How Embracing Your Unique Identity Can Help You Build A Stronger Brand

By Doug Bennett aka The Goals Guy® with special guest Brianna Schoeman

What do you think it means to “stand out from the crowd?”

Does your mind automatically leap to catchphrases like “visibility” or “cutting through the noise”? 

In a recent conversation with Brianna Schoeman, The Heartwired Coach, she completely debunked this misconception! You can listen to our full conversation on the Goals Do Come True podcast.

According to Brianna, building a successful brand goes beyond surface-level visibility and edgy catchphrases. Instead, it involves embracing your own unique identity and truly channelling and representing your values, experiences, and beliefs.

Is this something you’re willing to do?

Learning from your own experiences

Almost everyone has a backstory of how they faced adversity head-on and came out on top. As you probably already know, mine was that I moved from the edge of bankruptcy and debt to financial freedom.

The catharsis that comes with telling these stories of harder times can be highly addictive. But as Brianna pointed out, the real magic happens when we’re able to learn from these unique experiences and embody the lessons in our branding.

Brianna: “Every day, we see a lot of people share their stories of hardships and tribulations. These stories can be really emotional and motivating, but with the sheer number of them, they’ve completely lost their magic. So now, it feels like we’re airing our dirty laundry, as opposed to telling stories in a way that not only resonates with people but also inspires them to take some action. 

In the work that I do with my clients, it’s less about telling those deep, heart-wrenching stories. Instead, it’s more about learning the message from that experience and channelling that in their branding, transforming and helping other people to learn. That’s the only way we can build a strong brand and establish ourselves as experts.”

True success comes from your freedom of expression

Most entrepreneurs have an avid fear of being vulnerable, of giving people a glimpse behind the scenes. This fear shows up in the way you approach your branding strategies, and ultimately, could be the very thing holding you back!

In Brianna’s words, the success we seek often comes from our freedom of expression.

Brianna: “As business owners, we have this desire to appear professional, like we’ve got it all together. But in reality, people resonate far more with the imperfections; with who you really are behind the curtains; with those moments where you can be a bit goofy or cheeky.

We all want to be accepted and loved for who we are, but how can this happen if we’re not being that person? It’s being able to unleash these hidden aspects of yourself and show up as this whole person, not just as who you think you need to be. That’s what makes for a successful brand.”

The best breakthroughs might also stem from finding your tribe. Recently, I stumbled upon a powerful saying that has stuck with me ever since. 

If there are 100 people in a room, approximately 20 may like you, another 20 may dislike you, while the remaining 60 will likely be indifferent.

So, it’s highly important to find your 20 per cent – people who genuinely resonate with your brand and approach. With over eight billion people on the planet, imagine what would happen if a smidgen of that number believed in you!

Understanding and embracing your unique human design

Brianna: “ Human design is one of the tools I use to fully delve into what shapes a person’s identity. As humans, we all have some kind of genetic makeup that makes us more inclined to act a certain way and desire certain things. So, with my clients, I like to dive into their past experiences, as well as their ‘why’. Why did they start their business in the first place?

The truth is that only a few of us actually know what our ‘why’ is? You may have a vague idea, but not to the extent where you can fully harness the emotions behind it and present them to the world in a compelling manner that attracts YOUR people.

This is where coaching comes in handy. It gives you the safety and acceptance you need to truly understand the embrace who you are? empowering you to reach your highest potential.”

I particularly loved Brianna’s nugget about seeking guidance and support to embrace your unique identity. As business owners, we all need that extra modicum of support. This is why coaching is such a powerful resource! 

The next steps

As Brianna pointed out, we can only create something that’s truly indicative of our potential when we fully understand what we’re trying to accomplish. And, in order to have that knowledge, we must be willing to confront our past experiences, extract the lessons from them, and apply them to other circumstances. 

It’s not merely about laying your heart on the line or sharing your life on social media. It’s about embracing who you truly are – the badges, the scars, and the terrible experiences – and harnessing them to create a high-calibre life for yourself. That’s what shapes the trajectory of your brand.

Having reflected on what Brianna has shared, how do you feel about being vulnerable and personal with your audience? Are you willing to embrace your unique design? What lessons can you extract from your past experiences?

If you’re in a position to start taking action, click here to book a free discovery call with me to find out more about how I can support you along this journey.