Portfolio Direction

The portfolio - that's an intimidating word.  Being new to design, I'm mostly concentrating on what I can include in this and I really haven't thought too much yet about the direction.    Every time I sit down to formulate ideas, I come up short.  I've spent my whole life in corporate america where everything is streamlined and consistent and creativity isn't exactly encouraged.  Any business cards, presentation and correspondence always has to be done on company standard templates, logos etc.  Therefore, trying to think of how I want to express myself is a challenge.  I'm sure, however, it will be clean and simple which best represents me.