Rethinking Success & Identity: Why Your Business Isn’t Just About Visibility

This episode is full of hard truths, candid laughs and the kind of conversations most entrepreneurs won’t have in public. If you’re clinging to the idea that “being visible” is the magical route to business success, let’s take a collective breath and dig a little deeper.

“All the hats and all the things…”

Running your own business isn’t just about marketing, landing clients, or even smashing your PR strategy. Laura Perkes and Jodie Hayward get real about the “messy middle” of entrepreneurship, the time where you’re questioning everything, feeling stuck and doubting your choices on a near-daily basis.

Success isn’t just about showing up. It’s about alignment, identity and learning when to pivot (even when it’s painful).

Two Sides of the Story: Growth & Alignment

Let’s break this down:

• Jodie Hayward - shares her journey from high-achieving COO (and main breadwinner) to letting go of a thriving, multi-six-figure business because it was killing her on the inside. Her why? Wanting to set a better example for her daughter and refusing to hand down old stories about self-worth, sacrifice and burnout.
• Laura Perkes - echoes a similar pivot: twenty years in PR, yet she had to rediscover who she was and what she really wanted from her business; 18 months of uncomfortable “messy middle” growth.

Key takeaway? You need both structure and soul. Systems without identity are empty. Identity without action is stalled potential.

Stop Comparing & Start Leading

Happiness doesn’t exist where there is comparison. It’s time to stop side-eyeing everyone else’s highlight reel and start owning your own story, with all its messy, beautiful pivots.

Ask yourself:

• Are you chasing other people’s definitions of success?
• Are you allowing your own “North Star” to evolve as you grow?

Remember: your story is enough. You’re enough.

Visibility with Purpose

Here’s what no one tells you: PR, podcasts, press, none of it means much if you aren’t clear on why you’re showing up. Are you just trying to get featured everywhere for the dopamine hit, or are you stepping up to serve, to connect and to lead?

Being visible for visibility’s sake won’t build your business or your legacy.
Impact comes from depth, not just reach.

PR as a Tool for Connection

PR isn’t about self-absorption or manufactured fame, it’s about real, human stories that connect, that serve and that build true community.

That “one feature in Forbes” won’t land you the business you’re after if you’re not willing to be authentic, generous and a little bit brave.

The Real Magic Formula

Purpose + Potential = Potency

Be brave enough to reimagine your own roadmap.
Be visible in ways that actually matter to you (and your HELL YES clients)
Allow yourself to evolve.

As Jodie Hayward puts it: “Stop comparing yourself to everyone else and just travel your own path. If anyone can take anything away, it’s that. Find your friends.”

Want More?

You can find Jodie Hayward on Instagram @‌the_jodiehaywood and Laura Perkes at @‌PRwithPerkes

If you’re ready to stop being the world’s best-kept secret, lean into your “messy middle,” and build a purpose-driven, aligned business that feels as good as it looks (and has impact as big as your vision), subscribe and join the conversation.

What is your North Star? Are you ready to claim it?

Visibility is glorified everywhere. If you’ve found yourself believing that being visible will catapult your business to extreme levels of success (and maybe even wondered how the “queens of visibility” keep going when the trolls come out), this episode is your dose of the truth behind the hype.

THE MYTH OF "MORE VISIBILITY"

We’ve all heard it: “Be more visible!” But as Laura Perkes and her guest, Lisa Johnson discuss, being visible is only part of the equation. And in reality, it comes with as many challenges as rewards. From a four-page feature in Forbes early in her career, to front-page headlines that invited a storm of backlash, Lisa Johnson has experienced firsthand what really comes with showing up in the media.

WHAT DOES "BEING VISIBLE" ACTUALLY MEAN?

In its simplest form, visibility means being seen. But why, where, and by whom matters far more than the hype suggests.

Case in point: Lisa Johnson jumped into PR at the very start of her business and landed a major Forbes feature, not because she agonised over whether she was “ready,” but because her message was unapologetically hers. She even admits that in hindsight it was a little naive to believe she could land a feature in Forbes - but being ‘green’ to PR is often the recipe to success.

