How I Built BeU: My Journey From Hiding to Leading
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
“When you show up as yourself, you give others permission to do the same.” — Unknown
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Ever felt like the world handed you a script you didn’t audition for? Like who you really are—your vibe, your truth, your calling—was too much, too different, or too complicated to be fully seen or understood?
Yeah. I know that story all too well.
But I flipped the script.
BeU wasn’t born from a need to be seen. It was born from the decision to stay seen—to keep showing up as my whole self, even when it wasn’t easy, even when the world whispered otherwise. Even when it cost me “likes”.
Now, I help creative entrepreneurs do the same: grow on purpose, brand from the inside out, and lead with integrity.
Let’s get into it.
Why It Matters
There’s power in owning your truth. And even more power in building from it. For creative entrepreneurs, knowing who you are isn’t just personal—it’s strategic. It’s how you stand out, stay grounded, and grow with intention.
83% of consumers say they want brands to be “more authentic” in their messaging (Stackla, 2021)
The Point
BeU was born from a commitment to show up fully and authentically—even when the world said otherwise.
The Big Picture
BeU didn’t start as a brand—it started as a becoming.
Your identity is your strategy.
Authentic branding comes from doing the inner work first.
Every lived experience—especially the hard ones—can become a building block.
The more I embraced myself, the more I was able to lead others to do the same.
The truth is, when you don’t know who you are, you’ll build things that don’t reflect you—businesses, brands, even whole lives. You’ll chase strategies that work for other people but feel off for you. And eventually, all that pretending catches up.
I’ve been there—trying to fit molds that never felt right, performing versions of myself just to survive spaces that weren’t built for me. But the cost of that lie was me. That’s why I created BeU: to build something real, rooted, and liberating—for myself and for every creative entrepreneur who’s tired of pretending.
So when we talk about authenticity in branding, we’re not talking about aesthetics or social media trends. We’re talking about the core of your identity—how you see yourself, how you show up, and what your brand really says when you’re not trying to be liked.
A Moment of Reflection
Let me tell you how it all started…
I spent a long time trying to keep certain parts of myself quiet—my balance between femininity and masculinity, my queerness, my ambition, my voice. I didn’t have the language for it back then. All I knew was that showing up fully didn’t always feel safe, and blending in seemed easier. Safer. Quieter.
But blending in comes at a cost.
You don’t lose yourself all at once—it’s a slow fade. A little compromise here. a little silence there. Then one day, you look up and barely recognize the version of you that's been showing up.
That’s where I found myself.
Mind you, I had the resume.
Navy vet. College-educated. Disciplined. But I also had some hard-knock lessons—like being forced to chop my long God-given locs off while serving my country, just to meet some vague “standard”. That wasn’t about professionalism. That was about erasure.
That moment? It did something to me. It made me question: What parts of me do I have to erase just to exists in certain spaces?
The military taught me how bad it truly sucks to follow someone’s order who has no business being a leader.
Years later, I stumbled into network marketing. Now don’t get it twisted—those years taught me hustle, consistency, and mindset. But they also taught me to conform in new ways. I was praised when I softened my edges. Critiqued when I showed up too bold, too different, too…me.
But here’s where it gets good—
I got tired of shrinking. Tired of building dreams that didn’t align with who I was. I was doing “well,” but I wasn’t fulfilled. I remember one day, I got on my knees and prayed, "God, if you show me who I’m supposed to be and how I’m supposed to move, I’ll build it Your way."
Therefore... BeU was born.
Not overnight, not in a flash of genius—but in the quiet, consistent commitment to wholeness. To purpose. To alignment. BeU started as life coaching, but it evolved into branding, because I realized something critical:
You can’t build a brand without first building yourself. That’s why we brand from the inside out. We start with who you are—not just what you do.
Go Deeper
Research shows:
Authenticity in leadership increases trust, motivation, and performance. (Avolio & Gardner, 2005)
Consumers gravitate toward brands with strong values and personal stories. (Harvard Business Review, 2020)
Self-awareness is one of the top predictors of leadership effectiveness. (Eurich, 2018)
What that means for creative entrepreneurs:
You are your first brand.
Your personal narrative and identity influence your decision-making, creativity, and ability to connect with your audience.
Hiding or diluting who you are limits your brand's reach, depth, and potential.
Industry insight:
Lisa Nichols, a renowned motivational speaker and entrepreneur, says, “You’re not in the business of selling a product—you’re in the business of being seen.”
Dr. Brené Brown, expert on vulnerability and leadership, adds, “You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort. But you cannot have both.”
Translation: Your authenticity is not a liability—it’s your leverage. Your edge. Your light.
Too many people are building from a version of themselves that’s not even real. Myron Golden calls this the "Lie-dentity": the false identity shaped by fear, trauma, societal pressure, or someone else’s expectations. It’s the voice in your head saying, “You’re too much,” or “You’ll never be enough.” It’s rooted in lies—not truth.
Operating from a Lie-dentity not only keeps you small, it keeps your brand fake, confusing, or inconsistent. Because you can’t market what you don’t really know. You can’t build confidently from a place that isn’t solid.
Golden teaches that transformation starts with becoming aware of your Lie-dentity, choosing to stop agreeing with it, and doing the work to reclaim your true identity. That’s the work we do at BeU Branding—helping you shift from pretending to positioning. From performing to showing up with purpose.
