Episode 9 — Transcript
Robyn Savage (00:02)
Hello friends, welcome back to the 17 minutes podcast. I wanted to have a conversation with you today about the individual and unique ways in which we all communicate.
I recently attended an event and there were four speakers. And I think I told you about this event on the last podcast. It was Feast and the four speakers were really, really interestingly and obviously different in their approaches. And I thought what a great opportunity to sort of highlight the different ways that we all show up.
Keep in mind that each one of these speakers was invited to be on stage. They are all extremely, extremely great at what they do. They are high achievers. They are successful in their industry. They are sought after. They are award-winning in many cases—authors, keynote speakers. They're all great at what they do and they all do it in such different ways.
I wanted to highlight this as a radical invitation, like a giant doorway for you to walk through: you get to do this your way. You get to be you and be successful. You don’t have to look like them, talk like them, move like them, teach like them, speak like them, dress like them—anything like them—in order to get what you want, become successful, be a sought-after speaker, be financially secure, be visible in your community, help people, have an impact.
Before we dive in, ask yourself: What is it that you want for yourself?
Robyn Savage (02:06)
Do you want to be a speaker? Have a successful online business? Become more visible online? Write a book? Make millions of dollars? None of your desires are wrong. None of your wants are too much. They all get to be yours.
By naming and claiming what you want, you allow yourself to start becoming it—taking the actions that version of you requires to realize it in your reality.
If you wanted to make a million dollars in your business and you looked at ten examples of seven-figure entrepreneurs, you’d see a hundred different qualities, strategies, and styles. Then you’d stack all ten up against yourself and think: holy fk, I’ve got none of that.** That comparison is natural—at first we think, not possible.
Before I ever ran a marathon, I looked at runners and thought: nope. Not me. Then one day, I decided to change the identity and become a runner. I binged “how to run” videos—run on your toes, lean forward, arms here, chin tucked—and went out for my first training run trying to do it all. I looked like a rag doll. It was too much information from too many inputs.
Robyn Savage (06:08)
I had to throw it out and just run.
How does my body move? What’s my natural stride and pace? What doesn’t hurt? How do I naturally breathe? Once I figured out my way, then I could refine.
But what we do instead is sit still, look around, and collect information because we think we don’t have what it takes yet. Here’s the secret: the story “I can’t run” wasn’t true. My body knows how to run. One foot, then the other, a bit faster—you’re running. I might not like it yet, but if I find a way that works for me, I might. I tried other people’s playlists—one felt like being chased by a bear. Not it. Turns out, I love cheesy poppy dance music I can sing along to. I crossed the finish line to Taylor Swift—grinning, half singing, half dying. That was me.
The reason I’m sharing this is because those four speakers on stage each had their own “running style.” So let’s get into speaking.
Robyn Savage (12:17)
When I do a client’s Identity Report, I get three graphs:
Natural Self — how you naturally show up: strengths, what’s easy, what people see in you, where you thrive.
World Self — how you present yourself to be liked/chosen/succeed/accepted/promoted.
Stress Gap (the red graph) — the energy, stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction created by being someone else.
If we go back to the marathon analogy:
Natural Self = Robyn bopping across the finish line singing T-Swift.
World Self = Robyn chin tucked, tiptoes, counting steps, rigid form, hating every minute.
Robyn Savage (14:19)
When we keep showing up as who we think we need to be to be accepted, we burn out. We lose fulfillment, authenticity, connection, and depth. It feels like we’re always performing—exhausting.
At the event, I saw four women completely owning their natural selves. Each talk was totally different:
Some were reserved (low dominance): subtle connection, deep conversations, slower pace, harmony-focused, not polarizing.
Some were fiery and polarizing (high dominance): swearing, bold opinions, big ideas, inviting people into a mission.
Some were highly educational with slides: step-by-step, prompts, note-taking.
One used no slides, a lapel mic, expressive body language and hands.
Two got us dancing (high extraversion): thriving off energetic exchange. Others didn’t use music because it would shut them down.
Some shared vulnerable personal stories; others stayed high-level with few/no stories.
Robyn Savage (18:29)
All were highly successful, relevant, and sought after—and each leaned into her natural way to get there. Success didn’t come from being the same. It came from being themselves.
When we perform as someone we’re not, people sense it. Something feels off; they can’t find the door in. That blocks connection, which blocks trust, which blocks conversion. No connection → no trust → fewer sales. Performing costs energy and profit.
Robyn Savage (22:26)
There’s a version of you crossing the finish line in a way that works for you—T-Swift or silent chin-tuck. Neither is wrong; they’re just different. Know which one you are.
Know how you communicate, what people are attracted to in you, your strengths, decision-making style, pace, logic vs. intuition, what drains you and what gives energy back. That’s how you return to your natural self faster—so you can stop performing, comparing, and emulating.
Robyn Savage (24:15)
Know who you naturally are and give yourself radical permission to be that now. You’ll speed up your success, feel empowered, build confidence, and your audience will feel it. Connection → trust → conversion.
If you’re not ready for an Identity Report, start by asking: Who am I? And: Who am I not? What will I stop doing that’s draining me, creating brand disconnection, and repelling the people who would love my natural self?
I’m passionate about this because I see it every day—people running marathon after marathon trying to figure it out. What they really need is to see their inner self. The Identity Report is a fast track. You can do the work on your own, or you can take the report, see your graphs, and finally say: “That’s me.” Then you’ll see where you’ve been stressing yourself out by performing, and you’ll have permission to be who you are. Run as you.
We’re way over time for 17 minutes. Please forgive me. If there’s anything we need most right now, it’s that it’s safe to be you—and maybe that’s your fastest, most direct route to success.
Grab your Identity Report via the link in the show notes. Come chat on Instagram. Join the community conversation. Meet yourself, know yourself, express yourself, trust yourself. I love you. See you next week on the podcast. Ciao.
