Being Mysterious Is the Real Flex Now
You ever scroll through Instagram and feel like you know way too much about people you’ve never met? You know their face, their morning routine, their childhood trauma, and what oat milk they swear by. And yet somehow, you still don’t know who they really are.
That’s the thing. We’re drowning in content but starving for mystery.
There was a time when being everywhere online was a badge of relevance. Overshare culture had us posting every meal, every angle, every second of our existence like it was currency. But now? That same openness feels tired. Boring. Performative. Everyone’s talking—but who’s actually saying something?
We’re calling it: being mysterious is the real flex.
july 18th . Written by Ryan Packer | Editor in Chief of PlannMagazineSilence Hits Harder
We live in a world where everyone’s trying to go viral, trying to be seen, trying to be known. But the people making real moves? You barely hear a word from them. They’re not fighting for the algorithm—they’re building legacies behind closed doors.
There’s a quiet confidence in not explaining yourself. In being present without being visible. It’s not about hiding—it’s about choosing what gets revealed and what stays sacred.
“Mystery isn’t about being hard to find. It’s about being worth the search.”
Proof? You’re Reading It
Plann Magazine is proof. Hundreds of people read us. Creatives from around the world send submissions. We get press passes to Fashion Weeks. And yet—if you’re reading this—you probably have no idea who runs it. That’s not a branding issue. That’s the brand.
Because real influence doesn’t need a face.
And yes—one day, you’ll see mine. I do plan on showing up, fully and unapologetically. But when I do, it’ll be on myterms. The timing has to be right. The moment has to be earned. Until then, I’m letting the work speak louder than the name behind it.
The Age of Anti-Exposure
We’re entering the anti-exposure era. Where people are archiving their feeds. Where the best creators post twice a month and still stay relevant. Where exclusivity is currency. The loudest voice isn’t leading anymore—the one you can’t quite figure out is.
“We’ve seen it all. We’re tired. We want to feel something again.”
Mystery builds tension. Silence makes space for imagination. When people don’t know what you’re doing, they assume it’s something major. And maybe it is.
The Final Flex
You don’t need a selfie to be seen. You don’t need to explain your silence. You don’t need to make yourself small enough to be digestible.
Sometimes, the most powerful move is staying in the shadows until the spotlight is yours.
Let them guess. Let them wonder. Let them try to figure you out while you build something worth being mysterious about.