Don't Step on the Bluebells

How to Get Paid to Be Yourself with Beth Hocking (#053)

• Amanda Parker • Season 1 • Episode 53

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What if the key to your success isn't about becoming someone new, but reclaiming who you've always been? In this transformative conversation, Amanda sits down with personal brand strategist Beth Hocking to explore how building your personal brand is actually a profound healing journey. Beth shares her powerful story of leaving a 20-year corporate career—complete with director titles, global travel, and multi-million dollar deals—to help women step into their authentic power and get paid to be themselves.

This isn't your typical branding conversation. Beth reveals how her own breakthrough came through a surprising download in a sound bath that led to a pivotal identity shift (yes, it involved cutting off all her hair). But more importantly, she breaks down her SEEN framework—a methodology rooted in self-trust, embodied leadership, elevated identity, and notability—that helps her clients move from hiding their brilliance to claiming their space in the world. Whether you're a healer afraid of being seen, an entrepreneur playing small, or anyone who's lost touch with their seven-year-old dreamer self, this episode will remind you that you already have everything you need.

The conversation dives deep into the intersection of personal branding and healing, exploring how learning to trust yourself again is nothing short of miraculous. Beth shares client success stories that prove when you stop waiting to be "ready" and start building your brand from a place of authentic self-knowledge, extraordinary things happen—from viral LinkedIn posts to dream job offers to signing clients within weeks. If you've been waiting for permission to step into your power, consider this your invitation.

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Beth Hocking: [00:00:00] When you truly know who you are and what you stand for, like it honestly opens up so many doors. And when we understand who we are, what our values are, what we stand for, what our mission is, what our purpose is, then we can start. Connecting with people who feel an affinity to our values, to feel an affinity to our mission.

Amanda Parker: Welcome to Don't Step on the Bluebells, the podcast for personal healing and transformation takes center stage. I'm your host. Amanda Parker, and I'm a fellow seeker on the journey of personal growth. Join me as I delve into the stories of gifted healers, guides, and everyday people who have experienced remarkable transformations.

Listen in as they share their practical wisdom to enrich your everyday life. And don't forget to hit, subscribe, and never miss a new episode. Welcome to today's episode of Don't Step On the Bluebells. I am here with the remarkable Beth [00:01:00] Hawking, who is a personal brand strategist that I have connected with and been following for, I don't know, the better part of the year, if not longer.

So I have been watching this woman change people's lives over. So long with this incredible work she does, and I'm so excited to have you here to talk to us about what it is that you do, and yeah, share a bit of your magic with the world. Thank you so much, Beth. 

Beth Hocking: Oh my gosh, it is such an honor to be here, Amanda, and I just so appreciate you so much.

Um, for everything that you do for women, like specifically, I wanna say that right now, like, like everything that you do, your. Your heart, your passion, your energy, the gifts that you bring to this world is exceptional. And I hope that you really understand that and recognize that. And I hope that, you know, we can all appreciate a little bit of your magic, even if it's through, um, podcast and, uh, all the free content that you put out.

You are absolutely a [00:02:00] gift to this world. So thank you. 

Amanda Parker: Oh my God. This is an episode about you, Beth, but I receive that really wholeheartedly. I have a friend who I had a call with, it was probably a week or two ago, and she told me really to pay attention to the words that people use when they're either describing me or giving feedback to really.

Let that come in and see why people are connecting to me. So you're giving me beautiful feedback. I have goosebumps in a moment when I'm really actually open to receiving it. So thank you. Of course. Of course. So today I'm really excited because this feels like a bit of a, let's just say an unconventional topic for healing.

And I know that you also wouldn't describe yourself specifically as a healer, but to me, I, I really understand that the power of what you do is helping people really like, [00:03:00] connect with and claim who they are. And having gone through. Similar kind of exercises myself over the last couple years. The amount of like healing that is experienced in being able to truly know yourself is.

Really nothing short of magical. So, and as a woman who I know has gone through so many changes yourself, especially the last year, I just could not think of anyone better to come and share some of that wisdom of like, what does it actually mean? First of all, like building a brand. 'cause I think for a lot of people that's foreign, but also.

What's really possible in that? So maybe we just start a bit with, you know, what, what is brand, what is branding? What does that mean for you? 

Beth Hocking: Hmm. Okay. Starting with the juicy ones for [00:04:00] me, you already have a personal brand, like every single person on this planet already has a personal brand. It's whether you start curating that brand to mean something or not, because basically your brand is your legacy.

It's what you leave after you've left the room. It's what people say about you after you've left the room. So when you've vacated, you've done your thing. Whatever it is, it's the lasting impression. It's the lasting memory, and that can either be positive, negative, or neutral. But when you start curating that brand.

You then start to control the narrative and no one else is gonna be half as generous, um, or understand half as much as you do about what, what it is that you stand for. So you might as well lead that narrative rather than. Make people guess, or like lead people to make, um, uh, assumptions, thank you, uh, of, of who you are rather than actually, you know, who you want to be known for.

So I think that it's such a [00:05:00] powerful terminology to curate your own personal brand because then you can start controlling that narrative. And that, for me is why it's so powerful because I mean, we can, we can talk about like what, what that actually means and what that entails and all the opportunities that gives you, but.

Like when you truly know who you are and what you stand for, like, it honestly opens up so many doors. And when we understand who we are, what our values are, what we stand for, what our mission is, what our purpose is, what our le what legacy we wanna le leave on this planet, what we're here for, like, then we can start.

Connecting with people who feel an affinity to our values, to feel an affinity to our mission, and to also wanna support us, open some more doors for us. And then all of a sudden, these opportunities, they start to seem random. They start to feel like. Oh, oh, I, I, I would've dreamt about that. It was maybe on my vision board, or I never would've imagined that before now.

But when you are so clear in who you are and what you stand for, the opportunities are not by [00:06:00] coincidence. They are by design, and that's what starts. I always say, you get paid to be yourself, right? You get paid to be yourself, whether that's in corporate, right? You get, you still get paid to be yourself by designing and curating your own personal brand, your leadership brand, but also as an entrepreneur, you get paid to be more of yourself by opening up and being vulnerable and sharing with other people who you actually are, and breaking down that fear of judgment or breaking down that fear of other people would, um, you know.

