Show Up Before You Feel Ready
By April Adams Pertuis, Founding Member of The Prosper Network
Several years ago, I received an unexpected invitation to speak at a women’s conference. My immediate reaction was panic. My brain went into overdrive with all the reasons I wasn’t ready: I didn’t have a polished keynote, my website still felt “in progress,” and I worried that the women in the room would expect something I couldn’t deliver.
But deep down, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. Something inside me whispered: say yes anyway.
So, I did. I prepared the best I could, walked onto that stage with shaking hands, and told my story. To my surprise, the women in the audience weren’t looking for flawless delivery or a perfect slideshow. They were leaning in, nodding along, and connecting with my honesty. They wanted authenticity, not perfection. That “yes” moment cracked the door wide open for me—leading to more speaking invitations, new clients, and collaborations I never could have mapped out on my own.
Confidence is built in motion.
For so long, I thought I had to wait until I felt confident before stepping into bigger opportunities. But what I learned is the exact opposite: you gain confidence by doing the thing you’re afraid of.
Waiting until you feel ready is one of the biggest myths in business. The women who expand their visibility and grow their influence are not the ones who feel perfectly prepared—they’re the ones who take imperfect action and let their story connect with others.
The moment I stopped trying to polish myself into some “ready” version of me, my business shifted. Doors opened. People started to remember me for my courage and my story, not for how flawless I appeared.
If you’ve been holding back—waiting for your website to be just right, your offer to feel perfect, or your nerves to calm down—this is your reminder that you don’t have to wait. You already have everything you need to take the next step.
Here are three small ways you can start today:
Tell a story online.
Don’t underestimate the power of a single post. Share a story from your journey—a challenge you overcame, a lesson you learned, or even a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run your business. Stories create instant connection because people see themselves in your experiences. You don’t need a professional photo shoot or polished video; a few authentic paragraphs or a candid photo can do the trick. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s connection.Practice out loud.
The next time you attend a networking event, a mastermind, or even a casual gathering, introduce yourself with more heart. Instead of saying, “Hi, I’m Sarah, and I’m a financial advisor,” try something like: “Hi, I’m Sarah. I help women feel confident managing their money so they can finally enjoy the freedom they’ve worked for.” See the difference? That extra intention not only makes you more memorable but also helps you refine your message every time you say it out loud. It’s practice that builds clarity and confidence.Say yes once.
Look for one opportunity this month that makes you a little nervous—and take it. Maybe it’s submitting an application to speak on a panel, volunteering to host a workshop, or accepting an invitation to be interviewed on a podcast. You don’t need to do everything at once. Start with one yes. That single step can snowball into unexpected doors opening—just like it did for me when I stood on that first stage. Over time, those small yeses stack up and transform into momentum and visibility you never could have scripted.
The truth is, you don’t need more readiness. You just need more practice saying yes.
👉 For more inspiration and practical tools to grow your visibility, tune into The Inside Story Podcast at lightbeamers.com/podcast
April Adams Pertuis is a Visibility + Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Founder of LIGHTbeamers, where she helps women unlock the stories they’re not telling and turn them into tools for impact, connection, and income.
Learn more about April’s work at www.lightbeamers.com
Connect with April on LinkedIn.