It Took Me a Long Time to Put Myself Out There—Here’s What I Finally Realized

It took me a long time to put myself out there again. Longer than I want to admit.

I kept circling around it, telling myself I’d start when I had everything perfectly figured out—when the website felt just right, when my offer was clear, when I felt ready. But “ready” is one of those things that never really arrives. It’s an illusion. A moving target that convinces you to wait a little longer, tweak a little more, hold back just in case.

And in all that waiting, I realized something: I wasn’t just robbing myself of opportunities. I was robbing the people who actually needed what I had to offer. The ones who were searching for something I could give but couldn’t find me because I was too busy second-guessing myself.

If you’re struggling with putting yourself out there, I want you to really see the people waiting for you. Not in a vague, theoretical way—but as real, living, breathing humans who are trying to solve a problem, understand something better, or just feel less alone in whatever they’re going through. Imagine the exact person who would be relieved to find you today. Someone whose whole day, week, or maybe even life could change because you had the courage to show up.

That’s who you’re doing this for.

I know what’s stopping you. The confidence block. The exhaustion block. The “what if I’m not good enough?” block. The “I’m not ready” block. I’ve faced them all. And I’ll tell you something that might set you free: every single person you look up to has faced them too.

The difference between the ones who make it and the ones who don’t? They showed up anyway.

Not perfectly. Not with all the answers. Not without fear.

They just started.

And that’s what I want for you. To recognize that the thing you keep putting off isn’t about being fully prepared or having the best strategy—it’s about making the choice to stop hiding. Because at the end of the day, your people can’t find you if you’re not there to be found.

So if you needed permission, here it is: Go. Start now. Speak. Share. Create. Connect. Trust that you’ll figure things out as you go. You don’t need to be fearless—you just need to be present.

Because what you have to offer? It matters.

And there’s someone out there waiting for exactly what you have to give.

With you,

Heather

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