A few years ago, I made the decision to build my personal brand.

I started with the basics.
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First, I cleaned up my social media profiles.
Then, I built my own website using Squarespace.
Lastly, I doubled down on content creation.

Over time I was able to build an engaged audience across multiple platforms.

But something was off...

The content I was making felt inauthentic. It seemed like I was using Instagram and LinkedIn as a means to bolster myself up and make up for the insecurities I felt deep within.
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Almost as if to say, "Look, here I am! Here's what I can do and how much I know. Now, do you trust me?" I realized that I was building a personal brand out of fear and insecurity, and not from a place of love and authenticity.

When I started using TikTok, everything changed.

I started making videos because I wanted to (because it brought me pleasure) and not for anyone else. I documented my travels, shared stories from my life, and stopped trying to be something I wasn’t.
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After almost ten years of creating content, my first viral video was about loneliness, and it changed the way I viewed personal branding forever.
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It felt rewarding to share something that resonated with so many people. Something that wasn’t educational, informative, or anything of that nature.

It was just…. me. A reflection of how I felt on the inside.

For the first time, things started to click.

I stopped sharing the story I thought others wanted to hear and I started telling the story that was true for me.
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I began to use social media as an outlet for creativity and self-expression, while still sharing helpful information that showed others how to build their personal brand.
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I stopped struggling through content creation and I started enjoying it.

The results were surprising.​
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My business grew exponentially, I started working with clients who were an amazing fit for me, and I grew an audience of 150k+ in less than a year.
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I was asked to share my expertise at conferences like Social Media Week and host workshops for companies like Walmart.
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My writing was featured in places like Foundr and Entrepreneur Magazine.
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Above all else, I felt truly confident for the first time in a long time and was able to share my story with more self-assurance than ever before.

I started building my personal brand because I thought it would help me "look the part."

What I didn’t expect, was that personal branding is so much deeper than updating my LinkedIn profile or starting a blog.
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It cannot and will never be a construct to hide behind; rather personal branding is about sharing who you truly are with people. It’s a pathway to discover your purpose.

What I know from coaching hundreds of people is that no individual is the same; everyone has a unique story to share and a purpose they are called to fulfill.
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Do you know what yours is and how to communicate it to the world? Hit 'reply' and share it with me.

And, hey, if you don't... a program like Personal Brand Accelerator can help you uncover your story, clarify your message, and share it in a way that’s powerful, imaginative and highly-effective.
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A new round starts January 30 and we are officially open for enrollment. Have you applied yet?  Start Here. 

Anna Vatuone
​Founder, Personal Brand Accelerator