What if I teach something I’m still building myself and people doubt me?

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April 25, 2025 | FJ ANGELES

There’s this quiet fear that follows a lot of people who want to share something online:

It doesn’t always sound that direct. Sometimes it shows up as:

• “Who am I to talk about this?”

• “I don’t even have the results yet.”

• “I’m still figuring it out myself.”

• “What if someone calls me out?”

So you stay quiet.
You wait.
You keep learning, reading, consuming — thinking maybe one day you’ll finally feel “ready.”

But here’s the truth no one tells you:

You’ll never feel ready.

The idea that one day you’ll feel 100% certain, confident, and credentialed is a trap —
and if you wait for it, you’ll stay stuck forever.

Where This Fear Comes From

This fear isn’t random. It’s been built into us from school, from culture, from how we were raised:

• You get the certificate first. Then you teach.

• You get results first. Then you speak.

• You wait until someone says you’re “qualified.”

But online, the game is different.

There are no gatekeepers.
There’s no permission slip.
And no one’s going to walk up to you and say,

If you’re waiting for that, you’ll keep learning in private — but your growth will stay private too.

The Hidden Cost of Waiting

Every time you delay sharing because you don’t feel ready, a few things happen:

1. You reinforce self-doubt.
   You tell yourself, “I’m not enough yet,” and that story becomes harder to shake over time.

2. You miss the opportunity to learn publicly.
   You’re not just missing impact — you’re missing growth.
   Sharing forces clarity. Feedback pushes you forward. Silence delays both.

3. You lose trust with your future audience.
   The people who would’ve followed your journey never get to see it.
   They miss the chance to grow with you, because you only showed up when it was “safe.”

And if you do wait until you're polished?
You become just another finished product in a sea of finished products —
harder to connect with, less relatable, and more forgettable.

“I Need Results First…” Do You?

This is the most common mental block:

But what if you flipped that?

What if you said:

Now you’re not pretending. You’re not posturing.
You’re being transparent — and building trust with the people watching.

People don’t just want to see the trophy.
They want to see the training.
The mistakes. The process. The thinking.

The Imposter Syndrome Loop

Imposter syndrome hits hardest when you believe you have to be “done” to start.
But what if you never had to pretend?

What if you just shared where you are, honestly?

Not:

• “Here’s how I mastered it”

But:

• “Here’s what I’m testing right now”

• “Here’s something I struggled with last week”

• “Here’s an insight that clicked for me recently”

That’s real.
That’s human.
And that’s what builds resonance — not authority.

People trust people who sound like them,
not people who try to sound above them.

Reframing What It Means to Be ‘Qualified’

The old system says:

• You go to school

• You get certified

• You follow a structured path

• Then you earn the right to teach

But online?
Being qualified doesn’t come from a title.
It comes from clarity, intention, and honesty.

If you’ve done the inner work to understand something better than you did yesterday — you’re qualified to share that.

You don’t have to have “the answer.”
You just have to have an answer — for someone who’s one step behind you.

What Happens When You Share Anyway

The moment you publish something — even while you’re in the middle of figuring it out — everything changes.

• You build confidence, not wait for it

• You attract people who relate to your honesty

• You build your future audience based on truth, not performance

• You grow in public, and others grow with you

And most of all —
You prove to yourself that fear doesn’t have the final say.

You chose to speak anyway.

So if you’re asking:

The answer is:
Not only can you — you should.
Because no one’s looking for perfection.
They’re looking for you.

The real you.
The one in the process.
The one brave enough to speak from the middle.

The Fear of Sharing Before You’re “Ready”

There’s a quiet fear that a lot of people carry — especially creators, writers, educators:

We don’t always say it that directly.
But it lingers.

Sometimes it sounds like:

• “I haven’t earned the right to share yet.”

• “I don’t want to look like a fraud.”

• “What if someone smarter comes along and proves me wrong?”

• “Why would anyone listen to me when they could just Google it?”

So we hold back.
Not because we have nothing to say — but because we don’t think we’re ready to say it.

Where This Fear Starts

Let’s be real: this fear didn’t start with you.

It started in school — where the rules were clear:

• Raise your hand only when you know the answer

• Don’t speak unless you’re 100% right

• Wait to be picked, approved, or certified

So when you step into the online world and realize there are no gatekeepers, it’s almost disorienting.

