From Invisible to Influential: Building Your Personal Brand as a Woman in Business

Sis, are you hiding your brilliance? In this power-packed episode, mindset coach and confidence guru Tammy Maynard breaks down the exact steps to transform your personal brand from invisible to influential. Learn why your unique story is your greatest business asset, how to overcome the fear of being seen, and practical strategies to position yourself as the go-to expert in your field. Whether you've been playing small or struggling to stand out in a crowded market, this episode will give you the tools and confidence to build a personal brand that attracts opportunities, clients, and income.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Overcoming Fear of Visibility
• 0:36 Understanding Personal Branding
• 3:12 The Importance of Authenticity
• 5:40 Building Your Personal Brand
• 8:19 Embracing Imperfection
• 9:39 Crafting Your Signature Story

Transcript

Before we dive into today's topic, I want to share something personal with you. When I first started my business journey, I was terrified of being seen. I know that may sound strange coming from someone who now hosts a podcast and runs multiple businesses, but it's true.

I would create amazing content, develop programs that could genuinely help women, but then I'd hide. I'd hide behind my logo, generic stock photos, and business language that didn't sound anything like me. Why?

because I was afraid of judgment. I was afraid that if I truly showed up as Tammy, a mom of six at the time from central Georgia who talks with her hands and sometimes get too excited, people wouldn't really take me seriously. And you know what?

And you know what happened? Nothing.

Because nobody knew who I was or what I stood for. Everything changed when I realized that my personal brand, my story, my voice, my experiences wasn't separate from my business. It was my business. Sis, if you've been hiding your brilliance, if you've been playing small, or if you're struggling to stand out in your industry, today's episode is specifically for you. We're talking about how to go from invisible to influential by building your personal brand.

Let's start with some fundamentals. What exactly is personal brand and why does it matter so much, especially for women like us in business? Well, your personal brand is the unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that you want the world to see.

It's the telling of your story and how it reflects your conduct, your behavior, your spoken and unspoken words and attitudes. Now sis, I need you to hear this. As women, especially as black women, we're often taught to be humble, to not make noise, to not take up too much space. But in business, that mindset will keep you broke and unknown.

Here's why your personal brand matters now more than ever. First, in a digital world full of noise, people crave authenticity. They want to connect with real people, not faceless businesses. When you build a strong personal brand, you create emotional connections that logos and slogans simply can't.

Second says your personal brand differentiates you in a crowded marketplace. There might be hundreds of people offering similar services, but there's only one you with your unique combination of experiences, perspective, and personality. Third.

A strong personal brand builds trust way faster. When people feel like they know you, they're more likely to trust who you are with their time, their attention, and even their money. And finally, your personal brand is something no one can take away from you. Businesses come and go.

but your reputation, your expertise, and your unique perspective, those stay with you throughout your entire career. Let me give you a real example. One of my clients, Jasmine, was an incredible graphic designer, but she was competing with thousands of others online.

When we repositioned her personal brand around her unique background as both a designer and a former teacher, emphasizing her ability to explain design concepts in simple terms, she started attracting clients who specifically wanted someone who could guide them through the design process without the jargon.

Her bookings increased by 70 % in just three months. That's the power of a strong personal brand. And you know me, I'm always going to recommend waiting at least 90 days, three months, sis, to see results. 

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. The fear of being seen. You know I'm gonna bring it up. I was gonna bring it up. If you're feeling resistance to putting yourself out there, sis, I want you to know that you're not alone. Okay? Many of the successful women you admire once stood exactly where you are now, afraid to step into the spotlight.

They were afraid to step into the spotlight. Here are some common fears I hear from my clients, "what if people judge me?" "What if I'm not too much?" "What if I'm too much or not enough?" "What if I put myself out there and nobody cares?" "What if my family or friends think I'm showing off?" Sound familiar? 

Let me tell you something, sis. These fears are normal, but they're also the exact reason why most people remain invisible while only a few become influential. So.

How do we overcome these fears? Here's my three step process. Step one, identify the root of your fear. Is it rejection, judgment, imposter syndrome? Get clear on what's really holding you back. Step two, reframe visibility as service. When you hide your gifts,

You're not just playing small. You're depriving people who need exactly what you offer. Your visibility isn't about ego. It's about impact. Step three, start small, sis. Consistent steps. You don't need to go from zero to Ted Talk overnight. Maybe you start by sharing your expertise in Facebook groups, then move to Instagram posts, then Instagram Lives, and so on.

I want to share a personal example. When I first started going live on social media, my hands would shake so badly I could barely hold the phone. I was terrified of saying the wrong thing or looking unprofessional with kids running around in the background. But you know what helped me push through? I focused on the one woman who needed to hear what I had to say.

