Letting your uniqueness shine in your marketing

If you come from a generationally traumatized family like mine, you might always be trying not to be noticed. When you’ve been hurt, disappearing feels much safer. But what if you’ve chosen a career path where you’ll need to be noticed publicly if you want to succeed?

Let’s dig in.

When I was a kid, my family norms were clear: We don’t let other people see what’s really going on. Often, my friends would say to me, “Your family seems so perfect!” I’d agree, not letting on to the many (normal, human) struggles we were each going through.

Even now, I can feel this lineage echoing in my behaviors: When I go to a restaurant, I hesitate to ask them to adapt my meal. When I’m on public transportation, I try to keep my body as still as possible to avoid notice. I find myself attempting to keep my kids quiet when we’re out in public, and I rarely get up to go to the bathroom during a movie, lest I disturb everyone around me. I try to avoid going to parties where I’m afraid I’ll offend someone if I need to leave early.

In short, my nervous system’s thermostat is set to this belief: Make sure no one notices you, and you’ll stay safe.

But here’s the issue: I’m currently making moves in my life to become more public. I want to share the big ideas I have about building…