Welcome to Issue 86 of Clearly YOU! Every second Wednesday, I share fresh ideas to help you rise above the noise and communicate clearly, confidently, and with your real personality leading the way. Not a subscriber? Sign up now!
Last week, I posted an 8-second Instagram reel of me installing a doorknob.
It got 2,300+ views in one day.
Not gonna lie. It was cool. And I checked IG more than a few times to get the dopamine rush of watching the numbers climb.
But despite all those views, 16 likes, 3 comments, and 5 reshares…
No new followers. No DMs.
No “Hey Kim, your doorknob skills have inspired me to connect. Anyone who can DIY that situation is obviously my first choice for guidance on refining my professional voice.”
FYI: I stand by my decision to create that reel. I was ridiculously proud of figuring out how to install a doorknob on my own and wanted to share my victory with friends, family, and a whole bunch of strangers.
But I’m not a contractor, I’m a consultant. So making more posts like that, just to get more views, would be… let’s say “strategically questionable.”
Unless, of course, I’m sharing my recent success repairing a weak spot in my home’s foundation. Because that was badass!
Anyhoo… let's jump back to the point...
Attention is fun. But it’s also shallow, fleeting, and doesn’t pay the bills.
Influence is different. Influence is when someone thinks of you at the exact moment they want or need something. They see you as knowledgeable, trustworthy, and capable.
And that feeling makes them take action:
🔥 They forward your name to a colleague.
🔥 They book a call.
🔥 They make a purchase.
Attention is a spark that may, or may not, serve a purpose. Influence is a steady flame that heats your house.
Influence builds over time. It survives distractions. It sustains you.
And here’s the kicker: gaining influence is hard. You don’t get it by spending half your waking hours on social, constantly churning out free resources, or attending every “networking event” within a 200 km radius of your location (God, how I hate networking events).
Influence comes from consistent, long-term effort, paired with smart strategies to show your authority and expertise to the people you most want to work with.
It’s a whole THING. And way more complicated than installing a doorknob - or making a reel while doing so!
Cool Quote
“Growing an online presence is important. Presence doesn’t equal influence. Presence can be measured in social media followings. Influence can’t.”
– Martha Giffin, Marketing Consultant
Try This → Do Some Soul Searching
This week, press pause on doing. Take the time you spend trying to get attention (i.e.. social media, content creation, and/or the dreaded networking) and re-allocate it to THINKING.
Ponder your favourite clients. The people you wish you could clone.
- Where did they come from?
- How did they find you?
- What happened to build the connection between you and them?
Maybe you’ll discover you’re right on track. But more likely, you’ll realize you’ve been jumping into at least a few rabbit holes. No shame - It happens to us all.
Knowledge is power. So use your newfound clarity to make a few tweaks and move on.
Stuff Worth Sharing
Here's a brilliant chart from Adriana Tica. PERFECT explanation of attention versus influence.
Read that last sentence a few times ↑↑ because it's the G.O.A.T!
Inbox-Worthy
Adriana Tica's newsletter, Strategic AF, is one of my absolute FAVS! I jump to open it the moment it lands in my inbox. And I highly recommend it to anyone keen to UP their marketing game.
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Strategic AF
by Adriana Tica
Tired of marketing advice that’s either obvious or outright shady? Strategic AF flips the script. It's the only newsletter that treats solopreneurs, founders, and marketers like grown-ups, not toddlers looking for the next shiny toy. Subscribe to get sharp, no-nonsense strategy advice without the cringe. No bro-marketing, no fluff — just real, sustainable growth tactics. Subscribe if you want results. Scroll past if you prefer gimmicks. |
For the Word Nerds
This issue includes both G.O.A.T. and AF, which makes it a perfect time to clear something up:
Acronyms are abbreviations you say as words. Like GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
Initialisms are abbreviations you spell out. Like AF (as f*ck).
And when we write things like f*ck or sh!t to soften the blow? That’s called a grawlix. It’s how we swear... politely.
Words are fun. So is swearing. Carry on.
Thanks for reading. Back in your inbox August 27th. Until then:
🩷 If you're feeling social, click one of those icons 👆(Great chance to check out my reel on doorknob installation).
🩷 And if you want to give your professional voice a JUMPSTART, I've got a 1:1 service that can help!
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