You suddenly can share, build, create, teach…
But no one told you how to feel okay doing it before you’re “qualified.”

And that’s where the internal war starts:

• The part of you that wants to express
  vs.

• The part that’s afraid of being exposed

Real Talk: No One’s Coming to Approve You

You might be waiting for:

• More credentials

• More results

• More clarity

• More permission

But here’s the hard truth:
No one’s coming to give it to you.

You are the only one who can choose to be ready.
And most people never make that choice.

They wait.
They overprepare.
They stay private learners in a world that rewards public action.

And ironically, that waiting creates the very doubt they’re trying to avoid.

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert — Just One Step Ahead

Let’s say you’re learning how to build digital products.
You’re only 10% in. You’ve made mistakes. You’re still figuring it out.

Guess what?

There are thousands of people at 0%.
They need that 10%.
And they’ll trust you more than the person at 100%, because you still sound like them.

That’s the power of “teaching while learning.”
You’re not preaching from the top of the mountain.
You’re turning around while climbing and saying,

That’s not fake.
That’s not a fraud.
That’s service.

How Creators Actually Start

Let’s look at some real ones.

Dan Koe

Before he became a million-dollar creator, he was writing about self-discipline, creativity, and philosophy — while working a 9-5 job.
He didn’t wait to be a “guru.”
He shared what he was wrestling with.

Now? His audience trusts him because they watched him grow.

Alex Hormozi

Before $100M Offers, he was posting from his car with no brand, no lighting, and zero clout.
He wasn’t pretending to have all the answers — just showing what he learned from running gyms and doing sales.

People don’t connect with perfection.
They connect with proof of progress.

Perfection Doesn’t Build Trust. Honesty Does.

Think about the people you follow.
The ones you actually listen to.

Do you follow them because they’re flawless?

Or because they’re:

• Clear about what they’re learning

• Honest about their mistakes

• Open about what’s working (and what’s not)

This is the shift:

You’re not trying to be the expert.
You’re just trying to be useful.

And usefulness doesn’t require perfection — it requires perspective.

But What If They Judge Me?

Here’s the scary part:
Yes, some people will doubt you.
Some people will criticize.
Someone might call you out.

But that’s not a reason to stay silent.

You don’t create for the doubters.
You create for the ones who are one step behind you, looking for a voice like yours.

They’re not judging you — they’re searching for you.

So what are you going to do?
Stay quiet for the sake of people who don’t care…
or speak up for the ones who do?

A Letter to You (If You Still Feel Afraid)

If you’re still scared to share, here’s what I want you to hear:

You don’t need a certificate to be valuable.
You don’t need results to be relatable.
You don’t need permission to be useful.

All you need is this:

A willingness to show your thinking.
To share what you’re building.
To help the version of you from yesterday.

If you can do that —
You’re not an imposter.
You’re a leader in motion.

And people want to learn from people in motion.

Why Teaching While You’re Still Learning Actually Gives You an Advantage

You’ve just started building something, but you’re afraid it’s not good enough to teach yet. The urge to hold back and “wait until you’re an expert” feels strong. But here’s the truth:

Teaching while learning doesn’t put you at a disadvantage — it gives you a powerful edge.

Let’s flip the script on the fear of not being “ready” yet.

The Strength of Being “One Step Ahead”

Here’s the thing that often gets overlooked:
When you’re a few steps ahead of someone else, you have something they can’t get from a textbook or a polished expert. You have fresh perspective.

Imagine this:
You’re learning how to build an online business, and you’re three months in. You’ve got a bit of traction, a couple of wins, a few failures. But you’re far from the "final destination."

Guess who you can help?
The person who’s just starting — who doesn’t even know where to begin.

You don’t need to be an absolute expert — you just need to be a few steps ahead.
The more relatable you are, the more trust you build. People don’t need you to have all the answers. They just need to see that you’re on the same journey and that you’ve figured out something they haven’t yet.

Why People Prefer Learning from Others “In Progress”

There’s something powerful about watching someone grow in real-time.
It’s a form of transparency that builds deep trust.

If you’re waiting to be perfect, you’re missing the opportunity to connect with people who are at the same stage as you — or just a little behind. They’re going to feel like they can relate to you more than a guru at the top of the mountain.

