Ever feel brilliant at what you do — but invisible off stage?
That was me when I started.

I didn’t have bureau backing.
I didn’t have corporate L&D contracts.
I didn’t even have a stage.

So I built one.

And let’s be honest: I had no clue what I was doing.
I sprayed content everywhere: random tips on LinkedIn, memes on Instagram, posters on Facebook.
I launched a workshop — one person signed up.
I avoided free gigs, not because I was smart about strategy, but because I thought everything should be paid.

Messy? Absolutely.

But here’s the thing: those messy moves — some flops, some breakthroughs — became the foundation of my business today.

And the same principles apply whether you’re building a business… or building visibility inside your company.

🚫 What Failed (Then)

• Trying to Be Everywhere → no traction, total exhaustion.
  (Corporate parallel: trying to please every stakeholder instead of focusing on the right ones.)

• My First Workshop (1 sign-up) → no trust, no audience yet.
  (Corporate: pitching ideas before you’ve built credibility.)

• Avoiding Free Gigs → slowed my reach.
  (Corporate: refusing to show up unless it “counts” on paper.)

• Waiting Until Polished → Seed to Stage launched too broad, too late.
  (Corporate: over-prepping slides, under-connecting.)

• Making Coaching My Core Offer → draining, not my zone of genius.
  (Corporate: taking projects that don’t play to your strengths.)

✅ What Worked (Then)

• Focusing on LinkedIn → the right people started finding me.
  (Corporate: choose the right rooms, not every room.)

• Building My Own Stage (WYSS) → $20–$50 tickets = real commitment.
  (Corporate: own the room you’re in — lead meetings, don’t wait to be chosen.)

• Paid Builds Commitment → people value what they invest in.
  (Corporate: colleagues value what you set boundaries around.)

• Iterating in Public → launched messy, refined every round.
  (Corporate: speak before you’re “perfect.” Influence comes from showing up, not polishing forever.)

• Finding Energy in Groups → workshops lit me up.
  (Corporate: know where you shine — team player vs solo operator.)

• Partnerships → collabs like the Superpower Summit accelerated growth.
  (Corporate: build allies — promotions rarely happen in isolation.)

🎯 The Lesson

Don’t copy what I do now.
Copy what I did then.

Start messy.
Start small.
Build your stage.
Focus where your people are.

Your ladder — business or career — evolves only once you start climbing it.

Because whether it’s a $20 ticket, a $20,000 keynote, or a boardroom presentation, people buy the story first.

📌 Try This

Think of one “messy first step” in your own journey that shaped who you are.
Share it this week — on LinkedIn, in a client pitch, or in your next team meeting.

And if you want places to practise with real support, here’s what’s coming up:

• 🔥 Grace Under Fire Workshop — Oct 25
  Practice presence and influence under pressure. Limited spots.
  👉 Save My Spot

• 🎤 Find Your Superpower Summit — Oct 31
  I’ll be running a brand-new improv session. Use code WYSH50 at checkout for 50% off.
  ⚡ Early bird ends tonight.
  👉 Claim 50% Off 

• 🌱 Seed to Stage Intensive — Nov 7–8
  Two days to take your messy draft to a performance-ready story. Early bird tickets available now.
  👉 Join the Intensive

• 🎭 What’s Your Story Slam — Nov 18
  Our next show: Life’s Messy Middle. Come tell a story — or just enjoy the ride.
  👉 Get Tickets

❤️ Final Thought

The shortest distance between two people — and between you and your next opportunity — is a story.