Episode 6: What You're Modeling for Your Audience (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)
Transcript
Robyn Savage (00:00)
Hello friends, welcome back to 17 Minutes. I'm Robyn, your host, and let's just dive right into this convo.
So my kids started asking to listen to my affirmations at nighttime—right before bed. These “I am” statements with that soft music in the background. It’s really sweet, and they just started requesting them before bedtime. And it made me realize something really important about how you are showing up in your business—and how I’m showing up in mine.
I’ve been doing a lot of foundational work on myself lately—part of my own Life Rehab process—and one of the practices I started was playing affirmations in the morning and again before bed. I’d just put them on in the background—not just listening, but really letting them sink in. I’d repeat the words: I am capable. I trust myself. I am worthy of rest.
My daughters started hearing them—while I was getting ready in the bathroom or making lunches in the kitchen. And over the last couple of weeks, they’ve started asking for them: “Mom, can we play the affirmations?” They’ll listen, they’ll play, and it’s the sweetest thing.
And it made me realize—my daughters are absorbing absolutely everything I do. They’re not just hearing the words. They’re absorbing the energy. They’re watching how it changes how I feel, and they’re noticing how they feel when they listen to these words. They see that I’m dedicating myself to growth, learning, and self-investment. They’re seeing my confidence rebuild after grief.
And here’s what hit me: our audiences do the exact same thing.
Robyn Savage (02:15)
Humans are wired to learn through observation and mirroring. It’s called social learning theory. We don’t just learn from instruction—we learn by watching people we look up to and unconsciously mimicking their behavior.
Kids learn to walk, talk, and navigate the world not because you gave them a manual, but because they watched you.
And your clients and your audience? They’re doing the same thing.
When someone follows you, invests in your work, or shows up to learn from you—they’re not just consuming your content. They’re studying you. They’re watching how you handle stress, how you set boundaries (or don’t), how you talk to yourself, how you live your life, and how you show up authentically—especially when things get hard.
This is called modeling behavior, and it’s one of the most powerful forms of learning because it bypasses the conscious mind and goes straight to the subconscious.
So your audience isn’t just asking, “Does this strategy work?”
They’re asking, “Does this person actually embody what they’re teaching?”
Robyn Savage (04:37)
Here’s where this gets really important as an entrepreneur.
You can have the best strategies in the world—the most brilliant frameworks, the most helpful systems—but if your foundations are shaky, if you’re burnt out, if you’re performing instead of being who you say you are… they can feel that.
And when they feel that? They won’t trust your strategy, because they don’t trust that you actually live it.
For example:
You’re selling a program about sustainable business growth—but you’re posting about how tired you are and haven’t taken a day off in months. Your audience sees that. So their subconscious imprint is, “She says she’s teaching sustainability, but she’s burning out.”
Or maybe you’re coaching on self-worth and pricing—but you’re undercharging and overdelivering. Your clients feel that, too. And they’ll stay stuck in the same energy you’re modeling.
That’s why your foundations matter so much. Not just for you—but for the people you serve.
Robyn Savage (06:52)
Who you are behind the scenes—the actions you take when no one’s watching—will always show up in your business.
If there’s a gap between what you’re teaching and how you’re living, your audience will feel it. Maybe not consciously, but energetically.
They’re asking:
Is this person living what they’re teaching?
They’re looking for proof in your energy, your boundaries, your self-talk, your consistency, your capacity. And they’ll mirror your patterns—not your advice.
Just like our kids.
They’ll do as we do, not what we say.
Robyn Savage (09:12)
So here’s your reflection this week:
What are you modeling for your audience right now?
Not what you’re teaching. Not what you’re posting.
What are you showing them—through how you live, how you work, and how you show up?
Are you modeling what you’re selling? Because that’s what they’re learning.
This is why I’m so obsessed with foundational work—and why I created Life Rehab.
You can’t lead people somewhere you haven’t gone yourself.
You can’t sell sustainable business if you’re running on fumes.
You can’t teach self-worth if you don’t believe in your own.
You can’t guide boundaries or leadership if you’re not leading yourself.
This isn’t about being a fraud—it’s about alignment. People feel when you’re not embodying what you teach.
Robyn Savage (11:35)
So, if you’re realizing your foundations feel a little shaky—if you’re burnt out, boundaryless, chaotic, performing instead of being—start with the 14-Day Reset inside Life Rehab.
It will help you:
- Reconnect with yourself
- Set boundaries
- Honor your capacity
- Strengthen your money mindset and self-worth
- Manage your energy
- Have hard conversations
- Lead yourself again
Because everything you are in the world is what your audience will reflect back to you.
If you want your audience to invest in you—invest in yourself.
If you want them to live sustainably—live sustainably.
If you want them to charge their worth—charge yours.
Your audience is watching—not to judge, but to learn. So do your foundational work. Be the person you want the world to mirror back to you.
I love you. I’ll see you next week on 17 Minutes.
If you loved this episode, share it—let’s inspire each other to do better and be better.
Ciao.