Not the hundreds who might judge me, but the one who was waiting for exactly my message. And guess what? That mindset completely transformed how I showed up. Now, let's get practical. How exactly do you build a personal brand that positions you as the go-to expert in your field? I got a five-step framework for you.

Step one, get crystal clear on your unique value proposition. What makes you different? It could be your background, your approach, philosophy, or a combination of these. Ask yourself, what problems do I solve? How do I solve them differently? Who exactly do I serve? Step two.

Define your brand personality. If your brand was a person, how would they talk? What would they wear? What would they stand for? Your brand personality should be authentic to you, but consistent across all platforms. Step three, create your brand story. People connect with stories, not services.

What journey brought you to this work? What transformations have you experienced that you can now guide others through? Your story is your most powerful branding asset. Step four, establish your visual identity.

This includes professional photos of you, not just stock images, consistent colors, fonts, and design elements that reflect your brand personality. Step 5.

Show up consistently where your ideal clients are, whether that's Instagram, LinkedIn, or in-person networking. Consistency is key. It's better to show up regularly on one those platforms than sporadically on all five. Now, here's a game-changing tip, sis, that I bet you didn't expect. Document. Don't create.

Instead of racking your brain trying to create content from scratch, simply document your journey, your process, your insights, and your results.

This approach not only makes content creation easier, but also more authentic. For example, when I'm working with a client and have an insight, I'll quickly make a voice note. That voice note might become a podcast episode, a social media post, or part of a program later on. By documenting my real thoughts and processes, I'm creating content that truly reflects my expertise and perspective.

It's now time for our Ask Tammy segment. Today's question comes from Monica in our Sisters in Success community. She asked me, Tammy, I'm struggling with feeling like I need to be perfect before I put myself out there as the face of my brand. How do I overcome the need for everything to be perfect?

Monica, I feel this question in my soul sis. Perfectionism is often just fear wearing a fancy outfit. Here's what I want you to remember sis. Your audience doesn't need to be perfect. Your audience doesn't need you to be perfect. They need you to be helpful and real. In fact,

Showing your growth journey is one of the most powerful ways to build connection. When you share both your expertise and your challenges, you become relatable and trustworthy. Let me give you a practical tip I use myself. I call it the 80-20 rule of personal branding.

Aim to make things 80 % good, then hit publish. That last 20 % of polishing often takes 80 % of your time and energy. And honestly, most people can't even tell the difference. Start thinking of your personal brand as a living, evolving entity. Not a perfect, finished product. The women who connect with you will appreciate seeing your growth, and they'll feel more comfortable knowing a long...

and they'll feel more comfortable growing alongside you. Remember sis, done is always better than perfect. The women who need your gifts are waiting for you now, not for some future perfect version of you. 

Now for this week's quick win challenge, which I like to call the Signature Story Exercise. Here's what I want you to do, Take 30 minutes with just a journal and pen and answer these three questions. First, what problem did you face that led you to create your business? Second, how did you overcome it? And third,

What specific transformation did you experience as a result? Now, craft this into a two to three minute story that you can share when someone asks, what do you do? Instead of just saying, I'm a life coach or I'm a graphic designer, you'll have a compelling story that showcases both your expertise and your why.

This signature story becomes the foundation of your personal brand and you can adapt it for your website, your social media bio, your podcast appearances, and networking events. Once you've crafted your story, I want you to practice telling it to at least three people this week. It could be in a Facebook group, on an Instagram story, or even to a friend over coffee. Remember,

The more you share your story, the more comfortable you become being the face of your brand. Sis, we covered a lot today, and I want you to remember one thing.

Your personal brand isn't about being famous or flashy. It's about being intentional with how you show up and the impact you want to make. When you build a strong personal brand, you attract opportunities, clients, and income that align with your vision and values. You stop competing on price because people are choosing to work specifically with you, not just anyone in your field.

If this episode resonated with you, I want you to do three things. First, head over to our Sisters In Success Facebook community. Share your signature story from the Quick Win Challenge and let us celebrate you. You can find the link right in the show notes. 

Second, if you're ready to dive deeper into building your personal brand, check out our Sister Squad membership. We got a whole list of things dedicated to positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your field. And finally, don't forget to take on that quick win challenge. Tag me @thecomfortzonepodcast when you share your signature story. I want to be there cheering you on. Remember sis, your Comfort Zone is not your friend zone.

Until next week, this is Tammy Maynard and you've been listening to Beyond the Comfort Zone, where we turn fear into fuel and dreams into reality. See you next time, sis!