Sure, there are courses on email marketing, growing your following, and launching something new. But the people who tend to teach these topics have built a business through a one-to-many model, focusing first and foremost on follower count. So following their advice will never translate directly if you don’t have the reach they have. I’m someone who’s run a referral-heavy business for seven years, without focusing on building an audience and honestly that’s held me back from visibility, marketing, and asking for business. If you’ve held back because you’re used to doing the work rather than than selling the work, get ready because I’m talking to you!

I’m sharing the real numbers, timeline, and results of my recent launch for The Bench community. You’ll hear about:

+ My founding membership goal and where I ended up

+ The role of a waitlist and application and how these impacted enrollment

+ The role of personal connection and scrappiness in launching

+ Getting comfortable being visible and embodying what you’re selling

+ How much money I invested in the launch

+ Future plans for The Bench

As always, you can get on my email list to get first in line for updates and announcements like my book launch, in-person programming, and when The Bench opens back up for membership enrollment in fall 2025.

Personal branding is a complex topic. One that if you get it, you get it. But if you don’t, it can seem self-indulgent, unimportant, and trendy. Today I’m challenging the common misconceptions about personal branding and how this view has gained traction. If you’ve ever wanted to step more into the spotlight but were hesitant for fear of coming across as fake or having to spend all day posting content, this solo episode is for you. A few highlights include:

+ The reason personal branding is your career insurance policy

+ Disentangling your reputation from your brand

+ Why monetizing who you are can be problematic

+ What it looks like to be authentic rather than dogmatic

+ The role of social media for people who are allergic to self promotion

+ Why the future demands transparency and connection

+ How to embrace the idea of a portfolio career

For more on this topic and to be the first to hear about launch dates for my upcoming book and The Bench, our community for women, visit KimWensel.com.

Diehard Cleveland Cavaliers fan and creative powerhouse, Abra Said is a self-professed eternal optimist. But that doesn’t mean her path has turned out as she expected. On this episode of Why is Nobody Talking About This?, Abra and Kim discuss loss, the challenges of making new friends as adults, and financial security as a creative person.

THIS CONVERSATION COVERS

+ Holding firm with boundaries when your work seems “fun”

+ The profound impact and imprint of loss

+ Celebrating platonic love as much as romantic love

+ What we get wrong about people without kids

+ How we can unknowingly lose ourselves in marriage and parenthood and why that’s such a risk

+ The awkwardness of making new friends as an adult

+ Starting something new and being okay with the uncertainty of it

+ Having enough and still wanting more—money, work, friends, and opportunities

FOLLOW

You can find Abra on her newly launched, beautiful website and on Instagram.

For more about The Bench, a community for women who love their work but want it to come at less of a cost, visit kimwensel.com/thebench.