"I posted a practice reel, which got over 500K views"

There was a time I could brief hundreds of RAF aviators and senior commanders without flinching, yet freeze at the idea of posting a 60-second reel. 
 Strange how trauma shapes confidence. 
 You can command in uniform, but one blinking red “record” button online and suddenly you are eight again… wanting to stay small, silent, and safe. 

Vishen called it the visibility wound. I deeply resonated. I call it the ghost of my past that hovered every time I tried to step into my voice. 

For a long time I perfected to-do lists instead of publishing.
 I would second-guess instead of speaking up.
 I deleted drafts, hiding evidence of imperfections. 

Then I heard Andrew’s voice: “No one is watching. Just post it.” 
 So I chose purpose over perfection. I showed up. 
 Performance driver analysis. Chose the format. Ideated. 
 Told the story I once needed to hear. Served first. 

One reel hit fifty thousand views. 

Then came the DM that broke me open in the best way:
 "Your DM hit my feed, I saw you had written a book and I bought it. I resonated with a lot of what I have read so far and I have noticed some of my own patterns and patterns of other family members too. Unfortunately, I am unable to do counselling and I have found your book the only thing that’s helpful so far. Bless you for sharing, you are inspirational and I will be recommending your book to those I think could benefit. Thank you for everything you do! I truly appreciate you sharing your story. I have been unable to leave my house for the last few years (and I’m turning 20 in November). You have reminded me that I have my whole life ahead of me and that I can help myself to overcome my issues in good time." 

I read that message with tears in my eyes and my younger self exhaled. 

I used to tell myself, “If this helps one person, it’s worth it.” I even wrote this in my book. And then a 20-year-old who had seen my reel messaged me saying she feels seen, hopeful, and is reading my book to empower her life. 

It cannot get any better than this. That message proved I wasn’t lying to myself. 

When Vishen said “Know Your Why”, on the graduation call, it landed like a sucker punch. Anchor your content in purpose. When your why is clear, your work gains power. 

My why is not thousands of likes, virality, or strategy. It is a human being saying, “I feel seen. I feel hope.” 

That DM hit my why like a punch to the chest. A lump in my throat as I finally witnessed the power of social media reaching the hearts of people we may never meet but whom we can deeply serve. 

Visibility isn’t vanity. Visibility is service. 
 When we show up, someone else discovers they can too. 

If our past trained us to disappear, we must lean into the discomfort and 
 Publish.
 Find our voice.
 Get comfortable being seen. 

You never know which quiet soul is waiting for your courage… so they can begin finding theirs. 

The ripple effect is real. This is just the beginning for me and my brand. I cannot wait to share more wins as I continue on my social media journey. 

Thank you Mindvalley for your faith, encouragement and wisdom. 

Per Ardua Ad Astra - Through Adversity to the Stars x 

PS - These photos were taken at MVU on the same day I posted a practice reel, which got over 500K views.