Let’s talk about a few key reasons why being “in-progress” actually works in your favor:

1. People want to see progress, not perfection
   People love the story of someone starting from zero and making progress. It’s relatable and inspiring. Watching someone navigate struggles, overcome doubts, and make mistakes makes the learning experience more human. It’s a reminder that success isn’t a straight path.

2. You create a safe space for other learners
   When you share what you're learning, you let people know it's okay to be imperfect. You give them permission to take action before they feel "ready." You’re saying, “I’m doing this, so can you.”

3. You’re building with your audience
   Instead of just teaching, you’re building something together. Your audience feels like they’re part of your journey. They’re not just passive recipients of knowledge — they’re co-creators in the process. This builds stronger engagement and a sense of community.

From Learner to Teacher — In Real Time

Think about someone like James Clear (author of Atomic Habits).
When James first started writing about habits, he didn’t have a finished, polished book — he had a blog and a newsletter where he was documenting his thoughts and experiments on habits.

He wasn’t claiming to be the perfect “habit expert” — he was sharing what he was learning and refining as he went. And in doing so, he was building an audience that resonated with his approach because they were also trying to build habits — just like him.

His blog posts were not textbook-like. They were reflections on his journey. And over time, that built trust. His audience didn’t need him to be perfect — they just needed him to be a reliable source of honest insight, one step ahead of where they were.

James didn’t wait until he had the perfect habits system. He shared what he was learning, and that’s what attracted people to his work. His imperfect journey created relatable value.

It’s Not About Having All the Answers — It’s About Sharing the Answers You Have

Here’s a shift in perspective that could be game-changing:
It’s not about having every answer — it’s about being willing to share the answers you do have, knowing they’ll help someone.

When you’re “in-progress,” your content feels more authentic. You’re not pretending to know everything. You’re showing the growth process.

And that’s the key: The growth process is valuable.

People don’t need to hear your final, perfect answer. They want to see your struggle, your questions, your trial-and-error moments. When they see that, they start thinking,

The Benefit of “Real-Time” Content Creation

Now let’s talk about why sharing while you’re still learning is actually an incredible strategy for content creation.

• Real-time insights: As you make progress, you can share your lessons, experiences, and tools that are most relevant to the stage you’re in. For example, if you’re working on a business strategy that’s starting to show results, you can share the exact steps you took and what worked.

• Fresh and unique content: Most experts focus on theories and concepts that have already been tested. But by sharing your “in-progress” journey, you’re providing insights that are more in tune with what beginners (or early-stage learners) need.

• Filling the gap: There’s always a gap between where you are and where others are. You’ll always be able to help those behind you because you know exactly what it’s like to be at that point.

By creating content in the moment, you’re giving your audience valuable, up-to-date information. You’re building as they’re building — together.

Don’t Wait for Perfection — Create Now

It’s easy to look at someone like Gary Vaynerchuk and think, “He’s successful because he’s a giant in the space.” But what Gary did differently from many others was that he started while he was still learning.

He didn’t wait to have the perfect plan. He shared his hustle. He shared his mistakes. He shared his wins. And people connected with that authenticity.

You don’t need to wait for perfection.
You just need to share what you’re learning right now — and trust that there’s someone out there who needs exactly what you have to offer.

How Sharing Your Journey Builds Trust, Audience, and Opportunities

You’ve accepted the idea: you don’t need to be perfect to teach.
You don’t need to have “arrived” to provide value.
Now here’s the next shift —
You can turn your learning journey into the engine that builds trust, grows your audience, and creates opportunities.

Let’s break that down.

People Don’t Buy Perfection — They Buy Trust

If you think people are only drawn to polished, perfect, well-packaged experts — you’re missing the truth of how trust is built online today.

What people are really looking for is:

• Someone who feels real

• Someone they can relate to

• Someone who shows their process, not just their product

Think of the creators you trust the most. Chances are, you saw them share:

• Their wins and their mistakes

• Their thinking behind a decision

• Their updates along the way, not just the final product

The more you show your work, the more people trust your work.

The Power of the “Open Kitchen” Strategy

Imagine going to a restaurant where the kitchen is completely open.
You can see the chef prepping the ingredients, making the meal, experimenting, even adjusting based on feedback.

That’s what happens when you share your journey online.

It’s not just about giving answers — it’s about letting people see how you think, how you learn, how you experiment, and how you make decisions in real-time.

