There were so many reasons I could’ve talked myself out of starting Life Goals Mag nearly 10 years ago.
I didn’t have the “right” experience. I wasn’t sure if I had anything worthwhile to say. I didn’t feel like a leader, a writer, or someone who could build a real brand.
But I started anyway.
And chances are, you’ve had your own list of reasons to hold back too. Maybe you’ve told yourself you need more experience, or that you’re not ready to call yourself a business owner, creator, or leader.
Here’s what almost stopped me from creating my online magazine, and why I showed up anyway, even when I didn’t feel ready.
In the beginning, I didn’t want to be seen. I wasn’t ready to show my face all over the internet or even use my real name. I went by my nickname—Coley—instead of Nicole, because it felt safer. (I do still go by Coley, because I love the name!)
Back in 2015, putting yourself out there online felt different. There weren’t as many examples of people vulnerably sharing their journey from the start, and I wasn’t confident in who I was yet.
So I stayed behind the screen. I kept things low-key. I let the magazine speak louder than I did, until I grew into the version of me who could take up a little more space.
This one held me back mentally for a long time. I didn’t have a background in writing. I hadn’t studied journalism, and I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to running a digital publication.
To be honest, I still sometimes struggle with feeling like I’m “just a blogger” and not a “real writer.” But I’ve learned that sharing your perspective, curating meaningful stories, and creating space for ideas is its own kind of skill.
And here’s the kicker, I was working in a publications department at a nonprofit when I launched Life Goals Mag. I was surrounded by actual journalists. And I still shared my magazine with them anyway, even when it felt like I had no business doing so.
Life Goals Mag has always centered around personal development. But the wild part? I wasn’t actually that deep into personal growth when I started it.
I was curious. I wanted to learn from others. I wanted to be inspired.
But I didn’t feel like I had anything original to say yet. I wasn’t coming in with 10 years of wisdom or a step-by-step transformation. I started because I wanted to be in the room. I wanted to soak it up and share what I found along the way.
And over time, I became someone who had something to contribute. That didn’t happen overnight—but it never would’ve happened at all if I had waited until I felt “ready.”
When I was younger, I was a dreamer. Big ideas were never the issue—I had a million of them. The problem was following through. I wasn’t someone who finished things. I had notebooks full of plans, but no history of sticking with anything.
Leading a brand? Building a community? That felt way too big for someone like me.
But Life Goals gave me something to believe in. It gave me a reason to keep showing up. And eventually, I became the kind of person who followed through, who showed up consistently, and who built something real.
I’d never taken a course on how to set one up, and honestly, I had no idea what the behind-the-scenes looked like.
Instead of letting that stop me, I decided to guest post for another online magazine to see how they did it. That experience gave me just enough of a glimpse into the process to believe I could figure it out as I went.
There were (and still are) so many moments where I’ve asked, “Who am I to be doing this?”
Imposter syndrome? Very familiar with it.
Even now, I’ll look around and think, “Is what I’m doing good enough? Does it matter? Am I doing it right?”
But I’ve learned to quiet that voice by showing up anyway. I keep learning. I keep creating. I remind myself that the value is in the doing, in the process, in the honesty.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to care enough to keep going.
Now we’re here.
We’re more than an online magazine. Life Goals has grown into a full-on media company and marketing agency. We’ve worked with brands, launched products, built an audience, and expanded way beyond what I thought was possible when I started.
It’s wild to think about how different things would be if I had let any of those insecurities win.
If I had waited until I had the “right” credentials.
If I had hidden behind the fear of not being enough.
If I had told myself that dreamers don’t follow through.
But I didn’t.
And this is your reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start. You just need to start.
If there’s something on your heart (an idea, a project, a business), let this be proof that it’s worth exploring. Even if you feel unqualified. Even if it feels too big. Even if your voice shakes.
Keep going. Keep learning. Keep showing up.
Because everything you’re building? It starts from the moment you decide to begin anyway.
