What Are You Reflecting?

When you are the brand, everything reflects. Your words, your work, your energy. All of it leaves a trace. 

Last week on a photo shoot, one shot stopped me. My reflection was mirrored in a window. It looked beautiful, yes, but it also felt like a nudge. Branding isn’t only about what the lens captures. It’s about what the world feels when it meets you. The question that matters is simple and sobering. What are you reflecting? 

Start with your inner mirror 

Reflection isn’t the gloss of a filter or a perfectly phrased pitch. It’s you checking in with your journey, your beliefs, and whether your actions match the person you say you are. The magic of a personal brand comes from harmonising your inner world with the image you share. 

Try this quick reset I use. Write down three words that describe the way you want to show up. Then scan your last week of posts, calls, and client moments. Out of ten, how aligned did you feel? If something jars, get curious not critical. What needs to shift Next week, choose one tiny change that moves you closer to congruence. 

People feel the truth 

Audiences are wildly perceptive. They might not be able to name the mismatch, but they can feel it. When your marketing is a true expression of your beliefs, the right people lean in. That’s connection. And it’s where trust lives. 

A simple test I use before I hit post is: Would I say this to a client over coffee? If not, I rewrite. Swap generic claims for lived examples. Speak in your voice, not the internet’s.  

Let your work be the proof 

Your work is your canvas. It should tell your story without you having to narrate it. The offers you make, the way you deliver, the experiences you create these are all mirrors of what you value. 

Practical moves that help. Retire portfolio pieces that don’t represent you anymore. Think of ways that you can show your process, not just your outcome - as anyone can spout results claims but they come across so much more credible when you share the steps you take people through to get them there.  

Say yes to the projects that feel alive in your body and no to the ones that dull your spark. When your work aligns with your values and personality, it doesn’t just get recognised, it gets felt. 

Much like that photo of my reflection, the goal is for your inner and outer reflections to meet. Not perfectly, but honestly. Keep checking your mirror. Tidy what’s out of place. Turn up what feels really right. 

Authenticity isn’t a finish line. It’s a rhythm you return to a dance and a constant dance between passion and purpose, connection and courage. This week, choose one moment where you’ll reflect before you broadcast. Then ask yourself again. What are you reflecting today? (In a very meta example, I’m reflecting on this one today!) 

Before you hit post, take a breath. Ask yourself: Would I stand by this on a tired Tuesday? Would I say it exactly like this to a client across a café table? Is this promise doable on my worst day, not just my best? 

Small edits beat big rebrands. Because you can’t always do the big things (because, life!) but you can do incremental babystep forward to the brand and positioning you’re stepping into.  

3 simple actions which can have a big impact on your congruency-factor.  

* Archive three posts that no longer reflect where you’re going. 

* Reword one service line so it’s clearer and kinder.  

* Swap one polished graphic for a photo from your actual process. Replace one vague promise with a measurable one. 

What you don’t say matters too. I keep a simple boundary line in my heads and use it it when needed: “This isn’t a fit for how I work. Here’s who might be better.” Saying no cleanly protects the yes that deserves you. Because my energy is so precious and finite! 

A few behind‑the‑scenes rhythms that help me live this weekly: 

- I usually keep Tuesdays as white space for thinking and making. No meetings. My best ideas land when my calendar breathes. 
- If it doesn’t read like I talk, I start again. 
- I don’t let the old stuff die a quiet death, I value my legacy IP just like I value my fresh things (where it’s still relevant and useful and differentiated). And look for ways to give it fresh life.  

If you want a quick tune‑up this week, try this: 

- Update your “about” line to say what you actually do in plain language. 
- Add one process‑rich case study and retire one dated piece. 
- Choose one project purely because it lights you up, not because it looks good on paper. 
- Set a “worst‑day” guarantee you can keep without acrobatics. 

When you choose to reflect rather than perform, the right people feel seen and safe around your brand.

That’s the work. Not perfect. Just true. Start small. Start today.