Being : Authentic

Being : Authentic

When I first started out in radio, one of my early tasks was to grow my audience by being more active on social media. Sounds simple, right? But here’s the truth: at the time, I barely posted anything. I was more of a quiet observer than an active participant. Hitting the "post" button felt like a big leap.

So, I decided to work with a woman known for being an expert at growing your social media presence. She had a reputation for helping people build their brands online, so I was excited to get some guidance. During our very first meeting, she honed in on one thing immediately—my handle: Being Shea Love.

She questioned it.
“What does it mean?” she asked.
“Is it clear? Is it marketable?”

She even suggested a few alternatives, but honestly? None of them felt like me.

I told her I wanted to sit with it.

I spent a week thinking—really thinking—about what Being Shea Love meant. I considered changing it, but the more I reflected, the more I realized I couldn’t fit my identity into a narrow definition. I do a lot of different things—radio is just one part of my story.

So I made a list. I wrote down everything that came to mind when I thought about who I am and what I love:

• Playing golf

• Reading books

• Being a mother

• Listening to music

• Traveling

• Exploring art

• Recording voice overs

• Dancing

• Hosting events

• Leading worship

• Exercising

• Being a lover

• Enjoying nature

• Running organizations

• Creating marketing campaigns

• Being a radio personality

All of these things are me. This is what Being Shea Love means.

And that’s when it clicked: I didn’t need to adapt my identity to fit what others might find easier to understand. My page—my presence—should reflect the full version of me, not a filtered one.

Instead of trying to force clarity by someone else’s definition, I chose authenticity. I followed my intuition. I embraced my complexity.

And the results? My audience grew from 1,000 to 30,000 followers in six months.

Not because I played the algorithm game perfectly, but because people connected with what was real.