Say like, whoever used to work with Debbie from accounts that used to work with, you know, 10 years ago or something, who always told you that you were never very good at putting your expenses in, and that kind of has, has like le like landed with you. So you are like, oh no, I, I don't wanna be this person that people can ridicule me for or take, take the piss out of.

Or like there's a judgment of it, so we. Tend to play small, and we tend to let other people fill in the gaps or make assumptions, as you say. Whereas actually, I'm the one who is like, no, let's, let's claim this. Let's claim who we are in our power [00:07:00] and showcase who we are in our magic and our brilliance so that people aren't filling in the gaps that they actually know genuinely.

And authentically 

Amanda Parker: who we are. That is so powerful. I think we can end the episode here. I mean that's like really such Yeah. My drop. Yeah. Um, that is such a, a powerful framing because I know like a lot of listeners, it's, we, we do have a mixed audience, but I know a lot of people are entrepreneurs and there are also a lot of healers who tune in and that is one of the things probably for most.

Small business owners, but I have seen this with healers so much that they're. They're really afraid of being seen. And I think in a lot of these service-based businesses, whether it's healing or it's coaching or like, there's a number of different, you know, titles that come to mind where you're really trying to help people where you enter that line of work because you're genuine concern is helping someone else make their life better, or, [00:08:00] you know, find out who they really are.

So they don't wanna take up the space and. What that means is that people are not finding them, they're not connecting to their work. And like some of the most brilliant healers that I know, it's not that following is everything, right? It's not that you have to have a big following, but it does feel a bit like hiding.

So I could have a session that absolutely blows my mind and I can't find this person on the internet, you know? So I think there's something to be said about, yeah, giving yourself that permission to really own who you are and what your gifts are, and how you want to be known, not just how the world will define you.

Beth Hocking: Oh yes, absolutely. Couldn't have said it better myself. Yeah, that's, that's really, that's really the case. And I definitely find when my clients come to me, they, they don't see it themselves, but they are playing small, they're playing down. [00:09:00] I had a client say, um, last week in one of my sessions, she said, I've got trophies.

I've won awards and people have come to hear me speak and are like, where are you? Where are your trophies? Why aren't you showing them off? Why aren't we talking about them? And she's like, oh, I just don't wanna be braggy. I don't wanna show off. Like that's not, that's not why I did my work. Like that's not where I started.

I didn't start to get the accolades. I started to help people and by. Showcasing how well I'm doing. It takes away somehow from my work and that's not what we're about. Right? We are about, actually, as you said so eloquently, it's about people finding your perfect match. Like if you think about, I dunno if you know this show Mr.

And Mrs is really old fashioned like show about like, so you are, you go on with your husband and they basically, they ask you the questions and they say, so who is, who's the best cook? Let's say, and they're blindfolded. And then you would put up your panel to say, okay, the husband is the best cook, or the wife is the best [00:10:00] cook.

And if they know each other well, they would be a match, right? So it'd be like, who's the best cook? My husband is the best cook. So we would both put up the husband panel. Um. And it's a match. And that's how I look at, um, when you are finding your path in career or you're finding your path in, um, entrepreneurship, or you're finding your clients, or you're finding your coaches, your mentors, your healers, it's got to be a match.

It's got to be built on rapport. There's got to be something that's drawing you towards them, and that's where I. If you can't see what's drawing people towards you, you are not getting the right people, the right match to you. And that's why it's so important to bring these, um, skills, brilliance, magic processes, the way that only you can do them to the forefront.

And. Yes. To some people it feels like bragging. It feels like I am this person. We feel very uncomfortable about showcasing our talents and our skills and our magic, but actually this is what we need to do for us to find a match with our clients and with our own [00:11:00] mentors. 

Amanda Parker: Yeah, that's interesting because it's, if you're not really putting yourself forward and as a coach myself.

Definitely experienced this and I'm, I'm sure many people listening have as well. Definitely. Um, but especially in the early years as I was trying to find myself and what are my strengths and, you know, I started in leadership coaching, so it was a lot of leadership clients, but I've always had that spiritual edge.

So we're still gonna do all the spiritual stuff. And then some people are like, this feels a lot like therapy. I'm like, no, this is coaching. What are you talking about? You know? Um, but it took a long time for me to be able to. At least articulate when I meet people. Even like, okay, do you understand the way that I work?

Are you open to that? Like, is this actually something you want as opposed to. You know that I'm gonna help you strategically make X, Y, Z decisions when I have no interest in helping you with that. 

Beth Hocking: It's so important to be like, okay, this is the way that I work. This is the magic that you are gonna get from working with me.

This is the transformation you can expect because I'm [00:12:00] in my brilliance of what only I can do. So if you're not looking for that, you are looking for something else. But if you are looking for this. Then I'm a right match for you, right? Like that is such a, such an affinity building rapport, building experience.

And as a coach, like you and I both like have the privilege of coaching brilliant, amazing people, women I work with in particular, and it's such a privilege and an honor when you have the right match, when you are with. With the right person and you know the relationship that you build and you know that they like become a part of you.

And you know, you think about them all the time and you know, they might not realize it, but it's like they're, they're with you along, like you are, you are on their left hand side. You are supporting them, you're cheering them on, you're take on so much of their desires and you know how we can help them.

Like, because we're. Intuitive because we're supporting and healing other people. But it is the process, part of the process that people need to understand, you know, how you work and how you're so different to being [00:13:00] another leadership coach or another healer, for example. 

Amanda Parker: So I'm really hearing that one of these benefits of having this brand is actually getting to work with and support people a, in your own zone of genius, but b, in a way that like lights you both up.

So when you're really honest about who you are. Yes, yes. 

Beth Hocking: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. That, absolutely that that's the match. That's the match. And when it, when you, like as a coach, when you find someone that you. Like that appreciates your work. That is like, I've never thought of it that way. Like you are hearing these signals, you can almost see, um.

