Is your mindset secretly blocking your brand?
- Danielle Hughes
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Janice Carter, Janice Carter Design
Hey solopreneurs, founders, consultants.
Do you ever say…
I want to grow my business, but I’m stuck figuring out my messaging.
I’m ready to level up... but I don’t have enough experience yet.
I should post on social, but ack, what do I say? What if I embarrass myself?
Do you quietly say to yourself…
Who am I to…charge more? Run this business?
I hate putting myself “out there.”
Is imposter syndrome real? Maybe I have it?
You’re not alone.
I’ve said — and thought — all of the above.
And this is what I’ve learned: mindset work is where it’s at!
Let me introduce you to my client, Sharon.
(That’s not her real name, but her story is very real — and it might sound a lot like yours.)
She’s a wildly talented consultant.
She’s been running her own business for over 15 years.
She’s a one woman show.
Sharon is absolutely brilliant.
And funny as hell!
Her work? Impeccable.
Her results? Proven.
Her experience? Stacked.
And yet, when it came to putting herself out there…she was stuck.
No matter how much she wanted to grow, social media felt overwhelming.
She felt she had nothing to say (not true).
She felt no one would care (not true).
She thought it was a strategy problem.
She thought it was a branding problem.
But it wasn’t.
It was a mindset problem.
And that’s where the magic happened.
In one of our coaching sessions, I asked Sharon:
What’s the worst that could happen if you post something that flops?
Who are you so afraid of disappointing?
Which is bigger: your fear of looking silly or your desire to be a thought leader?
That last question landed.
Because Sharon’s vision is big.
It includes servicing high level CEOs and doubling her rate.
On social, she didn’t just want more “likes” — she wanted to make an impact.
When we connected the dots — that showing up online wasn’t vanity, it was leadership — everything shifted.
Rick Rubin says it best in The Creative Act:
“Consider that it might not have been your initial style that attracted success, but your personal passion within it.
So if your passion changes course, follow it.
Your trust in your instincts and excitement are what resonate with others.”
3 Ways to level up your brand (from the inside out):
Recognize your brand isn’t stagnant — it’s a reflection of your evolving passion.
Remember your mindset is the bridge between your brand and your growth.
Embrace growth as messy, bold, nonlinear, and uniquely yours.
Ready for more clarity and confidence?
If you want to build a brand — and a life — that feels like you, mindset is the place to start.
That’s why I created the Clarity Kit: Aligning Mindset with Your Personality Brand — a free guide to help you reconnect with what matters, get unstuck, and move forward with courage.
You’ll also get my newsletter, filled with mindset tools, personal stories, and marketing insights for soul-led solopreneurs like you.
Let’s make your mindset your superpower.
Janice Carter

Janice Carter is a coach, designer, and creative strategist helping women navigate bold pivots and step into their next chapter with clarity, confidence, and creative vision. Over the past two decades, she’s worn a lot of hats: graphic designer, brand strategist, entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and single mom.
She’s lived her own pivots — career shifts, personal reinventions, brave moves into the unknown. And she knows what it feels like to stand at the edge of change: uncertain, messy — but full of possibility. That's why she does the work she does. Whether through coaching or creative strategy, she helps you get clear on what you want, release what no longer fits, and move forward with intention — and courage.
When she’s not working she’s parenting, trying new recipes, playing her favourite Coldplay tunes on the piano and singing along, or re-watching Seinfeld episodes. If you're ready to {re}design what’s next, she’d be honored to support you.
Places to find her:
Comments