Feeling stuck, uninspired, or disconnected from your work?
You might be wearing a mask — and it is costing you more than you think.Here’s how I discovered it (the hard way) — and how you can break free too.
Have you ever noticed you are the funniest, most vibrant version of yourself around close friends — but when it's time to "perform" at work, on camera, or in public, you tighten up?
That was me for years.
I wore the "corporate mask" — the perfect lawyer, the polished professional, the LinkedIn-approved version of myself.
But hiding your real self has a steep cost.
From an early age, many of us were taught survival skills disguised as professionalism:
Over time, these behaviors harden into invisible masks.
They might protect you short-term, but long-term, they block creativity, confidence, and connection.
You cannot take off a mask you cannot see.
Here are signs you are wearing one:
If you want to thrive, you must first admit the mask exists.
Challenge yourself:
Identify three masks you are wearing right now.
(Name them. It matters.)
Listen to the full episode for a deeper dive into this.
Hiding is not free.
It is incredibly expensive — emotionally, mentally, and financially.
When you mute your creativity, your voice, and your uniqueness:
Today's brands, audiences, and opportunities are magnetized by realness — not perfection.
Creators like Wisdom Kaye, who leaned fully into outrageous, joyful self-expression, built multimillion-dollar businesses not by fitting in, but by standing out.
If you are still hiding, you are not just playing small.
You are actively paying for it — in ways you may not even see yet.
Taking off the mask is not simple.
It is messy.
It is scary.
And it is absolutely necessary.
In my own journey — from law to entrepreneurship to full-time content creator — I faced:
But every messy step brought me closer to building a life and a brand that actually reflect who I am.
Authenticity is not just a marketing tactic.
It is your stamina.
It is what will keep you energized, motivated, and connected to your work when things get difficult.
Building a career, a brand, or a business around a mask leads to emptiness — even if you reach external "success."
True success is about feeling fulfilled while achieving your goals.
If you want lasting success, you must commit to expressing your real self — even when it feels uncomfortable.
That is the work. That is the difference.
Listen to the full episode here.
I would love to hear from you: What mask are you ready to take off?
Comment below.
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