Just the real stuff: why interviewing feels like a trap for so many of us, how to own your story without feeling like you’re bragging, and how to lean on your network when you need to rise.
I’ll be raw. I’ll be real. And if I can do this live, in front of you, then maybe it’ll give you the courage to ask for help where you need it most too.
So let me ask you again—when the moment comes and you need a hand, a coach, or a push in the right direction:
Who are you going to call?
Thanks for reading,
William Rochelle, but you can call me Bill
#Leadership #Vulnerability #JobSearch #LinkedInLive #Authenticity #Networking