I didn’t have the “right” experience. I wasn’t sure if I had anything worthwhile to say. I didn’t feel like a leader, a writer, or someone who could build a real brand.
But I started anyway.
And chances are, you’ve had your own list of reasons to hold back too. Maybe you’ve told yourself you need more experience, or that you’re not ready to call yourself a business owner, creator, or leader.
Here’s what almost stopped me from creating my online magazine, and why I showed up anyway, even when I didn’t feel ready.
1. I wanted to be incognito.
In the beginning, I didn’t want to be seen. I wasn’t ready to show my face all over the internet or even use my real name. I went by my nickname—Coley—instead of Nicole, because it felt safer. (I do still go by Coley, because I love the name!)
Back in 2015, putting yourself out there online felt different. There weren’t as many examples of people vulnerably sharing their journey from the start, and I wasn’t confident in who I was yet.
So I stayed behind the screen. I kept things low-key. I let the magazine speak louder than I did, until I grew into the version of me who could take up a little more space.
2. I didn’t have a journalism degree.
This one held me back mentally for a long time. I didn’t have a background in writing. I hadn’t studied journalism, and I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to running a digital publication.
To be honest, I still sometimes struggle with feeling like I’m “just a blogger” and not a “real writer.” But I’ve learned that sharing your perspective, curating meaningful stories, and creating space for ideas is its own kind of skill.
And here’s the kicker, I was working in a publications department at a nonprofit when I launched Life Goals Mag. I was surrounded by actual journalists. And I still shared my magazine with them anyway, even when it felt like I had no business doing so.
3. I wasn’t an expert in personal growth.
Life Goals Mag has always centered around personal development. But the wild part? I wasn’t actually that deep into personal growth when I started it.
I was curious. I wanted to learn from others. I wanted to be inspired.
But I didn’t feel like I had anything original to say yet. I wasn’t coming in with 10 years of wisdom or a step-by-step transformation. I started because I wanted to be in the room. I wanted to soak it up and share what I found along the way.
And over time, I became someone who had something to contribute. That didn’t happen overnight—but it never would’ve happened at all if I had waited until I felt “ready.”
4. I didn’t see myself as a leader.
When I was younger, I was a dreamer. Big ideas were never the issue—I had a million of them. The problem was following through. I wasn’t someone who finished things. I had notebooks full of plans, but no history of sticking with anything.
Leading a brand? Building a community? That felt way too big for someone like me.
But Life Goals gave me something to believe in. It gave me a reason to keep showing up. And eventually, I became the kind of person who followed through, who showed up consistently, and who built something real.
5. I didn’t know how to run an online magazine
I’d never taken a course on how to set one up, and honestly, I had no idea what the behind-the-scenes looked like.
Instead of letting that stop me, I decided to guest post for another online magazine to see how they did it. That experience gave me just enough of a glimpse into the process to believe I could figure it out as I went.
6. I constantly questioned myself.
There were (and still are) so many moments where I’ve asked, “Who am I to be doing this?”
Imposter syndrome? Very familiar with it.
Even now, I’ll look around and think, “Is what I’m doing good enough? Does it matter? Am I doing it right?”
But I’ve learned to quiet that voice by showing up anyway. I keep learning. I keep creating. I remind myself that the value is in the doing, in the process, in the honesty.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to care enough to keep going.
And now?
Now we’re here.
We’re more than an online magazine. Life Goals has grown into a full-on media company and marketing agency. We’ve worked with brands, launched products, built an audience, and expanded way beyond what I thought was possible when I started.
It’s wild to think about how different things would be if I had let any of those insecurities win.
If I had waited until I had the “right” credentials.
If I had hidden behind the fear of not being enough.
If I had told myself that dreamers don’t follow through.
But I didn’t.
And this is your reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start. You just need to start.
If there’s something on your heart (an idea, a project, a business), let this be proof that it’s worth exploring. Even if you feel unqualified. Even if it feels too big. Even if your voice shakes.
Keep going. Keep learning. Keep showing up.
Because everything you’re building? It starts from the moment you decide to begin anyway.