How I went from invisible to in-demand (and you can too)
Read time: 5 minutes
This week, something cool happened: I was approached by someone who wants to pay me thousands to speak at a company-wide event in a couple of months.
Why?
Because they saw a single post I shared on LinkedIn last week. One post. On a topic I care about.
What’s crazy is that back in January 2024, I hadn’t posted a single thing on LinkedIn. I actively avoided it as I was so preoccupied with what people might think, and worried about being judged.
Eventually, I ripped the plaster off and started showing up, one post at a time.
Now that visibility has led to paid speaking, new clients, a new board, collaborations, and other opportunities that would never have happened.
So if you’re hesitating to put yourself out there because it feels cringey or scary—I absolutely get it. And I want to share some advice that helped me shift my mindset and get over the fear:
1. People aren’t paying as much attention as you think
I remember I’d overthink a post for 30 minutes, only for it to get 3 likes. At the time it felt awkward, but the truth is nobody cares as much as we think they do. 90% of the fear is in your head. It’s called The Spotlight Effect: we believe people are scrutinising us, but really they are too busy thinking about their own lives.
What helped me: When I felt self-conscious, I’d remind myself: “Most people won’t see or remember this post tomorrow.” That made it feel easier to experiment.
2. Know your 'why', and keep it central
If you’re showing up for a specific reason, e.g. to grow your business, land speaking gigs, or attract other opportunities, it’s so much easier to push through the discomfort.
Personally, I wanted to build a business I loved and that aligned with my values. It meant people needed to see me, so being visible became non-negotiable.
Try this: Write down the three core reasons you're growing your personal brand. Put them somewhere visible, so when you get nervous, you can revisit that list.
3. Surround yourself with people who get it
Posting consistently felt 10x easier once I found a group of others who were also trying to become more visible. We’d send each other drafts, hold each other accountable and cheer each other on. You don’t need a huge group—just one or two people you can support and be supported by.
Action step: Reach out to 1-2 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 stay in your comfort zone (to begin with)
It doesn’t always need to be your life story or a hot take. My first few posts were simple:
- A lesson I learned from building a startup
- An award I’d recently won, and what it meant to me
- A quote I’d read recently that made me think in a different way
Once I realised I didn’t need to bare my soul or go viral, it got easier.
Start here: Pick something low-pressure, e.g. a quote you love, a recent win, a thought from your industry. It doesn’t need to be perfect but helps build momentum.
5. Give yourself a goal to chase
Without something to work toward, it’s easy to drift or stop. I started by challenging myself to post twice a week for a month. No pressure around results, just post consistently. That’s when things started to shift.
Idea: Set one short-term and one longer-term goal, for example:
→ Short: Post once this week
→ Long: Sign 1 new client or customer via LinkedIn in the next 3 months
6. Create a system that removes the pressure
I used to sit down to write and go completely blank. Now I keep a running list of content ideas and note things down when I feel inspired.
Some weeks I write five posts in one go. Other times, I repurpose something I’ve previously posted. Planning ahead helps me stay consistent even when things get busy.
Quick tip: Block out 30 minutes one weekend to plan 3 post ideas. Then get at least one scheduled.
The bottom line
You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to show up. If I can go from hiding to landing paid speaking gigs from LinkedIn posts... so can you.
The fear doesn’t fully go away. But confidence builds as you do the thing anyway. So go ahead—rip the plaster off.
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 need 1:1 coaching or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat!
And if you' like to book me to speak make an enquiry here :)