Her lesson? Naïvety can work in your favour, but thought leadership comes when you’re bold enough to say what needs to be said, not what you think will keep everyone happy.

THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF VISIBILITY

Here’s what you won’t see in most “visibility” sales pitches: abuse, backlash and the emotional toll of being in the public eye. Lisa opens up about being targeted online, the differences in how women are treated when talking about money and how the press will twist your words for the sake of a headline.

Expect:

Judgment for being a woman who earns money.
Outrage over family roles (“I do Nothing, he does Everything” – thanks, Daily Mail!).
Personal attacks, projections and negativity.
So, why does she keep showing up? Because if women stop raising their voices out of fear, nothing will change for the next generation.

LEARNINGS AND ADVICE: FROM PR BEGINNER TO PR PRO

Do your own PR at first.

Lisa did all her own outreach for four years. Pitch yourself, you’ll learn the process and how to tell your story. It matters.

Understand what you’re paying for. If you hire PR support, treat it as a collaboration. The best results come when you bring your own ideas and angles to the table.

Align your message with where you’re going, not just where you are. Get clear on what you want to be known for and who your audience is.

Be prepared for backlash. Protect your peace, but don’t shrink for fear of judgment. It says more about them than you.

You don’t need a dramatic story. Every single person has a story worth telling.

HOW TO BE STRATEGIC WITH VISIBILITY

Get super focused. Don’t spray your story everywhere, choose the right platforms, audiences and time for the message you want to share. Avoid the “be visible everywhere” trap. As your reputation grows, be intentional and selective with where you appear.

As Lisa says: “PR isn’t just about getting your name out there. It’s about impact. When you tell your story, you create a ripple effect.”

Feeling ready to dig deeper into your own story and message?
Listen to the episode for a candid, no-BS look at the realities of putting yourself in the spotlight, and walk away with permission to show up, share your truth and do it your way.

Follow Lisa Johnson on Instagram: @‌LisaJohnsonStrategist
DM Laura Perkes on Instagram: @‌PRWithPerkes to join the conversation about the pressures and pitfalls of being visible in 2026.

Why You SHOULD Welcome Bad Press: The Truth Behind “Sickfluencer” PR

If you’ve ever worried about the downside of being “too visible” then this episode is for you. What Maddy Alexander Grout shares is raw, real and the exact antidote we ALL need to see past the glossy, filtered version of PR you see everywhere online…

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PRESS LABELS YOU THE “SICKFLUENCER”?

Visibility can change your business. Being seen, heard, hired and paid as The Authority is the pinnacle of being Niche Famous. Investing in PR is the fastest way to achieve this - whether that’s being interviewed on podcasts, featured in the press or speaking on stage.

What you'll hear in this conversation between Laura Perkes and Maddie Alexander Grout, is that there is alwaysanother side from the glossy posts you see from people sharing their media wins. For Maddy, more press didn’t just mean more clients. It meant more attention, more criticism… even full-blown public drama.

Whether it’s viral videos being torn apart or editors spinning a story (hello, “Maddy Alexander Grout gloats over £56k in disability grants”), the truth is: when you’re visible enough to attract press coverage, you’re visible enough to attract haters.

Here’s what we learned from Maddy Alexander Grout’s story:

• Use negative headlines to create your content. Screenshot, green-screen and OWN the narrative.
• Let the press drama attract your ideal audience. “Sickfluencer” brought Maddy more followers, income and opportunities than ever before.
• Laugh at the trolls (seriously: would you send them a Christmas card? If not, don’t let them in your mental space).
• Don’t jump at any press: know your boundaries and only share stories that align with your mission, your audience and your values.
• Not all press is good press, but all press can be leveraged – strategically, intentionally, with resilience.

THE REAL SECRET TO PRESS & PUBLICITY

Visibility alone will NOT get you clients, fame, or create impact. Whether you’re dealing with the Daily Mail, The Sun or the BBC, what matters is:

For Maddy Alexander Grout, controversy didn’t keep her from business growth. Instead, she leveraged every “sickfluencer” headline to educate, empower and grow her community. She advises fellow entrepreneurs: don’t be scared of being disliked, but do stay intentional about what you share, how you respond and which opportunities to say yes to.

