Courtney Johnson is a personal brand strategist, host of the Slay the Gatekeeper podcast, and digital creator with a community of thousands on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram. In this episode of the Life of Flow Podcast, she explains why great work alone isn’t enough, what it takes to overcome what she calls the “Cringe Mountain,” and how personal branding can change the trajectory of an entire career.
She shares why LinkedIn is the easiest platform to grow on today, how to turn knowledge into opportunity, and why authenticity is a privilege earned over time. Courtney also speaks about the emotional hurdles professionals face when they first start posting, why leverage makes social media the modern “excavator” for influence, and how she’s packaging her most tactical insights into her new project, Slay the Gatekeeper.
🎧 If you’ve ever wondered why your work isn’t getting noticed, how to push past the fear of posting online, or how social media can create opportunities you never expected, this episode is for you.
03:00 Why great work doesn’t speak for itself
05:06 The power of personal brands over company brands
08:10 Why LinkedIn is the easiest platform to grow on
12:20 Overcoming “Cringe Mountain” and the fear of posting
16:35 Social media as leverage: from shovel to excavator
19:15 Why professionals need a side hustle
21:52 Authenticity as a monetary privilege
28:34 How to start: one platform, one post a week, one year
31:26 Wins and opportunities from personal branding
47:31 Launching Slay the Gatekeeper
💡 Who Should Listen
Entrepreneurs, early-career professionals, physicians stepping into business or private practice, and anyone curious about using LinkedIn and social media to grow their visibility, credibility, and opportunities.
About Courtney Johnson
Courtney Johnson is a personal brand strategist, host of the Slay the Gatekeeper podcast, and digital creator with a community of thousands on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram. Through her content and mentoring, she helps professionals present themselves authentically, strategically, and without filler. Her courses, clips, and reflections have reached millions of people seeking purposeful visibility.
Connect with Courtney
📲 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson
🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson
💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson
Follow Life of Flow
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