Like the brainwaves or the like, you can see it kind of passing their brain as they're thinking about it. Like those are the moments that light me up the most. Like yes, they can get jobs and they can get promotions and they can get salary increases and they can get sign new clients. But actually for me, it's.

More that the, the transformation, the, the identity that they of, of who they step into, that's the real win for me. [00:14:00] That's the real moment that I do a little happy dance around my kitchen. Right? Because actually I know that then they understand how they're gonna get their next client. Like it's not a one-off.

Like they're like learning that the magic is actually in them. 

Amanda Parker: I'm guessing that you haven't always been, uh, a personal brand strategist, so I would be super curious to hear how you got here, what brought you into this line of work? 

Beth Hocking: Yeah, it is something that you can't just leave corporate right and suddenly become a personal branch dash.

So I have been, I dunno, I dunno, I'd be surprised. I'd be surprised. I have been all around the houses. I spent, uh, 20, so actually I can even start even beginner because, um, I'm a second child and I am the typical black sheep of the family. Not very academic. Um, probably not, uh, diagnosed dyslexic, A DHD and I.

Was the typical, oh, not sure what's gonna [00:15:00] happen to birth. I don't really know if she's gonna be successful. Like there I was the pity party, right? I was the pity party and I was like, Hmm, okay. You know, not as academic as when you've got an older sibling, you are always compared. So like there was always this kind of quite concern about me and what I might end up.

Doing with my life and, um, whether I would even get a degree was, was questionable. I do very proudly have a degree in business, uh, business studies. Um, like I don't, I, I don't even know why I'm going here, but I felt like it was, there was a need to kind of share that we don't fall into careers. Like I don't believe in coincidences.

Any which way, and I genuinely believe that we are exactly where we're meant to be, and our path is exactly what was meant for us. So I think maybe if it was like for people who had struggled or are struggling to understand where they're at right now, like actually, you know what I was, I was the person who.

I was never meant to succeed, quote unquote, succeed, whatever that means to [00:16:00] the outside world. Um, and yet I went on to have a very successful career, um, in, uh, in FMCG, 20 years in corporate sales, business to business. And I, um, fell into this incredible career, fell because we don't believe in coincidences, right?

And. I had the most amazing time. I was flown all around the world business class. I worked with FTSE top five clients. I closed multi 6, 7, 8, and nine figure deals. Um, I lo I've got goosebumps. I loved my job. I loved my job. And it's, and it's weird because when you are in it in something like that, you don't really.

Take a beat. You don't really take a minute to appreciate how far you've come or appreciate how well you are doing. And, and it's very fast paced. It's called Fast Moving Consumer Goods for a reason. And it was very, very fast. It was a high pressure situations, um, which I thrived on and absolutely loved and smashed.

And it's only now when I look back and [00:17:00] I write some content or I write about those times, I'm like, yeah. I did incredibly well. I was the most senior woman in sales in my division. Um, I was a director at 27. I had a very great salary. Like I, I had all the perks, all the perks, all the jobs like. At my peak, I turned 40 in COVID and I had too much time on my hands during lockdown to think about what was coming next.

And I always knew this wasn't my forever. And no matter how successful, no matter how well I was doing, and in COVID, I have really had that kind of wake up call. It's like, okay, you're 40. What are you gonna do with the rest of your life? And is this it or is there more? And I've always been that person who felt like, Nope.

A for more, made for more. And my mom told me at age seven, I was always gonna be an entrepreneur. Uh, I was gonna have a cake, cake shop, cake cake and coffee shop. Uh, at seven years old. That's what I thought I was gonna do. And, um, that peop I would bake cakes and [00:18:00] chit chat. To the people who came to my cake, cake shop.

Uh, how, I know how cute. Right. I think, you know, she's made a disappointed seven year. Disappointed there. Yeah. Yeah. So age 40 in COVID. I was like, right, you know what? Life isn't gonna go back to normal. It's now, it's now or never. And I'm young enough to like pivot if I need to. If this isn't my path, I can go back to corporate.

I can do whatever it is. But there was this. Not, not now or never, but it was a. Here's your opportunity to find out if you really wanna do something different. So like a lot of people, I think in COVID, I trained, um, as a leadership coach. So I also have, I hold, um, two ICF certifications. Uh, and you know what?

I'm just gonna take the opportunity because we own our shares around here. I have distinctions in two. Um, it took me 20 months. Which is very, very short, and I was working full-time at the same time, so it is possible to study [00:19:00] and work full-time at the same time. That's what I was very determined to do also.

It was hard to study. I not, not a natural academic, right? So it was very challenging for me, age 40, to kind of go back to school. Um, but very determined and it's probably one of the themes of my life, but very proud as well to go. And I got, got through that. And then I spent three years as a leadership coach and I loved it.

And I really was passionate about supporting women. I felt like. The industry I worked in was very misogynist and I left a very young team behind and I didn't want what happened to me, uh, feeling like I couldn't really go any further as a woman in that organization to happen to anybody else. So instead of I could make a tiny bit of difference in one organization, I could make up.

Ton of difference out in the world doing that for myself. Um, and that's what I decided to do. So I left my, my job and became a leadership coach, and I absolutely loved it. And, you know, still a big, big passion of mine today. [00:20:00] But, uh, it's a very long-winded way of explaining to you how I became. My personal brand strategist now is that in the uk I, uh, also fell in love with LinkedIn and in the UK I found this statistic that, uh, on LinkedIn there was 33,000 leadership coaches in the UK alone, and that didn't include another 46,000 career coaches in the UK alone.

That was, that was only on LinkedIn. So there was also all these people who were not on LinkedIn. So I was like, Ooh, that's. That's a lot. How am I gonna stand out in a sea of 33,000 leadership coaches? And I started building or curating my personal brand, and I didn't realize it then. It didn't, I didn't have a name to it.

There wasn't any people around me teaching, teaching this or showcasing me how to do that. But I was like, oh, I need to, I, I really recognized I needed to stand out in a sea of same sameness, and I started to build this amazing brand. And I was named, uh, number nine, content creator in Leadership and Management, um, by Fcon on LinkedIn [00:21:00] over 33,000.