This kind of transparency:

• Builds massive trust

• Invites engagement (“Thanks for sharing your process — I’ve been stuck on the same thing.”)

• Creates anticipation (“I want to see how this turns out.”)

Your audience starts to root for you. They don’t just want your information — they want to grow with you.

You Don’t Need a Big Audience — Just the Right People Watching

Let’s be honest: most people aren’t going viral.
And that’s okay — you don’t need a million followers to win.

If you're sharing what you're building, what you're struggling with, and how you're improving, the right people start paying attention:

• Future collaborators

• Early supporters

• Future customers

• Mentors and creators one or two levels above you

They see your transparency, your effort, and your consistency.
And they start to respect your journey, even if you’re still early.

Remember this:

Your Journey Creates Content — Without Needing to “Fake It”

One of the biggest benefits of sharing your process is that you always have something real to say.

You don’t have to make things up.
You just need to document what you’re doing.

Try these:

• Struggling to stay consistent with writing?
  Share what you tried this week. What failed. What worked. What you’re doing differently tomorrow.

• Building a product?
  Show your notes. Show what feature you’re stuck on. Share what feedback you’re getting.

• Learning a new mindset?
  Write about the resistance you felt. The insight that shifted something. The breakthrough moment.

All of that is valuable. Not because it’s perfect — but because it’s real.

This is how creators like Dan Koe or Alex Hormozi built momentum.
They didn’t wait. They built while sharing.
And the content was the journey.

You Attract by Being Visible — Not by Being Finished

This part’s important:
No one can find your work if you keep it hidden until it’s perfect.

People don’t follow ghosts. They follow builders.

And the more visible your learning process is:

• The more others see your thinking

• The more they connect with your mission

• The more they trust that you’re in this for real

That’s when opportunity starts showing up.

Not because you pitched.
But because you shared consistently, honestly, and with purpose.

This Isn’t About “Being an Influencer” — It’s About Being a Signal

Sharing your journey isn’t about becoming famous.
It’s about becoming a signal for others.

You’re saying:

And people who resonate with that signal will start to follow.
They’ll remember you.
And when your product’s ready… when your course is live… when your skills are sharp enough to offer help — they’re already warmed up.

Because they watched it happen.

How to Teach What You’re Still Building (Without Pretending to Be an Expert)

One of the biggest fears people have about teaching while they’re still learning is simple:

And it’s a valid fear — especially in the self-development space, where it feels like everyone is trying to sound like a guru.

But here’s the truth:

You don’t need to fake authority. You need to own your lane.

You can teach what you’re learning without pretending to be ahead of where you actually are.

This part will show you how to do that with clarity and confidence.

1. Don’t Position Yourself as a Master — Be the Messenger

The key is to shift your role.

Instead of thinking:

Think:

You’re not claiming to be a master of the path —
You’re saying, “Here’s what I’m discovering as I walk it.”

This makes your content:

• More relatable

• More real

• And ironically, more trusted

Because you’re not selling a fantasy. You’re showing the map while you’re still walking it.

2. Be Specific About What You Do Know

Even if you’re still learning, there are things you’ve already figured out.

It might be:

• A mindset shift that helped you

• A system you created for your own habits

• A tool you use to stay consistent

• A breakthrough that changed how you see your path

That’s what you teach.

Don’t teach “everything.” Teach what’s real to you.

So the rule is simple:

• Don’t speak beyond your current experience.

• But speak boldly about what you’ve actually lived and tested.

That’s how trust is built — and how momentum grows.

3. Use Transparency as a Strength, Not a Disclaimer

It’s tempting to say things like:

But that weakens your message — because you’re immediately disqualifying yourself.

Instead, use transparency as a framing tool:

You’re not apologizing — you’re being intentional about your perspective.

And that makes your message stronger.

Try this shift:

• Instead of: “I’m just starting out…”

• Say: “This is where I’m at — and here’s what I’m learning in real-time.”

This tone builds connection without weakening your authority.

4. Turn Lessons Into Frameworks (Even Simple Ones)

You don’t need a degree to organize your experience.

If you’ve gone through something, think about:

• What was the turning point?

• What are 3 steps that helped?

• What would you tell someone one step behind you?

Package your lesson as:

• A short process

• A mindset shift

• A checklist

• A “before and after”

Even if it’s simple — people love clarity.

