Keeping Up Appearances

Wearing the many hats that come with parenthood and running your own business, it's easy to get distracted and not see what's right in front of us. We don’t always connect the dots between our "Need to be seen as..." persona and how it impacts not only our businesses but also our personal lives, our parenting, and even our relationship with ourselves.

This "persona" shows up in small, seemingly insignificant ways:

• Explaining why your hair is a mess on your social media stories
• Second-guessing your decisions because you're afraid someone might disagree
• Playing the victim to avoid rejection
• Holding back from truly succeeding, because deep down, you’re unsure of who you’d be if your offer really took off

Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve felt like you can’t keep up with others while scrolling through social media, watching celebrities reshape themselves in their pursuit of youth. Or perhaps you think about that popular kid in school who always seemed to get away with everything, even though they were a bully. All of these are reflections of the "Need to be seen as..." persona.

We’ve all been there. We all carry this persona in some shape or form. But my friend, here's the good news: it doesn't have to steer your decisions anymore, whether in business or in life.

What Is the "Need to Be Seen As..." Persona?

Your "Need to be seen as..." persona is that inner voice that drives you to constantly justify, compare, or hold yourself back. It’s the part of you that feels the pressure to present yourself in a certain way — to be liked, to be successful, to be invulnerable.

For some, it’s about maintaining the appearance of perfection. For others, it’s about not seeming too ambitious, because that might invite criticism or judgment.

This persona plays a significant role in how we show up:

• In business: It can cause us to play small, to not take risks, or to fear fully owning our success.
• In family life: It can show up in parenting, where we worry about being seen as the "perfect" parent or in how we navigate personal relationships.
• With ourselves: It can lead us to measure our worth by external validation, constantly chasing an image we believe we need to project.

Befriending the Persona

But here’s a powerful truth: when you stop letting your "Need to be seen as..." persona control you and instead befriend it, incredible things happen. You start to experience more belonging, courage, and strength in every aspect of life. You become more comfortable in your own skin, allowing you to offer the world something unique that only you can.

When we begin to question the persona, we can see what’s really behind it. What stories is it telling you? What lies are you believing about yourself?

My 'Need to be seen as...' Persona is quite the woman. She's incredibly persuasive and I was her #1 customer. Infact, I was her #1 fan because she fed my victim ego and that kept me small.

My mind loves it when I stay small because it doesn't challenge my comfort zone. It keeps me 'safe'.

Safe doesn't serve me and I don't want it so I learnt the language of my 'Need to be seen as...' Persona and her sleazy sales tactics. Now I truly see her, she isn't so brave in her persuasions nor does she get so far in her pitch.
👀
I'll share some one liners she's used with me before...

3️⃣ 'I need to wear smart clothes, do my hair and makeup or people will think I'm not a professional'
2️⃣ 'It's not my fault I'm in the situation, I just don't know what to do, I've tried'
1️⃣ 'As long as it looks like I'm successful, then no one will know I'm a fraud. Just keep it up'

Gaining awareness of your 'Need To Be Seen As...' persona will allow you to see it what it really is and make different choices next time it shows up. 

It might feel like an unknown but stick around, I just happen to be your go to expert if you want to live as your truest self.

For yourself, your family and your business.