I did it. I torched most of my online presence. In both a dramatic, “delete everything and disappear” kind of way (I archived all my Insta posts), and deliberate, I’m done with the noise and chasing things that don’t excite me kind of way.
For years, I played the game—posting the “right” kind of content, optimizing for engagement, packaging my work in a way that made sense for the algorithm rather than for me. And was over it. It felt like I had built a version of my brand that wasn’t entirely mine anymore.
So, I decided to start over. Not from zero, but from a place that actually feels aligned. This is about creative ownership, burning the superficial, and building a brand that feels like me—without second-guessing every move. And if you’ve ever felt like your brand isn’t fully you, this might be the permission slip you didn’t know you needed.
When you build an online presence, it’s easy to fall into the trap of performing instead of creating. Little by little, you start tweaking your voice, refining your image, adjusting your offers—not because you want to, but because it seems like the smart thing to do. More “digestible.” More “marketable.” More of what people expect.
And sure, that might work in the short term. But if you wake up one day and realize that your brand feels like a carefully curated version of yourself rather than a true reflection of your work? That’s when the burnout creeps in.
Here’s what I knew had to go:🚫 The endless cycle of “content strategies” that felt robotic.🚫 The need to optimize every post for engagement instead of meaning.🚫 The pressure to be everywhere, all the time, instead of being intentional.🚫 The fear of pivoting because “what if people don’t get it?”
What I kept? The parts of my brand that actually feel like me. The art, the design, the culture-driven storytelling. The things I would create even if no one was watching.
Starting over isn’t about erasing everything—it’s about stripping away the excess until you’re left with something real. So, instead of trying to fit into the typical “personal brand” mold, I redefined what mine actually looks like.
My new approach:
It’s less about selling and more about showing up with work that speaks for itself.
I’m not the only one who’s felt like my brand was drifting away from me. The internet is full of personal brands that started out real, raw, and interesting—only to get sanded down into something marketable but forgettable.
We’ve been conditioned to think that authenticity means “showing up as yourself” online. But if your entire brand is built around feeding the machine, is it really you?
Here’s what I’ve learned:
✅ Authenticity isn’t just about what you post—it’s about what you choose to keep and what you’re willing to let go of.✅ You don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to be intentional about where you show up.✅ It’s okay to pivot, refine, and change your mind. Your brand should evolve with you, not trap you.
Your personal brand should feel like something you actually want to sustain—not a box you’ve locked yourself into.
If you’re reading this and thinking, damn, I need to do the same, here are a few things to consider before you set everything on fire (metaphorically).
Before making any big changes, ask yourself:
Start with these answers. They’ll tell you where you need to shift.
Go through your website, social media, and content archives. If something doesn’t align with where you want to go, either archive it or rework it.
Some things to let go of:🚫 Old content that no longer reflects your style or expertise.🚫 Platforms that drain your energy without bringing value.🚫 Offers or services that no longer excite you.
Replace them with what feels right.
Not every brand needs a rigid content strategy. If you do have one, make sure it actually supports your creativity rather than restricting it.
Consider:
Your best content will always come from a place of curiosity, not obligation.
The fear of losing followers or clients keeps a lot of people stuck in a version of their brand that no longer fits. But the right people—the ones who actually get your work—will stick around. And if some drop off? That’s okay.
Authenticity attracts. When you fully step into your creative identity, you make space for the kind of projects, clients, and collaborations that align with your vision.
This isn’t just about me—it’s about the creative shift that so many of us feel but are scared to make. The pressure to optimize, grow, and be everywhere has made branding feel less like creative expression and more like a performance.
But your personal brand should be yours. It should be the home for your best work, your biggest ideas, and the kind of projects that make you excited to wake up in the morning.
So, if you’re feeling stuck in a version of your brand that no longer fits, this is your permission to let it go. Burn what no longer serves you. Keep what matters. Build something that actually feels like you.
And if you need a brand identity that reflects that shift, you know where to find me.
Let’s create something real 🎀