On Branding and Balance

Social media can be an incredibly valuable tool for your business.

But if you’re not careful, it can quietly steal value from your personal life and relationships.

This past week, I had a couple great conversations with other business owners and coaches about how powerful social media can be for establishing a personal brand and building connections with prospective clients.

Common advice for a successful social media strategy is to be authentic and be consistent.

But we also need to be discerning.

🎆 Oooh! Aaaaah! ….Nobody Cares

A funny “PSA” has been making the rounds on social media this week:

“A friendly Fourth of July reminder that absolutely nobody is going to watch the video you recorded of fireworks on your phone.”

It’s funny because it’s true.

And it’s a legit helpful reminder for me. Because I confess, I’ve been that guy. Spending way too much time trying to get the perfect shot of fireworks, or a beautiful sunset, or a goal at a soccer game. You name it.

And I found myself missing out and not being fully present.

📱 Branding matters. But so does being there.

On one hand, I want to be more visible online. I want to document my journey and build trust and rapport. But we’ve got to be careful not to get so wrapped up in capturing special moments that we forget to live in them.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t record or share anything.

Go ahead, snap a few photos…. But then put your phone away for a bit and enjoy the show.

Make sure you’re showing up for yourself and your family first, and worry less about how you’re going to show off to your audience.

I mean, holy crap, it’s already July 4.

Don’t let the rest of your summer slip by.

And I think we’ll find when we live more of our life offline, we’ll actually end up with better stories to tell when we log back in.

💡 A Few Practical Tips for Social Media Sanity

I’m not going to pretend I’ve perfected the balancing act. But if you want to build your brand without burning out or missing out, here are a few small shifts that make a big difference:

• Write stuff down. I’m not a big journaler, but I’ve been trying to jot down quick notes to help me remember the day’s highlights and build a story bank I can draw from later.

• Batch your content. Set aside specific times to write and schedule posts so you’re not interrupting your life every time you want to show up online.

• Take breaks. Consistency is great, but you don’t have to post if it’s stressing you out or pulling you away from real life. Step back, enjoy your weekend, and come back refreshed and ready to engage with intention, not obligation.

Your turn:

What’s one way you’re choosing to be more present this summer?

Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear what you’re focusing on right now.

Happy Fourth, everyone!