Here's to creating with freedom

6 mental roadblocks that keep you from pressing publish and how to overcome them.

I am the first to understand the difficulties of consistently creating content and building a personal brand.

The number of times I've felt motivation surge through me as I planned my content calendar, just to get stuck in the recording, editing, or worse—the dreaded drafts folder—is just embarrassing.

After a few years of playing tug of war with my personal brand, I've discovered something important: 80% of the roadblocks come from our mindset and thought process, not our capabilities or resources.

What transformed my journey wasn't finding the perfect camera or mastering a new platform, it was confronting the mental barriers that kept me from showing up consistently. I have laid out 6 roadblocks and the practical solutions that can help you break through.

Roadblock #1: The ‘I have nothing to share’ lie

We all tell ourselves this story: that our experiences aren't valuable, that everything has already been said, that we're not "expert enough." But ask yourself these three questions:

• Did you have a need that was being met by creating your product or service?

• Do you have memories of the challenges you've faced to get to where you are?

• Do you feel passionate about what you do, or do you often talk your friends and family's ears off about it?

If you answered yes to just one of those, you have a story to tell.

Here’s the solution:

1. Recognize that you're doing a disservice to yourself and others by not sharing your story. Think about the people who inspired you to take the next step in your life, you have that very same power for others. Don't let that time pass.

2. Practice telling your story. Take your phone and record a voice memo about the start of your business, challenges you've overcome, or current passions in your work. Spend 3-5 minutes talking freely. Review the transcript and ask your favorite AI tool to reveal compelling points or create a polished script from your voice.

3. Start a "wisdom journal" where you document insights from your day that could help others. Set a weekly "story mining" session where you reflect on lessons learned or challenges overcome.

4. Ask clients or colleagues what advice of yours has been most helpful to them. Their answers might surprise you and reveal valuable content ideas.

Roadblock #2: The pattern of de-prioritization

Ok… how do we expect ourselves to prioritize creating content when sometimes we can't even make it to the grocery store or that workout class because work has piled up?

I understand why content creation gets deprioritized so quickly. The solution isn't about finding more time—it's about making content work for you.

Here’s the solution:

1. Habit stack your content creation with activities you already do. Could you record a video once per week while walking your dog? Or take 5 minutes to share your thoughts after a client meeting provided a breakthrough?

2. Create a "minimum viable content" template that you can complete in under 10 minutes. This could be a simple post with wisdom from your day and a photo you already took that’s been marinating in your camera roll.

3. Set a specific day and time for content creation and treat it like any other important meeting, because it is. Block it on your calendar and honor that commitment.

4. Batch create content during your high-energy periods. Create 3-4 pieces in one session when you're feeling inspired, rather than forcing yourself to create when you're drained.

5. Use voice-to-text tools to capture ideas while commuting or doing other tasks. Some of my best content has come from thoughts I dictated in the shower.

Make content creation a part of your life with clear boundaries. It will feel weird at first, and it will be easy to use perfection as an excuse not to post (more on that later), but the more you practice showing up in small ways, the more momentum you'll build.

How I think I look creating content

Roadblock #3: The fear of being seen

Living life in the "spotlight effect" is living in delusion.

We hold back sharing our dreams, goals, and message because we're afraid of how we'll be perceived. I say this with kindness: noooooobody cares as much as you think.

People only pay attention when you provide them value. And those judgments you fear? They last 5 seconds before people return to thinking about themselves.

Here’s the solution:

1. Start by posting in smaller, supportive communities before expanding to larger platforms. Build confidence in spaces where the stakes feel lower.

2. Create a "validation file" where you save positive feedback and testimonials. Reference it when fear arises to remind yourself of the impact you're making.

3. Practice gradual exposure by incrementally increasing your visibility: start with text posts, then add your voice, then short videos, and eventually longer-form content.

4. Remember that your ideal audience needs your specific perspective. You're not speaking to everyone, just the people who resonate with your unique approach.

Don't let the spotlight effect keep you from building the personal brand that could transform your business. Your voice matters, because it's yours.

Roadblock #4: The perfectionism trap

Professionalism and perfectionism are not synonymous.

The idea of creating content becomes overwhelming and frustrating when you feel like everything you share has to be perfect. You have a genuine personality with unique aspects that make people want to connect with you. Those qualities can coexist with content that is professional but not "perfect."

