Exiting Corporate and Stepping Into Building YOUR Brand and Business with Shaunda Head of SHH Creative
Episode 592: Show Notes
In today’s episode, we gain a really interesting perspective on the topic of branding from Shaunda Head, an Atlanta-based brand strategist and digital marketer who helps women align ALL THE THINGS in their brand so that their brand message can impact more powerfully! We chat about Shaunda’s experience of building her expertise in corporate institutions and the challenges of the transition between that world and going out on her own. Shaunda also shares the process she went through to uncover who she really is, rather than who she was when she was working for someone else.
A lot of our clients are in the same position; you guys are highly skilled, you know your shit, and you can serve people in incredible ways, but figuring out how to do that outside of someone else’s umbrella can be what is holding you back. This episode will give you some amazing ideas on how to rebrand yourself so you can step into who you truly are, so make sure to join us today to learn more from the amazing Shaunda Head!
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Working in Corporate as a Creative
Shaunda is a graphic designer by training, and when she began her journey of working in corporate structures (while still freelancing on the side) she joined the marketing department, and was a graphic designer on the team. Because she was interested in learning the communications side, and turned out to be good at it, she ended up doing that work alongside her creative work. Does this sound familiar to any of you? As is to be expected, it all became too much, and it got to a point where Shaunda had to make a choice: either keep doing the freelance work that she loved or stick with the stable corporate job that was running her to the ground. In 2017, she reached her tipping point, made a bold move, and followed her dream!
The Aspects Ex-Corporate Service Providers Need to Unlearn in Order to Build a Business in Alignment
Corporate structures condition people to be a certain way; to be a great worker, a good team player, a little busy bee. When you’re coming into entrepreneurship, especially if it’s full time and on your own, you’ve got to challenge yourself a bit more and you’ve got to do things that you didn’t have to do in the corporate world, with your same skill set. The trick to succeeding as an entrepreneurial service provider is to ignore the noise around you and to work within your zone of genius. When Shaunda worked in corporate, she had fears around reaching for her goals. The way she was taught to do things in a structured and professional way stayed with her even after she left and held her back from what she was supposed to be blossoming into. Thankfully, she was able to break out of her old habits and she has some powerful tips to share to help you do the same!
The 50/50 Rule that will Help You Build a Life-First Business
50 percent is how you are showing up for your ideal client, and the other 50 percent is how you are showing up for you. Yes, YOU! One mistake that people often make is that they completely bend over backwards for their clients and this leads to burnout. Shaunda certainly reached this point in her own journey and we know there are a lot of listeners out there who are either at that point or getting close to it. But it doesn’t have to be that way! If you move away from the silo model and think about your business as a brand system that revolves around you, you’ll start attracting your ideal clients, which benefits everyone involved. The way you want to serve your community should be something that you are building into your brand from the get-go. Don’t forget, this is YOUR business, and you are the one who gets to choose how you spend your time!
Find Your Voice and Use It!
Shaunda went out of her way to build something that encompassed the things that she believed in. Everyone has stories and experiences and qualities that make them unique; if you start to pay more attention and focus on yourself and what you want to say, what your core values are, and the transformation you want to make in the world, you will be able to build the brand of your dreams! It is Shaunda’s belief that if something feels difficult or seems like an impossible bridge to cross, you need to concentrate on your voice and make it your number one priority. Listen to yourself and what it is that you want to do and bring that to your everyday practice. Every time you have an opportunity to use your voice, use it; sprinkle it like fairy dust all over your brand!
Quote This
Think about your business as a brand system, and it revolves around you.
Highlights
Working in Corporate as a Creative. [0:04:28]
The Aspects Ex-Corporate Service Providers Need to Unlearn in Order to Build a Business in Alignment. [0:16:13]
The 50/50 Rule that will Help You Build a Life-First Business. [0:17:40]
Find Your Voice and Use It! [0:36:03]
ON TODAY’S SHOW
Shaunda Head
SHH Creative
Shaunda Head is an Atlanta-based brand strategist and digital marketer who helps women align ALL THE THINGS in their brand so that their brand message can impact more powerfully. The Founder of SHH CREATIVE, A Dope + Different™ Agency, Shaunda creates and implements strategies in marketing, branding and copy to help her clients SHOW UP and drive higher connection with their true, dream clients. In addition to building strategies, she also teaches various workshops on aligning your branding and marketing in a way that benefits your full brand system.
Shaunda has more than 16 years of experience, including brand design, marketing, communications and business development for global companies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UPS and E! Entertainment Television. She now consults for emerging and growing entrepreneurs — past clients consist of coaches, lawyers, doctors, podcasters, stylists, therapists, e-commerce site owners and more.
KEY TOPICS
Corporations, Zone of Genius, Creativity, Branding, Service Providers, Change, Transitions, Work/Life Balance, Authenticity
