We were lucky to catch up with Charlene Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Charlene thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.
My industry tends to be focused on getting clients websites that make them profitable and are quick to churn out with minimal client interaction. This is not a bad thing to strive for; however, many small businesses fail to use the websites they invest in because they have no real connection to them.
They were “hands-off” during the development and now are unsure what to do with them or see the true value or purpose in them. This led to the belief that they didn’t need a website, or they embraced the thought that they needed to be techies to understand their website.
I realized that the missing piece was the clarity and strategy to connect meaning to their websites. My mission is to educate small business owners and solopreneurs about the benefits of embracing technology to enhance their business’s brand visibility.
I always make sure my clients feel connected and comfortable with their websites and technology. I use clarity, brand, and tech strategies in all my work with them.
Charlene, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m known as The Brand Misfit™ because I love to go against “the norm.” I am a keynote motivational speaker and a pioneering figure in technology implementation and strategic web development. With over 23 years of experience, I transform businesses across the spectrum by supporting them to navigate the complex landscape of tech & website strategy. However, my influence goes far beyond my notable technical expertise.
In 2000, I noticed that talented businesswomen in my community were being overlooked because they were not embracing tech or planning for the future of their businesses. They were constantly in “hustle mode” and were not operating from a place of Brand awareness or clarity.
My unique approach has led to the empowering Misfit Entrepreneurs™ initiative. I encourage business leaders, specifically Black women, to embrace their individuality. They should use technology to distinguish themselves from others unapologetically. I am passionate about helping Misfit Entrepreneurs™ overcome their fears of technology and stepping out of their comfort zones. My strong understanding of tech allows me to provide insights that are relevant to both their personal & professional lives.
I’ve created Anti-Struggle Solutions™ that include The Anti-Struggle Triage™ which makes clarity, brand, & tech strategies the foundation of my website development services. I also created the framework A.M.P. Your Strategy™ to keep clients focused on what matters when they create their websites. All of these allow my clients to overcome the impact of TechHurt™ that they go through which can lead to TechTrauma™, often stalling their ability to brand and grow their businesses effectively.
I love hearing from clients, show viewers, and podcast listeners how they are able to dive into creating websites that not only look great, but showcases them as the experts they are. I continue doing what I do because I believe in the power of Misfit Entrepreneurs™ understanding and using tech to improve their businesses.
I use my valuable career experience and innovative thinking to inspire audiences and provide practical strategies to improve their online presence. Above all, I remain an advocate for guiding Misfit Entrepreneurs™ to forge their own paths & amplify their unique voices in this fast-paced, tech-centric world.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was the proverbial “I am my brand” concept. This was hurting me and I never knew it. I felt uncomfortable “being” my brand and figuring out how to show up for my audience as a business. I was unsure how to strike a balance between if I should show my personal life on my brand and business platforms. To me, it never felt right, but this was a drum that was constantly pounded on throughout the business world.
Then I found the Ghetto Country Brandmother® who confirmed what I’ve always felt – I am NOT my brand, and it’s ok.
Instead, I was gifted the empowered knowledge that I was meant to be the powerful representative of my brand & business. As The Brand Misfit™ I would be able to focus on who I am and speak on behalf of my business brands, Bklyn Custom Designs℠ and The Anti-Struggle Life™ – plus anything else I create.
I no longer feel stuck and unable to communicate who I am separate from what my business does. I now understand how to take branding to another level and retain a separate life from my business with ease.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
During 2020 I had to find a way to promote myself and get in front of more people – I had to learn to embrace digital marketing being front and center. I battled the common self-doubting fears and not knowing how I would be perceived. I have been a blogger since 2000 but not with a full intent on doing sales. I always thought “that’s not my thing.”
2020 was no longer a time to be the best kept secret and staying in the shadows of the unknown. I took a leap into doing video when I met one of my good friends, Carl Shawn Watkins who invited me to join him on a Live with him on LinkedIn and the rest was history from there. We went from a few pop-up interviews to 2 full shows that we did 3 days weekly. He helped me forget my fears of being on camera while engaging me in thought-provoking conversations that drew our engaging viewers in.
The shift to Live shows on LinkedIn transformed how I approach doing Live videos and how I present myself and my ideas to my audience. Having supportive people around me was crucial for my confidence and self-acceptance. They helped me be true to myself and embrace my uniqueness. Stand strong on my ideas and why I have them. It became a way to understand that I can tap into my experience to be a known resource for those who need support.
Going Live wasn’t always easy, but I knew it was important and enjoyable to have great conversations with fantastic guests and a co-host who made things flow smoothly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bklyncustomdesigns
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/bklyncustomdesigns
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/charlenevbrown
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bkcustomdesigns
- Youtube: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/youtube
- Other: The Misfit Squad™ Membership: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/community InboxConvos™ Newsletter: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/joinconvo The Brand Misfit’s Insights LinkedIn Newsletter: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/linews Bklyn Custom Designs℠ on LinkedIn: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/linkedinbiz Amazon: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/charlene-on-amazon Keep It Super Simple paperback book: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/keepitsupersimplepb Turn Clicks Into Profit paperback book: https://bklyncustomdesigns.com/turnclicksintoprofitpb
Image Credits
Images of me with the grey tank top looking over my shoulder and the laptop should be credited to Sean Thomas Allen Photography and the images with the jeans top should be credited to J3fe Media. The other four images should be credited to Charlene Brown, The Brand Misfit™, of Bklyn Custom Designs℠ as part of my portfolio.