And people started asking me how I did it right. And I was like, oh, you just do this and you just do this, and you just do this. And it was like, oh, there's a passion here. And I got really fired up every time someone would ask me. And I started creating like. Very different visuals. Um, very different creative on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is, is kind of known for a lot of people. Uh, and I don't believe this, I don't, I don't, um, prescribe to this school. I've thought about LinkedIn, but it's very professional. You need to be very corporate. You need to bring your persona. Whereas I was there like standing out in, I don't know, crazy outfits and, you know, being bold and being bright and, you know, bringing things to LinkedIn that it hadn't seen before.

And. You know, I, I built my brand on LinkedIn and then I took it to Instagram because it's way more visual. So now, yes, I'm on LinkedIn and Instagram. That's where you can find me. But yeah, that's how I started building my brand. And then there was this kind of awkward phase of doing two I I felt that kind of, um.[00:22:00] 

Yeah, there's, there's a vulnerability of letting something go that you've spent three years building and a client base that you've spent three years building. So I was like, oh, I, I can possibly try and do both and dabble in both and see how that goes. And then I just realized it wasn't lighting me up and that actually I was putting off the inevitable of going all in with two feet into personal parenting.

So that's a very long answer to your question, but hopefully it helps give you some color. 

Amanda Parker: It's super interesting just really to hear your whole journey, honestly, because people will resonate with so many different pieces. And I know for myself, I can definitely see, you know, all those years that I worked either in a corporate gig or working in nonprofit.

And actually like, especially with the nonprofit role, I worked for WWF, so I worked in wildlife conservation and it was like a dream come true. And so when I had to admit to myself I was no longer happy in that job that was. Big deal because that was my whole [00:23:00] identity. I was a panda and I'm Amanda, so you know, growing up I was Amanda Panda and then I became a panda, and then I'm like, am I not a panda anymore?

You know? So it really was like a huge shift. I still have this like core memory not that long ago, but it was I guess eight, eight years ago maybe. Um. When I moved out of the wildlife conservation world and moved into leadership development, 'cause I started in that space in, uh, consultancy and I remember sitting in the back of an Uber in San Francisco.

I was there meeting with my tech clients after, you know, being in the jungle for years and the Uber driver asking me what I was doing and I lied. And I just remember in that moment sitting there telling her I worked in forest protection while I was clearly in leadership development. And I was just like, okay, what?

What's going on here? So I think what you're sharing is really, it's a journey [00:24:00] many of us go through 'cause we work. So hard to get somewhere and then even when it's fulfilling, which you describe like you met the success you had all the accolades you did exceptionally well. So I'm also, you know, clapping for you that you can still feel that that's not the right thing.

And it's not always just about jumping ship and running into the next career, running into the next job. Like there's actually. A point of pivot of thinking, okay, who do I wanna become? And it sounds like what you've done really well, that a lot of people, I mean maybe wouldn't do not without coaching or, or seeing someone else they know doing it well, is you were very intentional about curating who you wanted to become and how you wanted people to see you.

Beth Hocking: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. That and, and I think that was. Without having the, um, the, the words to hang on it. I, I wasn't able to articulate that. I was doing that intentionally, but I think subconsciously, like, like [00:25:00] knowing that it was a big market, knowing that I could see on LinkedIn, lots of leadership coaches all posting the same stuff.

Like, uh, like I. Describe this phase of my life as the girl next door, right? I had the same brand photos as everybody else. I had the same message as everybody else. It was very generic, very high level. I was very visionary. Um. And I could see that like, I don't know, 20 other leadership coaches could have written the same stuff and like just exchanged the name and it's, and it's the same, it's the same, same.

And that it did, it didn't sit right with me. I was like, how, how? Why would someone hire me over anybody else? And I think that goes back to my sales 20 years in sales. So my sales psychology elements are, why would anyone buy from me? Over anybody else. If all things were equal, like if everything was a commodity, which we know it isn't, right?

Like it wasn't back in corporate, and it's certainly not in coaching, but if everything was equal, why would someone buy from you rather than buy from anybody else? And it kept coming back [00:26:00] to the same thing that I couldn't articulate back then, but it's your personal brand. Like that is the reason. Like people buy from people and that's why like personal brands, so like Richard Branson for example, I mean he's like the, the biggest personal brand in the uk.

He's got more than, I don't know, like 40 million followers. And whereas Virgin, I've only got like 8 million followers. So people wanna buy from people, right? People are so nosy about your life, how you live it, but it's more about so that they can resonate with you. Do they resonate with you? Do they, do they aspire to?

Have your kind of lifestyle, are you inspirational? Like that's what they want to understand from you, right? Like, do they wanna buy from you because they love how you live your life? Like, and because, uh, you live your values, you're an embodiment of your own values. And that's why I think actually unintentionally kind of coming from that bias, psychology in sales and then like the translation into personal branding or leadership branding at that point and recognizing, hang on a minute, there's 20 people.

I can see already in my echo [00:27:00] chamber, how can I stand out here? And I think just little by little, just seeing what I could do and, and like where I could stretch the envelope and how I could play and have fun, which is one of my values, rather than have this kind of corporate persona all the time, like that's how I started stretching that like brand into being who I was.

And yeah, without having the articulation at that time, it was building and curating my personal brand. 

Amanda Parker: Yeah, that would be really my question is how, how did you make that shift from that realization that there was so much of the sameness that you were also playing into? Was there a pivotal moment, like when it just dawned on you or.

Yeah. Was that more gradual? What? I feel like there was probably like some pivotal moment that you were like, hold on. 

Beth Hocking: So I think the, I the, there is a pivotal moment in, in my story and I wonder if you know what's coming, but it was probably about a year ago now, in my girl Next Door era, I was [00:28:00] having these photos.

So that I looked the same as everybody else. I was researching online other kids, which by the way, 

Amanda Parker: for anyone listening, she looked beautiful. But let's go on. 

Beth Hocking: So, um, and this makes me sound very image conscious, but I think when you are putting yourself as a brand. Online you are very visually, um, putting yourself out there, right?

