You’ve left the corporate world to pursue entrepreneurship, but somehow, corporate hasn’t quite left you. I’m not going to lie, it’s hard to let go of the language you spent so many years incorporating into your life. The industry jargon and corporate phrases were just expected in your 9-to-5, but your potential clients? They just want to know, “How can you help me?”
One of the amazing benefits of building a brand is being able to develop your very own language. Your unique lexicon—your “does and don’ts”—will guide the kinds of words you say and help people recognize that this is how you speak. Yes, there will always be trending words that pop up with the force of a thousand suns, but here’s the thing: sometimes those words fit perfectly, and other times they’re just noise. As the creator of your brand, you get to decide how things sound. And generally, the spirit of this language is determined by your mission.
Time For A Change:
Here’s what’s actually happening: you’ve gotten into the habit of projecting one version of yourself to the world for 40 hours a week within the context of “work.” But now, you have the opportunity to recontextualize work as a liberation activity—not something solely based on survival. This isn’t about fitting into a mold; it’s about aligning with a mission you determine.
Freedom is hard, though. It takes practice to know yourself in a different space and allow yourself to be who you’re called to be. Here are a few considerations to guide you:
- Self-awareness: Understand not just the challenging parts of yourself, but the beautiful parts too. How do you want to express who you are?
- Audience: Know who you’re speaking to and what resonates with them.
- A willingness to experiment: Step outside your comfort zone and try new ways of communicating.
- Alignment with your mission: Ensure your voice reflects your core purpose and values.
- Defined values: Clearly articulate the principles that guide your communication.
- Practice: Even if it’s imperfect, consistent practice will help you refine your voice.
- Intentional effort and commitment to growth: Embrace the journey of self-discovery and development.
- Defined value: When you can articulate the return on interacting with you, you’ll feel brave enough to be yourself instead of hiding behind a particular tone to prove your worthiness.
Why It Matters:
The more you embody your brand and align it with a mission that is its heart, the more fulfilling your work will become. You’ll feel like yourself in your marketing, sales, and daily efforts—and you’ll attract people who already know and appreciate you for who you are.
Long Story, Short:
- Revisit your mission and let it guide your communication.
- Identify one area where corporate language is sneaking into your messaging and reframe it with what matters to you and your audience.
You are here to lead from a place that’s real. Don’t bury your treasure under language that sounds “good” but lacks the emotional substance your audience needs. They’re missing the heart of what you’re saying, whether it’s going over their heads or clashing with their desire to escape the corporate tone themselves.
Yes, there are things you’ll carry over from your corporate life that will help you build your business. And yes, some of the jargon will become internal talk. But at the forefront, you need to be the face of your business. That means not just speaking like an expert but connecting with your audience on a human level—showing them that you care about the change you can help them achieve.
Ready to elevate your business and build your brand that sounds like you and helps your audience get it? Schedule your Free Brand Breakthrough chat!
