Why ‘Just Be Yourself’ Is Some of the Worst Advice You’ve Ever Heard If You Want to Succeed Online
You’re missing an important part of the equation
In online writer and entrepreneurial circles, a common motivational mantra is ‘just be yourself.’
The idea is that if you’re authentic, people will want to listen to you because humans are good at sniffing out fakes. There’s truth in that.
But ‘being yourself’ isn’t enough.
Sharing your experiences isn’t enough. Sharing your unique journey isn’t enough.
To build an audience and share your stories with people who will resonate with you—two things just about any writer would love to do—you have to consider where your audience is at.
You have to accept that people are interested in themselves.
They’re not interested in what you wrote simply because you’re the one who wrote it and because it’s an authentic story. If what you’re writing doesn’t connect to something that matters to the reader, they’re going to leave.
You have to find where your authentic self and the interests of your readers overlap. When you find that point of overlap, ‘being yourself’ is the right choice.
Remember: don’t just be yourself or write for yourself. Tell your story and share your experiences in a way that points to a solution for your readers.
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