My first attempt at content creation was back in 2019.

I had just taken up videography and suddenly became obsessed. My favourite YouTubers at the time were seasoned videographers, and I spent countless hours on YouTube channels that taught the craft. I was hooked on my newfound passion and itched to apply my enthusiasm to creating my own content.

After months of binge-watching tutorial videos on the subject, I felt ready to create.

I ventured out with a borrowed camera on a bright summer afternoon, feeling excited. Fast forward a few hours; I was caught off guard by an unexpected rainfall, and I spent the rest of the evening trying to protect the borrowed equipment from getting wet. Not exactly the debut I had hoped for. The resulting edit still sits on my channel with just over 100 views. In retrospect, the outcome of that fateful venture pales greatly in quality compared to the standard of the pros, but I understood that to become a pro, you first have to be an amateur.

When I began writing online about a year later, I approached it with a similar mindset. My goal was to deliver my best work within the constraints of my skill level while aspiring to improve my craft. I sometimes revisit some of my old writings and cringe at how poorly written they are.

You Know Enough to Get Started

One common reason people are reluctant to put themselves out there is that they feel unqualified.

We can all relate to this feeling, can’t we? It’s known as “Imposter Syndrome,” and it affects many people. Research reveals that around 70% of us have experienced this at one point or the other. We shrink from putting ourselves out there or sharing our knowledge and experiences with others because we feel we aren’t qualified enough.

This issue is further amplified by the increasing abundance of experts in every field. You look around and conclude that you aren’t good enough to have a voice, and even if you were, the space is too saturated. And then you bury your voice.

We fail to realize that we are unique, as are our experiences. Our approaches and perspectives on any topic are peculiar and may appeal to a specific audience.

Regardless of where you are in your journey, someone out there needs your value. Don’t undermine the light you carry. It might not be as radiant as the sun, but it is bright enough to illuminate someone’s path. And that, too, is enough.

You Have to Be Bad Before You’re Good

Nobody is born a professional at anything.

It’s perfectly fine to be a beginner. Every expert started as a novice in their field and gradually worked their way to a professional level. Start from where you are and focus on doing something each day to make progress; your efforts will eventually accumulate over time. The sooner you commit to the learning curve, the sooner you will grow and achieve mastery.

So, get started on that big goal you’ve been putting off, and get comfortable being a beginner at it.