There’s a topic that's often overlooked in the entrepreneurial world: the power of vulnerability.
I surround myself with a lot of incredible solopreneurs and entrepreneurs and I continuously hear about the pressure to present a perfect image to the world.
As people we’re quick to highlight our successes, hide our struggles, and try to appear like we have it all figured out. But what if I told you that this approach is actually holding you back?
The truth is, your unique story — even the messy, shitty, miserable parts of the journey - is a big asset. It's what makes you unique, builds deep trust with your audience, and creates connections with the people who consume your content.
I highly encourage you to embrace some radical authenticity in your business.
Here's how you can start:
- Get messy: Instead of sharing a glamorous win or milestone, share a real struggle you've faced and what you learned from it. A mindset block, a business challenge, or a personal obstacle. Be real. Be candid and transparent.
- Get personal: Instead of regurgitating the same message ad nauseam, try infusing your unique personality, values, and experiences into a piece of content. Do something different. Pull the curtain back a bit more. Surprise your audience. You might surprise yourself.
- Get promoting: It doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom. If you feel uncomfortable with self-promotion, try it anyways. Celebrate a win, no matter how small, and acknowledge the hard work it took to get there. Inspire others with your success.
When you show up authentically, you give other people permission to do the same. You open the door to real, raw connection. Not only are you embracing authenticity, but you’re building a much deeper bond with your audience.
When your audience starts reaching out to say how much your stories are resonating with them, you’ll know you’re on to something.
If this works for you like it has for me, you’ll start to attract clients who align with your authentic brand and are energized by your work.
This week, take a step towards radical authenticity.
Take one (or two — or three) of my suggestions above and get creating.
Share them on LinkedIn where content like this is well received. It might feel uncomfortable and it might seem ‘off brand’ at first. But what if the reaction is positive? What if it’s a new door you’ve opened that connects you deeply to your audience? What if this is the start of something big and new in your content creation and business journey?
You’ll never know if you don’t try.
As researcher Brené Brown puts it, "Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome."
So, here's to showing up, being seen, and inspiring others.
Good luck out there.