Want more?

🔗 Follow Maddy Alexander Grout on Instagram @‌Maddytalksmoney

🔗 Connect with Laura Perkes at @‌prwithperkes

🔗 Buy Maddy’s book “Mad About Money” on Amazon (don’t worry, it has colouring pages!)

🔗 DM your own press horror stories – let’s keep the conversation going.

Still scared of being “visible”? Hit play. Your reputation will thank you.

Let’s Get Real About Strategic Visibility: The Unfiltered Truth About PR

If you’ve spent even ten minutes in the online business world, you’ll have heard the rallying cry: “Get featured! Be visible! Step into the spotlight!” Visibility is touted as the fast-track ticket to everything you want, bigger opportunities, dream clients, more income, all wrapped up in a shiny PR bow.

But is that really the whole story? In this jam-packed episode of “What Is Public Relations?”, Laura Perkes throws out the rose-tinted glasses and gets brutally honest about the realities of visibility, the highs (yes, you get to be ‘niche famous’), and the very real lows (no, this is not all rainbows and unicorns).

Let’s break it down…

BEING SEEN VS. BEING SEEN STRATEGICALLY

Visibility for the sake of being visible is not where the magic happens. What Laura Perkes voices loud and clear is that PR isn’t just about getting your face in front of more people. It’s about WHAT you say, WHERE you say it, and most importantly, how you use it once you’ve got it.

Because here’s the truth: There’s a dark side to being featured. The more you put yourself out there, the more you open the door to criticism, trolls, and the infamous internet “comment section”. That fear of negativity? It keeps far too many entrepreneurs, especially those with massive missions and world-shifting visions, playing small.

So, what can you do with this?

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT ON NEGATIVITY

You don’t need to hide. Actually, you can take whatever the internet throws at you and turn it into fuel for growth.

• When the comments get ugly, don’t spiral. (Spoiler: Laura Perkes admits nothing good happens in the comments, and the real impact? Shows up in your DMs.)
• Lean into your mission and your message because, when you’re truly visible, you’ll attract the clients who get it, and repel the ones who don’t.
• Learn how to protect your energy and integrity, so you don’t waste time rage-replying to trolls. Instead, leverage that attention, and steer the narrative so you come out as a stronger authority, not a victim of online cruelty.

THE VISIBILITY ENGINE: IT’S TIME TO WORK SMARTER

Getting the coverage isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning. Laura Perkes introduces the concept of “the visibility engine”, where your PR wins aren’t just trophies gathering dust, but active assets that propel your business to the next level.

Visibility + Marketing + Social Media = Authority. But you must be strategic:

• Marry your expertise with platforms where your dream clients are, and position yourself as the only choice.
• Understand that being “niche famous” is about impact, not pleasing everyone, and your message is what makes you magnetic (or polarizing. Both are good!).
• The goal is to become in demand, to be invited, and to open doors you never thought possible.

IT ALL COMES BACK TO PURPOSE

• Why do you do what you do?
• Who do you want to help?
• How will you use your story to move your business—and your industry—forward?

If you’re curious about PR, scared of the fallout, or have a story of your own, Laura Perks wants to hear from you. Slide into her DMs (@prwithperkes) and join a conversation that’s as honest as it gets. Because real credibility isn’t built through silence.

So, are you ready to get magnetic as f*ck and let the world see what you’re made of, even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way?

Stay open. See what happens. And don’t ever let fear stop you from becoming the industry icon you’re meant to be.

Welcome to the 12 Days of PR mini-series.

Bitesize nuggets of PR gold to get you thinking about What Is Public Relations?.

Hosted by Laura Perkes.

Welcome to the 12 Days of PR mini-series.

Bitesize nuggets of PR gold to get you thinking about What Is Public Relations?.

Hosted by Laura Perkes.

Welcome to the 12 Days of PR mini-series.

Bitesize nuggets of PR gold to get you thinking about What Is Public Relations?.

Hosted by Laura Perkes.

Welcome to the 12 Days of PR mini-series.

Bitesize nuggets of PR gold to get you thinking about What Is Public Relations?.

Hosted by Laura Perkes.