Creative Intelligence: Why Knowing Your Strengths Is the New Competitive Advantage in the Digital Economy
If there's one thing I’ve learned after years on stage, behind the scenes, and now in front of thousands of creative entrepreneurs and content creators-it’s this: You don’t need to do more. You need to know yourself better.
We are living in an age where visibility is currency. And in a world where content is endless, and algorithms are shifting sands, your truest advantage isn't more reels, more email funnels, or more hashtags.
It’s you.
Specifically—your strengths.
And yet, that’s exactly where so many creatives get stuck. I hear it all the time from clients, from audiences when I speak at events (like the recent social media conference in Houston where this idea really landed), and from creators inside the queer and creative communities I coach:
“I’m passionate, but I don’t know what I’m good at.”
“I’m multi-passionate—how do I pick one thing?”
“I feel like I’m blending in instead of standing out.”
Sound familiar?
These are not just questions of productivity or branding-they are questions of creative intelligence. And today, I want to show you how tapping into your unique strengths is more than just a feel-good exercise. It’s a strategic move. A game-changer. A competitive edge that no algorithm can replicate.
💡 What is Creative Intelligence?
Let’s get interdisciplinary for a second. Traditional intelligence measures what you know. Emotional intelligence gauges how well you understand and manage emotions. But creative intelligence?
That’s your ability to bring something original into the world by combining self-awareness with self-expression-and to do it in a way that’s aligned with how you’re naturally wired.
It’s not just about making art. It’s about understanding how your brain is uniquely designed to create, connect, and communicate value. And then, applying that intelligence to build visibility, influence, and income.
🔍 The Strengths Conundrum
Here’s the kicker: Most of us have no idea what our true strengths are.
We confuse skills with strengths. We confuse performance with potential. And in the age of the highlight reel, we compare our behind-the-scenes bloopers to someone else’s polished trailer.
At the Houston keynote I gave, I posed a simple question to the room:
“If I gave you five seconds to list your top three strengths—no hesitation—what would you say?”
Cue nervous laughter. Awkward silence. Eyes darting down to notebooks.
Why is this so hard?
Because the things we’re naturally great at often feel...too easy. We overlook them. We don’t value them. And most of the time, no one has given us the framework to name them.
📘 Tools to Discover Your Strengths (That Aren’t Just Fluff)
Let me share some tangible tools I recommend to clients and creatives I coach:
1. The CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) Assessment
This is my go-to starting point. Based in positive psychology, this test identifies your top natural talents. And I mean specific stuff-not vague fluff like “I’m a people person.” We’re talking about detailed archetypes like “Strategic,” “Empathy,” “Activator,” or “Input.”
What makes this powerful is not just identifying what you’re good at-it’s showing you how those strengths work together to shape your energy, focus, and flow.
When I took the test, it gave language to things I had only felt but never named. Suddenly, I had a map. A way to lead myself-and lead others.
2. Your Audience as a Mirror
Your followers already know something about you that you don’t. Trust me.
Ask them:
📲 “What do you come to my content for?”
💬 “What have I helped you with the most?”
❤️ “What do you think is my superpower?”
You will be amazed at what comes back. One client did this exercise on Instagram and discovered that her audience saw her as a mindset coach-something she hadn’t even positioned herself as. That feedback changed her content, her offer, and her income.
3. Keyword + Content Discovery Tools
Now, let’s bring in the tech.
Tools like AnswerThePublic, YouTube Search, or even Pinterest Trends are great for discovering what your audience wants-but they’re also powerful mirrors for what you’re good at talking about.
Type in some of your common content themes. See what people are already searching for. Are your strengths aligned with trending topics? Can you offer something unique to that conversation?
This is where the creative and strategic collide. This is creative intelligence in action.
🧬 Strengths = Strategy in the Digital Age
Here’s what most people don’t realize: Your strengths are not just personal-they’re professional.
They affect:
How you create content
What platforms suit your energy
How you lead and collaborate
What offers or services you should build
And how you scale without burnout
When you know your strengths, you stop copying. You stop chasing every trend. You start innovating within your own lane.
You build trust faster. You magnetize the right audience. And you create a business or brand that feels like an extension of who you are-not a costume you wear for clicks.
🌈 The Queer Creator Advantage
For LGBTQ+ creators especially, discovering your strengths is revolutionary.
Why? Because many of us were taught to hide them. To minimize. To “fit in” or shrink to stay safe.
When we reclaim those strengths-when we make them visible-it’s not just business. It’s liberation. It’s healing. And it gives permission to everyone watching.
Visibility becomes more than metrics. It becomes legacy.
🏳️🌈 Want Help Getting Clear on Your Strengths? Join the ShowUP Club.
If you’re ready to get out of your head, get clear on your creative strengths, and finally build a brand that feels like you, then I’d love to invite you to join The ShowUP Club-my membership community for LGBTQ+ creatives and allies who are ready to get visible on their own terms.
Inside the club, we go deeper with:
✅ Monthly trainings + guest experts
✅ Strengths-based visibility coaching
✅ A supportive community of queer creators
✅ Accountability to keep you showing up (even when you want to hide)
🔗 Click here to join The ShowUP Club and start building your visibility from a place of clarity, confidence, and connection.
🔁 This Is an Ongoing Evolution
Let me leave you with this: discovering your strengths is not a one-time event. It’s a practice.
You’ll grow. Your brand will evolve. And your strengths may reveal new layers over time. That’s the beauty of creativity-it’s alive.
So whether you’re just starting to build your personal brand, or you’re refining your next chapter as a creator or coach, ask yourself today:
“What if the thing I’ve been searching for has been inside me all along?”
Start there. Trust there. And watch what happens.
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✨ If this resonated with you, hit that 💌 subscribe button. Share this with a creative friend who needs a little clarity today. And let me know in the comments: What’s one strength you’re claiming this season?
With purpose and pride,
Bret