Today we're talking about the 16 ways to be insecure and awkward on camera whilst making youtube videos. These things will guarantee that no-one watches your videos, and that you don't build a community and grow an audience!

Inversion Thinking

Alright alright alright chill - I'm not being negative. The reason I'm framing it this way is because it uses an incredibly powerful technique called inversion thinking.

I got this idea from James Clear, (author of Atomic Habits) and the reason it works is because by identifying potential pitfalls or actions that lead to failure, inverting your thinking actually clarifies the path forward.

So, instead of for example, thinking how you could get rich, you'd think how you could stay poor, and list out all the reasons.

E.g. To STAY POOR I would

• Spend more than I make
• Don't learn high value skills
• etc.

Inversion thinking balances out positive focused techniques like visualisation and manifestation perfectly because by placing focus on identifying and avoiding negative roadblocks, we address them head on and actually reduce fear.

I'm then gonna flip all of these negatives on their head to reveal the true path to camera confidence and charisma.

Btw - If you're new to the newsletter, I'm Thomas 👋🏼 I've been a full time content creator for 9 years - first adventuring the world as a travel filmmaker and now running a six figure online education business, all through YouTube.

Without further a-do:

The 16 Commandments of Awkwardness

1. Dwell on your insecurities.
   Think about every possible flaw: “What if they think I’m stupid? Ugly? Boring?” By focusing on the worst-case scenario, you’ll freeze up before you hit record.
2. Overthink every detail.
   Analyze every word, gesture, or idea while speaking. This ensures you lose connection with the moment and stumble over your words.
3. Talk with a stiff, blocked body.
   After a long day of sitting, don’t move or stretch before recording. This guarantees your voice lacks resonance, and your energy feels flat.
4. Wing it with zero preparation.
   Pick a topic you know nothing about. Don’t plan or rehearse. Start rambling off the cuff to waste time and appear disorganized.
5. Use bad lighting.
   Film with harsh, overhead lights or in dim settings. Bonus points for yellow tones and shadows that make you look tired or unapproachable.
6. Ignore sound quality.
   Let your audience struggle to hear you with background noise, echo, or muffled audio. Remember: bad sound drives viewers away faster than bad visuals.
7. Avoid eye contact.
   Glance everywhere but the lens. Flick your eyes around nervously to reduce trust and connection.
8. Fill every pause with ‘um’ or ‘uh.’
   Silence is awkward, right? Avoid it at all costs with random filler noises to break your audience’s focus.
9. Hide your hands.
   Keep them out of the frame or rigidly still. This will make you look like a robot—or leave viewers guessing what’s happening off-screen.
10. Speak in a monotone.
    Keep your voice at one pitch or repeat the same intonation endlessly. This drains energy from your delivery and bores your audience.
11. Overthink future sentences.
    While speaking, plan your next line. This guarantees your current sentence feels disconnected or rushed.
12. Mask your true self.
    Present a persona that feels safe, polished, and inauthentic. Avoid vulnerability, ensuring no one truly connects with you.
13. Suppress your emotions.
    Don’t let excitement, joy, or even frustration come through. Flat, emotionless delivery makes it impossible for your audience to care.
14. Quit after one bad attempt.
    Record once, hate the result, and never try again. Decide you’re “not good on camera” and make no effort to improve.
15. Focus on what you hate about yourself.
    Watch your videos and nitpick every flaw. Criticize your appearance, voice, and mistakes to lock yourself in a cycle of self-doubt.
16. Be someone you don’t like on camera.
    Force yourself to act or sound a certain way, even if it feels fake. Create a persona that alienates both you and your audience.

Sound terrible? Let's FLIP THIS SCRIPT

Let's now turn these into actionable steps for camera confidence!!

16 Commandments to Speak On Camera With Confidence and Fluency:

1. Visualize success and focus on connection.
2. Get out of your head by breathing and grounding yourself.
3. Activate your body with stretches and posture adjustments.
4. Overprepare with a deep knowledge of your topic.
5. Use bright, soft lighting (natural light or softboxes).
6. Prioritize audio quality—invest in a basic mic.
7. Maintain eye contact 70% of the time.
8. Embrace pauses; silence creates impact.
9. Use expressive gestures and keep your hands visible.
10. Vary your tone to match your message.
11. Focus on the present sentence, not future ones.
12. Let your authentic self shine—ditch the mask.
13. Connect with and express your emotions.
14. Practice daily, knowing growth takes time.
15. Celebrate small wins when reviewing your videos.
16. Be yourself—someone you’d want to watch.

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So there you go. I've actually put all of these into a neat little free PDF that you can download, and even print out and stick on your wall.

Chat soon,

Thomas

P.S. Check out our 30 Day Talking To Camera Challenge to transform your communication skills today.

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