The season of renewal- and leaping
April. A 1/3rd of the year is already over. Amidst this passage of time, ticking ever faster, I've found comfort in the fact that sometimes, you must regroup and take stock before you can continue. Like a spring clean, it's rather fulfilling to clear the decks, give everything a spruce, and, whatever you call it, recharge.
Like renovating a house, I've renovated my brand, going back to the beginning to really think about what I wanted and what was right for me and my clients. This move has miraculous consequences in unexpected ways- but more on that later.
In what may seem a somewhat ironic move, primarily as I work in the branding sphere, I've gone backwards (and inwards) to move forward. Instead of doing the same thing differently, I've ripped up my brand playbook and written a fresh new one.
Share the knowledge
I've always felt the pull to teach, to share my craft and knowledge with others. Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a problem solver—give me a problem, and I'll find a solution, however complex the issue. When I had my own business, Utterly Horses, I would spend hours writing how-to articles and filming content to teach our customers how to make saddles for their model horses and other accessories. Teaching came naturally, sometimes too naturally, like when writing copy or content showing, not telling.
For years, I've tried to move away from that in business, taking on the advice that "don't give anything away for free". I tried to mould myself into a different form, almost with the viewpoint that "teaching is not for me" or "no one will want to know what I know." For years, I would tell myself this narrative, not allowing myself to think what could become of it. I told myself it was for my own good.
"There are other branding experts out there that can teach."
"I'm not good enough. I'm not an expert".
"I don't know enough. I have not enough experience".
All those phrases that us humans constantly tell ourselves.
Even with this stream of consciousness, the possibility still sat with me. It was a thought that I couldn't shake off, however much I tried. And so, I gave in. I got curious.
I brand differently from everyone else. Like multiple routes to the top of a mountain, I brand in a way that's intuitive and heartfelt, breaking complex things down into easy-to-understand stages. I still end up at the same destination- building a standout brand- so wasn't that something to share and celebrate with others rather than tuck into a corner and hide from view? What if my knowledge could help people?
The lightbulb moment
I'd been contemplating whether to teach or not to teach for months (I know, I know). I've watched the leaves burst to life on the trees, the daffodils bloom, and the warmth of the sun return, and I've realised that life is too short for what-ifs not to embrace it, to run towards what scares you, rather than shy away.
It could be due to the onset of middle-age talking. It could be rebellion to the bone-sucking tiredness and speed of the modern world. It could be the desire to do something kind, to be that beacon that there is such a thing as a free lunch. It could be the simple act of wanting to do what feels right rather than what is always done.
Action speaks louder than words, and so, may I proudly introduce you to the newest version of The Brand Artisan, my humble branding academy, consultancy, and micro-branding agency devoted to empowering and supporting entrepreneurs in creating remarkable brands.
It's a place that combines easy-to-understand micro-branding courses, brand consultancy and mentoring, and my exclusive 1:1 done-for-you service under one big umbrella.
On one side, I'm teaching, and on the other, I'm doing, with the glue that connects the two sides: help.
I've overhauled my website and created my first-ever free resources, and my social media channels actually have content. It's nothing short of a miracle (you know, the kind that you won't speak about just in case you jinx it).
I've thrown open the doors, offering free support, complimentary calls, and a whole host of unrestricted resources to anyone and everyone who wants to learn what I know—and you know what? It's so liberating to say yes rather than no, to give out that wisdom so freely rather than locking it all behind a paywall. To say "Yes, I can help" when often the world says "No, you must pay."
Writing the next chapter
If this newest version of The Brand Artisan fails, it fails, but at least I would know and can say with all my heart that I tried. I gave it a shot, fully aligned with what I feel and know. If I can help a budding entrepreneur create a brand they adore or support a solopreneur in their quest to achieve their goal, then I’ve done my job.
So, fellow readers, this is my little story sharing the first-hand wisdom to embrace fear rather than shirk it. To hold that little whisper and question that won't go away tight and lean into it. To be curious with the question "what if" and, if all else fails, to take that leap of faith. As the line in Erin Hanson's poem says, "What if I fall?"
The answer is simple. "Oh, but my darling, What if you fly?"
We'll find out.
