Evie and Lindsey are well known as branding experts and you’ve probably heard them talk all about building a personal brand through showing up as yourself and sharing both your story and personality. In today’s episode they address a colossal mistake they see people make when it comes to personal branding. This mistake is not only a pet peeve of theirs, it is also really damaging to your branding and doing the opposite of what you’re hoping to do: attract a solid audience.

Today, Evie and Lindsey discuss the difference between healthy vs unhealthy vulnerability. This can ultimately make or break your business.

If you feel like you’ve been TRYING to brand yourself in a personal way and it just hasn’t been working… LISTEN UP! 

#authentic

It is so important to show up online as real, relatable, vulnerable, and authentic. Connection is KEY. The problem is people often misconstrue “#authentic” to mean “I get to whine.”

There is a huge difference between complaining and vulnerability with a purpose. Vulnerability without a purpose is actually damaging to your business and reputation. Sharing your struggles or issues online without offering solutions, hope, or a way out is helping NO ONE. So, CUT THAT OUT! Not only is this damaging to your branding, business, expertise, and reputation, it is also damaging to the people receiving and ingesting your content. 

Many grasp the importance of showing up and sharing their life with others. Oftentimes, when people think they are being “vulnerable” they are actually just whining and complaining about their day with no purpose other than to vent.

 

The Pit

Picture that your struggles are a deep, dark, damp pit. 

Sharing your struggles without offering solution welcomes others down into the pit where everyone is wallowing. It doesn’t offer anyone a way to get out of the pit. While they may feel a little less alone, you are not helping them, or yourself, out of the situation. 

But, picture this. You are down in the depths of the pit and find a ladder that allows you to start climbing out. As you start to climb out, you realize that there might be others that are down in the pit so you turn around, extend a hand, and say let’s get out of this together. 

But maybe there isn’t a ladder to get out of the pit. You worked your way out of the situation or circumstance by strenuously climbing up the dirt wall. After you get to the top, you have the opportunity to build a ladder for other people and provide a way out. You have the opportunity to use your experience to throw down a ladder to others in the same situation. 

When venting or complaining you may be welcoming people into your community, but is it really a community if it’s in the bottom of a pit? Wouldn’t you rather build a community that is actively taking steps up and out of the pit?

 

Vulnerability vs vulnerability with a purpose

There is a difference between being vulnerable and being vulnerable with a purpose. Vulnerability with a purpose offers help and a solution. If you are only halfway up the ladder, it’s reaching a hand down and sharing what you have learned in the climb. You can still serve people while you are in the pit. 

It boils down to how you share and your motivations behind it. If you are sharing just to vent and get something off your chest, your motivation is not coming from the best place. Rather, share from the perspective that you have been there, you understand where they are, and offer three of the first steps up the ladder. 

It is all about your intention when you are writing on social media. What legacy do you want to leave? Think about it in a bigger picture. Each time you go to post think about how you can improve someone’s life and if the caption does the photo justice. 

 

It’s all about timing

If you are still in the thick of a situation and you do not have a vision for getting out of it, don’t share it. Don’t share when you are in the pit, wait to share until you are halfway up the ladder and feel comfortable. Or, wait until you are already out of the pit and found victory in your struggle so you can offer a solution. 

You can absolutely use what you are going through in a hard season of life to love and serve others. 

 

Offer Hope

People want to feel uplifted, inspired, and motivated by a story and are looking for these same things in Instagram captions. You can make people feel this way by offering solutions, value, hope, purpose, and a tangible take away. 

When you share personal things, you have to first serve your audience. Serve your audience with value before you are ever trying to share your story. When you are writing captions or blog posts ask yourself two questions. First, is this serving value? Second, is this actually make a difference in someone’s life and empowering them to move forward in a strong and healthy way?

You have the freedom to share whatever you would like on social media. Share what you are comfortable and have peace in your heart about sharing. 

Check your heart and attitude when sharing online. Is your heart in a healthy place? Are you in a healthy place? 

You have the opportunity to offer hope, a solution, education, and inspiration no matter what you are talking about. Even if you are talking about something dark and frustrating, you don’t have to pull people into the pit with you, you have the power to pull them out. 

 

Episode Links

HoneyBook: www.share.honeybook.com/heart

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