A client recently told me that I changed their life.
Not in a casual, “Oh, this was helpful” kind of way—but in a soul-shifting, lineage-breaking kind of way.
They said, “Because of our work together, my children will never know the poverty I grew up in.”
Let that land.
Their kids will never know the hunger, the fear, the not-enough-ness that shaped them. They can now afford to send all three of them to the college of their choice.
I could feel the generational chains snap mid-sentence.
But then they added something that made my nervous system flinch—not from their words, but from the truth beneath them:
“I’m sorry, I can’t give you a testimonial. Not even a vague one. It would ruin my brand.”
Ruin. Their. Brand.
I didn’t take it personally. I took it as a mandate.
Because what they said out loud is a wound that runs deep in our industry—especially among high-achieving folx, healers, and changemakers:
If I admit I’ve struggled, no one will trust me.
If I’m not perfect, I’m not profitable.
But here’s the truth no one wants to put in their funnel copy:
If any part of you believes you have to present as perfect for people to work with you,
then no matter how successful you are, you’re only a fraction as successful as you could be.
Let me tell you something I’ve learned by living it:
🌀 I filed for bankruptcy after being crushed under $300K of medical debt.
🌀 I still make payments to the IRS—and I do so with integrity, not shame.
🌀 I’ve made money decisions that came from trauma, not strategy—and I alchemized every single one.
Some people have told me that’s why they didn’t hire me.
But many more have said that’s exactly why they did.
Because they know I won’t shame them.
Because I know what it’s like to wake up in a cold sweat over a tax bill.
Because they feel safe.
And when people feel safe? They rise.
You don’t need to be polished to be powerful. You just need to be you.
There is power in transparency.
There is leadership in honesty.
There is liberation in naming the mess and still moving forward.
Tomorrow, I’ll sit with this client again.
Not to change their mind about the testimonial, though they may surprise us both someday.
But to reflect the truth back to them:
That the parts of themselves they hide in the name of “professionalism” are the very keys to deeper connection, more magnetism, more of everything they want.
Because curated does not equal credible.
Because the polished veneer is never as compelling as the sacred truth.
Because being yourself is not a liability—it’s your legacy.
✨ Reflection & Expansion Prompts:
What parts of your story have you been taught to hide in order to seem “professional” or “credible”?
What if the thing you’re afraid to reveal is actually your most powerful magnet?
Who might feel less alone if you told your truth?
👉 Hit reply or share in the comments: What’s one “imperfect” part of your story that your clients actually love you for?
PS: You don’t need a cleaner story. You don’t need a shinier brand.
You need the audacity to be seen exactly as you are because profit is protest.
And your truth? It is the whole revolution.
Song of the Day: The Sound of Silence covered by Disturbed
This one resonated in my bones. The breaking of generational chains and the shame we carry anyway. Thank you.
And love that song of the day!