BeU Vibes: Creators Who Get It
These creatives reflect what it means to grow from the inside out—they stay true to who they are, lead with purpose, and show what’s possible when you brand with intention:
Morgan Harper Nichols – An artist, poet, and musician who monetizes her creative gifts while building emotional connection through community and storytelling. Her brand feels like therapy in color.
KevOnStage (Kevin Fredericks) – A comedian turned entrepreneur who leveraged his authenticity, faith, and creative genius into multiple businesses, a digital network, and a strong community. Faith, funny, and focused.
Maya Washington (Shameless Maya) – A digital creator and personal brand powerhouse who went from experimenting with self-promotion to owning her story and platform. She represents the glow-up that comes with owning your lane.
LaRussel - A Bay Area rapper and independent artist known for his transparency, DIY business model, and community-centered approach. He shows what it looks like to bet on yourself—and win—with soul and strategy.
The Way To Win
You already have what it takes. The clarity, the creativity, the calling—it’s all there. But knowing isn’t enough. You’ve got to move like you believe it and build like your legacy depends on it… because it does.
Here’s how you can start:
1. Get clear on your identity. Not just your job title. Ask yourself: Who am I when no one’s watching? What do I value? What won’t I compromise? Your clarity becomes your compass.→ Try this: Create a personal manifesto. Write down your non-negotiables, values, and purpose statements. Revisit it weekly.
2. Do the inner work. You can’t brand what you haven’t built. The best strategy in the world can’t mask an identity crisis.→ Try this: Start each workweek with a reflection ritual—journal, pray, or meditate on who you are becoming before you decide what you’re doing.
3. Share your story. The messy middle. The plot twists. The “I almost gave up” moments. That’s where your people connect with you.→ Try this: Go live or write a post about a lesson learned the hard way. Be honest. Then tie it back to your purpose or why you do what you do.
4. Stop asking for permission. Every time you wait for someone to co-sign your brilliance, you delay your assignment. You don’t need approval to move forward.→ Try this: Make one bold move this week—a launch, a post, an email, a conversation—that your future self will thank you for.
5. Build with purpose. It’s not just about the bag. It’s about impact, alignment, and sustainability. You’re not building for hype. You’re building for legacy.→ Try this: Audit your brand. Does your content, messaging, and client experience reflect who you really are? If not, fix it.
A Success Story:
Issa Rae is a masterclass in showing up fully and winning. She started by telling authentic, awkward, and hilarious Black stories on YouTube with The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. She didn’t wait for Hollywood to greenlight her genius—she built her own table. Fast forward to Insecure, multiple businesses, production deals, and empowering a new wave of creatives—all while staying true to her voice, her vision, and her people.
That’s what winning looks like: owning your truth, building with boldness, and leading with legacy in mind.
Now let’s land this.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to become someone else to be successful.
You just need to BeU—and grow on purpose.
Final Thoughts
“When the vision is clear, the decisions are easy.” — Lisa Nichols
Thank you for reading all the way through.
If this message stirred something in you—if it reminded you of who you really are or called you back to what you’re building—share any takeaways and epiphanies in the comments. We’d love to hear about them.
And if you’re ready to go deeper, grow with us, and keep getting gems like this—join the mailing list. You’ll get exclusive content, community updates, and real conversations that help you build a brand that’s true to you.
Your story matters. Your brand matters. You matter.
Just BeU—and grow on purpose.
Sources:
Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2005). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(3), 315–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.03.001
Brown, B. (2012). Daring greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead. Gotham Books.
Eurich, T. (2018). Insight: The surprising truth about how others see us, how we see ourselves, and why the answers matter more than we think. Currency.
Golden, M. (n.d.). Myron Golden – Lie-dentity concept. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/user/MyronGolden
Meet The Author
Precious Dillard is the owner of BeU Life Coaching & Branding, a business dedicated to helping creative entrepreneurs build authentic, purpose-driven brands from the inside out. With a background in brand strategy, content creation, and creative thinking, Precious is a forward-thinking visionary who’s passionate about guiding entrepreneurs to brand clarity and growth.
In addition to her expertise in branding, Precious holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Health Science and is a certified Family and Business Mediation and Entrepreneurship professional. As a Navy veteran with experience as an Aviation Electronics and Calibration Technician, Precious brings a disciplined, results-oriented approach to her work.
At BeU, Precious helps entrepreneurs define their unique brand identity, position their businesses for success, and connect with their ideal audiences in authentic ways. With a mission to empower creative minds to stay true to their purpose, she blends strategic direction, personal development, and practical execution to create brands that resonate.
Join Precious and the BeU community as we grow and elevate authentic brands, one creative entrepreneur at a time.
Disclaimer:
I am a brand strategist and creative entrepreneur, not a licensed business or financial advisor. My services and resources at BeU Branding are designed to provide strategic direction, creative insights, and branding advice. They are not intended to replace professional business, legal, or financial counsel. Please exercise your own judgment and conduct due diligence before taking any action based on the information shared on this website, in coaching sessions, or through any other materials provided by BeU Branding. I make no guarantees about the specific outcomes of applying the strategies or recommendations shared, as success will depend on your unique circumstances, efforts, and external factors beyond my control.
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