Show Up Before You Feel Ready - Coaching with Sid

Breakthrough Idea of the Week

Show Up Before You Feel Ready.

It was supposed to be a big night.

Years ago, I was invited to speak at an event for entrepreneurs—something I’d worked hard for, prepared for, looked forward to.

Fifty people had RSVP’d.

I showed up early, heart racing with that mix of excitement and nerves. I rehearsed my opening line in my head. This was my moment.
I waited. People trickled in—five in total.
I stood there, scanning the room, trying to mask my disappointment.

Inside, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “Is this even worth it?” I thought. Does it even matter now?”

I grabbed my phone and called my best friend. Told her how let down I was feeling. Told her I was thinking about cancelling it.

She asked me two simple questions—ones I still carry with me:

“Would you show up fully even if just one person showed up?”
“Why should this be any different?”

After hearing this, I remembering sitting in silence. And I realized something hard but real:

I had been tying my worth to the size of the audience.
Measuring my value by who showed up—instead of how I showed up.

So I walked to the front. Took a breath. And gave those five people everything I had—every insight, every ounce of energy, like the room was full.

Afterwards, one person came up and said,

“This was exactly what I needed. Let’s talk about working together.”
That conversation turned into a long-term client. That client referred me to others.
That moment — in a nearly empty room — started something big.

Not because I was the most talented coach.

But because I showed up—fully, completely—even when it felt like no one was watching.

Here’s what I know now.

The world doesn’t always reward the most talented.

It rewards the ones who dare to be seen. The ones who show up—not just when it’s easy, but when it’s disappointing, humbling, hard.

It rewards the ones who believe in what they’re building—before anyone else does.

You don’t need to be the best. You just need to belong to what you’re building—and show up with your whole heart.