How entrepreneurs can unlock brand potential through vulnerability.
You’re growing your brand, and a sudden existential crisis hits - you feel completely exposed. Sounds detrimental, right? Wrong. This is actually where the magic starts to happen (and I feel a spark of joy). Vulnerability - and leaning into it - is the difference between a brand that connects for the moment, or the long-haul. The choosing is up to you. Your brand’s fullest, most authentic expression is on the other side of your personal vulnerability. If you can commit to making vulnerability your friend, it will work on your behalf. Here’s why:
It pushes you beyond small-play.
There’s a time for safe and steady. It’s where emerging brands gain footing and build up skin. Gotta walk before you can run, right? When maintaining your status quo becomes less about establishing your foundation and more about quieting your fears, you’ll know it. It’s an openness to that fear that allows big decisions and bigger moves.
It unlocks meaningful storytelling.
The notion of ‘brand strategy’ can carry a rigidness. Afford yourself the permission to get messy, take time, take the path less travelled, or even change course. Being aware and in touch with the richness of your brand’s journey - highs and lows - keeps your message human-first and connective. Authentic and trustworthy brands are unafraid of revealing imperfection.
It delimits your entrepreneurial and personal path.
You are your brand, and your brand is you. And that’s not to say you’re destined to wear your many (many) hats forever. Investing in your brand’s development is investing in yourself, and pursuing purpose in your career is often where your greatest personal work will unfold. You may even find yourself loving and believing in #1 a little more.
It allows you to welcome (and accept) support.
When you’re firmly rooted in your brand purpose, you can loosen your grip on the control you once craved. Vulnerability not only connects you with value-aligned supporters and ambassadors - it makes leaning on them possible. The help to define or share your message further is just one instance where marrow studio comes in.
A final word: Vulnerability doesn’t look the same for everyone. You might naturally wear your heart on your sleeve, but the thought of creating and sharing the work you actually want to be doing? Often instant nakedness. And not the fun kind. You might build on your vision with a deep knowing, but feel paralyzed to take up space sharing your story, or revealing the successes and struggles behind it.
Curious? If you’re ready to uncover your brand’s purpose and take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey, let’s connect.
For more on the power of getting vulnerable, queue up Unlocking Us with Brene Brown - a podcast by the celebrated researcher, author, lecturer and lifelong-chaser of messy, real, human connectedness. Our personal fave episode features Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed: Listen here.
As poet Danielle Doby, says: “It’s when we break a little, we come alive. It’s in this space of feeling, we expand. And it’s here, in our vulnerability and openness, we step into our greatest selves.”
