Stop shrinking to fit in

Last night, as a 54 year old woman, I wore a bra top and a mini skirt to go clubbing for the fourth time this week. As expected, it generated opinions. Some people think women over a certain age should dress a certain way. Behave a certain way. Stay in their lane and I’ve never been very good at that. I don’t fit neatly into a box. I run a PR business. I publish magazines. I organise events. I write. I travel. I start new projects when people tell me I should be slowing down. And that’s exactly how I approach PR. The businesses that stand out are rarely the ones playing it safe. They’re the ones willing to challenge the norm. The ones with personality. The ones brave enough to be different. The ones that don’t follow the rulebook because they understand that visibility comes from standing out, not blending in. Too many brands are afraid of being judged. Too many people are afraid of what others might think but if everyone is doing the same thing, saying the same thing and looking the same, why would anyone notice you? Whether it’s personal branding or business branding, authenticity wins every time. I don’t believe in shrinking to fit someone else’s expectations and I don’t believe businesses should either.

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