Hey friend,
Let me start with a truth I rarely say out loud:
I was born on the outskirts of possibility.
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Zimbabwe wasn’t the kind of place where people threw around phrases like “10K months” — not unless they were joking or wildly out of touch. Me? I hadn’t even dared to dream of $300 a month. Access looked different for me. It was watching my old classmates go off to university while I stayed behind, stuck in the thick quiet of a future that wouldn’t open its doors.
I thought a degree would fix it.
That it held some kind of magic key. And God, I wanted in.
But life didn’t bend. So at 19, I tried to take my own life.
That $10-a-week job I held just to have a reason to leave the house? It couldn’t carry the weight anymore. So I left. Ran, really — to South Africa. No roadmap. No money. Just anxiety and a strange, buzzing kind of freedom that came from realizing I’d lived past the worst.
Now, here’s where things turn.
You might be asking — “Mandy, what does any of this have to do with personal branding?”
Everything.
Because when I had no qualifications, no resources, and no plan — I had my story.
So I wrote. First on Wattpad. Then Tumblr. Blogger. Wordpress.
I was writing long before “aesthetic” was trending. Before follower counts defined worth. And I was nominated for blogging awards before I even owned a laptop.
Then came Instagram. I hit 1K followers.
Facebook? 4K.
Not huge now — but back then, those numbers meant something. They still do.
Because every single step — every post, every word—was built from my story.
That story opened doors. It landed me my first real opportunity. It made me that girl. I went from a girl with no plans to building campaigns for Sony, and that is where this personal journey begins.
Welcome to Issue 1 of our new Newsletter on Personal Branding
This week's hot tip:
Just create.
You never know who is watching.
You never know what that opportunity could lead to.
(Some of my biggest breakthroughs started with one small post.)
But let’s talk about the mindset that holds most people back —
→ Imposter syndrome.
Specifically: the kind that keeps you from sharing your story.
Here are 3 common thoughts that might be stopping you:
“I don’t know enough.”
You do.
And I’m going to need you to get more confident if we’re going to keep building this para-social relationship.“No one will listen.”
You don’t need everyone.
You just need one person, if that person is your dream client.Also, what people think of you won’t kill you but poverty sure can.
“My story doesn’t matter.”
It does.
Your story holds the key to making money and creating real connection.It also might just be what the next little girl needs to hear to start her journey too.
So here’s your challenge this week:
Hit publish.
I’ll be in your inbox every single week with more actionable steps.
🔹 Next Week’s Topic: How to Write a Linkedin Bio That Makes People Want To Buy & Work With You.
Your bio is your first impression — let’s make it memorable.
🔹 Upcoming topics:
How to Build A Network that Builds Your Net Worth
Growing an audience without going viral
Turning "nothing to show" into your strongest proof. A masterclass on portfolio building.
🔹 Behind-the-Scenes of My Socials
Each week, I’ll share real numbers — what’s working, what’s not.
I’m building from 0 and documenting every inch of the climb.
Here's Where We're At This Week:
Goal: 10K
Current: 6,800
Newsletter
Goal: 10K
Current: 152
YouTube
Yet to press Publish so we sit at zero but putting it here to keep me accountable.
What’s In Our Toolbox
Notion said yes to the dress and now we get to pass that opportunity on to you. If you're in the trenches building your dream and just need someone (or something) to believe in you for three months, this is it: Notion is offering a 3-month free trial for startups and small businesses. Am I completely obsessed with Notion? Absolutely. But it’s not just hype — it’s genuinely been a lifesaver when it comes to organizing chaos, mapping out ideas, and keeping the wheels turning behind the scenes.
Jobs You Might Have Missed
Okay yes, we see the elephant in the room, the newsletter is shifting — but our commitment to you isn’t.
While Tuesdays won’t come with a big opportunity drop anymore, we’re still here to help you get paid.
For job reposts, gigs, funding, and more → LinkedIn is where it’s at.
Whatever you’re looking for, we’ll keep sharing, follow and stay plugged in.
You’re not too late. You’re just getting started.
Until Next Week.
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