The Biggest Threat to Your Success Online
One of the biggest threats to creators isn’t the algorithm. It’s not that social media is too saturated. And it’s not a lack of discipline. It’s a lack of trust in your own ideas.
I work with so many people on their content, and the most common question I get isn’t how do I grow — it’s should I post this or not?
Someone will come to me with an idea, and almost every time, it’s a good idea. Often, it’s a great idea! But it’s laced with doubt, second-guessing, and confusion. Fear that it won’t land, that it won’t be received, that it won’t be “good enough.”
The secret to success as a creator is learning how to trust your own ideas.
And that’s hard, because even when you do trust yourself, and you do execute, you might not get the validation. You might not get the engagement you hoped for. Maybe the likes don’t come. The comments are nonexistent.
You try an idea, and it fails.
Most people take this as proof that their ideas aren’t to be trusted.
But instead of thinking this idea flopped, a better question is: How do I refine an authentic idea?
Don’t Abandon the Idea, Refine It
When something doesn’t perform the way you hoped, it doesn’t mean the idea was bad. It usually means it needs refinement.
Here are three questions I always come back to.
1. How Could the Hook Be Better?
The hook is everything at the beginning that earns attention:
the words you’re speaking
the text on the screen
the music
the pacing
Our hooks can always be better. Sometimes, in the moment, we don’t come up with the strongest version we’re capable of, and that’s normal.
A great exercise is to wait 24 hours after posting and then look at the content again with as much objectivity as you can. Ask yourself:
If I were seeing this for the first time, what would make me stop?
2. How Would I Frame This Differently?
If you were to restart the video from scratch, how would you share the same message in a new way?
This is one of the best creative exercises you can do. It forces your brain to think laterally instead of defensively. You stop asking why didn’t this work and start asking what else is possible?
The more you practice reframing, the easier it becomes to generate new ideas in the future.
3. What If I Changed the Style Entirely?
If you couldn’t make the content in the same style, how would you do it?
Instead of a talking head, what if it were a voiceover?
Instead of a voiceover, what if it were a carousel?
Instead of a carousel, what if it were a vlog?
Ask yourself what you didn’t try the first time.
Style shifts are powerful because they separate the idea from the format. And often, it’s not the message that needs changing, it’s the container.
Creation and Refinement Are Two Different Things
There’s a time for creation. And there’s a time for refinement. Those two things should be separate. Creation is about spark, intuition, and momentum. Refinement is about strategy, iteration, and improvement. When you blur them together, you either overthink before you post or you spiral after you do.
Ultimately, you are both the creator and the strategist. Both parts of your brain are important to access. You just need to use them at the right time.
Create first.
Refine later.
And don’t ever doubt yourself. Your ideas are worth their weight in gold.
If this resonated, here’s the next step.
Inside Personal Brand Accelerator, we’re running a February challenge designed to help you practice trusting your ideas in public.
You’ll learn how to post:
vlogs
day-in-the-life content
talking head videos
cinematic voiceovers
We’ll focus on creation first, refinement second — so you can build confidence, momentum, and range in your content instead of second-guessing every post.
You can start with the free trial and join us for the challenge in February. Come create with us.
