The crystallising of value is a key factor in becoming successful as an online trainer or coach. It’s very difficult to sell or share something that lives in your head or on your hard drive and never takes the next essential step.

Those ideas you have? They have to be released into the wild.

It may sound barbaric, but the world is waiting to rip your ideas apart so you can receive vital feedback, grow some balls (forgive the surly language), and thicken your skin. I don’t mean to be rude, but believe me, once you are out there for all to see and criticise, rudeness may be one thing you’ll need to be accustomed to. Not dealing it out of course, but dealing with it when your baby creations are not received with the same devoted adoration you believe they should be.

And this I think is often the main reason we fail to translate ideas into action. Our cherished thoughts remain just that. Our novel stays unpublished, languishing on a USB stick somewhere. Our poetry has taken up residence on a dusty old laptop. Our paintings, songs, and writings have been resigned to mere wishful thinking along with our dreams.

The fear of what others will say prevents us pulling the trigger.

And even worse than what they might say, what if no one says anything?

No likes, no comments, no criticisms.

The tragedy of silence!

And still is yet one more thing more tragic than either of these two possibilities.

That you DON’T step out, despite the fears.

No courageous stepping out despite the anxious worries.

No possibility-opening activity that places your work where people can appreciate it and consume it.

Dear creative friend, you may be surprised.

Our “what ifs” and “buts” that prevent us right now can become our best friends if we’ll turn them around.

“What if it works?”

“What if people love what I share?”

“But it might change my life and the life of those I speak to!”

“But if I don’t step out I’ll always be left wondering what could have been?”

Don’t be a “what if widow” divorced from the dream of what could be. At least open the door of potential for those dreams to become a reality.

Crystallise what you know and celebrate who you are in public, through sharing your thoughts, ideas, and creations.

I can’t promise what the response will be, but I will guarantee you’ll feel a whole lot better for trying. And with each swing of the bat you’ll get better.