Why Showing Up Matters More Than Getting It Perfect: A Lesson for Women Building Brands and Businesses Online
When Fear Talked Me Out of Trying Something New
A little while ago, I signed up for a swimming class at a brand-new swim school right behind my house. I can look right out my window and see it. One day, I was out for a run, and as I passed the path that led up to the swim school, I decided to stop in. I asked about the space, looked around, and thought, why not? I signed up. A little late, but still, I was excited.
And then I missed the very first class. Not even on purpose — I had written the time down wrong. 12:30 instead of 12:00.
I walked back home, feeling defeated. And then the doubts began to creep in.
What if I’m the oldest one there? What if I look ridiculous because I don’t know what I’m doing? What if my bathing suit is too tight?
I had signed up with the best of intentions… and then I talked myself right out of going.
So when my son asked if we could go skating, I realized I had a choice: let fear win again, or show up, messy and unprepared, for something that really mattered.
Choosing to Show Up
Not long after that swim class, my son asked me if we could go skating. The request hit me in a different way. I remembered how I had let fear talk me out of swimming, and I felt something inside me say: not this time.
I made a decision right then and there that nothing was going to stop us.
Did we have skates? No.
Had I been on the ice in the last ten years? Definitely not.
Did I have any idea how to actually teach him? Absolutely not.
But we went anyway.
We bought the skates, rented the helmets, and stepped onto the ice. From the very beginning, it was messy. My son kept falling, and I kept trying to help him back up. I felt awkward, out of place, and a little embarrassed that I didn’t know what I was doing. He was frustrated that he couldn’t stand for long without falling, and honestly, so was I.
But there was a little voice in the back of my head reminding me that this mattered. That teaching him something I love was worth every awkward stumble and every frustrated sigh.
We only lasted about twenty minutes. On the way out, as we returned the helmets, we were asked how it went. My son was upset, and truthfully, I was too. It hadn’t gone at all how I had pictured it.
And then she said something simple: “When you first start, it’s hard. You fall a lot. But that’s why you practice.” She smiled, offered my son a sticker, and somehow that moment shifted everything.
The whole ride home I kept thinking, we’re going to figure this out. And when we got back, I hugged my son, looked him in the eyes, and told him: “We’re going to keep practicing. You’ll get better. And by the end of the season, you’ll be skating circles around me.”
Why the Messy Moments Matter
That day at the rink stuck with me far beyond the twenty minutes we spent wobbling on the ice. It wasn’t about whether my son could skate in a straight line or whether I felt confident in teaching him. It was about something much deeper: the way we choose to show up for the things that matter.
It reminded me that life doesn’t unfold in perfectly smooth sessions where everything clicks right away. More often than not, we stumble. We fall. We feel embarrassed. We wonder if we even belong. And still, we get up, brush off the ice, and try again.
That’s the rhythm of progress.
The things that matter — the dreams, the goals, the values we hold close — aren’t about instant wins or effortless beginnings. They’re about showing up consistently, even when it’s uncomfortable. They’re about pushing past the “what ifs” and giving ourselves permission to be beginners.
Sometimes showing up doesn’t look like a picture-perfect success. Sometimes it looks like twenty messy minutes on the ice, followed by the quiet conviction that next time will be a little better.
That’s what I carried home with me that day: the belief that what truly matters is worth the effort, worth the practice, and worth the persistence. Not because it’s easy, but because it shapes who we become when we keep trying.
What It Means for Your Online Presence
That day on the ice reminded me that the things that matter are worth showing up for. And in business, one of the most important ways we show up is through our online presence.
Whether you are running a solo practice or building your team, it can feel overwhelming to know how to represent your brand online. Social media changes daily, marketing trends come and go, and the pressure to always be “on” can be exhausting. That is why having a high-converting website is not just about design. It is about creating a professional space that works for you and your business.
Your website becomes the hub of your brand. It is the place where everything else flows from. It communicates immediately: I am an expert. I am trustworthy. I can help you. And if you have a team, it reflects the collective strength and expertise you bring together.
It also takes away stress by quietly handling the repeatable tasks in the background. A well-thought-out website can collect inquiries, capture leads, answer common questions, and even automate parts of your client process. That means you and your team spend less time on busywork and more time on what matters most: serving clients, supporting growth, and creating space to rest and expand.
When your online presence feels aligned and professional, it does more than showcase your business. It supports it. It becomes the steady ground beneath you, the place you can always point people back to no matter what is happening in the noisy world of social media.
And just like learning to skate, it may feel unfamiliar at first. But when you have a space that reflects your vision and works for you, showing up online becomes easier, more natural, and even exciting.
A Final Reminder About Showing Up
That day on the ice with my son reminded me that showing up rarely looks perfect. Sometimes it looks like falling, getting frustrated, and trying again anyway. But those imperfect steps are what move us forward.
The same is true in business. Whether you are running a solo practice or building your team, the things that matter most will always ask you to show up for them. To practice. To believe in what you are creating. To keep going, even when it feels messy or uncertain.
Your online presence is one of those things. A well-designed website gives you the foundation to show up with confidence, knowing your vision has a professional home. It becomes a tool that builds trust, supports your growth, and creates space for you to rest, create, and expand.
So here is your reminder: the things that matter are worth practicing, worth the effort, and worth showing up for. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a step toward the future you are building.
If showing up online feels overwhelming, I created a free guide, The CEO Woman’s Website Blueprint to help you take the first steps with more clarity and confidence. You can grab it here.
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