Start Before You’re Ready (or You’ll Regret It Again in 10 Years)
An old friend messaged me the other day with a question I’ve heard a hundred different ways, from a hundred different people:
“I have this idea to make money teaching classes online... but I’m nervous. The internet is so crowded. Is it even worth it?”
Here’s what I told her. And what I’ll tell you, too:
Yes. Do it.
Even if you’re scared.
Even if you’re not tech-savvy.
Even if you think you missed your window, or everyone is fed up with virtual courses.
Because the truth is — the “perfect time” already passed ten years ago. And if you keep waiting until you feel ready, you’re going to be having the same conversation with yourself ten years from now.
You don’t need to be Oprah and appeal to the masses.
You don’t need to have millions of followers or a fancy camera setup or a marketing degree. You just need a few humans who resonate with your energy. That’s it. And you’ll find them — or rather, they’ll find you — if you keep showing up with authenticity and a little consistency.
Start where you are. Use what you have.
Record your first Reel. Make your first awkward post. Fumble through your first class.
You might cringe at how cringe you were the next day — but keep going anyway.
You don’t have to quit your job overnight or go off-grid with a laptop and a dream (unless you want to).
But you do have to begin.
Pick a direction. Pick a platform. Pick a person to talk to — just one — and start building for them.
Because the real difference between those of us who “escaped the matrix” and those still stuck in it?
We started.
We said yes before we had all the answers.
We posted the cringey content.
We trusted the vision even when no one else got it.
But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: the algorithms are working for you. Even if you think you might be shouting into a void:
Google is crawling your blog posts. YouTube is scanning your videos and descriptions.
And yes—even ChatGPT is indexing your content, learning from publicly available material to better answer questions people are asking.
—> Here’s How ChatGPT Found Me My Ideal Client: https://nicolepaulus.com/blog-content/2025/5/9/she-found-me-through-chatgpt-proof-that-nicheing-down-still-works
That recipe you shared?
That website tutorial video you recorded and posted on YouTube on the fly?
That mini-class you created for your students?
It’s all working in the background. Quietly. Faithfully.
So when someone finally searches for what you offer—they find you.
It’s not about going viral, it’s about making yourself findable.
And having the courage to begin.
And no, it’s not all sunshine, hammocks, and palm trees (though there’ll be a good deal of that.)
You’ll still hustle. You’ll still grind.
But you’ll be doing it for yourself.
On your time.
For your vision.
About something that lights your soul on fire.
So if you’ve been sitting on an idea for weeks, months — maybe even years — consider this your sign:
Just start.
Or you’ll be looking back a decade from now wishing you had.
Want help figuring out what your idea could look like? I help conscious creatives and curious misfits find clarity, build freedom, and start walking away from the grind. Book a session with me.
The Pains (and Perks) of Being a Solo Worker
This past Monday, Squarespace invited all of their Berlin-based Circle members to a happy hour in order to meet each other as well as some of their visiting Squarespace executives including the International Marketing Director. It was a casual affair in a hotel lobby, drinks were flowing and light snacks were too. We each introduced ourselves and shared how long we’d been working with the platform/living in Berlin. Some of us griped about the weather (ahem, me) and how Berlin had changed in the last 8.5 years, but overall it was a pleasant atmosphere.
What stood out to me most was the fact that in the 10+ years, I have been slinging websites, I never actually thought about the fact that there were others out there like me. Folks who didn’t have co-workers to chit-chat with around the water cooler or complain about the boss’s bad attitude. Folks who had to raise their own rates, and set their own goals for the year because if they didn’t no one else would. Folks who sometimes got lonely, especially on a cold winter day, when they didn’t interact with anyone else except maybe the postman dropping off a package for their neighbor (who was probably out at happy hour with his co-workers.)
Working remotely certainly has its perks. I can click clack away anywhere there is internet. If I have a travel week planned, I can rearrange my schedule to accommodate. I don’t have annoying co-workers or have to stay late because the boss is on a power trip.
But, what I realized on Monday, was that I do miss out on the ability to brainstorm, to collaborate, to commiserate, and to joke around with others, others who also happen to understand the benefits (and pains) of working primarily alone.
I am SUPER grateful for Squarespace. I was first introduced to the platform while living in LA in 2011 by a mentor, someone who had been experimenting with building sites for clients. He told me I should try it as well, and I did. My first site was for a future RV park in the middle of the Arizona desert. I never in a million years would have guessed that I’d still be working with the platform 13 years later. But wow am I so thankful for the opportunity. And equally thankful that the company is starting to make it easier to network and connect with other designers locally and globally.
Upon leaving the event, I asked one of the executives if it would be possible to meet more regularly with the Berlin-based designers because I’d been having so much fun. She said, “Sure, let me see who is the lead of your division and you can ask them to set up a WhatsApp group.” After she scrolled through her phone she announced, “Nicole Paulus is the lead, you can contact her.”
“That’s me,” I laughed. I knew that I was a rep for Squarespace. For the past few months, I have been helping them lead events and getting paid to do so. But it hadn’t dawned on me that I also had the power to build a little community of designers in Berlin. So that’s what I am going to do. I just wish I would have thought of this years ago. Why?
Because 1/ it probably would have saved me a LOT of moments of self-doubt and loneliness. And 2/ because I will be leaving Berlin soon, likely for good. Luckily, though, my fellow remote workers won’t hold it against me - because they’ll likely be off on their own adventures soon enough.