11 Jul 2025
Episode 3: Playing Small is Selfish (And Other Uncomfortable Truths)
What We’re Unpacking (Like Emotional Baggage, But Useful)
This week I’m coming for your throat - metaphorically, obviously, I’m not that unhinged - about why your “humble” positioning is actually selfish as hell. And yes, before you ask, I am aware of the irony of me lecturing you about confidence while having an existential crisis about whether this makes me sound like a complete tosser.
The Coffee Shop Revelation That Started It All
Picture it: Swindon coffee shop, Tuesday morning, me being fundamentally nosy (shocking, I know). One brilliant woman with game-changing sustainable packaging tech... apologising for potentially maybe helping companies possibly reduce their environmental impact if they don’t mind terribly.
I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and scream: "YOU’RE LITERALLY SAVING THE PLANET AND YOU'RE APOLOGISING FOR IT!"
Why Your False Modesty Is Actually Cruel
Spoiler alert: When you downplay your expertise, you’re not being humble. You’re being a coward. You’re choosing your comfort over your clients’ breakthrough, your fear over their transformation.
Think about it - if your doctor walked in mumbling about how they “maybe went to medical school and might possibly help if you don’t mind," you’d leg it faster than a tourist in Camden on a Saturday night.
The Transformation Stories That’ll Make You Weep
* Jaqs: From “compliance enthusiast” (I KNOW, RIGHT?) to regulatory superhero with a six-month waiting list
Same person. Same skills. Only difference? She stopped whispering about solutions that should be shouted from bloody rooftops.
The Uncomfortable Truth Section (Brace Yourself)
Your potential clients are in pain. Real, debilitating business pain. When you hide behind false modesty, you’re not protecting anyone - you’re being cruel. They need confidence, not humility. Expertise, not apologies.
[And yes, me telling you to be more confident while simultaneously panicking about sounding arrogant is very on brand, isn’t it? Fourth wall break two, you’re welcome.]
Your Homework (Because I’m Not Here to Coddle You)
Go read your website, LinkedIn bio, email signature - whatever drivel you’ve written about what you do. Read it as someone who desperately needs your help.
Does it make you think “YES, this person can save me” or “Maybe I should keep looking for someone who sounds less... apologetic”?
If it’s the latter, you’ve got work to do, darling.
Where to Find More of This Chaos
🎙️ Sass Live with Selina YanksEvery Wednesday at 1pm GMT on LinkedIn Live, I team up with the brilliant Selina Yanks for our weekly dose of marketing reality checks and business therapy.
🎟️ SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: We’ve got Sass Live happening this Thursday! Grab your ticket and join us for the brand reset you so desperately need. Because playing small isn’t serving anyone, least of all you:
https://thesassworkshop.heysummit.com/ (https://thesassworkshop.heysummit.com/)
📍 Connect & Conspire
* LinkedIn: @meetsarra (for daily doses of uncomfortable truths)
* DMs: Open for arguments, agreements, and existential crises
Remember: You’re not here to participate. You’re here to dominate.
Stop playing small. The world needs what you have to offer. But they need to find it first.
Now stop reading show notes and go fix your bloody positioning.
The Rebel Marketing Podcast: Where false modesty comes to die and real confidence is born. No participation trophies here, just uncomfortable truths and actionable rebellion.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rebelmarketer.substack.com (https://rebelmarketer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
