The Shield and the Spotlight: Protecting Your Energy While Staying Visible

By Laura Pearman.

If you've ever felt like visibility is a performance you're too tired to audition for, you're not alone.

I've just emerged -slowly, cautiously- from one of the hardest personal seasons I've had in a while. It's been a behind-the-scenes kind of cocoon phase. One of those moments where you don't announce a break, but you take one anyway - because your nervous system insists.

Yes, even personal branding experts have seasons where showing up is just… too much.

And as I tentatively stretch back into the light, I've been thinking a lot about Athena. Specifically, her shield. Not just as protection but as a beautifully strategic choice. When to show up. How. And most importantly, why?

For women in business, especially female entrepreneurs and women leaders building authentic personal brands, there's often this pressure to be 'always on.' We see strategic visibility confused with constant availability. But Athena didn't fight every battle. She chose wisely. She stepped into the spotlight with a shield in hand, not just to protect herself but to command presence (without taking action).

I've taken a complete break from the content machine. Just turned it off. No drafts in the hopper, no 'must post by' sticky notes. And honestly? There's something deeply liberating about walking around this still machine, touching its gears, tilting your head, and asking:

"Shall we even restart this bit again?"

As summertime approaches, many female founders feel uncertain about taking a pause. You've got one hand on your phone and the other on a chilled spritz, wondering if a break will undo all your hard brand-building work.

But even if you're a world-class brain surgeon or a sitting world leader, you know the truth: if you don't switch off, you will not be able to maintain full-speed excellence for long.

So here's your reminder to assess what's switch-off-able. Whether it's creating a mini bank of batched content or scheduling a simple brand message in advance, logging off with meaning and purpose is still a move of power.

What this season taught me, again, is that brand boundaries are sacred. And beautiful. Strategic personal branding isn't about always being present; it's about knowing when and how your presence makes the most impact.

Not every quarter needs a campaign. Not every scroll needs a selfie. Sometimes, your brand just needs a bold line in the sand and a soft chair to rest in.

My version? A red lipstick boundary. A swipe of visibility that says, 'I'm here but on my terms.' It doesn't mean I'm not serious about my work. It means I'm serious about sustaining it.

So, this summer, I'm taking things slow. A few simple, holiday-able actions to stay lightly visible while I rest and recharge. Maybe -just maybe- with enough rest and space, I'll be back hitting it harder come autumn.

Until then, I'll see you (a little bit) out on the feeds. Unless I bump into you around the pool.

Laura Pearman  is the Founder of LauraPearman.com. She is a Personal Branding Consultant, and  the Host of MwahTV.

Laura is a dedicated Personal Branding Consultant who specialises in helping women craft and develop their personal brands to achieve recognition and success in their respective fields. Drawing on her "Creative Swiss Army Knife" expertise, she empowers female entrepreneurs to harness their unique strengths and creativity, guiding them to build standout brands that leave a lasting impression in the marketplace.

With degrees in Marketing and Photography, combined with over a decade of experience running her creative business and serving hundreds of clients, Laura offers trusted insights and recommendations.

In addition to her consultancy work, Laura writes a thought-provoking column for us here that stimulates important conversation around "The Athena Complex." This concept explores the idea that while we all aspire to be goddesses in our zones of genius, the journey to achieving this is often far more complex than it seems. Laura's article delves into these challenges, encouraging women to embrace their power and navigate the intricacies of personal branding with confidence.