Finding Your Voice in Business: Don’t Let Shortcuts Steal It

How to Stay Authentic in a World Full of Shortcuts and Trends

So, here’s a story that hit me harder than I expected. My 4-year-old niece is obsessed with princesses—specifically The Little Mermaid. On a recent family visit, my brother-in-law lost his voice, and we all joked that I was the sea witch who stole it. (IYKYK)

Well, the joke didn’t sit well with my niece. She was adamant that I give him his voice back, like, immediately. It was cute, and we all laughed it off at the time. But fast forward to a week ago—my brother-in-law sent me a video of my niece, now in full meltdown mode, upset because she lost her voice. And she’s convinced it’s me who needs to give it back. SH*T.

But it got me thinking...

We’ve all been there in business, haven’t we? Somewhere along the way, we feel like we’ve lost our own voice—whether it’s through using shortcuts like AI to do the heavy lifting or following trends that aren’t really us and it just feels totally inauthentic. And just like my niece, we expect the Sea Witch to give us our voice back.

Which brings me to this week’s Sticky Sh*t mantra:

Am I building something authentic, or am I letting shortcuts steal my voice?

It’s so easy to lean on what’s trendy, what’s fast, or what’s convenient—whether it’s AI writing your content or hopping on the latest marketing bandwagon. But at the end of the day, if it doesn’t sound like you or feel like you, then what’s the point? If all you’re going after is virality with no substance, what are you really offering? 

Take a moment today and reflect—are you building something authentic, or are you giving up pieces of yourself along the way? It’s okay to use tools and take inspiration from others, but make sure your voice is the one steering the ship.

And if you’ve lost it? Don’t panic. Unlike in The Little Mermaid, no sea witch (or aunt) is holding it hostage. It’s still yours, waiting for you to reclaim it.