Curated vs. Connected: Why Polishing Your Image Might Be Costing You

Ever walked into a room and felt the energy shift—like you just know when someone is being real, and when they’re not?

It’s the same in business. In marketing. In relationships.

It's your BS detector / gut check / intuition - in action.

People can feel when you’re being authentic, and they can feel when you’re not. So why waste energy pretending?

I know it doesn't sound groundbreakingly novel, but unfortunately (especially for women) the world has conditioned us to believe we need to polish and perfect before we put ourselves out there. 

We’re told to curate, filter, and present the most “marketable” version of ourselves.

With good intentions, maybe.

But it's not sustainable or effective over the long term (often not in the short term either!)

Authenticity is the ultimate shortcut to trust.

The brands, leaders, and individuals who stand out aren’t necessarily the most refined or polished—they’re the ones who feel real.

They share their wins and their challenges.

They speak with conviction, about what they deeply believe, not just jumping on the bandwagon of what's hot right now.

They connect, rather than perform.

And guess what? That’s what people crave.

Connection. Realness. A sense of, “Ah, I see myself in you.”

I spent way too long trying to "present professionally" it was so depleting (and felt like a huge burden).

Truth be told, the less I tried, and the more I was just "me" whenever I felt like sharing something, not only did it feel easier, suddenly people were resonating so much more.

And I've also seen with my own eyes that literally NO-ONE has it all together all the time (or any of the time really). No matter how "put together" they look online. 

This picture was taken in Griffith Park LA and what you don't see in the photo is that next to me was a glamorous influencer in active-wear posing and being photographed against the same backdrop.

I'm not in that category - I have no make up - or branded activewear - and messy hair - but I'm good with that. Because it was naturally me in that moment. Having fun and someone snapped it.

In other moments, I can be coiffed and polished, especially if I'm speaking or presenting - or launching something publicly - and I'm equally good sharing those parts of me because it was also naturally me in that moment. 

I whole heartedly believe everyone is both messy and magnificent in their own ways.

👉 They key is not to hide or pretend the mess isn't there, nor to dull the magnificence you bring to the world. Neither of these are in service to you or your message. 👈

So if you’ve been spending energy trying to “be” what you think people want, consider this: What if the thing you’re holding back is the exact thing that would make people connect with you the most?

Imagine how much lighter, freer, and more impactful you’d be if you just showed up as you - consistently.

The world doesn’t need another version of someone else. It needs the version of you that is completely, unapologetically real.

******
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nina Christian is a Marketing Futurist & Global Marketing Mentor who helps people do their marketing in a more human way. 

She is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM), Life Member and Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute & AMI State Chair (Vic) and for 20 years was director of Braveda (Winner, Best Marketing Agency, Australian Marketing Excellence Awards).

Several years ago Nina saw the world of marketing shifting – this time as people became their own brands.  With this, she created a new business as a thought leader, combining her expertise in brand building with personal positioning, resulting in a breakthrough praxis known as Marketing Me™.

She has a knack for simplifying the complex which comes from being a hands-on mum to five children, and uses this to turn time-sucking activities into easy-to-follow systems and processes that make a lot of sense and get outcomes fast.

There are different ways to work with Nina based on your situation and organisation size - with all of them you'll see rapid transformation and tangible outcomes fast. Book a chat with Nina here.