Sunday Send-Off #2: The content you're avoiding is the one that connects
Your weekly check-in to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your people and your purpose.
I didn’t pick a word for the year back in January.
Honestly, I didn’t feel ready. I had just wrapped a busy season and I needed time to settle into the new year, but a few weeks ago, as I was planning the second half of 2025, a word popped into my head and hit me straight in the gut: Ferocious.
⚡️My goals? Ferocious.
⚡️My energy? Ferocious.
⚡️My focus? Ferocious.
At first, I was like, yep, this feels right. And then I started overthinking it… 🫢
Is “ferocious” too much? Will people get the wrong idea? Will they think I’m being aggressive or harsh?
And then it hit me! There was a time when I would second-guess how I showed up online, especially on LinkedIn.
Is my content too much? Too bold? Too direct?
Even when I knew what I was doing, and what I wanted to say, I’d still hold back. Because what if someone thought I was bragging? What if they didn’t agree? What if they questioned my experience?
But here’s what I’ve learned
The people who are meant to work with you will never need you to shrink
Playing small doesn’t protect you, it just hides your magic
The more you show up as you the easier it will be to find your people and for them to find you!
And the most important one? How you define a word is personal.
My definition of ferocious is:
✔️Showing up fully
✔️ Saying what I mean
✔️Backing my vision and mission
✔️Not shrinking to make others more comfortable 🤷🏻♀️
And this season, as I embrace my ferocious era, I’m over all of that and I’m showing up online just like I do IRL, because that version of me is who my people actually connect with.
If we were chatting at a coffee shop or meeting at an event, you’d get the real me. Present, bubbly, energetic, thoughtful, and silly, but straight to the point Ingrid (IYKYK)! And that’s the energy I am bringing online too. And you should, too!
🫥 So much of the content we scroll through is AI generated or hyper-curated that we can barely tell what’s real anymore. Which is exactly why authenticity needs to be a big part of your Q4 strategy (and beyond). Because nothing cuts through the noise like the real you.
Here’s what happened last week on LinkedIn when I started doing just that:
Why this shift matters, especially in community
When you start showing up more like yourself you:
Show up as someone people want to be around (see bullet #2)
Attract quality follows which are so valuable especially when social media platforms are over saturated aka people who follow you because they trust, enjoy, and believe in your content (see bullet #3)
Build trust (which can often result in conversions, think follows, subscriptions, etc.)
Model how others can show up too, especially if you have a virtual community. This is the best way to lead by example!
Stop chasing engagement AND start creating it so you can build connection that lasts!
The 21 day challenge
They say it takes 21 days to build a habit (don’t quote me on that, but you get the idea 😉). Now, I don’t have 21 ideas, but I do have enough to get you going because the whole idea is for you to get into the habit of showing up online without having to worry about planning but rather posting “on the go”.
The best content often comes from what’s already on your heart or on your mind AND in my opinion IN THE MOMENT!
So you're craving more confidence and more consistency in how you show up, then this challenge is for you!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Seasonal content (right now it would be perfect for you to talk about the summer)
A moment that changed how you think or lead (this is what I am doing now! Also, this one great for professional or entrepreneurship content)
Something you see people getting wrong and what you’d do differently (maybe this is one where you talk about how you will be showing up differently online)
A BTS glimpse into what you actually do (this can attract new people AND reengage current connections)
A lesson you learned the hard way (because we’ve all been there)
A tool, mindset, or habit that’s made life or business easier (even newsletter or podcast recommendations)
If you’ve been holding back, second-guessing your words, or wondering how to say the “right” thing, let this be your reminder:
You already know how to show up. You do it every day in real life so let that version of you take the lead in how you show up online, too.
xx
Ingrid
Love this Ingrid! I’ve been practicing this since joining Substack. “Playing small doesn’t protect you, it just hides your magic” 👏🏽