Branding yourself

Branding Yourself: How I Stopped Being a Wallflower and Found My Professional Voice

Ever scroll through LinkedIn and think, "Everyone else seems so put together what's my thing?" Yeah, I spent years stuck in that loop. Branding yourself isn't about becoming someone else. It's about amplifying what already makes you uniquely you. And friend, I've got some embarrassing stories to prove it.

Why Branding Yourself Feels So Awkward (And How to Make It Stop)

Here's the hard truth I learned: If you don't define your brand, others will do it for you often in ways that don't serve you. My wake-up call? When a colleague introduced me as "the quiet Excel whiz" at a networking event. Ouch.

What finally worked:

• Embracing my "only me" factors (turns out my love of baking analogies for business concepts became my signature)
• Showing the messy middle (my "Failed Project Museum" posts get more engagement than success stories)
• Asking better questions ("What problems do people consistently bring to me?" revealed my real value)

Truth be told? My brand didn't click until I stopped trying to sound "professional" and started sounding like me.

The Coffee Shop Epiphany

Picture this: 2022, me nervously rehearsing corporate jargon for a client meeting. Then the barista who'd heard my order every morning for months said, "Here's your usual, Ms. 'Extra Shot With a Side of Pie Charts'!"

Lightbulb moment: My brand was already there. I just needed to own it.

3 Branding Yourself Myths That Nearly Ruined Me

Myth #1: "I Need to Be an Expert First"

Nope. Documenting my learning journey attracted:

• Clients at my same level who valued my transparency
• Mentors who appreciated my curiosity
• Opportunities to grow while building credibility

You know what's more relatable than perfect expertise? Someone figuring it out in real time.

Myth #2: "Branding Means Constant Self-Promotion"

Actually, my most effective brand-building moves were:

• Creating "cheat sheets" for common client problems
• Introducing connections who should know each other
• Sharing others' work with genuine commentary

Funny how giving value first made people remember me.

Myth #3: "My Brand Needs to Be Serious"

Spoiler: My most viral post featured me explaining supply chains using cookie recipes. The lesson? Your personality is your competitive edge.

My 5-Step "No-Fluff" Branding Framework

After helping 150+ professionals find their voice, here's what actually works:

1. The "Bar Test"

How would a friend describe you to a stranger at a bar? (My result: "She's like if a TED Talk and your fun aunt had a baby") That's your brand essence.

2. Content That Doesn't Feel Like Bragging

One client win can become:

• A case study focusing on their transformation
• A thread about lessons learned (failures included)
• A template others can adapt
• A story about the human impact

Pro tip: Use "we" language instead of "I" when sharing wins.

3. The "3-Word Filter"

Before posting anything, ask: Does this reinforce my core three words? (Mine: Clear, practical, slightly quirky) If not, tweak or trash it.

4. Strategic Repetition

People need to hear your message 7+ times to remember it. My rotation:

• Weekly newsletter with similar themes
• Different formats (video, carousels, threads) saying the same thing
• Stories that all point back to my central philosophy

5. The "Brand Autopsy"

Every quarter, I analyze:

• Which content attracted ideal opportunities
• How my network describes me vs. my goals
• One experimental element (currently testing voice notes)

When Branding Yourself Goes Wrong: My Cringe Catalog

Not all experiments worked. Exhibit A:

• The "Guru" Phase: Posted jargon-filled threads. Got crickets and one "Is this satire?" comment
• The "Trend Chaser": Joined every new platform. Spread myself too thin for zero ROI
• The "Over-Sharer": Blogged personal drama. Lost a client who thought I'd be "distracted"

What saved me? The "Would I Say This at a Dinner Party?" test. If it would make people awkwardly chew their salad, don't post it.

My Current Branding Hack: The "5% Rule"

I share just 5% more personal detail than feels comfortable. Examples:

• Posting my actual freelance rates (with context)
• Sharing screenshots of rejected proposals
• Documenting my ADHD productivity struggles

Unexpected benefit: These "too vulnerable" posts drive 90% of my meaningful connections.

Your Branding Starter Kit

Overwhelmed? Start here:

• Google yourself: First page results = your current brand reality
• Ask 3 colleagues: "What do you come to me for specifically?"
• Pick one signature strength and showcase it 3 ways this week

Final Thoughts: Your Brand Is Just You, Amplified

Here's what nobody told me: Branding yourself succeeds when you stop performing and start communicating. The people meant to work with you will recognize themselves in your story quirks, stumbles, and all.

My challenge to you: This week, share one unpolished professional truth with the hashtag #RealBranding. I'll be there cheering you on. Because the world doesn't need another perfect persona it needs the real you, shown consistently.