the anti-cringe guide to posting online
How to start creating online when you're scared of being seen (or worse, ignored).
In middle school and high school, I dreamed of having a blog. I had no idea what I wanted to write about, but the idea of getting my thoughts out there seemed exciting.
Then in 2012, I downloaded Instagram. I remember the pure anxiety coursing through my veins as I hit “share” on my first post. Only my high school classmates would see it, but I was terrified. What would they think?
For the next 10 years, I basically only posted for major life events. Posting felt...cringe. Everything about it, from interrupting group outings for a perfect photo, to anxiously watching likes roll in, felt like a performance.
Growing up in an era where we were told posting online would lead to identity fraud, unemployment, or worse, I internalized the idea that creating content was risky. At my consulting job, we were even encouraged to make our social media private so clients wouldn’t find old college party photos. Posting felt reserved for two types of people: folks with nothing to lose or celebrities. There was no in-between.
But secretly, I wanted in. I loved the origin stories of people like Issa Rae and Quinta Brunson—people who gave themselves a platform and built something from scratch. I had been wanting to start a blog or podcast since 2013. But it took me nearly a decade to actually do it.
Why?
I was too busy.
I didn’t know what to post.
I didn’t think I was worthy of being visible.
I wasn’t a larger-than-life personality. I hadn’t accomplished anything “special.” Who was I to put myself out there?
During the pandemic, I noticed more of my peers starting to post. It sparked mixed feelings of excitement, curiosity, and, if I’m honest, jealousy. Who did they think they were? I quietly became a bit of a hater. Sure, they’ve got a personal website or a little blog, I’d think, but they’ll fall off soon enough.
Looking back, I realize every criticism I had of them was a reflection of my own fears. I didn’t want to see them succeed, because then I’d have to admit I was the one holding myself back.
I wanted to skip the messy beginning. I wanted to emerge as a perfect content creator.
That is not how it works, dear friends.
So in July 2022, one month before heading to business school, I finally started posting on TikTok. I’m no social media superstar. I don’t have hundreds of thousands of followers. But I’ve built a small, steady community. I’ve made real connections. I’ve made real money. And I’ve proven to myself that visibility doesn’t have to be scary.
The one thing I’ve learned?
Everyone is scared to post when they start.
Even now, I still work through that fear. But it gets easier, especially once you explore your own relationship with the internet.
This guide is for the introverted creator who wants to share more of themselves, but worries they’re not enough.
You are. And you will be.
before you make your first post
The strategy consultant in me loves a good execution plan. So before you jump in, consider the following:
Why do you want to create?
What do you want to get out of this?
Who do you want to reach and why?
Imagine you had 1M followers. What would that enable you to do differently?
This helps cut through the noise of “get followers just to get followers.” I realized quickly I didn’t need 500K followers, especially if they weren’t the right ones, to be successful online.
What assumptions do you have about content creators?
This was the biggest thing holding me back.
You’ll never be consistent if you secretly believe posting is cringe. That belief will show up in your body language and your behavior. You probably won’t even share your content.
Ask yourself:
Why do I think posting is cringe?
Where did that belief come from?
What would it mean to see myself as someone worth listening to?
Who do you want to be?
You don’t need a perfect niche. You just need a rough idea of:
Who you’re trying to reach
What you’re curious to explore
How often you can realistically post
Create an initial plan. Where will you post? How often? What format feels doable?
Start small. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Cringe doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re doing something brave.
Ready to move past the fear and actually start creating?
In the second half of this post, I’ll walk you through:
How to decide what kind of creator you want to be
The mindset shifts and journaling prompts that helped me stop caring about judgment
A simple system to help you post consistently (without burnout)
How to create without feeling like you're performing
If you’ve made it this far, you probably don’t need more motivation.
You need ✨ specifics ✨
I’m launching the paid version of From Ambition to Achievement to share the tactical advice I usually offer in coaching sessions; from putting yourself out there online, to building a career that actually fits you.
In the second half of this post, you’ll get:
A framework for figuring out what kind of creator you want to be
Mindset shifts and journaling prompts to move past self-doubt
A simple system for posting consistently (without burning out)
Tools to help you stop performing and start connecting
This is for quiet, thoughtful high-achievers who are done holding themselves back.
Subscribe below to unlock the full Anti-Cringe Toolkit—and everything to come.
🔧 The Anti-Cringe Toolkit
You don’t need to go viral. You need to get honest—about what you want, what you can give, and what you’re afraid of.
This toolkit will help you do all three.
1. Decide what kind of creator you want to be
There are two common lanes most people start in:
Educational: You teach, share expertise, or offer frameworks.
Lifestyle: You share your day-to-day experience and let people connect through your personality or perspective.
You can blend the two, but one will likely feel more natural.
Ask yourself:
Do I want people to learn from me or relate to me?
Am I more energized by sharing insights or reflections?
What type of content do I enjoy consuming?
Also be honest about how much time you want to commit:
Once a week? Twice a month?
Are you creating content to build a business, build confidence, or just explore?
There is no wrong answer. Choose a rhythm that aligns with your life and your energy.
2. The real reason you're not posting (and what to do about it)
Most people who are afraid to post fall into one of three quiet but powerful fears.
Let’s name them and move through them.
1. "What if people judge me?"
Mindset shift: You're already being judged. You may as well be judged for doing something brave.
This fear often shows up as procrastination or endless editing. But it’s not about the post. It’s about the imagined response.
Tactical tip:
Picture the most critical thing someone could comment. Seriously, don’t hold back.
Now journal:
How would that comment make you feel?
What would it really be poking at?
How would you want to respond?
You’ll likely notice the fear loses power once you put it into words. Most people won’t say anything at all. Silence is far more common than trolling, and also far less scary.
2. "What if no one cares?"
Mindset shift: Your job is not to please the crowd. It’s to reach your people, and they cannot find you if you’re silent.
This fear often comes from experiences of being overlooked. Rather than risk indifference, you stay quiet.
Tactical tip:
Think of one real person, someone you’ve mentored, worked with, or confided in. Write just for them.
Open with: “If you’re feeling [insert emotion], this is for you.”
When you create for one person, the pressure to impress disappears. That is often when your content starts to resonate more widely.
3. "What if I sound cringe?"
Mindset shift: Cringe is a sign you’re creating in your real voice, not copying someone else’s.
This fear is usually about identity. You’re worried you won’t sound smart or polished, so you filter your voice until it doesn’t sound like you anymore.
Tactical tip:
Write your post like you're texting a close friend. Then read it out loud.
If it sounds like you, it’s ready.
If it sounds like someone you follow, simplify it.
People don’t connect to perfection. They connect to presence.
3. Create a system that doesn’t burn you out
You don’t need to post daily. You just need to post consistently enough to build momentum.
Here’s a soft structure to get started:
Weekly:
Add one or two ideas to a running list in your Notes app or Notion
Choose one to post (written, audio, or video—whatever feels easiest)
Reflect: how did it feel to share?
Monthly:
What posts felt energizing vs. draining?
Did anything spark a conversation?
Do I want to keep this rhythm or adjust?
You can shift your pace without quitting altogether. That’s what sustainability looks like.
4. Treat your content like a conversation, not a performance
If you tend to overthink, this might help:
You are not creating to perform. You are creating to connect.
You are not writing to an audience. You are speaking to someone who needs to hear what you have to say.
When you stop trying to impress and start trying to relate, everything gets easier.
Final thought
You don’t need to be loud. You need to be clear.
You don’t need to be polished. You need to be present.
You don’t need to go viral. You just need to go first.