I just got back from a little family trip to Universal Studio in Hollywood and was blown away by how much of what we see in movies and TV is pure illusion. It really struck me how those same illusions carry over into some internet marketing businesses. Don’t let yourself get sucked into those illusions. Watch the 4 minute video below to hear how to find your own voice and carve your own path.
Please share your comments below. I really value your opinions and perspective. Thank you!
Good points, Cindy! When I first started out – which was a couple years before I found you, I thought that the right “image” was really important to project in order to succeed. So, I spent a lot of time and energy refining whatever I thought my image should be. From the beginning, that caused me a lot of anxiety. Even before I finished my training in hypnotherapy I was feeling it strongly. I thought I had to fit the image of “The Hypnotist” to succeed. But that is so far from who I really am. I’m great with hypnosis – my clients are always impressed and experience big shifts in their lives, but I don’t have the authoritarian “you are getting sleeepy” personality. It gave me a really bad case of “imposter syndrome.” Yes there’s actually a popular psychological term for feeling like a fake! I caught on to the authentic marketing approach a little while before I found Attract Your Niche, so it was a huge confirmation of what I had been starting to integrate into my thinking. It has been a series of layers coming off, one after the other, and each time I feel this amazing sense of relief. “Wow! That totally wasn’t me!” and I’m already finding that people are responding to my marketing much more. And I haven’t even launched the new website yet! My current website is basically the old image toned down a bit with more authentic elements worked in. It’s as if people can feel you through the internet if you’re not in authentic alignment. And they can feel it when you are.
I love that Jason. It’s a great visual you’ve created about peeling back the layers of the onion. As I get older I realize more and more how it’s wonderful to just be who I am, in business and in life. Thanks for sharing that Jason – I really appreciate your words of wisdom.
I was thinking: Maybe we should ask marketers to supply a copy of their 1040 when they are feigning this or that. Then again, just look at the political characters who do not want to share that information– we can tell anyways, right? Well, not all of us can that easily maybe. Just kidding of course, but working on my Schedule C this week has made me take a REALLY REAL look at business. Yep, as you say, there is a difference between cash in and actual profit.
Hi Richard – thanks for stopping by. You are one of the most genuine and authentic marketers I know. You get it my friend!
Cindy, what you say is true for life. I am a Psychologist who deals often with depression, anxiety, relationships…you name it. Trusting and integrating self is fundamental to good health and connections! I appriciate you!
Thank you Charlotte. I appreciate you as well! You raise such a great point about how this applies to our lives as well. Thank you for sharing that. I’m sure there is a whole lot more you can teach us about this!
Hi Cindy,
You make some valid and honest points in your clip.
It gets annoying to read/listen/watch people falsely brag about
their “accomplishments”. Be authentic and truthful to yourself, so that you cannot
be anything BUT that to your clients and the community at large. Thats a powerful message that would be helpful for more and more people to embrace.
Thank you Harlan. I know that it’s all part of self promotion which is important, but the style in which it is sometimes done just doesn’t feel right to me.
Great insights Cindy! I think we get caught up in image too much in our society and on social media, so much so that when a real authentic person comes our way we like and trust that person almost immediately. Thanks for the vid…
Thank you Renee. That’s a great point about image in society as well as online. Well said – you’ve got my mind thinking
It’s so true! I found that being authentic is the only way, both for my personal life but also in my business. It’s a lesson I learned over many years because I used to believe that who I really was wasn’t good enough. Learning to be authentic, I found, takes courage because it required me to make myself emotionally vulnerable. That’s something I believed people wouldn’t like but I found that it gives others permission to be emotionally vulnerable too. As an Executive Life Coach, I find this a very powerful way to be.
Well said Sue! It does take courage. And I’ve found that when marketing yourself online, it takes that courage to a whole new level. You’re exposing yourself to many people at once and people you don’t even know. What will they think? You have to forget about those thoughts and realize that the right people will be attracted to the real you and not worry about the rest.
Being TRUE to one’s self, in all ways, is indeed SUCCESS. I take me with me everywhere I go, so I need to be true to ME and and live like I mean it—because I do. Cynthia
Thank you Cynthia. Those are words of inspiration indeed! Warm wishes, Cindy
Thanks Cindy,
That is so true. It’s so important to be oneself. I’m just starting out as a relationship coach… and I haven’t yet got down to any serious marketing. I’m at that “overwhelming” stage where I’m really not sure where to begin with so much of information thrown at me !! But thank you for your words…I’m looking forward to your webinar tomorrow.
Maureen
Hi Maureen – thanks for sharing that! I look forward to hearing your feedback after the webinar. Warm wishes, Cindy
Very interesting video – thank you. I really like the message of just being who are you are.
For a while now I have been thinking that some of the claims and promises out there are exaggerated and/or irresponsible because the people who buy into the products or the personality selling them just aren’t going to get the same results. If they did, there would be way more ‘millioniares in 6 weeks’ out there. 🙂
I started digging around and there is a growing movement of ethical and honest and collaborative practice, which I think is really exciting.
Thank you Nina! I’ve seen that kind of shift happening too and it’s about time. There are no magic bullets. It’s a constant process of learning, implementing, improving and growing. And the reality is, no matter how great a program or mentor or product is, it’s up to the person to not just invest their money, but their time and energy to take action on what they learn AND make it their own!
For me, authenticity is the only way. I’ve been transparent all my life. I refuse to put on a facade for anyone. It might take me a bit longer to get clients, but they will be the right ones. I also agree with not comparing yourself to others. You are unique!
So well said Linda. I spent enough years in the Corporate World “playing the game”. I refuse to do it anymore. This is who I am and what I’m all about and it’s incredibly liberating to embrace that, quirks and all.
he quicker we get there the better. It took me way too long to apply that in my career as well as my marriage. I’ve been applying it all my life in other areas.
Cindy,
I think many coaches and service professionals understand the idea of authentic self expression, of BEING who they are, yet many, if not most, have not taken the time or done the work for themselves to truly discover and embrace their own unique gift (of who they are) and what they have to offer the world. I believe our greatest gift, our purpose, is most accessible when we’re standing on the edge of our own transformational awareness. That is to say, when we are aware of the path we’ve traveled, of the work we’ve done, of the darkness our own brilliant light shines through, are we able to claim our truest and very best selves. There’s my 2 cents!
Hi Todd,
Thanks for taking the time to share your insights – definitely worth more than 2 cents:)
You raise a great point about not taking the time to identify our greatest gifts. Part of the problem, I’ve found, is that we are too close to our true gifts to be able to see them clearly. And we tend to undervalue what we bring to the table. When things come so naturally to us, we assume everyone else can do this too.
It’s so important to engage in that guided self-reflection. And it can also be extremely valuable to help you pull out the golden nuggets so you can see where you really shine.
Thanks again!
warm wishes,
Cindy
I think a lot of people are truly afraid thatcthey have nothing dynamic enough for people to follow!!! BIG lie!!! We were created for greatness! If we have the courage to be ourselves we’ll be pleasantly surprised! ! Thank you for bringing that to the forefront!!
I love that Aronlee – thank you so much for sharing that. We are just too darn close to our gifts to see them as such. We assume everyone else can do what we do so well. I’ve seen that with myself, my clients and even my kids. My son was setting up some new tech equipment for me yesterday and I told him how grateful I am that he can do this for me. He said all kids know how to do that. While kids are definitely tech savvy, he’s always had a gift for “connecting the dots” and building things. Hopefully he’ll find a way to use that gift in a creative way that benefits him and others. Thanks for sharing Aronlee!