“It doesn’t matter how loud your voice is… it’s about how intentional your voice is.”

I recently attended a free digital storytelling webinar through the Connecticut Small Business Development Center at UConn, presented by Cheldin Barlatt Rumer of THIS IS IT NETWORK™.

One message stayed with me:

“It doesn’t matter how loud your voice is… it’s about how intentional your voice is.”

As entrepreneurs, it can be easy to focus on gaining followers, posting constantly, or trying to be seen. But meaningful visibility begins before the post. It begins with knowing who you are, what you represent, what you do well, and why your story matters.

Cheldin encouraged us to go back to the basics:

• Know your life facts, the parts of your story that cannot be disputed.

• Recognize your strengths, skills, and talents.

• Be honest about your weaknesses and the areas where you still need to grow.

• Remember where you come from and the experiences that helped shape you.

• Create a “greatest hits” list of the work you have completed, the challenges you have overcome, and the moments that remind you of what you are capable of.

One of my favorite quotes from the webinar was:

“A fake plant never grows roots.”

As someone whose entrepreneurial journey began through social media management for The Li’l Plant Shop, that message felt especially meaningful. A business cannot grow strong roots when it is built on comparison, imitation, or the need to impress others. Growth becomes sustainable when your message is rooted in authenticity, preparation, consistency, and a clear understanding of who you are.

The webinar also reminded me that we should not always be “getting ready.” We should work on staying ready, continuing to learn, building our skills, documenting our work, and preparing ourselves for the opportunities we hope to receive.

Sometimes, the most important part of building a brand is reintroducing yourself to yourself.

How will people understand who you are if you have not taken the time to understand and value your own story?

Build the business. Share the story. Remind yourself of who you are. And most importantly, do it for yourself, not only for the approval of others.