Beyond Borrowed Voices: Stepping Into Your Own Authentic Brand

As educators-turned-solopreneurs, many of us step into unfamiliar territory when we leave the classroom or school office and enter the world of personal branding. Suddenly, hashtags, taglines, and professional titles become part of the game.


It’s natural to look around, notice what’s working for others, and model it. In fact, in neurolinguistic programming (NLP) we know modeling is a powerful way to learn. Children do it when they acquire language. Adults do it when they learn new skills. At the start of any journey, modeling is a gift.


🗝️: modeling is the beginning, not the destination.



 The Identity Shift

For instance, when someone shifts from calling themselves a curriculum advisor to an instructional coach (or vice versa) simply because it sounds more appealing, what they may not realize is that they’re also shifting identities. And in NLP, identity is the deepest layer of human experience.


It’s not just about what you call yourself—it’s about the value you deliver, the problems you solve, and the transformation you facilitate.


Titles borrowed from others may give temporary confidence, but they don’t create lasting credibility. Your audience doesn’t just buy your title; they buy your alignment—how your words, actions, and results match up.



The Trap of Borrowed Language

Have you ever heard someone use a catchy tagline that just didn’t sound like them? 

That’s because words carry energy. When we borrow phrases or taglines without embodying them, there’s a subtle mismatch. And audiences—even unconsciously—pick up on that mismatch.


This is why authenticity isn’t just a “nice-to-have”; it’s the foundation of trust.



Moving From Copying to Crafting

So, how do you make the leap from imitation to authenticity?


🔶  Before adopting a title, ask: Does this reflect my actual skills, experience, and vision—or is it just a trend?


🔶 Use your lived experiences, your wins and failures, as raw material for your brand. No one else has that story.


🔶 Visualize your brand 3 years from now. Is it built on borrowed voices—or on your authentic authority? Choose the version that feels sustainable.



The Long Game

Trends, hashtags, and borrowed taglines may win attention in the short term, but authenticity creates resonance. And resonance is what makes people not just notice you—but trust you.


So, if you’re in that phase where you’re experimenting, remember: modeling is a launchpad. Authenticity is the destination. And your unique voice? That’s the bridge between the two.


☘️


 As an NLP practitioner and a life coach for educators, I’ve seen this play out many times: the moment someone drops the borrowed script and embraces their own, their confidence skyrockets—and so does their impact.



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Comments

  1. Julia AluSeptember 5, 2025 at 6:55 PM

    Such an inspiring read! It made me think and reflect 🤔
    Sometimes we get carried away by the noise and in doing so, we loose our authentic self.
    "modeling is a launchpad, authenticity is the destination."
    This resonates! Thank you Ms Vicky

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cynthia OghenegarenSeptember 5, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    modeling is the beginning, not the destination.*

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cynthia OghenegarenSeptember 5, 2025 at 9:24 PM

    Use your lived experiences, your wins and failures, as raw material for your brand. No one else has that story.



    This is just for me

    ReplyDelete

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