Hyping Holly: Embracing the discomfort of self-promotion

The solopreneur struggle to sell yourself

Hello, have you met me? I’m brilliant!

Said me, never.

Self-promotion isn’t something I’ve needed to do much in my life, outside the confines of job applications and heavily scripted competence-based interviews.

When I first considered self-employment, the most daunting aspect was knowing I’d need to “sell” myself. I cringed at the thought. Who was I to go out there and say “I’m amazing! Give me your hard-earned cash!”

While I still find the idea (and even more, the action) pretty damn uncomfortable, as my final months in Belgium whizz by, and the pending end of my contract approaches, I’ve had to give myself a reality check and a kick up the arse.

Time to get over yourself Holly – if you want to make a living, you need to get out there and sing your own praises (in the nicest possible modest Brit way of course!)

Photo by JJ Ying on Unsplash

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Hi, I’m Holly - coach, mindfulness facilitator and author of Zestful Zen. I write about self-care, change, personal growth, mindfulness, and purpose. If you like life to be full of zest and energy, complemented by a zen, calm mind, Zestful Zen is the community for you! 💖✨

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Cue buying all the marketing books under the sun

I’ve read books for entrepreneurs, tuned into loads of podcasts, and joined the Female Entrepreneur Association.

And while the logical part of me has imbibed the sensible messages (you can’t reach people and have positive impact if no one knows you exist/what you offer), a doubtful little voice inside still whispers, “But can you really sell? Why would anyone pay you?”

Making the mindset shift is a slow journey.

I know that I’ve got valuable skills, knowledge and experience.

I know that I have impact as a coach, helping clients achieve their goals. And I know that through spreading mindfulness, I can make a real difference to people’s lives.

But yet…

I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid

Most of the skills, knowledge, and experience that I personally value, the achievements that most align with my personal values - my passions, really - I’ve used/gained/done as “corporate contributions” – extras on top of my day job, squeezed in at the margins.

Using my soft skills and doing the kind of people projects that women often volunteer for in the workplace (or are “voluntold” to do).

The initiatives that keep things and teams running, but somehow don’t feature prominently in end of year appraisals against “high profile” strategy projects seen as sexier and more ambitious.

(Coincidentally though, the type of people projects that consultants like Ernst & Young charge an arm and a leg for when someone senior decides they’re important enough to actually allocate full-time resource to.)

I knew that my work had value. But it was the kind of “unsung hero” work, where individual colleagues would thank me for the difference I made, yet that impact was invisible to those above me evaluating my performance.

As if by osmosis, years of this subliminal messaging made its way into my psyche and led me to devalue myself and my contributions.

This work lit me up inside as I saw the positive effect it had on others, but nobody senior seemed to care beyond paying lip service when the annual staff satisfaction survey rolled around.

I digress.

Suffice to say, as my priorities and values increasingly diverged from the more hard-nosed objectives of senior leadership, I got used to underestimating myself and what I have to offer.

But not anymore!

Embracing my bold voice and value

Over the past year, I’ve regained my inner conviction (thank you coaching and mindfulness!) and my voice (thank you Substack!)

And with these, my confidence that, outside my employment bubble, there really are opportunities for me to shine and make a genuine difference to people’s lives.

Every day.

Not just in the odd hour squeezed in here and there when someone needs a corporate box ticked.

I’m excited and energised by the possibilities, and it’s this conviction that is giving me the fuel to go out there and promote myself (eeeeek!)

In the past couple of months, I’ve:

• Built my website (no sales or enquiries generated yet…success is just around the corner, right?)

• Signed up to LinkedIn (still trying to get my head round the functions).

• Launched an Instagram account (slow burn, as I’m struggling to find time and inspiration).

• Upgraded to paid on the wonderful

  Lucy Werner
  ’s Hype Yourself Substack (worth its weight in gold for PR newbies like me).

• Listened to countless marketing podcasts (overwhelming and contradictory at times).

• Joined various Enterprise Nation webinars (I’d recommend these to fellow Brits).

• And of course, I’ve kept showing up on Substack (this will be my 53rd post!)

So I’m putting in the hard work to get my name out there.

But yet… (again!) I haven’t really been selling myself yet, unless you count the very recent launch of my website.

My labour of love, aka my business website. Photo by author, Holly Bailie

So, with Lucy’s voice shouting in my head, and Black Friday, Cyber Monday and all the other shopping bonanza days looming, here goes:

📺 We interrupt this transmission for a short commercial break. 📺

What can I offer you?

On Substack:

• For free, all subscribers receive three posts each week: the Monday Matchstick Challenge (an adventure prompt), the Wednesday Wellbeing bite-sized resources round-up, and a Saturday personal essay (what you’re reading now). Plus the subscriber chat where you can get to know the lovely Zestful Zen community. ✨

• I’ve launched paid subscriptions. 🎉 In addition to all the free stuff, you’ll get 8 webinars per year and 4 challenges (on self-care, mindfulness and personal growth). Plus warm fuzzy good karma for supporting my solopreneur dreams. 💖

• And for those who want to dive deeper, Momentum Members (founder tier) also receive a one-hour coaching session to help you reach your goals. 🏁

Off Substack:

• I currently offer one-to-one coaching packages (details and testimonials are available on my website, or drop me a DM).

• From January, I’ll be offering introductory mindfulness courses (I’m a Breathworks-accredited Mindfulness Facilitator).

• Later in 2025 I will launch online self-coaching courses (topics depending on demand).

• And from late 2025, I will offer Breathworks 8-week Mindfulness for Stress courses (BAMBA-accredited, similar to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction).

• For corporate clients, I can provide bespoke coaching or mindfulness packages, including for Away Days and leadership events.

Through coaching and mindfulness, I can help you:

• Overcome workplace stress

• Bounce back from burnout

• Confidently navigate transitions

• Achieve your big ambitions

• Find your "why"

• Create confidence

• Be more present

• …And so much more!

Enough selling for now? Phew. 😆

P.S. If anyone would like to become my first paid subscriber and give me the best birthday present ever next week, here’s your chance! 🎂

📺 We now return to our regular scheduled programming 📺

Well, I hope that wasn’t too “salesy” for you. Back to essay land…

I’ll just wrap up by saying a massive thank you to everyone on Substack. You’ve all been super encouraging and supportive as I try to make my solopreneurship leap. 💖

I know there will be plenty more stumbles along my journey, but I’ll trip with a smile on my face and dust my knees off as I make the most of this adventure. 🌟

And some of you will be along with me for the ride. Hugs and happy vibes right back at you. ✨

Questions for self-reflection or journalling ✍️

• Are you valuing your work and contributions enough?

• What mindset shifts do you need to embrace?

• Where do you need (or want) to do some self-promotion?

• How and when can you “hype yourself”?

• What support and resources do you need?

Now take action 🎯

• Identify what work streams or projects you’re underplaying.

• Brainstorm some ideas for self-promotion (or co-opt colleagues to PR you).

• Commit to shining a light on the value you bring and the impact you have.

• Share your plans with a valued colleague or the Zestful Zen community.

• Take the first step, adjust as needed, and enjoy it!

We’ll be cheering you on as you hype yourself 🌟

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your thoughts on self-promotion. Do you find it uncomfortable? Or it’s right up your alley? What holds you back from putting your “sales” messages out there?

Let’s have a conversation in the comments or subscriber chat. Or feel free to drop me a DM. 💬

Have a sublime Saturday, friends! 🌞

Ways to connect or work with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer coaching sessions and mindfulness courses.

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