And frameworks aren’t about ego. They’re about helping people remember.

Example:

That’s a framework. That’s value.
Even if you’re still figuring the rest out.

5. Anchor Your Message to a Personal Story

If you're not relying on "expert status," your biggest power is personal experience.

Stories cut through doubt.

Try this formula:

• Here's what I was struggling with

• Here's what I did

• Here's what changed

• Here’s how you can try it too

This is how you earn attention and trust — without having to prove credentials.

People don’t want you to be perfect. They want you to be honest.
And stories are the best way to keep that honesty intact.

6. Let Your Message Evolve — Publicly

You’re not stuck with one fixed identity.
You're allowed to grow — and people love to see that happen.

So instead of waiting until your ideas are 100% complete, try this:

• Share your first version

• Get feedback

• Tweak it

• Share the next version

Let your audience see your growth curve.

The people who see your early work and stick around will become your strongest supporters.
Because they watched you improve in real-time.

And that’s something no amount of “expert branding” can fake.

Position yourself as a serious student — someone who’s walking the path with intention.
Someone who’s thinking deeply, sharing honestly, and applying what they’re learning in public.

And from there, you’ll attract people who aren’t looking for a guru — they’re looking for a guide who gets it.

You’ll be surprised how powerful that role becomes.

What If They Doubt Me?

You’ve started to share. You’re building in public. You’re being honest about where you are.

But then the fear hits:

This is the moment most people stop.

They freeze. They retreat.
They start second-guessing everything they post, everything they create, everything they want to become.

But here’s the truth most creators never realize:

Let’s talk about it.

1. Doubt Is a Mirror, Not a Warning

When someone doubts you, it usually says more about them than it does about you.

• Some people project their fears.

• Some people judge what they don’t understand.

• Some people just aren’t your audience — and that’s okay.

But your job isn’t to fix how they see you.

Your job is to stay rooted in your why.

And the clearer you get on what you’re here to say — the less their noise will matter.

2. The People Who Matter Won’t Mind — And the People Who Mind Don’t Matter

It sounds like a cliché, but it’s true.

The ones who resonate with your message — the ones who are on the same path — they’ll get it.

They’ll see the honesty.
They’ll feel the effort.
They’ll connect with your journey, even if it’s still early.

And those are the people you’re doing it for.

Not the critics. Not the doubters. Not the ones sitting on the sidelines waiting to throw shade.

And they’re out there — waiting for someone like you to go first.

3. Doubt Doesn’t Disqualify You — It Builds You

Every creator you look up to once asked themselves the same thing:

The only difference?

They shared anyway.

• They built with shaky hands.

• They posted with fear in their chest.

• They created before they felt ready.

And because they moved through the doubt — not around it — they became who they are now.

So if you feel doubt — good. That means you’re playing at your edge.

And that’s exactly where growth happens.

4. Your Past Self Needs You More Than Your Critics Do

Whenever you feel the urge to shrink, remember this:

You’re not doing it to impress strangers.
You’re doing it to reach the version of you who needed this message a year ago.

The one who felt lost. Confused. Stuck.
The one who was just looking for someone to say:

When you speak from that place, doubt has no power.

Because you’re not chasing approval.
You’re creating impact.

And that’s what real creators do.

5. Most Doubt Isn’t Spoken — It’s Imagined

Let’s be honest:

90% of the time, no one’s actually doubting you out loud.
You’re just imagining what they might say.

But even if they did doubt you — here’s the better question:

• Do they pay your bills?

• Do they understand your path?

• Have they created what you’re trying to create?

If the answer is no, then they’re not qualified to judge your journey.

Your future self will thank you for moving anyway.

6. The Only Way to Prove Them Wrong — Is to Keep Going

There is no debate, no argument, no “defense” stronger than progress.

• Keep posting.

• Keep building.

• Keep sharing what you’re learning.

• Keep refining your message through action.

Over time, the doubt fades. The noise dies. The critics move on.

And you’ll look back at this season as the exact place where your momentum began.

Yes, some people will doubt you.

But way more people are waiting for someone like you to say something real — without pretending to have it all figured out.

You’re not here to be an expert.
You’re here to be a mirror, a spark, and a voice for people still figuring it out too.

So share your work.
Share your truth.
And trust that what you’re building will speak louder than any doubt ever could.

-fj angeles