Why owning your quirks is the secret to a magnetic brand
No one told me that growing a business would be so intertwined with personal growth.
But then again, no one really ‘told me’ anything about business 😅
Anyone else? 🫠
As a former corporate communications specialist turned solopreneur, I’ve learned a lot since I founded Bookleaf Copy in 2022.
Mainly:
👉 Being a business owner is tough.
and
👉 Why is it such a challenge to consistently showcase what makes us different?
Turns out, standing out in a sea of sameness is actually deeply personal.
Why quirks matter (like, really matter)
I believe our quirks are the details that make us naturally different.
Just like a person, our brand magnetises (and repels) others through these unique traits.
Unlike same-same features and benefits (and AI cliches), no one can swipe our unique collection of quirks.
When we embrace our quirks as part of our brand building, we can:
attract our dream tribe (because they see a bit of themselves in us)
stop squeezing ourselves into boxes that don’t fit (hello: more energy to soulfully create)
write and speak about our business with confidence (trustworthy guide, coming through).
How to discover your brand’s heart-moving quirks
If you’re ready to turn your small biz into a brand that people love, you need to get personal. A little more human.
Remember what I talked about at the start? Yep, this is where business and beating hearts collide.
Your brand needs:
🌀 A soul (the deeper purpose behind your work)
🌀 A personality (the traits that make you you)
🌀 A competitive advantage (the unique magic only you bring)
The tricky part? You can’t fake these things.
They can’t come from trends or industry noise — they have to come from you.
From your quirks; aka your story, your experiences, your vision.
And all of this takes a little soul-searching. (Or, in my case, a lot of daydreaming while hanging out a million pairs of tiny toddler socks on the washing line.)
A quirky DIY exercise
To find all these answers we need to get to the roots.
Grab a pen and start mud-mapping your thoughts and ideas about:
your brand’s vision (what change do you want to see in the world?)
your brand’s values (what do you stand for?)
your brand’s positioning (what’s your unfair advantage over the competition?)
Then run your list past someone you trust — see what else they would add based on the magical qualities you’re known for.
Tip: working with another person will help you uncover the gems you're too close to see.
This practice (repeated a few times over) should reveal the quirks and unique traits that make your business truly one-of-a-kind.
The importance of brand strategy
Some brands own their quirks beautifully. And they’re the ones we remember. The ones we love.
But when we’re starting out, it’s hard to be brave and share what’s different or unique about us — ask me how I know.
It’s even harder to be strategic.
Instead, we end up building the plane while flying it — just hoping things will work out.
That’s where brand strategy comes in. We touched on this a little in the DIY exercise above ✍️
When you anchor your messaging in the nuances of what makes you you, writing for your biz becomes easy. It flows. It feels natural.
Importantly, it becomes easier to stand apart from the competition.
The power of owning our quirks reminds me of Elizabeth Gilbert’s words from ‘Big Magic’, which have become my personal motto:
"Most things have already been done, but they have not yet been done by you."
What an amazing permission slip.
Your quirks? Your voice? Your way of doing things? That’s the difference. That’s what your dream customers are looking for.
Let’s make your brand feel like you
I’m here to help you find naturally different words that unearth your quirks and play to your strengths.
So you can stay consistent, memorable, and soul-aligned when writing for your business.
If you’re interested in working together, feel free to check out my brand strategy offerings, or book a no-strings chat and let’s figure out the best way forward ✨
In the meantime, thanks for being here and for being you,
Adele
PS - The best part about quirks? When we embrace them, we not only align our own hearts with our work, we also make our community a better, more colourful, and interesting place to be. Ooh yeah ❤️