So it is like scroll stopping. You have to have that element of being something different. So when you look like everybody else, you couldn't have picked me out of a lineup. I, um, I was researching online. What other coaches looked like on their brand shoots and what I should wear. And so I have the pastoral knits, I have the blue jeans and the white shirt.

I have the staring longingly into this beautiful coffee. Um, I don't even look, I do drink, I drink black coffee, but I made sure it was a latte with some like art on there just to make sure I hard on there, right, that I looked like every other freaking coach on the internet. [00:29:00] I think the pivotal moment came, so it was about a year ago, November in 2024, and I was in a sound bath and I, so I'm a projector in human design, and this is how I justified this, what is about to happen next.

I was like, it's my projector energy. So I had what I can only describe as a download in a sound bath, and this voice came to me very, very clearly and it said, cut your hair for 20 payments. Cut your hair for 20 Ks. Um, it is, it was so wild. And I was like, what? Are you sure? 

Amanda Parker: No, you mean something else, right?

I was like, 

Beth Hocking: Hmm, hang on a minute. So then I kept going back to the same sound bath week after week after week going, what, what, what else can I do? What can I do instead of that? Gimme more please. Gimme something else. I don't want that one. Um, and and the weird thing is like, so November was, the last, [00:30:00] November was the first time I hit five figures, cash in my business and multi five figures cash sales.

Um, and, and I still hadn't cut my hair. I had long hair. And, uh, I went into the new year still trying to put this. Statement out of my mind, cut your hair for 20 K months, cut your hair for 20 K months. And I was like, geez, what else have I gotta do? I was like, I, I can do anything else but that. Anything else but that.

And then, um, I told my coach at the time. And she's like, yeah, what are you waiting for? And it was February, what? What are you waiting for? And I was like, actually, I don't know. I was like, may maybe like, this is the girl math that goes on in my head. May I wanna be slimmer, right? What if I don't have the face for short hair?

Maybe I need to be slimmer in my face so that I can carry it off. I was like, what if my husband won't love me anymore if I've got short hair? He, by the way, hates my hair now. So yeah, he was something I had to contend with. Absolutely hates it. And, uh, but anyway, this coach, she was brilliant. She was absolutely amazing.

And, uh, she was like, whatcha waiting for? And I was like, oh, I don't know. She went message your hairdresser on a call with her and [00:31:00] messaged my hairdresser and I was like, cutting my hair off. When can you fit me in? He went tomorrow. So I literally went the next day. And I had this conversation with my husband over dinner going, so I got a hair appointment tomorrow and he was like, Uhhuh.

And I was like, no. Like it's, it's, it's gonna be quite drastic. I, I feel like I need to, you, you're gonna notice a difference. You're gonna notice he never notices anything, but you're gonna notice this time. Um, and that, and that was what I needed to do. Like, honestly, that was such a pinnacle moment. I cut off my hair and it's almost like, it's like.

I was brought up a Christian, it's like a very biblical term. It was like Samson who cut his hair, Samson. Um. I need to, I need to go back and check, but there was so much power. It's, it's okay. I don't know in the, so it's fine. Yeah. Some of your listeners are gonna be like, she doesn't know she wasn't a good Christian girl.

Um, but there is a story about like that the, the power in the hair. And I think there's also a, [00:32:00] um, quote about beware the woman who cuts her hair because something magical is about to happen and I. It was more of a symbolism for me, if I'm really honest. It wasn't about a haircut, it wasn't about that. It was about stepping into mind, embodied leadership.

It was about stepping into, um, it wasn't even visual, right? It was about the person that I had become in the process of this journey and that it, it was just a fresh start for me. I needed a. Indicator, a visual cue that I was somebody different and that I got to play in the big leagues now, and it was, I've got goosebumps.

It was from this download in a soundbar that was like, no, your real identity. Is this person and this is who you need to embody now and next for your next level of success. So I think everything kind of, um, was a Domino's effect from cutting my hair and then stepping into playing bigger, um, owning my vision, owning my dream, and recognizing that I was a different [00:33:00] person and I had a duty to step into this embodiment and this leadership.

And. Go and make a even more of a success of myself and go and do something different, but also that I felt very strongly that people needed to see that. I don't know what it was. I think that the, the whole embodiment part, like I talked a lot about leadership, so did you, but I think there's a difference between people who talk about it and the people who embody it.

And I think the symbolism of the hair was that I was embodying who I became in that process. 

Amanda Parker: I mean, it's so powerful and it's so courageous because so many of us have thought of, you know, changing something drastically. Whatever it is, you throw out your whole wardrobe and start again, or you wanna change something.

And I think. You know, in my life, I know this for myself, but also I think women in particular, our hair is so representative of where we are in our journey. And there's so many moments, you know, when you just need to [00:34:00] feel or to see or know that the changes are really happening. Like this is, and it's so personal and intimate.

But it really helps you to actually recognize something is different. And I mean, I'm, I'm at the stage, I'm, I'm not that brave because, well, we're not there yet, let me put it that way. I'm like, maybe I cut it a little shorter on the next one, you know? And I'm like, oh, because I have this like whole, you know, my whole life I've been growing my hair, but I really understand that there's something.

Just so empowering about making that choice. And then you get to feel what it feels like to be that person. And it, it doesn't matter if anyone else likes it or not, you know, but you don't know that in the beginning. 

Beth Hocking: Yeah. It's honestly, it was, it was a, it was a power move for sure. It was a power move. It was, it was, uh, an identity shift that was, that was more than the visual, more than anything else.

Yeah. 

Amanda Parker: So [00:35:00] what I'm hearing is that everyone who works with you cuts their hair. Just kidding. 

Beth Hocking: Oh my gosh. Like literally some of my content. I'm like, you don't have to cut your hair, I promise you don't have to cut your hair. This isn't about you. 

Amanda Parker: Yeah. They sign up and they're like, this is.

You could do a really excellent brand partnership with a hair salon. I'm just saying. 

Beth Hocking: Yes. With the big qui. Yes. Oh my gosh, yes. Anyone listening? Well, big transformation. 

Amanda Parker: Yeah. Yes. 

Beth Hocking: Anyone listening Who fancies? Uh, sponsoring me? Uh, yeah. Collab. Here we come. And your clients Of course, of course. Big transformation.

