No Fear

I f you were to attend Wendy Kinney's seminar, "Networking Aerobics: Cardiovascular Activity for Your Wallet," you'd never think she battles shyness. The founder of Ready . . . Set . . . Go Make Money!, an Atlanta consulting firm that helps self-employed people achieve success, Kinney speaks with precision, projecting confidence and expertise.

But until four years ago, the thought of meeting new people one-on-one--let alone speaking in front of a room full of strangers--terrified Kinney. "When I was a member of a trade association," Kinney recalls, "annual dues were about $800 and the monthly dinner was $45. Ten out of 12 months, I got ready, drove to the hotel, turned into the parking lot--sometimes I even parked!--but pulled out and went home."