Imagine someone you know acting totally different depending on who they’re talking to. It’s confusing, right? The same thing happens online. If you act one way on a work website and another way on a fun picture app, people won’t really know the real you. Being consistent – meaning you’re pretty much the same across all your online places – is key to building a strong personal brand that people understand and trust.

The first movie night alone? I paused the film halfway through, not sure if I should laugh aloud. The first rainy Sunday with no plans? I nearly called someone just to fill the space. But slowly, those moments softened. They were not gaps waiting to be filled, but were pauses to be savoured.

Now, “make it better” is not a brief. It’s a sentiment. It’s the equivalent of saying, “Make me look interesting and influential, but don’t make me look like I’m trying too hard.” If you’re hoping for a neat PowerPoint with reference points and sample posts, set that aside. Here’s where copywriters and brand strategists become a curious mix of psychologist, ghostwriter, and, yes, mind reader.

One of the most iconic taglines of all time, Nike’s “Just Do It” was inspired by an unlikely source. The last words of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, who reportedly said “Let’s do it” before execution.

There’s a profound truth in pushing beyond our perceived limitations. When we accomplish something we believed was beyond our capabilities, we transform. We become a different version of ourselves, one that is stronger, more resilient, and more confident. This transformation isn’t about achieving extraordinary feats; it’s about embracing the challenge and discovering the hidden potential within.

It’s alright. Your 20s are not about being a published writer. You experiment. You erase. You edit yourself, not just on the page, but in life. You let your characters be flawed. You let yourself be flawed. You write stories that are half truth, half fiction, and yet fully yours.

But life, in its mischievous wisdom, threw me a lifeline during my board exams. Our school switched math teachers, and the temperature dropped from volcanic to room temperature just like that. The new teacher, let’s call him Mr. Calm-and-Clarity, was firm yet kind.

You can also try “model-guided prompting.” This works well if you’re a bit fuzzy on the details yourself. It’s a great way to feed your own ideas into the AI, and then the AI uses that info to give you exactly what you need.

The simple act of articulating your challenges, of hearing others voice their own, can be profoundly liberating. It breaks the illusion of isolation, reminding you that you are not alone in this journey. It validates your feelings, dispels the guilt, and provides a sense of belonging.

This practice makes the critic less jarring and more like a calm reminder. After your first draft, take a short break. Then come back and read your work out loud. Pick three lines you love. These are your strengths. Polish around them. Tidy up weak spots and keep the parts that sing. Think of revision as gentle sculpting, not harsh cutting.

We reflect the gold they didn’t even know they had. That’s the job. It’s not showy. It’s not always credited. But it’s essential. You’re the one who can hear narrative tension in a throwaway anecdote. You know how to ask, “Tell me more about that?” in a way that leads to something honest. You can see — sometimes before they can — how the story will land.