Hey guys, it’s been a while. Happy to see a lot of new faces in here :) The past few months have been pretty challenging because of some family issues that, thankfully, seem to be moving toward a resolution. I started this year with a clear idea: to work on my personal brand and launch a new support service that can help people communicate effectively—without necessarily having to rely on an agency. But I’ve realized that every time I have to “show up” publicly as myself, I get demotivated and I procrastinate. Everybody seems to be far more ahead/active/consistent than me. The funny thing is: I only do this when it’s about me. With my clients, I’m on point. And there’s something even worse than being scared: I feel like I don’t have any valid reason to be. In the past year, I’ve been selected as a consultant for a major marketing company because I’m considered an expert in videomaking and social media marketing. I’ve done more than 25 consultations with people who found the time we spent together really valuable. I took part in—and won—an artistic selection for a ramen bar brand, which will take me to Japan with them this year. And I have successful case studies. Still, I feel stuck: on one side, fear—and on the other, this voice telling me I’m stupid for feeling it, like an endless battle between mind and heart. I’m not writing this for pity or for a “come on, you’ve got this.” I’m writing it because it’s true. And because saying it out loud might stop it from controlling me in silence. I’m not sure how to deal with this. If you’ve ever felt the same: what helped you move forward even with fear?

I know Kanam won't make this post herself, so I'm going to make it for her. She just made a Carousel post about 48 hours ago, and within that time, it's already passed 12,000 likes, which is fucking crazy!! I'll include a link here to show you guys what the Carousel post example looks like. It's nothing fancy; there's no secret to it. It's just a really strong hook with wonderful delivery and a beautiful mixture of Kanam. Also, give Kanam a huge shout-out. This is a big win for her, especially since it's extremely aligned with her personal brand and not some cheap trend that is going to pass in a few weeks. Good job, Kanam; we're all rooting for you!

My name is Andrea, I’m a Social Media Manager at T-Mobile in Seattle, and my creative account is @itsakaye on Instagram. I also do UGC work for various brands, on and off retainer. I want to get these things from Asterisk Create: 1. Honest feedback from a valuable community 2. Impactful content creation to build a quality personal brand 3. Inspiration from the workflows of other creatives For fun, I like to: 1. Watch reality TV 2. Walk around downtown Seattle for the energy/scenery 3. Check out cool and unique experiences My workspace changes between two spots in the house, depending on my and my husband’s schedule. And I’ve included my current MVPs of 2026!

I used Jordan's Typeface Picker tool to land on a consistent visual identity. I'm in the self-care niche. Is this interesting, boring, relatable, all over the place? Would love to know what you think!

Hey hey! Anyone around to give me their thoughts on my vid announcing Gallop Hill (my skincare brand) wins at the Universal Beauty Awards. There isn't a call to action here as it is more of an announcement. I used CapCut. Will have a bunch of copy explaining the awards in the post.