Personal branding + 4 steps to giving yourself permission to show up in your truth!
I had some powerful conversations last week with entrepreneur friends of mine I caught up with (stylist Natalia and PR expert Fiona) around personal branding that have left me totally buzzing. The theme of AUTHENTICITY in business and comparison-free living has been so strong…
What I feel called to share with you today is that being YOURSELF in your business is really key. But you already know that.
You’ve heard it a million times. You probably share this with your own clients too. It’s something that we all know and wholeheartedly believe, but are you actually SHOWING UP in your truth in your business and marketing?
With the noise and stimulation of all the other entrepreneurs out there, their impactful branding, seamless marketing strategies, compelling copy, and shiny glam photos, we can start sometimes feel unsure about our own preferences, perhaps wanting to emulate someone else and their brand because THAT seems to be where it's at. But emulating someone else is never true for you and doesn't feed your soul… It's not exciting, and it's never SUSTAINABLE.
But it feel can feel really scary to show up totally as yourself in your business... The fear usually goes something like - what if I show up as myself and I look stupid? Or what if I show up as myself and nobody wants to work with me anymore?
I get it... I've been there too!! You're passionate about what you do, this is like your baby. So of course those fears will come up because you are wanting to protect it, keep it safe, treasure it. And you want everyone else to, too.
But trying to be who you think everyone wants you to be, or like someone else actually holds you back from evolving your business in a way that best serves you and your clients.
You know that your work serves people at a high level and makes the world a happier place. And you really want to do your business justice by putting it out there in a way that inspires your prospects to be all like 'SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW' so that you can make all the magic with them. You just want to get it right.
And getting it right is getting it REAL.
Don't you feel, when you see another business owner doing it THEIR way, not following the crowd, not fitting in, it’s inspiring!? Whether you personally resonate with what they’re doing, you’ve got to admit it’s pretty cool. Because it’s fearless, and REAL. This is what the world needs.
Since I gave myself permission to be myself in my life and business, to stop trying to control and plan everything so much, to show up as ME, everything feels lighter, more fun, more at peace, more exciting, more connected, more in alignment, and I am working with my clients in an even more divine, grounded, inspired and intuitive way than ever before. Doing things I’d always wanted to do but felt a bit scared to or awkward about - for example; starting my shoots with a conscious breathing exercises or grounding meditations when I felt called to. Or sending out to my mailing list about what I’m really passionate about and what I’m really into (like this!)… Following what I feel intuitively guided to do, and knowing that it is what is required at that moment. Trusting that it will resonate with some people and not others. It's all okay.
The ego based fear can come up again and again when it comes to what we really care about. So here are a few things I do, to remind myself that it's okay to be me, and to feel more and more at peace with putting my true self into my branding and marketing, which you can remind yourself of too.
1. Congratulate yourself on how far you have already come.
The fact you're even in business doing something you love (or doing some of the things you love) is INSPIRING and awesome! Go you!!
2. Know that it's okay to ease into the vulnerability.
You don’t have to put your whole self out there in one big go, just be authentic in what you DO choose to share. You’ll know if you do yoga or exercise that you can’t necessarily just go from no-practice to a totally balanced headstand in one session, or from no-running to a 40k marathon in one day. It’s okay to ease into it, stretch it out, find what feels good as you move forward.
3. Trust your inner guidance.
For example, does the stuff you’re sharing in your marketing feel light and exciting, or does it feel heavy and fearful? Bringing awareness to how things FEEL is the best way to check in with whether you’re being authentic, TRULY authentic with who you are. So if it feels heavy or complicated or mixed up, ask yourself when that happened… What has changed since your business felt fun and exciting? What have you stopped doing? What have you started doing? Perhaps you can re-work some of the content by taking out all the words or images that feel heavy, otherwise just move away from your desk, go out in nature, meditate, find a positive-feeling place. Just be still for a while and let fresh new inspiration come to you.
4. Give yourself permission to trust yourself.
And if you’re struggling to give yourself permission. Here it is.
I GIVE YOU PERMISSION to be yourself.
Because I believe that what you have to share is valuable.
Because I know that like every other soul on this planet, you came here with a unique gift that will be of massive benefit when you share it with others.
Because I know that once you start showing up as YOU, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it earlier, because it actually feels SO MUCH LIGHTER and way more fun than trying to be someone you're not.
Because now everything finally flows for you.
Because now you’re living life on your own terms and working in a way you had only ever fantasized about.
As a personal branding photographer it is a pretty big part of my job to make sure that what I create with my clients happens from a place of integrity, truth and open-ness. This is what we can delve into together.
If you’re struggling to get clear on what feels true for you and how you’re showing up in your business, send me a message at becky@beckyrui.com and we'll book in your discovery call.
I would be delighted to explore with you to get clarity on your personal brand and how I can serve you with new photography that radiates your spirit and engages with your ideal clients.
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