Your voice is one of your most treasured professional tools. I was worried I was losing mine forever - and people had begun to notice. After months of procrastinating over continually losing my voice, I booked a consultant appointment. I won't deny it. I was worried something sinister was creeping up on me - so I avoided it. I'd been to see a GP and she'd said she thought it simple laryngitis. So I told myself that, too. But it got worse.
It turns out, like many a famous singer, I had vocal nodules. It's a damage legion on your vocal chord - and sometimes scarring (I had a little of that too.). It sounds bad, yep - it isn't good! But I can't tell you how relieved I was it wasn't the dreaded, you know what. I had kind of convinced myself it was. I admit I welled up when the consultant categorically ruled it out.
In case you're wondering, the cause is myriad. I've played football all my life - captained, no less- I was a shouter. Weekly roars on a pitch rip your vocals. I also play [average to bad] guitar so I can sing - untrained, sadly. If I take any distance car journey - I'll belt out some songs with the volume up. Add to that the fact I use my voice to work more than anything - demos, calls, meetings - and it gets worse. I clear my throat! Don't He basically said that clearing a throat/vocal chord that's in distress "is like sandpapering a graze".
Eww.
There's a stress-piece here, too, though. Whilst I had no symptoms of acid issues, there you go - there's redness down the throat and evidence. Night stress? Could it even be a thing...?? I'm sure I have stress - I surf it, you must. This is the first time it's had a medical contribution, too. Not as great as all the vocal abuse I've clearly thrown into the mix, but it's in there.
I'm telling you about this for a couple of reasons. Professionally, you have to maintain yourself. I actually didn't put my best self forward. What if these voice issues had effected my mission or ability to share the story i'm pitching? I'm annoyed at myself for not sorting it out earlier.
If there's something you're avoiding - do it, get it done. Stress creeps up on you in a number of ways. I don't feel stressed - but I was/am. And that's NORMAL. I am a Dad of four, I operate across multiple business verticals. I've had to deal with a lot these past years. It's a miracle I'm so jolly. (Optimism is an essential trait to innovation mindset.)
I didn't join the dots. Even though I had a hunch it wasn't a sore throat on repeat. You can be doing your thing, winning and losing and not notice the little things - nor your own head in the sand.
Make yourself stronger tomorrow than you were yesterday.
My challenge to you is to look for the thing you've been avoiding doing or getting checked - and DO IT. You will feel so great afterwards.
(Just don't phone me to chat about it. Saving my voice for the weekends....)
