We recently had the chance to connect with Rachel Tyler and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Rachel, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Great question. It’s funny how our callings often live right next to our fears. In this season of running my business, I’ve felt called to step more into public speaking opportunities, something I used to avoid. And that’s exactly why I lean into it now.
My word for this past year was “bold.” For me, that meant saying yes to opportunities I might normally shy away from.
You may have heard the saying, “Act your way into a feeling.” I couldn’t agree more. You don’t always feel ready… whether it’s getting up early, eating healthy, or taking on something that scares you. But when you take action first, your mind often catches up. Confidence and enjoyment usually follow.
Ironically, in college I dreaded the “Intro to Public Speaking” class, avoiding it at all costs for years. But during my senior year, I finally felt prompted to take it. Many years later, as I look back, I’m grateful I took the class because it was the first step in overcoming that fear.
Now, when I speak, I focus less on what people might think of me and more on the impact the message could have. That simple shift changes everything. When you center your attention on helping others, the nerves start to fade, and a feeling of greater purpose takes over.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Yes, of course! I’m Rachel Tyler, Brand Strategist and Founder of Rachel Tyler Consulting, where I help businesses take their brand from unclear to unstoppable.
What started as a side hustle (while I worked in the agency world) has grown into a business I genuinely love showing up for every day. I partner with small to mid-sized organizations, offering brand strategy, messaging, consulting, and training. I also collaborate with creative talent to refresh client’s visual identities, including logos, fonts, colors, collateral, and overall look and feel.
My clients often come from industries such as non-profit, healthcare, technology, coaching, and executive personal brands. What I enjoy most is working with purpose-driven organizations that give back; the impact of this work is incredibly rewarding.
In my own brand, my logo (a diamond) represents the approach I take with clients and my belief that clarity is power. Building a strong brand often mirrors the journey of a diamond: its brilliance exists from the start, but it must be unearthed, shaped, and polished to reveal its full potential.
Through careful refinement, a brand, like a diamond, emerges with depth and lasting value. Inspired by this parallel, I developed my “5-Step Process of Refinement,” a creative framework to guide businesses in building brands that stand the test of time.
While the marketing industry often feels full of shortcuts and gimmicks, I stand by quality, thoughtful work, because my clients deserve outcomes that last.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
This is such a good question, because our early passions and interests often shape who we become. As we grow into adulthood and take on more responsibilities, it’s easy to lose some of the energetic “spark” we had when younger.
As a child and teenager, I loved to create and imagine. I spent hours playing dress-up in imaginary worlds—my sister and I even created four seasons of our own TV show, where we acted as different characters who were guests on our show. In high school, I wrote a 200-page novel just for fun. Those years were filled with the freedom to invent, build, and explore worlds that didn’t exist.
Of course, in the teen and young adult years, we begin to feel the pressure to take on more responsibility, which lends itself to less free time to imagine. But I’ve tried to hold onto that “creator” part of my soul into adulthood.
What I love now is integrating creativity into my work. I get to imagine, cast vision, and collaborate with purpose-driven businesses. While building brands is incredibly strategic and data-driven, it also leans heavily on creativity, which I enjoy.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
That’s a deep question, but a good one. It’s the kind that invites reflection on the lessons hidden within life’s most challenging moments. It’s ironic that, as humans, we do everything possible to avoid suffering, yet these very seasons are often essential for refining our lives.
Character is rarely forged in a life of smooth sailing. There’s something unique about the growth that comes through hardship. Success can be exhilarating, but it often feels fleeting. Hardship, on the other hand, seems to leave a lasting impact that can shape us in profound ways… if we allow it.
For me, one of the hardest seasons was watching a loved one suffer from chronic illness. As someone who is “type A” and loves to plan meticulously, it was incredibly difficult to encounter something I couldn’t fix. I wrestled daily with thoughts like, “It’s not supposed to be this way” and “It’s unfair that others aren’t walking through this.”
Over time, I realized that holding onto anger or bitterness would take me nowhere. This season taught me to rely on the Lord rather than my own strength. It softened my heart toward those walking through unexplained illness or pain and gave me a deeper empathy for people in general, especially those who are struggling.
This season also changed how I view time, and prompted me to dive into the work I love through my business. Life is short, and the way we spend it matters. Will we follow the comfortable status quo, or step into what we’re truly called to do?
We all encounter suffering at some point. The question is how we choose to frame it: as a fire that burns everything down, or as a refining blaze that purifies and shapes us into who we were always meant to be.
Something to reflect on.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
At the core, I believe in the value of quality—doing things thoughtfully, and with intention. Whether in life, relationships, or work. Shortcuts rarely lead to lasting results. That same principle applies in business, which brings me to your question about what smart people are getting wrong: many executives assume their business will thrive while investing minimally in branding and marketing, and to me, that simply doesn’t add up.
In other industries, the connection between investment and quality seems to be more clear. Take real estate, for example: if you want a spacious, high-quality home in a safe Dallas neighborhood, everyone knows it will come with a significant price tag. You rarely see a disconnect there. Investment = quality.
However, in marketing and branding, especially for smaller businesses, that connection isn’t always obvious. Educating clients on how strategic brand and marketing investments impact long-term business results is often part of the job.
How much a business should invest in marketing and branding depends on its growth stage. Think of it like a plane taking off: extra fuel up front (marketing investment) is often necessary to help it soar.
Much of this misunderstanding comes from what I call “literary theft”—a misinterpretation of words like marketing and branding.
People often think marketing is just social media or a website. Sure, those are components, but a truly effective omnichannel marketing strategy goes far beyond that. Likewise, many believe branding is just a logo. Yes, your logo is part of your brand, the visual identity, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
What lies beneath the surface, your brand strategy (purpose, values, positioning, etc.) grounds everything. This is what informs all marketing efforts and visual elements, creating consistency and impact.
In short, if you want a brand that truly drives long-term results, you can’t shortcut strategy and jump straight to execution.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
Personally, I feel most at peace hiking in nature, with my family, and near the water. I swam competitively for many years, and there’s something incredibly grounding about being near water. It brings a sense of familiarity and centeredness. Being outdoors with the people I love also adds a steadiness that, when combined, becomes my happy place.
Professionally, I thrive when collaborating with others, thinking strategically, and creating. Branding is a beautiful process; it’s similar to weaving a tapestry. Although you may not see the result right away, each component matters: qualitative customer interviews, company research, competitor analysis, industry insights, and, most importantly, the story a business wants to tell.
At first, the process can feel chaotic, trying to make sense of all the individual “threads,” but over time they come together to form a cohesive, vibrant picture. When that happens, the brand strategy carries a quiet, satisfying sense of harmony that reflects the work invested.
I don’t know many people who would say they feel “peace” while working, but I do believe that when you’re aligned with your calling and gifts, it’s possible to experience that level of satisfaction in your work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.racheltylerconsulting.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-tyler/
Image Credits
Brittany Hansen
