show up
If you want people to start listening, you have to show up. Not once, not perfectly, but over time.
Too many people are waiting for the perfect piece of content. The perfect photo. The one that changes everything. But it's that hunger for perfection is what keeps them stuck. Trust me, I used to live in that space.
An excellent personal brand comes from rhythm. From being there again and again.
Start small. Write. Record. Share. Let the work evolve. Honesty is what makes you connect.
Just start.
The images above are a few personal brands I’ve worked on this past year. Each one came to life through that same rhythm — people who kept showing up for their work until it began to breathe on its own.
from performance to practice
Personal branding is a practice.
The people who connect most are the ones who let others see the real process. They share what’s unfolding instead of trying to package it into something tidy and wonderful.
Documenting becomes a form of devotion. A way of saying, I’m here, I’m learning, I'm not perfect, yet I’m very much alive in this work. Show the nitty gritty. Share the mistakes. Post the sketches instead of the final piece of art. Why is this the case? Because people can relate to you. They share something with you immediately, and they connect.
When you move from that place of practice, people can feel it. They begin to trust you because they see your humanity unfolding in real-time.
design design design
Design matters.
It’s the space you build for your story to live in. It’s the way your values take form in the world. A brand isn’t a logo or a color palette. Those things can be beautiful, sure, but they’re only tools.
Your brand is what you stand for.
It’s what’s non-negotiable. It’s the feeling that follows you when you leave the room.
Before any visuals happen, know what anchors you. What are your pillars. I like to design around 5 pillars max. What do you want people to feel when they experience your work?
That’s where brand strategy begins, and it ought to always begin before your visual identity is designed. When designed thoughtfully together, they say, this is who I am, this is what I care about, and this is where I’m going. Come join me.
Like everything else around us, good design has energy. It speaks before you do. It builds trust before you open your mouth.
keep a rhythm
Every brand has a heartbeat.
You don’t have to post every day or chase the algorithm. Just keep a steady pulse. A weekly story. A monthly reflection. Something real enough that people can feel you through it.
Personally, I love sending out a monthly newsletter. It’s where I share what I’m working on, what I’m learning, and what’s been stirring in my creative process. It’s become a ritual for me — a way to slow down, to write, to connect with the people who are moving through similar seasons of life and work.
Unlike social media, where reach can be unpredictable, your email list is a stable and reliable asset. It’s the most valuable asset you can have in your business. Algorithms change. Platforms shift. But the people who’ve invited you into their inbox are choosing to be there.
That’s why I love sending mine. It’s where I share what I’m creating, what I’m learning, and what’s been moving through me on deeper levels. It’s become a ritual. A way to stay connected to people who care about presence, design, and building something meaningful.
Create in a way that fits your life. Give yourself space to breathe. Let there be silence sometimes. That’s part of the rhythm too.
johnny depth
Depth is what keeps people close.
You don’t need everyone. You just need the right ones — the people who understand what you’re doing and why it matters. The ones who feel what you’re building because they live that same rhythm in their own way.
Keep showing up. Keep building what feels alive. Keep creating from that place inside you that’s steady and curious. Let everything else find its way.
If you’re ready to bring more intention, depth, and strategy into your work, I’d love to help build that with you.
Whether it’s your own personal brand or something you’ve founded, I build brands and websites that feel alive and absolutely beautiful — from wellness studios and Ayurvedic food brands to architects, authors, and coaches.
You deserve a brand that carries your energy, your story, your vision.
Let’s build it together.
— Johnny
