I’m mad as hell. Rageful, even. The fact that a small legal entity made up of nine people who do not represent most of our country stripped women of their right to bodily autonomy, rolling back decades of progress, is sickening, dehumanizing and dangerous.
But after we’ve all taken a collective deep breath, made donations to Abortion Funds and Planned Parenthood and checked our voter registration status, I’m going to give you some important advice: build your brand.
No matter what type of business you have, whether you are a coach, consultant, health practitioner, lawyer, designer or any other type of entrepreneur, it’s more important than ever for you to build your brand.
“Why?” you ask.
Because your brand helps you stand out.
Your brand gives you a voice.
Your brand earns you money and power.
Your brand affords you the opportunity to support other women and give to causes and organizations your care about most.
Your brand allows you to grow and influence an army.
What we need right now more than ever is an army of badass women fully centered in their power, owning their place in the world and empowering other women.
We need women building tables and helping other women do the same.
I believe that the women who build their brand, use their voice, and create impact and abundance for themselves and others are revolutionary. Women who understand that speaking up and creating success will re-set the decision-making table.
Women who know that we must not only smash the patriarchy but eliminate its toxic pedagogy once and for all and create a more equitable society where women make up at least 50% of the room where all decisions are made.
I believe building your brand and using it to lift women and marginalized folks will change the world.
But I never said it would be easy.
Before 2020, women accounted for more than half of the workforce, but McKinsey predicts that those numbers may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024. As they have often done – even before the onset of a global pandemic – many women, especially mothers of young children and daughters of aging parents, have stepped out of the workforce to care for and support their families.
Couple this with a cruel and misogynistic rolling back of women’s rights, and it’s a wonder that many women choose to get out of bed in the morning.
But we must. We must show up like we’ve never shown up before, despite the chaos. We must show up because deep down we know it can and should be different and we believe we still have the power to change the trajectory and create a more just and equitable world.
We must show up for our daughters. And our sons. Because they will inherit the world we leave them.
Build your brand because you care.
Build your brand because you’re angry. In a world that’s so disheartening and discouraging, anger provides so much clarity, and anger is the fuel we need to get big things done. And we certainly have a lot of work to do.
Build your brand because that’s how you will make more money. When you share your gifts and skills with the world, you will be compensated for the value you provide to the people you serve. The more value your products and services provide, the more people will talk about you and refer others and the more money you will make.
Build your brand as a model for other women and girls. In the Sundance documentary, Miss Representation, Marian Wright Edelman, Founder & President of the Children’s Defense Fund, powerfully states, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Your brand is your center of power. It’s where your core values intersect with your passion and mission and, at its best, it will be a living, breathing full expression of who you are, how you navigate the world and how you make other people feel.
If left untended, it is like a neglected and somewhat unruly garden. It had potential but is left for others to interpret and navigate on their own.
I have written many posts on this blog with specific steps for building a powerful brand. You’ll find a few of them here, here and also, here.
But the point I want to leave you with today is this: it’s a scary time for women and girls right now. Heck, it’s scary for everyone. But we aren’t going to make any progress by giving up and crawling under a rock. That’s exactly what they want you to do.
Don’t let them steal your soul.
Don’t let them take away your humanity.
This fight is far from over and we need you in it. We need you to build your table and show other women and girls how to do the same.
We need you to run for office if you feel called to do so.
We need your voice and your passion and your anger.
We need you to vote – both at the ballot box and with your dollars.
But most of all, we need you to build your brand. We need you to take action, take a stand and be an active participant in your own salvation.
I’m here to tell you sister, the white knight isn’t coming. The white knight is you.
It’s time to pick up your sword.
If you’re a female-focused brand looking to grow your influence, you probably feel like you don’t have enough hours in the day. If the thought of finding the time to DIY a consistent online presence sends your anxiety through the roof, we are here to support you with expert brand guidance.
This summer only, we are offering a highly focused, four week 1:1 intensive to articulate your brand story, amplify your message, develop an enticing call to action, refine your offerings and set up your list building system. During Brand Camp, you will work with the SheBrand team to put the pieces in place to create your most compelling brand and make your mark in a loud, cluttered digital space.
Click here to learn more about Brand Camp or email Jennifer Hansen at jennifer@shebrand.com with “Ready for Brand Camp!” in the subject line and she’ll get you all set up.
