A Shy, Anxious Stutterer Rises Above a Scumbag Teacher

Michael Thompson’s new book "Shy By Design" will help you express your authenticity

Photo by permission from Michael Thompson

Follow Your Blisters

Michael Thompson, author of Shy By Design, is an open book—which is the best reason I can think of to open the one he’s just written. As an example of an honest human, it’s my pleasure to introduce him and his work.

I can’t imagine Micheal would ever use the word “scumbag” to describe anybody, but it’s the first word that came to mind when I read his story about being made fun of in school as a young kid, not just by other students, but his own teacher as well. In the first few pages of his book you get the whole inspiring picture of his journey—a shy, anxious stutterer, who had plenty of good reasons to spend the rest of his life in a corner, chooses instead to bravely overcome his challenges.

As he tells us in his book,

“Shortly after graduating college, though, out of fear of never mustering the courage to step into my voice, I chose to pursue the one job that scared me the most: sales.”

“Shy By Design,” is both an instructive manual about how anyone in their shy moments can still enjoy human connection, as well as an inspiring personal story about how anxiety can be transformed into natural authority through authentic expression. The fact that Michael went on to become a respected teacher and leader himself was a particularly gratifying part of his tale for me.

But you don’t have to be shy to get tremendous value from Michael’s book.

The human tendency to protect ourselves by veiling the truth of who we are requires our constant review. While exercising emotionally intelligent discretion in our communications is useful, most of us miss the opportunity to form deep bonds, make meaningful connections, and enjoy our best lives because we err on the side of interpersonal caution.

Michael Thompson

is living proof that sharing ourselves with courage pays off.

In a recent interview with him about his book, Michael tells me, “People told me I was going to blow up my career by being so honest.”

But in his book, he explains . . .

“By choosing to put myself out into the world and making a commitment to collect blisters instead of chasing bliss, I stepped into the person I didn’t even know I was capable of becoming.”

The video interview below is my second conversation with Michael. My appreciation for his character, his skill as a communicator, and my resonance with him as a new friend deepens each time we talk. Especially as we discuss personal storytelling and the necessity of consistently engaging in small acts of bravery.

As someone who has faced the dual challenges of stuttering and ADHD, he illustrated how focusing on what we perceive as weaknesses can be transformative. He encourages the joy of living in the moment and has incorporated daily acts of bravery into his life, challenging himself to step outside his comfort zone regularly.

“You’ve made it this far, which means you’ve already overcome many circumstances that challenged you and environments that scared you. Rather than wait for other people to praise your bravery, validate your brave actions yourself. Catalog your experiences. Create your own “Boldness” or “Bravery” list of all the little moments you acted with courage and the big moments when your back was up against the wall and you lived to tell the tale.”

Today Michael brings his message about courageous living and reflective storytelling to students at a university near his home in Spain. Self reflection is vitally important, he says, especially after facing challenges. This practice, he believes, fosters deeper self-awareness and strengthens relationships. His own life experience has taught him that becoming intentional about one’s personal narrative is the key to personal and professional growth.

During our discussion, we explored the significance of authenticity. Michael encourages others to embrace their unique voice instead of succumbing to societal pressures. He shared insights into his family dynamics, particularly his relationship with his father, and offered a fresh perspective on leadership—not as a display of charisma, but as supportive teaching.

As Michael shared insights into his ongoing writing process, I was impressed by his commitment to creativity and the value he places on genuine connections over sales figures. It’s clear that he’s dedicated to sharing not just his successes but also how he’s stumbled along the way. Near the end of his book he brilliantly shares the secret of storytelling—human bravery and transformation—in the simplest of terms.

Tell a story about how “you weren’t, and then you were,” he says.

Finally he reveals the key perspective that can help a shy person, or anyone having a shy moment, to overcome the doubt and hesitation that arises before speaking up.

“I never would have put myself in the crosshairs of giving presentations, leading seminars, facilitating groups, or even publishing articles online if my eyes hadn’t opened to the fact that my work wasn’t about me, but rather the people who could benefit from my experiences and lessons learned. This helped take the pressure off to “perform” and better step into my voice as I was simply sharing what I had learned or was in the process of learning.”

My conversation with Michael below and his book is not just about overcoming shyness; it’s a profound exploration of self-acceptance, the power of storytelling, and the importance of nurturing our unique narratives.

If you’re the kind of person who has never thought of yourself as a leader or storyteller, Michael’s book can help you find human connection and natural authority just by being you.

“Honesty is the world’s most valuable currency.”

This is a man who wants every human being to be able to say the words, “I am story worthy!” and believe it. And I’m 100 percent with him on that mission.

I highly recommend his book.