Though bossbabesatx had to postpone their programming through the middle of May due to COVID-19 orders…they didn’t bat an eye. To keep all of us indoors and connected, they launched STAY HOME CLUB; a once-weekly virtual gathering on Saturdays in April, featuring creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders from their programs. They created a safe, community oriented, invigorating space that allowed for the sharing of resources, exploring of rest and routines and support around layoffs and career pivots.

bossbabesatx didn’t just show up for their community. They showed out.

Yesterday, on April 18, I taught my workshop, Compelling Content, Compelling Stories, at bossbabesatx’s virtual work conference. I taught the same workshop in January at Robert B. Rowling Hall on UT’s campus in front of almost 100 women. But this time around, I was seated in front of my patio’s french doors with my laptop on a stack of books, birds chirping. As a social butterfly and someone who thrive’s off of a room’s energy, this was…well…awkward. I had to actively imagine the faces of the women I was speaking to as their comments rolled into the Zoom chat box. Thankfully, with a community as solid as bossbabeatx’s and a leader like Jane Hervey, it wasn’t all that difficult.

One of the main pointers I drive home in my workshops and consultations is relevant to our relationship with Instagram. There is so much self induced pressure and fear around creating content on Instagram, especially now during a time when so many people are consuming content. We self loathe, fret and place way too much weight on how we identify based on the aesthetic of our feed, the number of followers we have or how our audience engages. But Instagram is not the end game. Further, it isn’t owned by us, it’s not an extension of us and it certainly doesn’t define our success. The real ownership lies in an online space that you can claim. To develop clarity around your brand identity, develop your messaging on a platform that you own, be it a fixed website, podcast or even a newsletter. That space is where you cultivate your story. Instagram then becomes a resource for self expression and a free marketing tool while allowing you to maintain ownership elsewhere. It becomes an added benefit rather than the main show. There is so much liberation and empowerment in nurturing your very own online platform, instead of relying on a social media account that is largely out of your control.

So the next time you get upset about an algorithm or the lack of interest your audience is showing…remember, Instagram isn’t yours, it’s controlled by a large entity and it could vanish at any moment.

Put your energy in a place of power.

If you’re interested in learning more about developing your brand identity, tune in every Saturday on IG Live for my workshop, Storytelling from the Inside Out where we dive deep on crafting an authentic narrative online through creative writing and artistic exploration.

You can also subscribe to a membership for recurring personal branding or photography sessions or book a sliding scale consultation, available for a limited time.