What they don't tell you about branding

𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Branding is more blood and guts and less LinkedIn cliches. 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 11 lessons I learned the hardest way: 1. Sometimes you just fuc*k up. Not everything's a lesson. 2. Social media is a fairytale. Not reality. Know this, and stop chasing shadows. 3. Be kind. Be helpful. Be a nice human being. Empathy is the best strategy. 4. You'd better fight or flight. But not freeze. Nothing will fall into place by itself. 5. Authentic beats "best". Flaws and all - you're you. And that makes your brand seductive to others. 6. Nothing is set in stone. Not your niche. Not your audience. Not your strategy. Adaptability births growth. 7. Health is wealth, I know, blah blah. But nothing really matters when you ignore your self-care. 8. You're gonna fail. A lot. I know I did. And still do. But remember: imperfect action always beats perfect inaction. 9. Bleed now, heal later. Short-term struggles make for long-term comfort and stability. 10. You're your best friend. Call it self-reliance. Call it "being your biggest fan". Call it what you want. But do it. Be it! 11. You're not good enough. Ever. It ain't about imposter syndrome but about developing new skills and improving your craft.