On trying to look professional

When I started making websites for clients and trying to create my brand, I had this kind of pressure to look professional. Maybe because I was very young (and still am) to have a small business, I didn’t have a degree, years of experience, or a big audience on social media. Somehow I felt like I needed to “compensate” by making sure I looked professional.

But trying to look professional gets in the way of being authentic. Because we confuse looking polished with being professional. But that’s not how it is! Being professional is simply about doing good work, and being respectful to your clients and your work.

Trying to look clean and perfect can only make you look like anyone else. It’s something even “artificial intelligence” can do, because it takes the humanness out of the equation. And real connection comes from humanness, from imperfection.

Looking professional, when it doesn’t align, is a façade that hides our true selves and hinders what would actually make each of us unique. 

I personally connect much more with people that show up as themselves, and aren’t afraid to be real, human and imperfect. It makes me respect them more and want to know more from them. Because I see myself in them. 

But how can we learn to let go of this need or pressure to look professional? In my experience, I tried to compensate for things that made me feel insecure. So cultivating confidence in my work and process was the goal. And really, it’s something you get from experience doing the thing that makes you insecure.

I still get nervous when contacting potential clients or hopping on a first call, but I’ve learnt to trust myself that I have what it takes, and I can be myself. And I think people trust you more when you trust yourself, not when you try to look professional.