The Creative Lead Playbook

Beyonce Pad Thai (How to Hack Your Brand Persona)

• Cathy Davenport Lee • Season 1 • Episode 16

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I have a new episode that talks all about a hack I have to help you define your personal (or small business) branding.


I was inspired to share this after I went through an exhaustive process of defining my audience, catering my writing and graphics to that audience, and then realizing that the audience in my head wasn't who showed up. (And that that audience probably doesn't even exist 😫).


The people who've showed up for me this journey - they showed up for who I actually am, not who I thought I had to be to attract people into my corner of the world.


I wanted to give you a shortcut so you don't have to go through all that.


You can use it whether you're writing your LinkedIn summary, developing your design portfolio or your building your side hustle.


It takes literally 3 minutes. Listen on to find out more.

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I’m Cathy Davenport Lee, and I hope today’s episode leaves you feeling inspired and ready to push the boundaries of your creative career.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and sign up for Lunchbox Notes—my free encouragement and advice letter for creatives. Stay connected for more insights, tools, and resources to help you thrive. Until next time, keep creating, keep pushing, and let’s move this industry forward together.

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I’m going to talk about a hack I have to help you define your personal (or small business) brand.


I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Personal (or small business) branding just ISN’T the same thing as corporate branding. Don’t sit there and study which color of blue Gen Zs love in order to create your color palette. You’re not Walmart. You’re unique, wonderful you and what you’re offering is thus inherently you-infused. The more you self-edit to appease the audience in your head, the less of a chance you stand at resonating with the people who would actually want to buy something from you.


Your main goal should be to showcase the you YOU love, so that people who feel “hell yes sign me up” about that can find you.


There is, of course, a little bit of a “gotcha” with this.


This problem with this is something we all deal with, but are afraid to say out loud:

…that we’re worried that we fundamentally aren’t good enough. 

That we don’t have cool enough interests.

That we sound dumb. 

That we’re cringe.

That it’s subsequently unsafe for people to actually know ANYTHING about the “real” us.


And that’s where we start to not trust our instincts, which quickly devolves into total frozen indecision about our fonts, our logo, our website, our IG strategy, etc etc etc.


If that’s you - don’t worry! I have a solution.


First, a quick q: Have you watched The Mindy Project?


If you aren’t familiar, it’s show created by and starring Mindy Kaling. There’s an episode where the titular character Mindy is having trouble dealing with a jerky guy at work. She invents an alter ego for herself — Beyonce Pad Thai, who’s the most badass combination of what she loves — and that alter ego can absorb all the insults directed at her.


I love this, because it’s such an excellent method for distancing yourself from some of the insecurities you may feel when you’re defining your brand.


So, give it a try:


What is your alter ego like?

The cool version of you that would do everything you’re afraid to do? What’s their name? How would they look and act? What would like and dislike? Say or not say?


NOW, go write a “what it is/what it isn’t” list for your brand. 

NOW, go hunt for your style inspirations - as if you were shopping for your alter ego, not you. I have a feeling this is going to unlock a lot for you.


Let me know if it helps!