​

Hi Reader

You don’t have to follow the crowd. The most impactful brands are built by people who dare to do it differently.

Let's talk about it.

Affirmation

Say it with me:

“I already know what's mine is on the way; I don't really gotta chase.” - glow88 by ArielJ.

Personal Brand Tip

When it comes to pursuing your unique passions, you need to know one thing and one thing only:

Being a pioneer is your superpower.

Sometimes, we hesitate to start because we’re seeking validation or afraid to be the first.

We think: “No one else is doing this—does that mean I shouldn’t either?”

​

But if you’re honest with yourself?

That’s where you thrive.

That’s where you truly come alive.

​

I’ve seen it over and over again with multi-hyphenate women like us—our biggest hesitation isn’t talent, skill, or ability.

It’s trusting ourselves and our unique vision.

So here’s the most important thing you should know:

I know it’s cliche, but the truth is that what you’re building hasn’t been done before—at least not like YOU.

Think about Rihanna. Before Fenty Beauty, no celebrity had built a beauty brand quite like hers. She led by doing it her way. Now? The entire industry follows her lead.​
​
​

How to Show Up As the Pioneer You Are

1️⃣ Decide to show up how YOU want

There are best practices but no one-size-fits-all approach to building a brand.

When I returned to work after maternity leave, I chose my own strategy—audio spaces on X, LinkedIn, and podcasts—to build my brand in a way that felt right for me.

What feels right for you? Trust that.

​

2️⃣ Ditch the Traditional Playbook & Create Your Own

Maybe everyone swears Instagram is the key to success—but you hate creating visuals and love in-depth discussions.

So why not ditch IG and build your community on Threads or Substack instead?

Get the picture?

Trust yourself.

Story Time

Something about holding this passport in my hands made everything feel real.

To me, it was more than a little blue book with my name inside. It was a full-circle moment.

When I became a U.S. citizen in December 2024, that was one thing. Yet when I finally held my passport in January? That was different, and I felt it.

It made everything official: I was now a U.S. citizen, registered to vote, and able to travel with fewer worries, amongst other things.

​

For 18 years, I lived with limitations. Certain places I couldn’t go. Certain things I couldn’t do.

Not because I wasn’t capable — but because I wasn’t allowed. For example, when I couldn’t work or drive while I waited for my immigration application to be processed.​

And over time, I’d internalized those limits.

I got used to being overly cautious — because I had to.

I learned how to prepare for the worst instead of expecting the best — because that was my reality.

And the truth is, when you spend years navigating uncertainty, it becomes your default.

But when I held my passport for the first time? Something shifted.

I acknowledged that I’d entered a season where I could make decisions based on possibility—not fear.

It was time to move beyond survival mode.

​

So, I made a promise to invest in myself—starting with an industry certification I had been eyeing for years.

Before, I would have talked myself out of it. Not because I wasn’t capable, but because I was used to “bracing for some negative impact.”

But now? I trust that I can move forward, not just cautiously—but confidently.

And that’s my question for you: Where in your life are you still operating out of survival? Where have you been playing small—not because you want to, but because it’s all you’ve ever known?

What if, instead of waiting for certainty, you trusted that what’s meant for you is already on the way?

Because it is.

Until next time,

Tamara Sykes