Prove them wrong by making it work

Was on a call yesterday with this guy who I really rate – super smart, runs a successful business, great guy.

And he tells me he's been thinking about starting to post on LinkedIn for ages, but hasn't pulled the trigger.

So I ask him why not.

"It's just a bit cringe, isn't it? Putting yourself out there when you don't have a following yet."

And that’s been bouncing around my head since, because I hear it over and over and over again.

"It's cringe to create content that no one follows."

"It's cringe to put yourself out there when no one's watching."

"It's cringe to talk about what you're building when you're just starting."

And you know what I realised?

This mindset is always – and I mean ALWAYS – coming from people who aren't actually doing the thing.

It's cringe to create or build a personal brand... said by someone who doesn't create or build.

It's cringe to paint when no one buys your art... said by someone who doesn't paint.

It's cringe to write when no one reads it... said by someone who doesn't write.

It's cringe to sing when no one's listening... said by someone who doesn't sing.

The pattern is painfully obvious, isn't it?

The people most worried about looking cringe are the ones watching from the sidelines.

Meanwhile, the people actually winning – building massive audiences, creating successful businesses, making real impact – they all started with zero followers.

Every. Single. One.

Everyone starts at zero. Everyone.

The way I see it, you have two options:

Option 1:

  • Take advice from someone not doing the thing, stay comfortable, and guarantee you never grow.

Option 2:

  • Remember that it's only cringe until it works. Then it's genius.

Go with option 2.

If you wait until it feels comfortable to start, you'll be waiting forever.

That LinkedIn content, YouTube channel, newsletter, podcast, artwork, music, business – whatever you've been hesitating to launch – no one's going to hand you a permission slip saying "Congrats! You've now earned the right to not feel awkward about this!"

You just have to start.

Feel the cringe.

Push through it.

And then prove them wrong by making it work.

That's literally how every creator empire gets built – one awkward post at a time until suddenly it's not awkward anymore.

So what's that thing you've been putting off because you're worried about looking cringe?

Maybe it's time to just do it :)

oh and if you want the guy who helped build Europe's biggest creator collective (that’s me btw) to advise on YOUR project?

Our yearly Think Like A Creator membership costs less than a single consultation and gives you direct access to me for a full year.

🔍 Creator Spotlight

Have to take this segment to give a massive shoutout to one of our community members, Conor.

He put an Instagram post up today all about his experience in our Think Like A Creator community, and it genuinely made my week.

Conor runs Spark UK, a youth-led mental health non-profit, and joined the community six months ago.

What I love is that he instantly understood what we're trying to build here.

He wasn't put off by the fact that he's not a "traditional creator" - he saw immediately how the creator mindset could transform his non-profit work.

In his words:

"From campaign design to community-building, the creator mindset is now baked into everything I do — and Spark UK is growing because of it."

This is exactly the type of person who thrives in our community.

Someone who takes the principles, applies them to their unique situation, and actually puts in the work consistently.

Conor, I just want to say thank you for sharing your journey.

You're absolutely on the right track, and you're definitely one to watch in the non-profit space.

When he says "Charity and business aren't opposites. Purpose and performance can go hand in hand" - he gets it on a level that many people in both sectors still don't understand.

Keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible, mate.

This is just the beginning.

Remember, the creator mindset is all you need to grow 🌱

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