This episode is for you if you’re feeling torn between doing what's right for your brand and what's “necessary” to succeed online.

YES, we get real about visibility, reputation, and the constant pressure to play the game, even if the rules don’t feel right for you.

Both Laura and Amy go deep into the messy realities of building a business, managing teams, and navigating the ego-fuelled hierarchies of the online world. We’re not sugar-coating anything: If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Am I selling my soul for growth, or staying true to myself?”, you’ll see yourself reflected in what’s discussed.

“Just bloody get on with it…”

You’ve heard the advice: Show up more, be visible, borrow audiences, align with “big names.” But is visibility really just about being seen? Or is it what—and who—you’re showing up for that truly matters?

In this episode, we dissect:

• The internal push-pull between integrity and ruthless growth.
• Why feeling like an outsider is sometimes rooted in past trauma (yes, the stuff from school can still crop up in your business decisions).
• The chronic tension headaches of leadership: You’re still the one chasing your team…even when the business “should” be easier.

So, who are you really showing up for?

“Hero worshipping” and online cliques happen, often at the expense of authenticity. You know the type: Popularity equals power, a shiny front hides a murky backroom, and the urge to fit in with the “queen bees” can leave you questioning your values.

And yet, as Amy says, “At my core, I’m a kind person. That’s never going to change, even if I’m standing next to someone who’s out of integrity”. Instead, compartmentalizing becomes essential, you get to decide what impacts you, and what’s just a lesson learned.

Visibility: More than just “being seen”

What you say, who you serve, and where you show up matter more than just showing up. Are you…

• Making sales from social or making impact with a message?
• Posting where your ideal clients actually hang out?
• Obsessed with likes from family/friends, or building a digital shopfront that attracts buyers? (25:01)

And if your personal network isn’t cheering you on, good! Boundary up, clear the space, and trust the algorithm to deliver your content to people who actually need and want it.

Have you built your resilience?

Whether your barrier to showing up is fear of judgment, past trauma, or “allergic reaction” to social media, ask yourself: WHY don’t you want to do it? Resolving that is far more important than buying the next course or following cookie-cutter advice.

Experiment, fail, learn, repeat

Business is never one-size-fits-all. Sometimes the first live event brings four people, and that’s actually the sweet spot. Sometimes the offer won’t sell, and it’s feedback, not failure. The corporate giants you compare yourself with? They have million-pound budgets. You’ve got hunger, grit, and a community. Don’t forget that.

Final takeaways, What’s really holding you back?

• Stay boundaried: Not everyone gets a seat at your table, and not every platform deserves your energy.
• Get strategic: Where are your clients, and what are they actually responding to? One channel at a time beats casting your net everywhere.
• Visibility is necessary, but not sufficient: It’s your values and message that make you magnetic, not just your presence.
• Compartmentalize the naysayers and the doubters, they’re not paying your bills or building your legacy.

Ready to connect with Amy? Go stalk her on Instagram at @‌theFemtrepreneur.

DMs open for more candid conversation: @‌PRwithPerkes Laura is always here for your comments and questions.

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