EP5: How to Build an Authentic Personal Brand That Attracts Opportunities

In this episode of The Momfreeneur Network Podcast, we’re talking about a game-changer for any business: authenticity. I share here how building an authentic personal brand can attract the right opportunities, build trust, and make selling feel effortless.

I’ll break down the importance of aligning your brand with your core values, how consistency builds trust over time, and why staying true to yourself is the key to success—whether you're creating content, selling products, or building a community. Plus, I share personal stories from my own journey of growing a seven-figure business while being a stay-at-home mom of three.

Tune in and learn how to stop chasing opportunities and start letting them come to you by being unapologetically YOU.

Resources & Links:

• WORK WITH ME 🦋
• The Momfreeneur Network Community
• Follow on Instagram @triciasandalo_
• Subscribe to the Podcast
• Grab your Young Living Membership here under my leadership

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Got questions or feedback? Drop us a message on Instagram or email us at triciacoleen@gmail.com.

Don’t miss an episode! Hit subscribe and stay tuned for more inspiring stories and actionable tips to help you build a standout brand and thrive in your business and family life.

See you next time!

Transcript

"You're listening to The Momfreeneur Podcast, and I am your host, Tricia Sandalo. Banker turned stay-at-home mom of three and now a seven-figure global business leader to over 10,000 people that I built from home through social media. Here we talk about the journey of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, sharing tips, stories, and advice to help you thrive both at home and in your business. Join us as we explore how to build a brand, online and offline, that allows you to get paid by being who you are and sharing your unique talents and skills—business growth, work-life balance, and living with purpose. Let's dive in.

Hello, hello there, my fellow mommies, and welcome back to The Momfreeneur Podcast. I am so happy to have you join me for another episode. Last time, we talked about side hustles you can try online and how much you can potentially earn. Today, we’re going to talk about something just as important—how to build an authentic personal brand that attracts the right opportunities. Trust me, my friends, when your brand is built on who you really are, everything just clicks into place. So let's get into it.

Okay, first things first. Let's talk about why authenticity matters. People can actually tell when you're being fake online—just like I said in my recent episode. And the truth is, being authentic isn’t just a buzzword; it's the foundation of your personal brand. If you start your personal brand as someone who’s fake, you’re actually just lying to yourself—and also to your followers or listeners. On the other hand, when you show up as the real you, you naturally attract people who connect with your message and values. It’s not about pretending to be perfect; it's about being relatable, real, and consistent.

Your authenticity builds trust. And this is so, so important, especially if you're going to sell your offers online. When people trust you, they will be loyal to you. This is the reason why I’ve been able to build all my side hustles, like selling anything online—whether it's bags, watches, creating content, affiliate marketing, and even my network marketing business with Young Living, which I started seven years ago. It's always because I make sure I'm keeping it real with my audience. Whether I’m talking about balancing work with motherhood or sharing a product I truly love, my audience knows they’re getting the real me.

And like I said in my previous episode, I’ve turned down some brands simply because they don’t align with my beliefs and values. I don’t want to be a one-stop-shop content creator, where anyone can just hire me and send me products, and then I tell my audience I love it—even if I don’t. I’m very careful about who I work with. And sometimes, yes, it’s tempting, but I’ve realized that I don’t want to be just an influencer—I want to be a business owner. The reason is that I’ve seen how companies pay influencers, and I don’t want to be stuck promoting just one product because I was paid to do so. I only share products I trust, believe in, and use.

So back to the topic—how do you build a brand that’s authentically you? It all starts with aligning your brand with your core values. Ask yourself: What do you stand for? What are the key values that drive everything you do? These could be things like honesty, transparency, empowerment, or family. For example, I always make sure my personal brand reflects my desire to help other moms achieve financial independence while being present for their families. That's why I call myself a Momfreeneur instead of a Mompreneur. It’s about balancing and living in a way that aligns with your heart—not just hustling for the sake of hustling. I want my audience to know that my approach is about more than just making money; it's about building a life that reflects your true values.

Another key to building an authentic personal brand is consistency. No matter how cliché this may sound, showing up as yourself every single time is crucial. But here’s something important: Building a personal brand doesn't mean sharing everything about your personal life. I learned this the hard way. About a month ago, someone stole my identity on Facebook and copied everything I posted. They even posted my kids' photos, and it didn’t feel right to me at all. This experience made me change how I share my life on social media. So I want to encourage you: building a personal brand isn’t about sharing your private life. When I say to show up as yourself every time, it means whether you're on Instagram, Facebook, or hosting a podcast like this, you’re always reflecting the same message and energy.

If you're always trying to be what you think people want, you'll burn out, and your brand will come across as forced. But if you stay true to your values, you'll find it easier to create content, connect with people, and share your journey. And it doesn't have to be perfect. People connect with vulnerability and the realness of your journey. Sometimes, posting your losses is just as important as posting your wins. You become a source of hope for those going through something similar, showing them that they’re not alone. Consistency builds trust over time, and when people trust you, they become loyal.

When your brand is rooted in authenticity, you don’t have to chase opportunities—they come to you. This has been my experience with content creation, partnerships, and growing my Young Living community. Most of my members came to me first. I didn't have to pitch myself because my brand spoke for itself. Take, for example, the brands I’ve partnered with—Tickled Mamas, Sodarizer, and Füm. These partnerships didn’t happen by accident; they saw that my values matched theirs. So when you build a brand that reflects who you truly are, you attract clients, opportunities, and collaborations that align with your mission. It becomes a two-way connection, not just a transactional relationship.

And here’s a little secret: selling without selling becomes so much easier when you're authentic. When people trust you and resonate with your story, they're already halfway convinced. Whether it's a digital product, services, or direct selling, if your audience feels like you're being true, they'll want to support you. This is exactly how I’ve grown my Young Living business—90% of it has been built online through connections with people who trust me, even if they’ve never met me in person.

I also learned the hard way about trying to imitate someone else. There was a time when I tried to copy one of my Young Living friends because I admired how she spoke and presented herself. But it didn’t feel right to me, because that’s not how I talk. My husband reminded me that I didn’t need to be like her; I just needed to be me. And once I embraced that, everything became easier.

Recap (9:00 - 9:30)

Let’s quickly recap. Today, we talked about the importance of authenticity in personal branding, aligning your brand with your core values, being consistent, and how that attracts the right opportunities. I also shared how authenticity makes selling effortless because it’s all about building trust.

Conclusion (9:30 - 10:00)

So, to wrap it up—building an authentic personal brand is about knowing your values, being consistent, and trusting that the right opportunities will come. It’s not about trying to fit into someone else’s idea of success—it’s about showing up as you, unapologetically. And trust me, when you do that, the results will follow.

Thank you so much for joining me today! I hope this episode helps you reflect on your own personal brand and how you can make it even more authentic. If you found this helpful, please give it a listen, rate, and review the podcast. And don’t forget to tune in next time for more tips and insights on building a successful, balanced life as a Momfreeneur. Until then, remember—less hustle, more heart."

[Music fades out]