6 ways to stop overthinking & start showing up
Read time: 4 minutes
If the thought of personal branding or posting on LinkedIn makes you cringe, you’re not alone.
The most common comments or questions I get from people are around:
- Feeling shy about posting publicly
- Worrying about other’s opinions
- Having the confidence to start
So many professionals and business owners struggle to put themselves out there because of the fear of judgment.
And I understands those concerns, as I was there too; it took me literally months to get over the fear of being seen.
Here’s the proof: a conversation with a friend one year ago (almost to the day!). I was hiding myself away and wondering how to get started.
At this point, I had never posted on LinkedIn....
I’ve since learnt that building a personal brand isn’t about being perfect, it’s literally about showing up in any way you can.
Here’s what helped me rip the plaster off and start posting with confidence:
1. The Spotlight Effect: people care less than you think
We often overestimate how much people notice or judge us. It’s called the Spotlight Effect. We think we’re being scrutinised, when in reality people are more focused on themselves.
That typo or spelling mistake? Most people won’t have noticed.
The post that got no engagement? Someone may have read it and been impacted without ever engaging.
How to take action:
- Just remember: most people are scrolling quickly and don’t analyse your content.
- When you feel the self-doubt, shift focus to your message rather than yourself.
2. Clarify your ‘why’ (and make it a strong one)
When you build a brand and share content without having a clear purpose it makes it easier to back out.
WHY are you building a personal brand?
- To grow a business?
- To establish credibility?
- To find clients or partnerships?
When you have a strong ‘why’, fear has much less power over you. Personal branding become a means to an end, stepping stones toward a bigger goal—rather than just isolated pieces of content.
How to take action:
- Write down your top three reasons for wanting to build a personal brand.
- When you start to wobble, revisit the list and remind yourself why you started.
3. Find a community for support & accountability
I found things much easier when I started speaking with others who wanted to achieve the same outcome.
Surrounding yourself with like-minded people makes a big difference.
A supportive community (even if it’s only one or two other people) can cheer you on, offer constructive feedback, and provide accountability.
And it’s much easier to stick with this journey and post consistently when you have accountability.
How to take action:
- Find other people who are also building their brand, and form a group.
- Check in regularly, and find ways to keep each other accountable.
4. Start small and post what feels comfortable
I always think the best entry point is to start with content that feels easy, for example:
- Some insights from the work you do
- Tips around your area of expertise
- Sharing a recent win
Not every post has to be a deep personal story or a viral opinion.
The goal is to build momentum not to have the ‘perfect’ post or outcome.
How to take action:
- Pick one low-pressure post idea (e.g. a quote you like, or a lesson from your industry).
- Commit to sharing something small within the next week.
5. Set clear goals to stay motivated
When posting and being visible feels hard, having a clear goal keeps you going.
It could be anything, for example:
- Post twice a week for a month
- Get to your first 2000 followers
- Land a conversation with a potential client
I find that having milestones keeps motivation up, and makes the process more rewarding.
How to take action:
- Define one short-term and one long-term goal for your personal branding.
- Track progress, and pat yourself on the back for reaching your goals!
6. Plan ahead to stay consistent
It’s not easy to show up regularly: you run out of ideas, you second guess yourself, you feel tired, and you don’t feel like writing.
The best thing you can do is have a content plan to keep you on track.
Pre-planning your posts removes the stress of deciding what to say in the moment. Even when you have a dip in confidence, you’ll have something ready to go.
How to take action:
- Set aside 30 minutes to plan 3-5 posts in advance.
- Use a scheduling tool or simple reminders to stay consistent.
By far the most important aspect of building a personal brand is showing up consistently and connecting with others.
The first few posts might feel uncomfortable, but it does get easier. You’ve got something valuable to share - so share it :)
Hope this helps!
Speak soon,
Dupé
PS: whenever you're ready, feel free to enquire about working together: Get guidance on how to be more visible and grow your brand. Whether you’re looking for 1:1 coaching, or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat!