Building a personal brand isn't glamorous. It's vulnerable, it's messy, and yes, it's sometimes embarrassing. Every expert we admire today started as a beginner who struggled to press "post." But here's the magic: When you show up authentically, people connect with YOU, not the polished version of you.

Here’s the solution:

1. Implement a "good enough and ship it" rule. Set a timer for content creation and publish when it rings, no matter what state it's in. It gets you to prioritize the necessary edits and leaves no time for the “can I edit out that one zit on my forehead?” questions.

2. Create a simple "content checklist" with only 3-5 essential quality items. If it meets those criteria, it goes out. No endless tweaking allowed.

3. Commit to an "imperfect post" once a week to break the perfectionism cycle. Make it a practice to release something that feels slightly uncomfortable.

4. Reframe mistakes as "authenticity markers" that make you more relatable. Some of my most "flawed" content has generated the most meaningful connections.

5. Focus on providing value rather than flawless presentation. Ask yourself: "Will this help someone?" If yes, that's enough reason to share it.

When you can believe that your content is a tool for building trust in your brand and business, not for displaying perfection, your willingness to show up will expand.

Roadblock #5: The unrealistic goals trap

Why is your goal 1M views when you haven't posted in 42 days?

One of the biggest traps we set for ourselves is the all or nothing mentality. We start by shooting for the stars when we have half a gallon of gas left in the tank. Then we believe that starting small isn't worth starting at all, and where does that get us? Nowhere.

Here’s the solution:

1. Set "process goals" instead of "outcome goals." Focus on "post consistently twice a week" rather than "reach 100K followers." The former is entirely within your control; the latter is not.

2. Create a "micro-wins" tracking system to celebrate small progress. Did someone comment thoughtfully on your post? That's a win. Did you overcome resistance and publish something? Another win.

3. Implement the 1% philosophy (my favorite improvement philosophy for content creation and learning French)—aim to make each piece slightly better than the last, rather than expecting perfection immediately.

4. Define success metrics that you can control (consistency, quality, authenticity) rather than metrics you can't (likes, shares, algorithm favor).

Remember: Most people overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they can accomplish in a year of consistent small actions.

Roadblock #6: The 'I'm losing the plot' trap

Building your personal brand isn't just about creating content, it's about crafting a legacy that's known, remembered, and an asset for future ventures. When we create content without a clear purpose, we quickly lose momentum and direction.

Without a strong "why" behind your content, you'll constantly question if it's worth the effort, especially when engagement metrics don't provide immediate validation. Your purpose, your deeper reason for showing up, is what will sustain you when motivation inevitably fluctuates.

With your personal brand being transferable, investing time, energy, and resources into building it will offer a significant return. It opens doors for future opportunities and ensures your legacy goes beyond what you're doing today.

Here’s the solution:

1. Reconnect with your origin story. Why did you start this journey in the first place? What problem were you solving? Who were you hoping to help? Document this foundational purpose and revisit it regularly.

2. Define your core message and values. What do you stand for that remains constant across all of your business efforts?

3. Create a purpose statement that answers: "I create content because I believe _____." Make it specific enough to guide your decisions but broad enough to evolve with you.

4. Develop a "North Star" impact vision. What change do you want your content to create in the world or in your business? How do you want people to feel or what do you want them to do after engaging with your content?

5. Create a simple personal brand statement that can guide all your content decisions. Use it as a filter: "Does this align with who I am and what I represent?"

When your content creation is anchored in purpose, consistency becomes easier because you're no longer just chasing metrics—you're fulfilling your mission with each piece you share. This mindset shift transforms content from a marketing task into meaningful work that feels energizing rather than depleting.

There's so much to content creation and building a personal brand, but really, 80% of the struggle is right here in your mindset. Once you can master your thinking around building something in public, the task at hand becomes so much simpler.

These mindset shifts require practice and patience. Don't try to tackle all six roadblocks at once. Start with the one that resonates most with you.

For me, the unrealistic goals trap was my biggest hurdle. I would set an entire content calendar at the top of the month with the goal to post two times a day every day. I’d be half way through the month having posted zero times because of the overwhelming pressure I put on myself. What finally broke the cycle was committing to a three times per week schedule, something that excited me and felt doable.

The simple act of deciding is your first step toward the personal brand you deserve to build. Your story matters. Your voice matters. And someone out there needs exactly what only you can share.

— Olivia at Olivia Yoko Creative

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