Hey, Reader!

It's my birthday today!

While I was hoping to give you all the gift of my Personal Branding Visibility Quiz, I'm still putting the final touches on it.

It launches next Tuesday—just one more week of tweaking to make sure it's properly dialed in.

In the meantime, let me tell you about something I learned this week that completely reframed how I think about personal branding.

I went down a rabbit hole watching a content strategist who grew to 8 million followers explain his framework. And what he said stopped me in my tracks:

"The personal brands that break through don't just talk about their skills. They share three things: skills, passions, and stories."

Remember a couple weeks ago when I told you about the woman with 15 years experience who kept removing and re-adding two lines about her background?

"I took it out. And I put it in. And I took it out. And I put it in."

This framework explains exactly why she was struggling—and why your background isn't the problem. Your narrow definition of "what counts" as brand content is.

Let me show you what I mean.

3 content pillars that make personal branding easier

Most of us have been told to "niche down" and post only about our expertise.

But the personal brands that actually break through don't just talk about their skills. They share three things: skills, passions, and stories.

Here's what each pillar should contain:

1. SKILLS - What you know how to do

This is your expertise, frameworks, and tactical advice. The "how-to" content that demonstrates you know your stuff.

What to include:

• Step-by-step processes
• Frameworks and templates
• Tips and techniques
• Problem-solving advice
• Educational content that helps your audience get results

Example: "Here's the framework I use to help clients do XYZ"

This is the pillar most people focus on exclusively. It's important—but it's not enough on its own.

2. PASSIONS - What lights you up

This is your values, lifestyle, interests outside work, and what you stand for. The "why I do it this way" content that shows your personality and approach.

What to include:

• Your values and beliefs (anti-hustle, spacious business building)
• What matters to you outside of work
• Your approach to life and business
• What you're learning or exploring
• Causes you care about
• How you spend your time

Example: "Why I choose spacious business building over hustle culture" or "What yoga taught me about sustainable business growth"

This pillar is what makes you relatable and helps people decide if they want to work with you specifically—not just anyone who does what you do.

3. STORIES - Where you've been

This is your career transitions, life experiences, lessons learned, and what shaped your perspective. The "this is how I got here" content that builds trust and credibility.

What to include:

• Your professional background and career journey
• Transitions you've made (corporate to entrepreneur, career pivots)
• Mistakes and lessons learned
• Client transformations
• Personal experiences that inform your work
• The messy middle life moments

Example: "What 26 years in corporate taught me about brand clarity" or "Why I kept deleting my background from my website (and why I finally left it)"

This is the pillar that woman with 15 years experience was agonising over. She thought her first aid training background was irrelevant. It's not, it's a story pillar that demonstrates teaching expertise, ability to work with diverse audiences, and credibility.

Your corporate background? That's a story pillar.

Your career transition? That's a story pillar.

Your age and experience? That's a story pillar.

Stop treating it like baggage. It's content.

Your turn: Pick your realistic posting frequency, then make sure you're rotating through all three pillars. Not just skills. All three.

2 things i'm loving

✦ 25 things to say to your children

People show love in many different ways. If your love language is not always words of affirmation, here are a few things you might say to your children, if they feel right to you… Check them out.​

✦ 5 really useful tools I use to grow my business

I just shared a carousel on Instagram with the five tools I actually use to run my business (without burning out). From Canva for quick graphics to Kit for email list growth, these are the essentials that keep me organised and consistent. I only share what I genuinely use and recommend. Grab the link

1 affirmation to action

With love & embracing visibility,
xo, Louise 🫶

P.S. Coming next Tuesday: The Personal Brand Visibility Quiz. It takes 90 seconds and diagnoses which of these elements is breaking down for you. Watch your inbox next Tuesday.

Spread the Love. Share with a Friend.

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