Part 1: From Metrics to Momentum
Why external strategies aren't enough to sustain visibility
A simple truth we overlook
It’s where we usually start. In fact, we’re often directed to start with a plan. One that is established. If it ain’t broken... It works for them, so might as well work for me right?
And yet we don’t really know if it even works for them. They may have rose colored glasses as they sell you on their strategy. Testimonials can be skewed, numbers can be shaped, and outer confidence might just be a shell protecting the doubt that lies within.
It’s easy to fall into the get there “fast in 3 easy steps” or the “I’ve done the work so you don’t have to.” I’ve walked that path too, more times than I choose to count.
Yet I never got the promised results. It’s not just me, I know many others frustrated by this too. Relying on the strategies of others, using it as scaffolding to build ourselves.
But you can’t build a self from scaffolding.
What I’ve noticed
Most of us start from the outside in. We reach for what others have created:
A content calendar that promises engagement
A checklist of how to show up
A perfect sleep mask, playlist, or pair of rejuvenating pajamas
These aren’t bad. In fact, some of them are lovely.
But they’re not you.
And over time, that gap of between what you do and who you are. Well, it starts to wear on your system.
Especially when what once worked...stops.
Field Notes: The first year I posted on LinkedIn, I did everything "right." Logical, scheduled, structured. I was trying so hard to be professional. But each post took me further away from myself. I could feel the performance tightening in my chest. And the silence afterward? Deafening. One hour to write a post. Low engagement. And me left wondering what I did wrong, then looking for a new solution to fix it.
Perhaps you’ve noticed it too…
You’re following all the "rules" and still feel off
You crave clarity, but the more you consume, the foggier you feel
The moment something stops working, your confidence crumbles
Your stress and uncertainty spikes every time you try something new
Visibility feels like a role to fill, not a reflection that’s lived
This isn’t failure.
It’s feedback.
A moment to exhale
Seriously, start with an exhale before you inhale. It sends a signal to your nervous system that it’s safe. Because it’s in this calm safety that we make our most aligned decisions.
No take a moment to notice:
What external supports are you leaning on right now?
Which ones feel nourishing?
Which feel like a crutch?
What if you didn’t have them tomorrow?
What would remain?
The shift in me that continues to ripple
Once I realized that external strategies could only take me so far, I started working differently.
I stopped optimizing. I started listening.
Instead of jumping into "what do I need to fix?" I asked, "where am I now?"
I regulated first, then wrote. I used Human Design to map what was already true instead of reaching for something shiny. I turned inward.
My words changed. My energy changed. And without trying...opportunities started finding me.
Field Notes: When perimenopause hit, my sleep went wacky. I read up on all of it, tried so many things I found on Instagram and Amazon. And a few things helped like a weighted blanket, a cooling sleep mask, and a playlist from Alexa. But if they disappeared, I’d still sleep well. I found my inner ways to a good nights sleep, no accessories required. And for LinkedIn, if the algorithm shifts or a post flops, I don't spiral. Because they are not my driving force, I am. I am my own momentum.
Part 2: From Metrics to Momentum
What to do when the tools stop working
A gentle next step
If you're feeling lost in all the "shoulds," you're not alone. You're also not broken.
You might just be trying to build your voice on someone else’s scaffolding.
What if you started with your strength instead?
My free guide, "What Do I Write About?" was made for this moment. It helps you pause, regulate, and write from a place that actually feels like you.
Because the most sustainable strategy is the one rooted in your nervous system and your truth.
Get the guide here: https://creative-extension.kit.com/what-do-i-write-about
