Known vs Famous - there is a huge difference when it comes to small business...

There are often very real emotional struggles when I first start working with clients – they know that they need to be more visible within their industry or chosen niche, they have come to realise that they really do know what they are talking about and (mostly) believe that they have valuable things to share with their audience this is not just yelling ‘BUY MY STUFF!!!’ at anyone who comes near them, but they really struggle when I start to talk to them about ‘leading’ in their niche and becoming known for the knowledge and skills that they have to share with the world.

The whole idea of ‘standing in the spotlight’ has them halfway out of the door calling back over their shoulder “It’s about my clients and my audience, not me!!! I don’t want to be famous!!!” – I hear versions of this cry time and time again.

So, its time to set the record straight... Being ‘known’ and being ‘famous’ are two different things.

They may seem like similar concepts on the surface, but they're actually quite different.

Being known typically means that you have a reputation or a level of recognition and acknowledgement within a certain community or group of people. It often implies that you are well-regarded and respected within that group.

People are usually aware of you and your work, and they may have a general sense of who you are.

For example, if you're a small business owner in your local community, people in your area who want what you have probably know who you are. You might be known as the best baker in your town, or as the go-to person for advice about car loans. It's a localised kind of fame.

Being known is great because it means that people are interested in what you're doing and are engaged with your work. Being known as a go-to person or something that you do saves you time, money, and headaches when it comes to finding and serving your audience.

Being famous, on the other hand, refers to being widely recognised and acknowledged by a large number of people, often across a wide geographic area or even globally. It often implies that you are well-known in the public sphere and may be the result of success in a particular field, such as a movie star, musician or elite sportsman known by people all a country, international community, or all over the world. This celebrity often (but not always) comes with a certain level of wealth, power, and influence. It’s a more global kind of fame.

While being famous can bring attention and opportunity, it also comes with its own set of challenges, such as maintaining privacy and dealing with the pressure of being in the public eye and it is this that my clients fear.

It's important to note that the two concepts aren’t mutually exclusive: you can be both known and famous. But they are not the same. For example, a chef who runs a successful, well-known restaurant might be well known among people who are interested in food and hospitality for their culinary expertise, innovation, and excellent dining experience, while a celebrity chef with a television show, published books, and tens of thousands of followers on Instagram would be considered famous as well as known. At the end of the working day, you choose where you sit on this spectrum.

It's also worth noting that the way you become known or famous can be very different. Typically, people become known for their talents, hard work, service and dedication – it is a deliberate and planned process. Becoming famous can simply because the luck of right place, right time, wealth, and connections, or it can be through talent, hard work and maximising opportunities – sometimes a combination of all things.

In the end, whether you're known or famous, it's important to remember that what really matters is being true to yourself and living a life that makes you happy.

So, whether you're the best baker in your town, or a famous actor on the big screen, be proud of who you are and how you choose to contribute to the world around you - Be the Voice, Not an Echo.