Your personal brand isn’t optional anymore, even if you wish it were. In this episode, I dig into why your personal brand matters more than ever, especially in a world overflowing with content (and now AI-generated content, too), and how it connects to your thought leadership and your business

I talk about a common hesitation I see with many women: the feeling that cultivating a personal brand is self-indulgent, unnecessary, or something “other people” do.

But here’s the truth: you already have a personal brand. It’s how others describe you, what they associate with you, and whether they know what truly matters to you.

I share a personal story about how a podcast listener (and later Thought Leader Academy client) connected deeply with my background in history, feminism, and women’s leadership and how that connection happened not by accident, but through intentional thought leadership woven into my brand.

In this episode, I break down:

• The difference between your business, your thought leadership, and your personal brand - and why they’re not the same thing
• Why thought leadership is the why behind your work, not a sales message
• How your personal brand is the embodiment of that thought leadership: you are the messenger
• What to do if your career path feels messy or disconnected (hint: there is a thread)
• Why authenticity, real stories, and lived experience matter even more in the age of AI
• How your signature talk brings your business, thought leadership, and personal brand together in one cohesive message

I also share some early advice I received to downplay parts of my background and why ignoring that advice was one of the best decisions I made.

If you’ve ever wondered whether certain parts of your story “belong” in your brand, this episode will give you a new way to think about it.

If you’re feeling stuck in the expert trap—teaching, informing, and explaining, but not fully connecting, this episode will help you see how your ideas, experiences, and point of view are exactly what make your message memorable and trusted.

Listen in and reflect: What do people know you for right now—and what do you want them to know you for?

Ready to Go Deeper? This is the kind of work we do inside Thought Leader Academy, helping you connect your thought leadership, personal brand, stories, and message into a clear, confident signature talk you can use everywhere.

Learn more and schedule a consultation at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/contact/

This episode originally aired as episode 349 on October 2, 2023.

Hey there, it's Carol, popping in for a minute! I want to make sure you know about our 1-Day Master Your Message & the Stage workshop coming up on February 19th in Downtown Orlando, Florida.

You’ll go from having a rough idea (or no idea at all!) to building your talk using our Signature Talk Canvas® framework - and then practice delivering it with real-time feedback from us.

And here’s the thing = you’ll create a talk that goes beyond tips and facts. I know you know how to create a slide presentation, but to achieve your goals, you need something much more than that. You need to shape a message that persuades, gets buy-in, and leaves a lasting impression.

Your audience doesn’t want to be lectured. They want to feel seen, inspired, and invited into a bigger vision of what’s possible.

That’s exactly what you’ll do at our 1-Day Speaking Accelerator.

We’ll show you how to use storytelling for resonance, how to paint a vision your audience wants to be part of, and how to step into the speaker and leader you’re ready to be.

Can it really be done in a day? We guarantee it! Listen to episode 435 to hear my conversation with 3 of the women who attended our last workshop.

Like them, you'll get:

✅ Your signature talk and framework mapped out—blending thought leadership, storytelling, and lead generation
✅ Personalized coaching to take your delivery from good to captivating
✅ Strategies to reduce nerves and boost your stage presence
✅ A curated speaker kit and workbook
✅ New connections with incredible women
✅ And professional photos of you speaking—perfect for your website and social media

This isn’t just one talk. It’s a message you can use everywhere: On stage, in webinars, interviews, your emails, social posts—even your book or course.

Whether it’s been stuck in your head or sitting in a slide deck, your talk deserves to make the impact it was meant to - and achieve your goals.

If you're ready to make the shift from information to transformation, join us in Orlando on February 19th.

Use the coupon code “Podcast200” to save $200 on your registration, as a thank you for being a podcast listener.

Spots are limited to 12 attendees, so go to speakingyourbrand.com/orlando to register. I’d love to have you there!

Have you ever heard a speaker share a story and have one of these reactions:

#1: Wow, I really feel connected to what this person is saying. I have a new perspective on my own situation.

-OR-

#2: Why is this person telling this story? I don't get how this relates to the rest of their content or why I should care or this feels icky.

You don't want to end up being the speaker where the people in the audience are having the second reaction.

You want your stories to have purpose and meaning and be of service to your audience.

This conversation came directly from questions we hear all the time from women in our Thought Leader Academy:

• Is sharing my personal story self-indulgent?
• How vulnerable is too vulnerable?
• Can storytelling cross the line into manipulation?

The short answer? Yes, it can. And that’s exactly why how you tell your story matters just as much as what you share.

In this episode, Diane Diaz and I dig into:

• What makes a story feel authentic vs. forced or manipulative
• Why stories should always be in service of the audience, not the speaker
• Common storytelling mistakes (TMI, rags-to-riches formulas, shaming language, and oversmoothing the edges)
• How vulnerability builds trust - when it’s grounded in reflection and purpose
• Why imperfect stories often create the strongest audience connection

We also share real examples—from our own speaking experiences and from Thought Leader Academy clients—of how telling the truth (even when it doesn’t make you look perfect) can be incredibly powerful, freeing, and impactful.

If you want your stories to:

• Deepen audience connection
• Build credibility instead of skepticism
• Support your message instead of distracting from it

…this episode will help you rethink how you use storytelling in your talks, podcasts, and brand messaging.

(This episode originally aired as episode 350 on October 9, 2023.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mistake/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 337: Sharing Your Story as a Catalyst for Transformation with Karen Keene
• Episode 341: Unearthing Your Unique Message: Discovering What Makes You Stand Out with Judy Carlson
• Episode 92: Deconstructing My TEDx Talk: Why We’re Uncomfortable with Women in Power