So many of us entrepreneurs, building businesses, are searching for the next big idea, our USP, the thing that will make all the difference and take us to the next level. And let me tell you, it’s a pretty exhausting process constantly looking for those things.
On some level, it’s in your DNA as an entrepreneur to be an ideas person, so it’s totally natural to have three or four (or more haha) new concepts buzzing around in your head at any one time. But one thing I’ve realised, is that actually, we can waste a huge amount of time looking outside for our secret sauce, and totally miss that fact that our uniqueness lies within.
Don’t worry, I’m not about to go off on a hippy rant about finding your inner guru. What I’m talking about is recognising the journey you’ve been on to get here (the good & the bad), the stuff that lights you up, the things that you love to do outside of work…. they all act as epic ingredients to your secret sauce.
Often, when we present our work to the world (another way to describe branding), we get super fixated on how we should look. We think about what people would want to see (haha, this always makes me laugh…. who the hell are these people we think about ?!).
So we create a polished, professional brand and wait for people to come running.
But here’s the thing: I’ve yet to meet a human being who can relate to a super polished, professional, one-dimensional brand. They lack personality. And to be totally honest, those kinds of brands are pretty freaking boring.
So how do you find the perfect balance of blending who you are and what you do? The bad news is that there’s no perfect formula. The good news is that you get to decide. For me, at least, it’s been a process of testing the waters and seeing what feels right.
For example: I could easily create a polished version of Linzi. I could get some photos taken wearing a smart suit, with brushed hair (yikes) and makeup (double yikes). I could reel off the highlights of my CV. The awards I’ve won. The success I’ve had.
I could write my bio in the third person, so you’d think there was some kind of massive team working behind the scenes here. I could make sure that all my content, all my social media was totally focused on branding, marketing & business building.
Haha … sounds pretty slick huh?
But it’s not 100% me. And what I’ve learnt over the last few years is actually, every time I’ve shared a little bit more of who I actually am (beyond my working life), I’ve built stronger relationships, I’ve made more sales and I’ve breathed a little easier.
I can’t imagine the pressure of trying to be squeaky clean, business-like and perfect all the time.
So I’ve done things that some people (there they are again) would think were crazy.
I’ve openly talked about the failure of my last business. I’ve made it pretty clear that I’d take tacos & beer at the beach with a client over a fancy meeting room in an even fancier hotel. I talk honestly about the lessons I’ve learnt (the hard way), and the mistakes I’ve made. I’ve said no to clients who were a bad fit. I created boundaries that mean you’ll never get a call with me past 7 pm at night. I got photos taken for my website, with a friend, after a number of beers, wearing clothes I wear pretty much every day and refusing to wear any make up or strike any poses. Most of the time I write articles about branding, but every now and then I’ll just fill you in on how good the waves were or the latest adventure I’ve had. If you check my Instagram account, you’ll see how rare it is that you actually see my face, because if I’m honest, I think it’s way more interesting & inspiring for you to look at other fun stuff that I’m seeing.
I use yikes in my copy, for crying out loud.
But you know what? It’s me. The real unpolished deal. A happy-go-lucky entrepreneur who’s actually gone through a lot of shit. A tomboy who feels most comfortable when she’s in the sea. A woman who has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. A complicated digital nomad who is trying to find a balance between serious wanderlust and wanting to put down some roots.
My life is very far from perfect. But it’s mine. The scars I have? They make me; me. And if someone is put off by them, or offended by them, then we’d never be a good fit to work together anyways.
My secret sauce? Me & the journey I’ve been on to get to this very moment. And guess what? Yours is right there waiting for you.