The Cost of Masking in Your Business

Have you ever had one of those moments where someone holds up a mirror to you… and you suddenly realise you've been hiding a whole part of yourself without even noticing? That happened to me recently. I was chatting with one of my long-time members — someone who knew me back in my spa days when energy work, ritual, intuition, and all things "woo" were a normal part of the way I worked. And she said something that honestly stopped me in my tracks: "I'd love to see more of your energy work again." At first I brushed it off… until I realised she wasn't the only one who had said that to me. And then it hit me: I've been masking in my own business. Not intentionally. Not dramatically. Just slowly, quietly… turning down a part of me that's always been central to how I see the world and how I support my clients. And if I'm doing it, there's a good chance many of us are doing it too. So today's episode is part story, part reflection, and part gentle nudge. We're talking about the ways we mask in business — the subtle ways we make ourselves smaller, simpler, more "professional," more acceptable, or more like everyone else… even when that's the opposite of what actually helps us thrive. Inside this episode I share: ✨ The surprising conversation that made me realise I'd been masking ✨ Why masking can happen so slowly you don't see it until much later ✨ How it affects your energy, creativity, visibility and confidence ✨ The link between masking and feeling stuck, bored, or disconnected from your business ✨ What masking looked like for me specifically (and why it mattered) ✨ Why the very things you hide are often the things your clients most value ✨ How to gently begin "unmasking" and showing more of who you really are This isn't a step-by-step marketing episode. It's more of a cosy, reflective cup-of-tea-chat kind of episode — the kind where you might find yourself nodding along, or realising something about your own business that you hadn't quite put into words. If you've been feeling boxed in, muted, or like you've somehow drifted away from the version of you who started all this… this one's for you. I'd genuinely love to hear from you after you listen: Where do you think you might be masking in your business? 🔗 Links Mentioned in the Episode ✨ Big Picture Day (Brighton, this Friday!) A full 90-day strategy session plus a branding shoot with 10 professional images. https://kirstykianifard.com/bigpicture ✨ Come say hello on Instagram DM me and tell me where you've been masking: https://instagram.com/kirstykianifard