Amanda Parker: So first of all, 'cause I think some people who are listening might not be as immersed in the world of LinkedIn, as I know. You and I both really are. So for those of you who are listening who have no idea why LinkedIn would even be a contender in the conversation, it is [00:36:00] really a place where people are.

Successfully building up their brands. And you mentioned that this has been a big proponent of how you've been able to grow your brand. And I think you're, I don't wanna get the number wrong, but your numbers have exploded, right? You're in, you say whatever you're at now. 'cause I'm not actually sure at the time of this recording, Beth currently has Oh, I'm just shy of 20,000 followers.

Oh my God. So she has been like. Absolutely blowing up because everywhere I look, I see your content and I find it very inspiring 'cause I just hit 7,000. Congratulations. And I'm like, 

Beth Hocking: awesome. I know. But I'm like, I feel like a baby. We all start somewhere. We all start from zero. 

Amanda Parker: Yeah. No, that's, that's very true.

So it's really just remarkable to watch the way that you've been able to grow. And I'm wondering. You know, for people who are now listening and they're like, yeah, okay, cool. They're inspired. [00:37:00] Um, because it is inspiring everything you've done. How do you even begin to support someone in their own brand process if it's not cutting off all their hair?

Like where does that begin? 

Beth Hocking: Oh, well, I adore the process, as you know, and, uh, I've got a, a, a, a real framework, which I curated over time, like really recognizing and leaning into what my clients needed and everything. Everything. Everything, everything. Everything that I have done, everything that my clients have done, everything starts with self-trust.

Everything comes back to whether we trust ourselves or not, and we are so conditioned to have society tell us. Otherwise, right. Like all of the things that we have been brought up with all of the things, like I mentioned, you know, Deborah from accounts telling me that my expenses were a problem or you know, whatever it is.

Like we take on all of these things throughout our lives. Like my teacher's telling me I'd never, I'd never [00:38:00] get any qualifications or I'd never make anything of my life. We can either choose to take those things on or we can choose to buck the trend, be determined, do something with our lives and like.

The, the problem is like we, we, we've heard so much, like we, we kind of get piled on. Like, everyone's like, oh no, you'll never do this. Oh, you'll never do that. Don't you think you're being a bit like ridiculous with your big ideas? Like everyone tries to like temper us and, and keep us down and keep us small.

And we've had 20, 30, 40 plus years in my case of, uh, like conditioning and that's nothing new. Right? But what I like to do with my clients is reclaim. Who they are at their core, right? We, a lot of people talk about confidence, and confidence I think is, um, quite a general term. And I think it's like something that is like, when I think about confidence, I think about, okay, what are the steps before we're confident?

Because lots of people wait until they feel confident or they feel ready to [00:39:00] decide to do something. But readiness and confidence are just a decision. And before confidence, there's courage. And before courage. Self trust. And that's why everything, everything, everything really come underpinned by do we trust ourselves or not?

And I think even confidence, like as a teen, as a kid, I was full of confidence. Who were you before the, were the world taught you to be somebody else? Like, and that's what I talk about reclaiming. I've got goosebumps, like literally going back and reclaiming who we are at our core, at the very essence of us before somebody else taught us to be ashamed or afraid or like fearful or judged.

Of our bigger dreams or our bigger mission and purpose. And I think that's the work that I do that is so powerful is that we re we we, we almost peel back the layers of that conditioning and we go back to our roots and we go back to our core and we reclaim our values and who we are meant to [00:40:00] be. And we.

Like we put in place these big dreams that we had as kids. Even like, you know, we laughed at it like my my cake shop dream, right? As a 7-year-old, okay. It wasn't cakes, it was something else, but there's something in there, right? Like there was still an entrepreneurial big dreamer. Right, who wanted community, who wanted fun, who wanted to change people's lives through a different modality, right?

So actually it's, it's usually already there. We just go back and kind of reclaim that. And so for me, I worked through, um, it's called the scene Standard. Method essentially says S is for self-trust. The first E is for embodied leadership. That's talked about embodied leadership, um, elevated identity. We've talked about identity, and then the, the, the final N is not notability or notoriety, visibility, how you show up and it's like we build on every single one of those pillars.

But everything is underpinned by the self-trust because you can't certainly show up and [00:41:00] be yourself and be confident unless you've gone through all of those steps. In the first place. So it's gonna be very unusual for someone who's gonna be like, right, I'm, I know myself and I'm amazing at this, and I can tell you my strengths in a heartbeat.

And I can tell you like. So wins I had yesterday, and I'm gonna showcase you my trophies without feeling like I'm bragging. Like, and this is how I show up, visibility online. So, you know, you have to go through the steps. All my clients have to go through my steps. I just, I've got a client at the moment and she was, she came to me for confidence.

She's like, I can't be a leader in my life. If I don't have the confidence, we really stripped it back. Who are, who are you? Who are you at your core? She's like, yeah, yeah, I actually am confident. It's just that I have been chipped away, chipped away, chipped away, chipped away for so long, and then like we're, we're rebuilding that for her.

We rebuild, rebuilding that dream, rebuilding that vision and mission and purpose and legacy. And then I was like, how do you feel about writing a post on LinkedIn so you can show the world who you are, right? [00:42:00] Like this is. Part of the personal branding, you build it in public. She's like, I'm terrified, but I'll do it 'cause I'm ready.

I've got the self-trust. I believe in myself. I've got my embodied leadership right? I've elevated my identity. Now I'm ready for the notability and the visibility. Her first post we curated together went absolutely viral. Over 50,000 impressions. She got a job interview on the back of it, um, like dozens and dozens of new followers, right?

Like this is the, this is how it's potent. It is when you rebuild from the steps that you go through, and then you are ready for the world to see you. Like it's vulnerable for sure. It doesn't come easy. But she had the self-trust, she had the courage, and she had me by her side. Like that was the holy grail for her.

And she did it. And she's like, well, on her posting way, right, she's ready for the world to see who she is 

Amanda Parker: because we're also talking about this in the context of healing and maybe even with this client if you, if you have [00:43:00] something to share on it. But what is the. What's the like transformation potential within a person, right?

