Performance vs. Presence: Why I Walked Away from Facebook (and Found Real Growth Elsewhere)

How I Stopped Performing Online and Started Leading with Connection Instead

The Message That Finally Hit Me:

I was monetizing Facebook like a pro.

The likes, the comments, the DMs, the dollars,

they were all flowing in.

But I felt hollow.

And one day, I realized why:

👉 I wasn’t connecting—I was performing.
👉 I wasn’t leading—I was following an algorithm.
👉 I wasn’t fulfilled—I was drained.

So I asked myself the question I want to ask you today:

Where in your business are you performing instead of being present?

Because here’s what I’ve learned the hard way…

Truth Bomb: Performance Builds Attention. Presence Builds Equity.

The online world will cheer you on as long as you keep posting.
Keep dancing. Keep shouting. Keep selling.

But that energy? It’s not free. And it’s not sustainable.

Visibility without alignment is just burnout in a better outfit.

And I wore that outfit for far too long.

On Facebook, I mastered the monetization game. But I lost something more valuable, my joy, my authenticity, and the connection that fuels my business.

Then I stepped into platforms like Alignable, where I wasn’t performing; I was being. I was seen. I was felt. I was trusted.

That’s the difference between short-term cash flow and long-term credibility.

Let’s Redefine Visibility. Here’s How You Grow with Presence:

1. Root your message in identity, not trends.
Trends come and go. But your values? They’re your compass.
When your content reflects truth, people stop scrolling and start listening.
✨ For me, that’s trust, relationships, connection, and impact.

2. Prioritize resonance over repetition.
You don’t need to post daily. You need to post with clarity.
Think less “look at me” and more “here’s something real.”
The right message lands once and lingers forever.

3. Go where you’re energized, not just where you're expected.
I left Facebook because it no longer aligned with who I was becoming.
I went where I felt alive: Alignable, YouTube, LinkedIn & Substack.
Presence creates sustainability. And intimacy scales differently.

4. Let consistency reflect your capacity.
Consistency doesn’t mean robotic daily posts.
It means showing up in a way your audience can count on, and you can honor.
My community knows when and where to find me. That’s trust.

The Shift That Changed Everything:

I stopped chasing reactions and started building relationships.
I stopped treating every story like a sales hook.
I stopped being a character in my business, and started being the Connector I was born to be.

Now?

🟡 I sleep better.
🟡 I connect deeper.
🟡 I make more impact (and yes, more income) with less output.

That’s the power of showing up as you.

Ready for the Next Step?

If you’re tired of chasing attention and ready to build authority with alignment:

✅ Join the Power Connectors Circle, my trusted referral network for CEOs and consultants who lead with connection.
(We just launched. Free + paid tiers available. 100-member milestone is coming fast.)
→ Join here

Final Thought:

Ask yourself today:
Where am I performing? And where can I return to presence?

Because when your visibility feels like you, growth doesn’t burn you out; it builds you up.

Until next time—
Make smart connections. Create big growth. And lead without burnout.

— Tonya Gossage
Founder, Gossage Consulting | The Power Connectors
Simplify. Scale. Succeed.