Start Before You’re Ready

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧.
Then came a nudge from Eric Wolking who said: “You should get out there.” I had maybe 200 followers, barely any engagement, and more hesitation than confidence.

It felt intimidating. Exposing.
I wasn’t sure my style really fit the LinkedIn prime time vibe.

And the looming question so many of us get stuck on:
“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐲?”

Like anything unfamiliar, skill builds with repetition.
🔹 So, I started small. Began putting in the reps.
🔹 I followed people I admired.
🔹 Observed quietly. In one case, it was a year before I chimed in.
🔹 And slowly, I found my rhythm.

Were mistakes made? Heck yea.

Yet, a few things became clear:
→ 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭.
→ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥.
→ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭.

In fields like affordable housing where the stakes are high, it really does matter to share ideas, wins, lessons, and even questions. It’s also a way to remind each other that we’re not doing this work alone.

So, if you're looking for a 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 … this might be it. 👈📢

I’m still learning and finding my voice … but I’m glad I began.

Thank you Eric Wolking!