By Rachel
I have been lying to you.
Not a complete fib but a little piece of my personality has been withheld and it has been my own doing.
For the past two years, my husband has encouraged me to be positive in my brand.
And there is a lot to be said about positivity. But there are things about me that you might not know. For starters ...if you know me...I say what’s on my mind. And sometimes it is not what you want to hear and it might even politically incorrect.
And sometimes it even includes an f bomb or two!
The truth is, I to have work at being positive. I grew up with a lot of negativity and I am still fighting a mindset that comes naturally to me.
Ok, that's not that bad you say. Perhaps not, but I feel out of fairness to my audience that I need to get real. I need to look past my fear that you might see my brand in a less favorable light.
Why this transition to 'get real' all of the sudden? I was empowered the ladies of the Inspired Women event I attended in Pittsburgh this past weekend - namely Jacqueline Wales.
Jacqueline told a personal story of her life and she didn't hold back. It was all part of a growth journey that finally transformed her life for the better when was in her early 50s.
She learned lessons through incredible life experiences that have transformed the way she views fear. She is now on a mission to help others get out of their own way.
I don't want to wait until my 50s to break out of my shell. I am going to take her advice and start with baby steps toward being the person I was meant to be and the life I was meant to live.
Jeffrey Gitomer, a friend and mentor advised me once to be more stark and opinionated. I feared this would not align with the positivity I have strived to project, but I now understand that fear is worrying about something that hasn't happened yet. Powerful revelation.
We talk about being transparent as a brand. That doesn't mean we have to share intimate secrets, but it does mean we can be who we are...and continue to improve ourselves with each passing moment.
Great post! I'm definitely a cynic at times, and I probably use more swear words than I should. I appreciate the transparency and love that you shared this with us.
Hi Rachel!
Thank you! There are times you just want to speak your mind! It's hard to hold back - and sometimes bettter that you don't!
Rachel
p.s. I would have never guessed you were a cynic at times!
Great Post Rachel. You also made me realize it is time for me to continue to add sparks of my personality in my brand. I'm doing it more and more but in the beginning I took advice from someone who told me not to do that. We'll your post reminded me, yes I should do it! Rachel remember everything you want is on the other side of fear
Hey Jennifer!
You gotta read Jacqueline's book, "The Fearless Factor!" It's amazing!
Great Post! I love to see emerging talent continue to grow and prosper. There are lots of people doing social media. Our stories and journeys are what seperate us all! Your personality is what makes you unique so let it shine! And thank you for being a wonderful resource for our conference and attendees! The Feedback sheets say they LOVE YOU!!
Hey Debra,
I am delighted to be a part of this event - and I can't thank you enough for all the opportunities you've given me. You're a breath of fresh air - keep on rockin' the world!
Thanks for this post, Rachel. I enjoyed meeting you at the Inspired Women's conference and look forward to begin a part of this discussion group! Gina