3 Clues I Was Hiding and Didn’t Even Know It!

A little while ago, I had gained a lot of weight over the course of a few years. My body was a bit out of whack and the stress of being a fairly new entrepreneur had been taking its toll on my energy levels and my “me” time. I wasn’t exercising and my meal planning was non-existent. I was just spinning my wheels when it came to my health and personal self-care.

For that reason, I delayed booking a photo shoot FOREVER and really didn’t show up as much as I knew I could be (or should be) showing up online to get in front of my community…

The thing was – I didn’t really think I was hiding… at first!

I didn’t “hide” on purpose – it was just sort of happening. I was avoiding it without really knowing I was avoiding it.
And you may say – that’s crazy Leigh! You are so visible online – how could you be hiding?

My first clue was when I started using Facebook Live to engage and inspire my community

In four short weeks, I attracted 18 new clients and transformed my business with incredible efficiency and impact. I had a hard time remembering what business was like before Live Video because NOW I was getting visible strategically and it transformed everything for me!

I realized how showing up in a bigger way and getting visible with strategy amplified my own business momentum and message – almost effortlessly!

The second clue was that even then, I still basically only “lived” into my business page or my personal Facebook groups

I avoided my personal profile page with excuses around keeping my business posts separate from my personal posts.The thing is – my business is personal…

The strategy and work I do with my clients is personal – and the reason for that is that in order for marketing to work, it has to feel good, it has to be personal and it has to be real. And yes my friends, that makes my job, my business…personal!

In order for marketing to work, it has to feel good, it has to be personal and it has to be real.

I just never felt ready or I was waiting to lose another 5 lbs before getting in front of a bigger audience…

The third clue was that I was still hiding in my own way was that people were confused when they saw me in real life

I looked different than my print banners and social media graphics. (I guess dying your hair platinum blond and pretty much shaving half of it off will make you look different right off the bat!)

The kicker was when I was asked to submit my speaker photos for an upcoming event and I realized the last time I had a photo shoot was years ago! I couldn’t believe it.

I realized this unclaimed “fear” was also spreading its wings into other areas of my marketing… like my social media profile pics, my print materials, and even my website. I was unaware of it – yet it was manifesting itself into every corner of my business.

It was STOPPING ME from up-leveling my business and myself!

So I decided to go ALL OUT

Not only did I book a photo shoot but I Facebook LIVED it from my PERSONAL profile page… Don’t believe me? You can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/leighhargrove/videos/10157454254785431/

The result was over 700 views (and rising since this post!) and almost 80 comments plus multiple PMs telling me how much people needed to Whathear my message! I couldn’t believe it.

If YOU need to hear this message – to stop hiding and get in front of more people – I encourage you to watch this video, look at how people engaged through the shoot – how we brought them into my world and actually had them direct parts of the shoot!

It was very meaningful for me to share this with my online community but I think it helped people see ways in which they may be hiding too. The greatest thing for me? It was so liberating! And that is empowering in itself!

What does “getting visible” mean, anyway?

A lot of people right now are talking about getting visible, but I think that means something different for everyone. I think that first, we need to understand if we are being as visible as possible in the first place.

Next, thinking or being told you are not visible enough is one thing. But most people get stopped there.

However, using visibility as a strategy to build and grow your business in entirely another way to look at things!

Which one is a MORE EMPOWERING viewpoint?

I have to say STRATEGY!

People NEED to hear you!

How visible are you? Take my quiz! I always ask myself these questions to test my emotional reality. Sometimes we think we’re online ALL.The.Time. when we are, in reality, just not in the right ways!

People need to hear your message, your insights, and your expertise. Are you getting in front of those people in a strategic way that is helping you grow your business and help more people? If not, (or if you want to do it faster and more efficiently) connect with me or shoot me an email – let me know how you want to change the world and make a difference!

In the meantime, I’d love to share ideas with you about how to do that in a way that feels good – keep me posted on your journey!