What Changed Everything for Me (And Why Visibility Doesn’t Have to Feel Gross)

October 16, 2025
AI, Introverts, LinkedIn, Personal Branding

Almost 20 years ago, I had a problem.

I started a new role in the meetings and events space – and I loved my new work—helping meeting planners find hotels and destinations for their programs. I even loved negotiating contracts (yep, I’m that person). It was my niche. It was needed. And I was good at it.

But there was one thing that got in the way if me serving my clients:

Finding them.

My boss at the time, who (bless his heart) taught me how to build a business, did so using the traditional sales methods – networking and cold calling.

Both activities which, sadly to say, I sucked at as an introvert.

It involved making small talk, exchanging cards, and hoping someone remembered me later.

Activities that drained me. It made me question if I could even do this. It made me wonder if I had to become someone else just to get clients.

And then something changed.

What if I used this new fandangled fad called social media??? Social media had just entered the scene a few years prior, and people using it were still considered early adopters. Back then, it was clunky. Weird. New. But I saw something in it—a way to connect without cold calls, awkward coffee meetings, or handing out business cards like breath mints.

So I tried it. (Twitter was my sword of choice at first….)

And slowly, I started posting. I shared what I knew, showed up with value, and gave people a way to get to know me before they ever talked to me on the phone or in a networking room

That was the shift.
That’s when I realized: I didn’t have to “network” anymore—I just had to show up.

Why Visibility Is Different Now

If you’ve been thinking, “I know I need to build my brand, but I don’t want to be a content machine,” I see you.

The good news? You don’t have to be.

Today, thought leadership is accessible to everyone. Social media leveled the playing field, and you can create thought leadership WITHOUT social as well! You don’t need a huge platform or to go viral.

You just need to share your voice in a way that feels real to you.

And that can happen in different ways:

3 Thought Leadership Pathways (Pick What Fits You)

Social Media
This may seem obvious—but also the most misunderstood. You don’t need to post daily or dance on reels. Social media is simply a tool—and when used with purpose, it becomes one of the most scalable ways to share your ideas and build trust.

Easy way to start:

Share a client win or lesson once a week.
Comment on industry posts with your perspective.
Post a poll or quick “this or that” in your stories to spark small engagement.

It’s about showing up as a guide, not a guru.

Customer Experience
Want to build trust fast? Let your current clients do the talking. When people experience working with you and tell others about it, that is your brand in action.

Easy way to start:

Ask one happy client for a testimonial and post it as a quote graphic.
Create a short “what it’s like to work with me” email you send post-onboarding.
Add a mini welcome video or branded checklist to your onboarding sequence.

Thought leadership doesn’t always have to be public—it’s the experience you create.

Real-World Networking (But Better)
Networking doesn’t have to mean awkward mixers or name-tag anxiety. You get to reframe it as relationship-building on your terms.

Easy way to start:

Host a casual coffee Q&A on Zoom with 3-5 peers or clients.
Create a branded referral guide or one-pager for your top contacts.
Join a LinkedIn group or Slack channel and start replying to others’ posts.

When you control the format, networking becomes energizing instead of draining.

Can this change everything for you?

What changed my life 20 years ago was realizing that I didn’t have to shout, pretend, or chase.

All I had to do was show up consistently in a way that worked for me.

That’s what thought leadership is. That’s what being of service to our clients and prospects is. Not being loud, but being clear.
Not being famous, but being findable.

And if you’re ready to lean into that? To finally build a brand that gets you seen—on your terms—

Then I’d love to invite you to my free 3-day challenge:

The Visibility Sprint: A Thought Leadership Kickstart

October 21–23 | 3 live sessions | Free to join

We’ll help you: