Today at a Demo Day event, I had a fireside chat in front of a group of young founders, most of them first-time founders.
Among other things, I touched on the importance of creating content and sharing your story. And while I was speaking to them, I was also thinking about myself. Because for a long time, that was my biggest block.
I didn’t want to share.
Not because I didn’t have something to say.
But because I didn’t want to be exposed.
I didn’t want to be judged.
I wanted it to be perfect.
And when you want it to be perfect, you never actually start. You wait. You overthink. You rewrite. You talk yourself out of it. You tell yourself it's not the right moment. Not the right version. Not ready yet.
There was a quiet fear underneath all that. Fear of shame. Fear of being misunderstood. Of someone thinking less of me. Of failing in public.
And I know I’m not the only one. Women feel this deeply. But not just women. Anyone who’s been raised to play it safe, to not take up space, to stay quiet unless they’re sure.
What I’ve learned slowly, through doing, is that waiting for perfect is just another way of hiding.
You don’t need a content strategy. You don’t need a perfect grid. You just need to say something real. That’s what people feel. That’s what creates connection. That’s what makes others trust you.
Today, in that room full of early-stage founders, I could see how even one honest story can make a difference. You could feel the shift, that moment when someone realizes they’re not alone in the fear or the mess or the doubt.
If what you’ve lived through can help someone move forward, save them time, or just make them feel seen, share it.
Even if it’s not polished. Even if it’s still raw.
Imperfect and true is always better than perfect and silent.
With grit and gratitude, The Gritter
