Self-erasure → Self-creation

Hi Cringers,

It’s been a while…truth is I’ve been feeling at a loss for words recently with (waves hands at world) everything going on.

There have been days when I have wanted to disappear from the Internet, to stop writing, and turn into some specter roaming the woods of Maine.

Because as much as I believe in the power of visibility for helping people get where they want to go, I also recognize the many risks that come with it, especially now.

The pull towards self-erasure is something I’ve fought against my whole life in different ways and is a core theme in the work I do with many clients.

Most of us spend our lives fighting it in one way or another:

- Do we speak or stay silent?

- Do we say what we believe or what we need to say to fit in?

- Do we speak our minds or say what the boss/client wants to hear?

And while most of us would probably like to say we speak up, say what we believe, and do so despite who is in the room, the reality is that survival and “being true to yourself” aren’t always compatible.

Unless you’re independently wealthy or truly don’t give an F, you’re going to have to suppress yourself in one way or another here and there.

The problem is when self-erasure becomes so core to your existence that you don’t even know what you’re silencing anymore.

Unfortunately, for many of my clients, self-erasure was the cost of entry for their often long and “successful” corporate careers.

Acceptance and moving up a rung on the ladder tends to require a certain level of compromise, deference, and dulling.

It's no wonder, then, that many of my clients struggle to define their style, positioning, and message when they transition from corporate to self-employment.

When you spend years muting yourself, it can be hard to own your voice again.

That's why "digital identity design sessions" often feel more like self-reclamation sessions.

Instead of creating for a boss, peers, or customers, my clients are creating something for themselves (finally!).

What starts as a conversation about a personal brand logo, LinkedIn profile glow-up, or template designs for their social accounts often turns into more introspective work about:

- Who they are

- What they want

- What they want to project

- How their experiences/skills/dreams have led them to where they are today

It's energizing to see clients go from operating from a place of self-erasure → self-creation in the span of an hour.

Digital identity design offers a visual way to self-reflect and rebuild self-trust and self-agency.

This is what motivates me to keep going, to stay visible, and encourage the people I work with to do the same.

That’s why I do what I do.

So,

Yes, I want you to get more visible to attract more opportunities.

Yes, I want you to show up online in a way that looks professional, premium, and true to who you are.

But more than any of this, I want you to reclaim yourself proudly and without compromise because I believe the more individuals know themselves, trust themselves, and act guided by self-agency, the better for us all.

And I believe the self-employed are in the best position to do this.

This doesn’t mean you have to take big risks or stand on a stage if you don’t want to.

It can be simple day-to-day activities, like:

- Speaking your mind even when you know people will disagree

- Telling the joke

- Sending the newsletter you’ve been putting off…

Until next time, Cringers.

P.S. Need help getting clear on your next move for your founder-led brand?

Here’s how we can collaborate:

- Digital Identity Advisory & Design: End-to-end, premium visual overhauls for founders leading independent consulting, coaching, or advisory practices.

- Positioning and Clarity Advisory (one-off or ongoing) to help founders get clear on where they're at and where they're going with their personal brand.

Book a free 20-min intro call here → https://tidycal.com/fluxstudio/20-minute-meeting

🧠 ✨ *Neurofriendly (ask me about async communication options via Voxer or email).