I was just scrolling through a few pictures from my son’s high school graduation last weekend.
You know, it’s in the rare quiet moments like this that it really sinks in that he’ll be out on his own soon.
He’s stepping into this whole new life—college, bike racing, studying biology. He’s outgrown where he’s been. And he’s so ready to move on.
While I was standing there last weekend at graduation, watching him move forward, it hit me: no matter how quickly it felt like the last 18 years blurred by, growth isn’t something that just happens. It’s something that’s nurtured, and built, bit-by-bit, day-by-day. Sometimes it feels hard and it’s a grind. And sometimes it just all flows.
But eventually, you reach a certain point—like graduation—and it feels like an end, but really, it’s the start of the next phase of growth.
As long as you keep stoking the growth process, it will keep growing. Are there pivots? For sure. Are there dead ends? Yep. But if you’re not nurturing growth, you’re going to miss out.
And it got me thinking about brands.
Lately, I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re just trying to hold on. Waiting for clarity. For something to shift. But in reality, waiting isn’t a growth strategy. Nurturing is.
So with that, I came up with these three easy moves that you can do right now to nurture your brand growth in times like these.
- Clarify your point of view
In a noisy world, vague brands disappear. Growth comes from being known for something—and saying it with consistency. Dig into your POV and ask yourself: How is this different from competitors? Why do customers care about this?
- Tell better stories
People want to know why you do what you do—and whether they can trust you—not just your functional benefits. Revisit your brand story and then try this: tell it like you actually talk. No polish. No jargon. Just plain real talk. Then see how that stacks up against your old brand story. You could even a/b test it if you want. I bet I know which one will win.
- Build real relationships, not just reach
The algorithm might get you attention, but connection is what lasts. Don’t just broadcast—engage. Show your personality. Share some behind-the-scenes stories. Start conversations. Invite your audience into the process.
The bottom line here is pretty simple: nurturing your brand shapes how it grows and what it does in the world.
By nurturing what’s most important, you’ll feel proud when you look back at the milestones along the way and excited for where it’s going next.