The other day, I got an email.
Not a buy my thing, fix my website, or can I pick your brain? email. A really flipping nice one. Just a note from someone who listened to me on a podcast, watched my TEDx talk, resonated, and wanted to say thanks. No strings attached.
And it honestly made my day.
Not just because it was lovely (it was), but because it made me realise something: I haven’t felt like putting myself out there lately.
Like, at all.
No big reason. No business breakdown. Just… a shift. A quieter season. And for once, I didn’t guilt-trip myself about it.
Because guess what? If your business falls apart the second you stop posting, you don’t have a business. You have a really stressful job.
The Momentum Trap: Why Visibility Isn’t Everything in Business
Here’s the thing I’ve noticed: the less I put myself out there, the less I want to.
Confidence isn’t a switch you flick on. It’s a rolling suitcase that you have to keep nudging forward, or it just stops dead in its tracks. And once it stops, it’s a pain in the ass to get moving again.
I know this because not too long ago, I was everywhere.
Speaking gigs. Podcasts. Running workshops. Saying yes to all the things.
And then, at some point, I wasn’t.
I didn’t decide to take a step back. It just kind of happened. And that’s fine. Actually, it’s better than fine. Because, plot twist, visibility isn’t the same as success. You don’t have to be everywhere to be making an impact.
How to Stay Relevant Without Burning Out
I used to panic and think that if I wasn’t out there, my business would dry up. Leads, Gone. Clients, Vanished. Everything I’d built collapsing into dust.
But guess what? That didn't happen.
Because I’ve built a brand that works for me, even when I don’t feel like working it.
I have:
A website that speaks for me.
A brand that positions me before I even open my mouth.
Articles, talks, and interviews that bring people to me.
Systems that keep things ticking along, even when I’m in full leave me alone mode.
That’s the difference between being at the mercy of the hustle and having a business that actually supports you.
If you’re tired of the constant grind, it might be time to rethink how you’re showing up. How do you build a brand that works for you, one that still attracts leads, even when you take a step back?
The 75/25 Rule: Knowing When to Step Back
I talk a lot about branding in terms of balance, strategy meets creativity, structure meets spontaneity.
And it’s the same with showing up.
For me, it’s 75% pushing forward, doing the work, sharing my ideas, making an impact. But the other 25% is my buffer zone.
It’s the part I refuse to burn through. Because when I get down to that last quarter of the tank, I know it’s time to pull back, protect my energy, and refill before I get to empty.
And I want my clients to have the same freedom, to take a step back without fear that everything will fall apart.
Because your brand should be working for you, not the other way around.
How to Build a Brand That Works for You
A well-built brand should still be doing its thing while you:
Walk the dog.
Take a day 'off'.
Spend a long weekend doing absolutely nothing.
Start work at noon because, why the hell not?
Because what’s the point of building a business if it traps you in a new version of the grind?
At Number 75, we don’t just make brands look nice. We build machines, brands that work for you, so you don’t have to be “on” 24/7.
That’s the goal. Not to be everywhere, all the time. Not to force yourself into visibility when you’re running on fumes.
But to know, with absolute confidence, that when you’re ready to step back into the spotlight…
Your business is still standing. Steady. Waiting for you.
Your Brand, Your Way
So if you’re feeling the dip, if you’re not buzzing to be everywhere, all the time? That’s okay. Seasons change. Priorities shift.
But if stepping back makes you panic, if it feels like everything will fall apart the moment you stop posting, that’s a sign your brand needs more structure.
Because the real confidence isn’t in showing up every single day.
It’s in knowing you don’t have to.
If you’re feeling stuck in the ‘must-show-up-every-day’ trap, let’s talk. Your brand should work harder than you do.
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