Let’s be honest: most of us aren’t living the “success story” that is so frequently presented on social media. I know that I am not. With just 418 TikTok followers (my goal is 500 by the beginning of December…ambitious, I know, so if you could give me a follow if you haven’t already, I would greatly appreciate the support!), I sometimes laugh at the idea of calling myself a “creator” at all. I am no influencer, but I do create content, so perhaps “creator” is an accurate title? Nonetheless, much of the content from creators these days revolves around promoting their personal achievements and sharing advice for viewers to achieve similar success. They hit you with “This is what happened to me and this is how I got through it/did it/got to be the great success I am today,” but when you take the advice and don’t garner the same success, it can leave you feeling inadequate or left behind.
I get why creators do this. People crave solutions. We want practical advice, easy answers, and a clear roadmap to success. It’s human nature. We’re built to prioritise our personal survival and, as a result, naturally are more drawn to tips for improving our own lives rather than hearing about someone else’s struggles. But here’s the problem: the endless stream of “I did it and here’s how” content paints the picture for viewers that everyone else has already figured it out. It appears everyone has already healed, created a business, bought a house, gotten the job, and become a great success.
But what about those of us who are just starting? Just starting the recovery, just starting the business, just beginning to save for a house? Well, we feel alone, behind, ashamed, and like failures. We think it’s not possible for us because if everyone else already has it or has done it, we think, “I must be too old, or too young, or too stupid, or too late.”
Social Media is a Highlight Reel
This is exactly what I mean when I say social media is a highlight reel. It is a wall to hang the 1st-place medals and ribbons. You know what doesn’t make it on the wall? The 15 times someone didn’t place, the 12 times they fell flat on their face right before the finish line. The 8 fourth-place finishes, each one-hundredth of a second off the podium. Most people only post the photo after they have crossed the finish line or entered the winner’s circle.
Social media has given everyone and anyone the opportunity to create the illusion of success and then give whoever will listen advice on how to obtain it. Just think about the things you can pay for on social media these days. I could pay someone to tell me what to title this blog post to give myself the best shot at popping up in Google search results. Even better, I can pay someone to get a robot to do it.
Now, I am not saying everyone on social media is a phoney or giving you cheap or fake advice, because I think there is so much value in social media and digital products. However, I am saying that we need to be aware of the picture that these creators paint and the unrealistic expectations they may cause us to set for ourselves.
For example, when I first started posting content, I would see videos that said, “I got 10 million views overnight using this one simple hook.” So, of course, I’d give it a try…who wouldn’t? Then I’d watch my video get 52 views. I’d beat myself up and question,” What’s wrong with me?” Why? Because there were no creators on my for you page getting under 100 views on their videos, or still aiming for 500 followers. Every creator I saw had already become a great success. Nobody else seemed to be struggling; everyone looked like they’d already made it.
Now that I have been in the game a bit longer, when I see videos like this, I may still try the recommendations because it can’t hurt. However, if the video flops, I simply have a good chuckle and remember that I am still starting out and THAT IS OKAY!
At my core, this is what my content is all about. I am still a newbie, very much in the trenches. Not just with my content, but with my healing and with figuring my life out. I am actively trudging through the dirt, trying to keep my head above water and walking, soaking wet, through the thunderstorm alongside you.
By sharing the ups and downs and the things that are currently keeping me afloat, I hope to counter the picture of instant success that so many creators paint. I do my best to shed light on the faceplants and show you that you are not alone at the starting line. I am here to remind you that it is okay if you are not getting where you want to be as fast as everyone else seems to be. We are all still learning, no matter where we are on the journey.
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Until Next Week, My Friends!
P.S. I’m Proud of You 😉