INFLUENCE
MANY people dream of the luxury lifestyle of an
“When we receive positive feedback in the form
Empowerment Through
influencer, but not all as shiny as it may seem.
of likes or follows, our brain releases dopamine,
coaching Other Freelancers
Marjet Van Wijk, known by many as Jet, the CEO
a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and
and Founder of Laptop Lifestyle Master Program,
reward. This addiction to validation can lead
Today, Jet empowers others through her
successfully became a travel influencer and
to emotional highs and lows, impacting mental
coaching program, the Laptop Lifestyle Master
began traveling the world, living the life she had
health,” Jet explains. “The opposite is also true.
Program. She helps individuals achieve location
dreamed of for herself. But the more time she
Sometimes you post something, and it doesn’t
and time freedom by imparting valuable
spent in the influencer space Jet realized that
get likes, and it makes you feel less worthy of
freelancing skills. While her program is
there is a deeply dark side to the industry and
yourself as if somehow, you are not good enough.”
open to all, she has predominantly attracted women who resonate with her message
how much damage it can have on a person. The quest for validation on social media As we journey through her experiences,
can contribute to increased rates of
we uncover the story of a woman who has
depression and even suicide. The Pitfalls of the Comparison Game
calls to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Jet emphasizes the importance
empowerment, authenticity, and self-discovery. Empowering Dreams Through Travel Influencing
Her coaching program combines self-paced courses with group workshops and coaching
transitioned from the glitzy world of travel influencing into a passionate advocate for
of empowerment and self-discovery.
Jet also realized the detrimental effects of the
of coaching, helping her clients navigate the
comparison game, which plagues social media
challenges of freelancing and entrepreneurship.
platforms, “People often compare themselves to A Message of Empowerment and Authenticity
Jet dreamt of a life that allowed her to explore
edited and filtered images, leading to unrealistic
the world, work with tourism boards, hotels,
beauty standards. Young individuals, in
and airlines, and share her adventures with
particular, struggle to differentiate between
As we wrap up our conversation, Jet leaves
her audience. However, as her career in the
reality and the carefully curated content they
us with a powerful message. She cautions
space developed, she discovered the challenges
see online, leading to feelings of inadequacy.
against chasing after the influencer dream and
and complexities of the influencer world.
This constant comparison can be detrimental to
sacrificing mental health and authenticity for
mental health, making individuals feel like they
likes and followers. She encourages everyone
“When I started to realize that I had stopped
need to change themselves to fit an unrealistic
to explore alternative paths to achieving
posting what I liked and started posting what
mold. It can also drive a culture of materialism,
a lifestyle of freedom and fulfillment.
got the most likes instead of what I enjoyed, that
where people constantly crave what others have.” “There are so many other ways to gain time
was a real turning point for me,” Jet reflects. This is a common struggle among influencers
The Transition from Influencer
who often find themselves altering their content
to Digital Marketer
and location freedom,” she declares. Jet also highlights the dangers associated
to cater to their audience’s preferences. Jet’s journey took a significant turn when she
with platforms like OnlyFans, shedding light
The influencer lifestyle, often perceived as
decided to leave the influencer world behind.
on how they can inadvertently contribute to
glamorous, can have a darker side. Jet discovered
The pivotal moment came when she realized
harm and unrealistic ideals. She questions
that in the pursuit of likes and attention on
she was no longer being true to herself and
whether this is truly a form of feminism or
social media one can end up totally disconnected
was posting content solely for validation. She
if it perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
from the authentic self. It can cause individuals
transitioned into offering marketing services
to create a fake life, prioritizing validation
to businesses, leveraging the digital skills she
Jet’s journey is a testament to the power of self-
from others over personal happiness.
had acquired during her influencer years.
discovery and empowerment. Her transition from influencer to digital marketer and laptop
The Neuroscience Behind Social Media Validation
Jet’s journey into the world of digital marketing
lifestyle coach serves as an inspiring example
was not without its challenges. She had to
of finding authenticity and purpose beyond
Being an advocate for understanding the why
overcome the ego associated with her influencer
the confines of social media validation.
behind behavior, Jet dove deep into research. She
persona and rebrand herself as a marketing
realized the damaging and addictive effect that
freelancer. The transition was marked by
IG: @jetvanwijkx
social media was having on her, she dove deep
growth and personal development.
https://jetvanwijk.com/
into exploring the neuroscience behind social media validation and why likes and followers can become so addictive.
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