So I know your story, but so she goes viral, she gets the job, offer, all of that. That's like amazing, but what's the transformation that's actually taking place within? 

Beth Hocking: Yeah, so I think for me it's gotta be the identity, the core identity, or is the shift, like that's the thing I really ha do a happy dance around the kitchen.

Like that is the, that's the dream. But it enables them to do bigger things than they thought they could. Like it's going back to the dreamer version of them and they're enable, like they, um, like think about my 7-year-old dreamer and it, and it takes you back to your 7-year-old dreamer before someone's cut you off or told you the barriers or you've like said to yourself, I can't possibly do that, or I make a fool of myself if I do.

My clients go back to their dreamer version of themselves and I call them C type goals. So, um, from Bob Proctor, um, Proctor and [00:44:00] Gallagher. So Bob Proctor talks about a type goals, B type goals and C type goals. Um, and I can just give you a little summary. So a type goals are the things that you've actually already done before.

So, um, if you wanna run a 5K in 30 minutes and you've already done it, like that's, you're just reminding yourself. The goal, all right, I've done it well, and maybe I did it in my teens, but I wanna do it again, or I wanna get back to my, uh, pre-baby weight or something like this, right? You've already been at that weight.

So this is just reminding yourself. It's not really a, it's not really a goal, it's just a reminder of how you do the thing. The B type goal is a pathway that you can see. So it might be, for me, it might be like, okay, I wanna add 10%, 20% revenue in 2026 to my 2025 revenue. And like I can see the pathway, I know how to make that happen.

I know my numbers, I know how many more clients that might take, right? So I can see the pathway to my next step, and it's like the next inevitable step. You can see it touching, it's tangible. The C type goal is the one you have [00:45:00] no clue how you're gonna make it happen. Absolutely zero freaking clue how you gonna make it happen.

That, for me might be a TEDx talk. That might be, um, as you said, a partnership with a hair salon or, um, uh, being a Lululemon athlete, like whatever that is. Like those are the one that, that's a real goal and that's trusting the universe. God, a higher power that. You've got it. Like that's that for me, that's why it's so exciting.

It's like, oh, actually, um, I've got no clue how to make this happen. But if it's right for me, and I honestly believe that we don't have goals on our heart. Unless we have the capability and the resources to make it happen. So you wouldn't have it on your mind, it wouldn't be something in your mind unless you had the the internal resources to make it happen, even if you can't see the pathway through yet.

So that's what I encourage my clients to do is to dream. Again to dream of their sea type goals. I dunno how to make it happen for them. They don't know how to make it happen for them, but what we [00:46:00] can do is we can take baby steps towards those things. I've got another client, she was in a container of mine, um, earlier this month, April, uh, earlier this year, April May time, and she declared that she was going to.

Um, host as a, not not quite a podcast, but host a live series on LinkedIn and, um, merge her industry journalism with personal, her love of personal development. She's like, I've not seen anyone do this before. I really wanna showcase like the best of the people that I've worked with or the best voices out there so that my journalism.

Colleagues, peers, friends, can see the benefit of the marriage, of the, the world of personal development. And it was a, it was a goal. She was like, I, like, it was probably a B type goal, honestly. Like, she could probably, like, you know, she, she could do it. Um, and then she was hesitating. There was a lot of hesitation and it was like, it's a BTech goal, like, what are you waiting for?

And she's now in my second container and she's almost done with. Six or seven interviews, [00:47:00] she's done the whole series. Like it is like it's, it's about creating, being the person that you wanted to become, but weren't sure that you trusted yourself to do the thing. And that for me is the real transformation with my clients.

It's seeing them succeed in a way that they never thought was possible for them before. 

Amanda Parker: I think that's just healing on its own because just learning how to trust yourself is like a miracle. Like that change in perception that you can actually rely on yourself and you will actually be able to do the things that you say, because I think for so many of us, you, you have goals.

I mean, especially I know early in my business, especially every program I launched that people didn't sign up for, like, I just felt like, okay, I can't do the things that I wanted to do. I have all this ambition, I have all these dreams, these things I wanna launch, or things I wanna bring to life. It's not working.

So I lost the trust that I could actually do what I wanted to [00:48:00] do. And I think there's like, I mean, I can think of many examples just in my own life or in clients or family or friends or whatever, but when you start to actually see that you follow through and maybe even measure yourself on some different parameters, but.

There's so much healing, like in not listening to, sorry, Deborah from accounts or whoever, but recognizing that that isn't the loudest voice in the room and that you're allowed to choose and do it differently. I know, or I love it. Poor Deborah.

Let's listen. Did not. Yeah, you notably did not choose a more well-known, uh, name, which are the poor Karen's now. 

Beth Hocking: No, I purposefully don't do that. I have got a client who is called Karen, and she says, I'm not that kind of Karen, so 

Amanda Parker: I'm [00:49:00] not that Karen, I'm 

Beth Hocking: that kind of Karen. So I, I 

Amanda Parker: never use that because, uh, she's, there's a whole brand in that in itself.

Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. I'll let her know. So, um, if someone is listening and they, you know, they wanna be able to take maybe a first step or a first couple steps, even just on their own to start to think differently. And I can just share, just even from my own experience, thinking through my own personal brand and just different exercises that I've done, it's hard.

It can be really hard to see yourself clearly and to. Understand like the impact that you have. So I'm just speaking this out loud now. Really like, obviously a lot of building the brand has to do with deciding who you are and who you wanna be, but there's also value in understanding how people see you or what they come to you for.

So. I just know from my [00:50:00] own experience, it has been difficult every time I've tried to embark on that alone. So what would you say is a way that people could actually start engaging with this, maybe now just on their own at home with whatever tools they have? 

Beth Hocking: Yeah, so I really like to start with a th a three word brand mantra.

So if you were to describe yourself in three words, what would that be? Right. It's the simplest way that you can do that. It could be, my god, it could be values. Now. Um, it, you don't have to. You do not have to. But it could be like their values. Right. It could be so like. Put me on the spot. Integrity, fun, community are probably like the three of my, my biggest values and, and my, my brand is based on those.

