I loved reading this and can resonate with most parts. I am also someone who hesitates a lot to put myself out there as a financial health planner and share financial management expertise. It gets exhausting when we feel we have to be performative to promote ourselves as a "personal brand" online. It feels superficial.
Recently I too attended a marketing workshop on how to sell financial advice as an expert and it was very enlightening for me. I am more comfortable now and know how to put myself out there without sounding too salesy. Hehe.
So glad it resonated for you, Shafa! I could see how there's similarity between your business and mine... That's a good goal: "put myself out there without sounding too salsey." I hate it when I feel like I'm being salsey!
I relate to this so much! I’ve never heard the term “promotophobia” before but i definitely have it haha. I relate to the feeling of having a lot of creative ideas and thoughts to share but wanting to hide at the same time. I recognize that part of that is figuring out how vulnerable I want to be on the internet as a therapist. I’ve always been on the private, introverted side so navigating social media and an online presence has been a journey. I recently googled my name and noticed my Substack pops up and I cringe at the thought of people I know “in real life” finding me here 😅
I look forward to reading the next two parts to this Debbie!
It was a revelation to me when I learned about "promotophobia!" I don't know if it's actually a real, clinical term, but it doesn't matter, it's scary to put stuff out there.
I totally relate to that fear of people looking me up and finding me! Yikes! And yet, I keep putting stuff online - Ha!
Totally feel you on all of this. I got on substack as exposure therapy for putting myself out there, because I had an urge to be more creative in my career but my fears were holding me back. A lot of what you mentioned are things I grapple with: around self-promotion, doing it wrong, self-disclosing as a therapist, and accurately explaining therapeutic topics with nuance. It’s still so hard but I do feel like being on substack has helped me challenge the fears and chase my values! You have inspired me to find someone to help with branding…
Posting on Substack is totally exposure therapy! At least for those of us who struggle with putting ourselves out there. And... Substack is getting to be the platform I love the most, because it feels the most thoughtful and real and creative to me. I'm trying to ditch a few social media platforms, and Substack is NOT on the chopping block.
Thanks for reaching out, Amber! It sounds like we've had very similar feelings and experiences when it comes to promoting our work.
Debbie, I think this essay is so on point, things I think about a lot but struggle to articulate, so thank you for giving me the language. ALSO. Have you read Naomi Klein's "No Logo"? I know you loved Doppelganger;)
Aww - thanks! I started No Logo recently, but haven't made it very far yet, just because I'm reading so many things right now... I was hoping to read it before I wrote this essay so I could cite it, but alas that has not happened yet! She did have a chapter about this in Doppelganger, which I loved!
I loved reading this and can resonate with most parts. I am also someone who hesitates a lot to put myself out there as a financial health planner and share financial management expertise. It gets exhausting when we feel we have to be performative to promote ourselves as a "personal brand" online. It feels superficial.
Recently I too attended a marketing workshop on how to sell financial advice as an expert and it was very enlightening for me. I am more comfortable now and know how to put myself out there without sounding too salesy. Hehe.
So glad it resonated for you, Shafa! I could see how there's similarity between your business and mine... That's a good goal: "put myself out there without sounding too salsey." I hate it when I feel like I'm being salsey!
I relate to this so much! I’ve never heard the term “promotophobia” before but i definitely have it haha. I relate to the feeling of having a lot of creative ideas and thoughts to share but wanting to hide at the same time. I recognize that part of that is figuring out how vulnerable I want to be on the internet as a therapist. I’ve always been on the private, introverted side so navigating social media and an online presence has been a journey. I recently googled my name and noticed my Substack pops up and I cringe at the thought of people I know “in real life” finding me here 😅
I look forward to reading the next two parts to this Debbie!
It was a revelation to me when I learned about "promotophobia!" I don't know if it's actually a real, clinical term, but it doesn't matter, it's scary to put stuff out there.
I totally relate to that fear of people looking me up and finding me! Yikes! And yet, I keep putting stuff online - Ha!
Totally feel you on all of this. I got on substack as exposure therapy for putting myself out there, because I had an urge to be more creative in my career but my fears were holding me back. A lot of what you mentioned are things I grapple with: around self-promotion, doing it wrong, self-disclosing as a therapist, and accurately explaining therapeutic topics with nuance. It’s still so hard but I do feel like being on substack has helped me challenge the fears and chase my values! You have inspired me to find someone to help with branding…
Posting on Substack is totally exposure therapy! At least for those of us who struggle with putting ourselves out there. And... Substack is getting to be the platform I love the most, because it feels the most thoughtful and real and creative to me. I'm trying to ditch a few social media platforms, and Substack is NOT on the chopping block.
Thanks for reaching out, Amber! It sounds like we've had very similar feelings and experiences when it comes to promoting our work.
I love this Debbie! You capture my experience so well, too. I'm already excited to read Parts 2 and 3!
Thank you, Emily!
Debbie, I think this essay is so on point, things I think about a lot but struggle to articulate, so thank you for giving me the language. ALSO. Have you read Naomi Klein's "No Logo"? I know you loved Doppelganger;)
Oh, AND. I LOVE your new logo/website!
Aww - thanks! I started No Logo recently, but haven't made it very far yet, just because I'm reading so many things right now... I was hoping to read it before I wrote this essay so I could cite it, but alas that has not happened yet! She did have a chapter about this in Doppelganger, which I loved!
Have you read it, Yael?
No Logo didn’t grab me as much as Doppelganger, either, I confess!
That's true, it didn't grab me either. Things change SO fast in the world, it felt outdated. Even though the concepts are still 100% true!!