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I was on a call this week with a client, a senior executive at a tech company, who’s been considering sharing some of his thoughts and ideas more openly on LinkedIn and in other formats. “What would people think?” “Would anyone even read it?” “If no one likes it, I’ll get disheartened.” It reminded me of my own journey. I started back in 2017, sharing my thoughts, ideas, and the things I was learning as I geeked out on leadership, psychology, and all things self-mastery. At first, I thought about every single word so much that it once took me five days to write one article on emotional intelligence. When I shared my thoughts on Instagram, some people wondered what on earth I was doing, while others encouraged me. It took me a couple of years before I felt comfortable posting on LinkedIn, where I’d always worn a more corporate persona given my career in consulting. I was worried about what my peers would think, that they wouldn’t connect with me any more, that I’d be looked at differently. Over time, I developed the courage to share more, and the more I shared, the more energy it gave me back, which told me I was on the right path. But what kept me going despite the fear, the doubt, and the mental chatter was the deep work I’d done in getting clear on who I am at my core. My values, my character, the vision I have for myself and the life I want to create, and what success genuinely means to me. So my consistency was never coming from a place of force. It was coming from clarity and a deep knowing of who I am and the mission I’m on. Every time I shared something, it felt aligned, I felt content, and there was even a sense of detachment from the outcome. This is exactly the work my client and I have been doing together over the past couple of months. Getting clear on who he is are his core, his vision, and clarity on the man he wants to be in this next chapter of his life. One thing that’s become clear for him is that beyond the role, beyond the business he’s building, there’s something that matters even more to him: the impact he wants to have on how people think, grow, and live. During our conversation, we uncovered a belief he’d been carrying without realising it. That he first needed to create influence and impact before he could post and share. But that’s the wrong way round. Life doesn’t work like that, it works from the inside out. You first need to step into the version of yourself who already has the impact and influence you’re hoping for. How would they show up? What would that version of you do? Would they be seeking permission to share? Would they be doubting whether their voice makes a difference? He told me he’d start sharing something just because he found it interesting, even if he would immediately think about how people in his world might react. That fear of being misread was enough to stop him before he’d even started. Here are a few things I’ve learned on this journey, and what I shared with him too:
Eight years on from writing and sharing I can share nearly all of my clients found me through my writing long before they ever became clients. They resonated with something I have said or written, and it stayed with them. I had one client in particular who messaged me on Facebook after following my work quietly for two years. I had no idea who he was, because he’d never liked or commented on a single post. He’d just been reading, and something eventually landed enough that he reached out. You never really know how far your words travel, or who they reach, until someone tells you. This client of mine is one of the smartest minds I’ve met. Highly intelligent, a fast executor, and someone with strong leadership ability. Yet still he underestimates his impact. We all do. I certainly did. Stop it! This isn’t about sharing content on social media but about you stepping into the version of you that you want to be and start taking action from that place. It might be starting a creative project, might be to pitch yourself for a job, or ask someone out on a date. Get out of your own head. I’m so glad I started and continued to write. It’s resulted in a successful business that’s transformed many lives, it’s created a whole new community of like minded people, and now leading to a whole new book being launched in November this year. And I’m excited for what this will start for my client. This is the power of Leading From Within. P.S. Here are 5 ways I can support your journey:
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