The One Thing You Can Do For Yourself in 2026

#WomenEntrepreneurs #FemaleBusinessOwners #Actors #Publicity

We don’t know when our history or ‘herstory’ will lead others to us. I learned long ago not to shy away from media attention and have had a knack for landing a lot since high school. I’m not a star by any means, but the camera and news reporters tend to like me.

When social media was created, as I started my second company, I jumped on the bandwagon immediately, understanding the value of public relations, marketing, and publicity. No longer did a person have to wait for the media to discover them; they could elevate themselves, businesses, or organizations on their own through all levels of social media marketing platforms.

Self-publishing also allowed the public and businesspeople to create a ‘calling card’ for themselves, landing speaking gigs, presentations, and event headlines, and reaping ‘stardom,’ revenue, and credibility. With the Internet storing everything, searching for someone even from decades ago can help them be found.

I am not egoistical, narcissistic, or rich, so promoting myself and my company was the best way to draw attention. Once in a while, like today, I open an email asking me to be a keynote speaker for a women-only fund because of my online history in business feminism, public speaking, and writing credentials. I did nothing to secure this opportunity; it only came through consistent marketing.

My first business lesson for anyone in any career or business is to drop the shyness or awkwardness when it comes to promoting yourself. You can’t be an introvert in today’s Internet world; you must push your story, attributes, successes, and opportunities to open more doors in 2026. Get used to feeling uncomfortable for a while and see what happens.

Unless you can afford a publicist, you have to be your own.