Um, but it could be, you know, fun, fun, um, integrity, bubbly. It could be, um, you know, how you wanna be perceived. So what is that professional or, um, reliable or like, whatever these words that kind of come to you. Like they're there for a reason. So like, let's not ignore them, but also let's not try too [00:51:00] hard.

I think that's, there's that element. So the three word. Brand mantra essentially is what would represent you and maybe what would be the words that you would be happy that someone described you when you left the room, right? Like those are the three words. And then you can start to kind of curate, like start building these words in start.

Um. You know, like sharing with other people what your values are, sharing with other people what these are, so that people are like, oh yeah, that is actually true. I do think that about you. And then watch as people repeat them back to you, right? And you're like, oh, this is working right? Like, so that I really love.

Right. It's so, it's so fun. And then however, like I love to look at our strengths as well. What do people come to you for advice for? Like those kind of questions. What do people unsolicited come to you and ask you for advice for? And my other kind of pointer would be if you had to stand up and give a five minute TEDx talk, what could you talk about for five minutes without having to prepare?

So you've kind of got your merriment of your strengths and like the, how you'd like to [00:52:00] be perceived or known out in the world. And I think those two together, you can start building a pretty good like. Robust brand from knowing your strengths and knowing how you wanna be perceived because all communication is is perceived and received rather than what we put out.

So we can be very intentional about that and then watch as it starts to kind of come back to you. And I think that that, that, that is a brilliant place to start, honestly. 

Amanda Parker: Yeah, that sounds already very clear. And then for people who complete that exercise and say, okay, actually I really need help with this.

How long, when someone comes to you, how, how long is that process, you know, of, of working with them on their brand? Is this something you're doing in a couple of months? Is this a few years? Like what happens there? 

Beth Hocking: I honestly, I feel like it can, it can be quicker than you think because it's innately you, like you are not thinking of things.

It's just we're coming home. We're coming home. So it's typically, I work with people, private clients for about [00:53:00] three months, sometimes six, if they wanna do a little bit longer. I also work on the kind of um, con content engine as well, right? So it's like then once they know who they are, then I start like utilizing, okay, how do we magnify and amplify your magnetic brand presence?

How do we utilize your core identity and how do we get your content as a conversion engine? So, you know, once we understand the brand, then we can kind of go on and sell you as an entrepreneur. I work with, you know, coaches, entrepreneurs, service-based providers at the moment. Like, then we can start like making sure that we sprinkle that into your content so that it's then converting for you, getting paid for being yourself.

Right. So that's, that's typically how, how it works. 

Amanda Parker: Okay. Well that's perfect. So now you all know, so maybe you can share people how, share how people can get in touch with you and what. Kind of ways that they might be able to work with you. You've already shared a bit of that, so whatever feels unsaid.

Beth Hocking: Yeah, I was just gonna say, I've got a really fun quiz, personal [00:54:00] branding, um, quiz on all of my links. So you can find that on my feature section on LinkedIn. If you're not on LinkedIn, you can find that on my Instagram. You can find that on my website. I'm sure you're gonna put some, maybe put some notes on the, on the end.

Um, but yeah, come, come say hi. Come connect with me on LinkedIn. Just say hi, like. You listen to this episode, come take my personal brand quiz. It's free. Um, and you've got some pointers in there as well. And yeah, just, just come hang out In my world. Come, you know, I've got free content that goes out on LinkedIn every day of the week.

So, you know, there's, there's plenty of things that you can dive into, um, which, uh, don't, don't have a big commitment at this moment in time. 

Amanda Parker: Yes. And then you can come see all her inspiring LinkedIn content, like I'm watching every day. So you're killing it. 

Beth Hocking: Thank 

Amanda Parker: you. Thank you. So for, um, just yeah, closing, closing the conversation.

Are there any words of advice you might give to someone who is just starting out? Anything you would love for them to [00:55:00] know as they're beginning this journey? 

Beth Hocking: I would say. I'm thinking, do you know what I'm thinking about a client right now who was just in one of my containers and she came in, she's like, I'm a brand new coach.

I am just at the end of my training. I am not here to sell anything. I'm just, I'm here for the vibes. I'm here to take it all in. I'm here to listen. And I was like, what you, you don't wanna sell anything? What, what? I was like, how are you gonna impact other people if you're not here to sell anything? And she's like, yeah, okay.

Good point. I think it's about having the courage to start, right? It's, it's gotta be about she trusted herself. She had the courage to start, and she had the confidence to build something in public. She was in a full week container with me. She signed her first client in week one, and she signed her second client in week three And.

I've got goosebumps again. Don't wait. Right? Don't wait. Don't hold yourself back by thinking that you're not. Don't wait for more. Don't, you're not qualified enough. I don't have proof enough, I don't have enough testimonials. I don't back myself [00:56:00] enough. Like all of that is, it's a decision. Readiness is a decision.

She was courageous. She started, she's trusted herself. She started with courage. She had the confidence and guts to put herself out there and look how she was rewarded. So I would say don't wait for more. You're already enough. 

Amanda Parker: That is perfect. Beth, that's really beautiful words, so I'm so grateful that you really shared so much.

Like really so much also of yourself and your own journey. I think that's what really connects, like people can find themselves in your story and then actually understand what the impact is, because so many are afraid and hiding and they, yeah, I think it's just such a timely, timely conversation to be bringing this to the forefront.

So I'm really grateful that you came on and shared all this wisdom with us. 

Beth Hocking: Oh, it's been such a pleasure. I could talk to you all day long. Thank you so much for [00:57:00] having me. 

Amanda Parker: Well, everyone who's listening, you'll find all of Beth's links in the show notes, so, and you'll, you'll find it in everything that I'm posting online about the episode as well.

So please do get in touch with her. She will help you change your life as we've heard today. And thank you so much for tuning into this week's episode, and I will see you next time. Thanks for tuning into today's episode of Don't Step on the Blue Bells. If you enjoyed this conversation, please give the podcast a five star rating wherever you listen.

And don't forget to hit, subscribe and follow along so you never miss a new episode.


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Amanda Parker

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