Be Seen for What You Bring to the World

Today, I’d like to encourage you to be seen in the expression of your passion and purpose. Depending on your personality, that might be something you typically shy away from.

So, let's look at...

First, allow me to define what I mean by visibility in the context of this post. So often, both the online and offline space can take on the energy of a popularity contest that emotionally takes us back to high school.

Ugh!

Does “being visible” mean that one has to become a social media #influencer or a mini-celebrity? 😎Or is there perhaps another, more meaningful way to define this?

I very much like the way Beth Buelow , PCC understands visibility:

“I don’t mean paparazzi outside your door or people tracking you down for an autograph. And I don’t even mean being recognized by strangers when you walk down the street. It’s about being visible — seen, heard, known — in service to your message and purpose.”

To me, that’s it!

Being visible is all about having your message be seen and heard, even if it’s just a few people, to begin with.

Winnie Lim wrote a really thought-inspiring article about visibility which mentions the book Invisibles: The Power of Anonymous Work in an Age of Relentless Self-Promotion by David Zweig.

This book highlights people who deliberately do not want to be in the spotlight, including the lead structural engineer for the tallest skyscraper in China, Radiohead’s chief guitar technician and a UN interpreter.

As Winnie explains:

“Being invisible wasn’t just about running away from the spotlight, but it was a crucial aspect to the success of their work, their cherished identities, their devotion to the work and people they support.”

What I love about this is that for these people, invisibility is actually a crucial component of being of service. With a structural engineer, a guitar technician or an interpreter, invisibility is actually a sign that they’re doing a great job.

And yet, despite their personal invisibility, their message still gets seen and heard — in skyscrapers, songs, and closed-door UN meetings.

In other words, visibility doesn’t have to be about you. It can be about whatever you’re in service to.

In other words, while you should let people see and hear what you bring to the world, being personally visible can be optional or contraindicated. Depending on your passion and purpose, personal visibility may be helpful or detrimental.

With all that being said, let’s move on to…

If you have found something that you love to do, find a way to let that be seen and heard.

In addition to letting your work be seen and heard, you might also have to become more personally visible to be of service to others. This may require you to work through whichever emotions come up for you around being visible so you can be confident and shine without shame. 😨

Below, you'll find a conversation I hosted about that topic. While the conversation itself revolved around women's self esteem and confidence, I believe the lesson in this video apply to everyone, regardless of gender.