Hey Reader,

It’s a new year, and the feeling of making moves and shaking things up is palpable. I know I’m feelin’ it.

But sometimes, it’s way more than just a New Year’s resolution or an urge to declutter. Sometimes, your whole life needs a reboot.

That feeling can hit for a lot of reasons—becoming a parent for the first time, realizing your career isn’t what you thought it would be, turning 50, or even a worldwide event like everything that happened in 2020.

For me? It was all of the above 😂

But my first big shift came when I became a new mom. I had been working in the career I’d dedicated my life to—performing as an orchestral musician—and suddenly, everything felt off. I was questioning my happiness, my future, and how I wanted my life to look now that I had a child.

I felt completely lost. What should I do? How could I start? What would it even look like? The questions were endless, and I had no answers. Luckily, Google existed, so I started researching. I had always been interested in alternative health, so I looked into becoming a health coach.

But as I watched videos about the course I was considering—a $5,000 investment—I couldn’t shake one big question:

Where are all of these paying clients supposed to come from?

The bubbly multi-millionaire on the screen was confidently explaining how I could get certified and start making $5,000 a month in no time. But something felt off. I knew there was a missing piece.

Later, as I worked on my career shift in a meaningful way—with the help of someone who knew the truth—I figured out what that missing piece was: an audience.

Without an audience, there’s no one to sell to. That’s why people run ads. That’s why people show up online and share their ideas. You have to be known first—liked, trusted, and visible—before you can expect anyone to pay you.

So when I started my pivot, I focused on solving that problem first: building an audience.

Taking the First (Terrifying) Step

To grow my audience, I had to do something scarier than dropping $5K on a course: I had to show up online and share my ideas. I decided to speak to people like me—musicians who wanted more out of life. (More on how I figured that out in an upcoming newsletter.)

So I started.

And it was terrifying.

At first, I felt like I was standing naked on a stage in front of everyone I’d ever known. My whole identity was wrapped up in being a horn player, and suddenly, I was stepping out of that box. My job had always been to show up, play well, and keep my opinions to myself. (Or vent privately over beers after a concert.)

But I had opinions. Big ones. Fiery ones. And I wanted to share them. I wanted to shed light on the toxicity in the music industry—like the yelling teacher who drove me to tears or the politics and nepotism that held people back.

The idea of sharing those thoughts publicly was terrifying. What if people hated me? What if I burned bridges? But I knew that playing it safe wasn’t going to get me the change I wanted. So I pressed “post.”

Fast-forward a few years, and I was teaching others how to do what I did: show up online, get visible, and grow an engaged audience. Over time, I learned that the fear of being seen is the #1 thing that holds people back. But here’s the truth:

Those fears? They’re almost always unfounded.

Not only is it not as scary as it seems, but it’s also amazing—even fun. And the benefits far outweigh the risks. For me, building an audience not only changed how I saw myself, but it also helped me start a business and make an income that allowed my family to move to Mexico in 2020.

The 4 Fears That Keep People From Starting—and How to Move Past Them

Here are the top fears I’ve seen over the years—and how to overcome them:

Fear #1: Being controversial or upsetting people

When I shared a post about my verbally abusive college teacher, I was terrified. He was famous in the industry, and I thought sharing my experience might destroy my reputation.

Instead, the post went viral. People flooded the comments and my DMs with their own stories, thanking me for speaking up.

The takeaway? Most of the people you’re worried about upsetting aren’t paying attention. And the ones who resonate with your story will be grateful you spoke up.

Fear #2: “But they know me as X”

This fear is common if you’re pivoting from one identity to another. The best way to address it? Write what I call a “Coming Out” post.

Here’s the formula: Acknowledge how people know you, explain your realization or pivot, and share your plan for what’s next. This not only clears the air but also frees you up to move forward.

You'll be surprised at how drawing this one virtual line in the sand allows you to move forward with sharing your new ideas in a new way. Every single time I did it, or guided someone else to do it, I've felt it, and they have, too.

(If this is something you think you need to do to start but you would like help, hit reply - I'd love to share some examples with you to help you get started!)

Fear #3: “I don’t like social media”

Who *really* does?

But here’s the reframe: Social media isn’t about doomscrolling; it can be about connection, inspiration, and opportunity. Think of it as a way to share your ideas, find your people, and grow something meaningful. It’s a tool—and when you use it as a creator rather than a consumer, the entire experience transforms.

Instead of getting lost in the noise, you start focusing on building relationships, learning from others, and creating impact through your own voice.

Fear #4: “I don’t know what to post”

This is just a skill you build over time. Start small. Share a story, an idea, or a realization. Don’t overthink it; focus on what feels authentic to you. Curate content by reposting things you resonate with and adding your perspective. You can even share something you disagree with and explain why—it sparks conversation and shows your unique take.

But if coming up with ideas still feels overwhelming, I discovered that interviews are the ultimate solution. Conversations create content in real time, collaboratively. Your guest brings fresh ideas and perspectives to the table, which naturally generates engaging and authentic material. Plus, the back-and-forth nature of an interview ensures you’ll never face a blank page. It's really fun, and cool at the same time.

When I hosted my podcast, a whole world opened up in terms of audience building. I had these great conversations, and I simultaneously built a network of incredible people. The conversation ends up being a collaborative project. When the episode launches, your guest is your partner in promoting it. Another reason why conversational podcasts are so great, as audience building can sometimes feel a little lonely.

Want to see how to use conversational podcasting to solve the “what do I post?” problem? Click here to get my 5-day email series on creating content with conversations. (Don't worry, you won't get double the emails.)

The Power of Starting Small

You don’t need to “be an influencer” or have a huge following. A small, engaged audience is incredibly powerful. Consistency breeds growth, and starting now—even imperfectly—is the best way to get there.

So pick one platform. Post something. See what happens. It really is the start of making something happen.

I'd love to know, what are you up to this year? Any big projects that being visible would help?

Hit reply and tell me!

Tracy

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