I’m a recovering perfectionist. In a business sense anyways; personally I’ve always been a bit spontaneous. With work stuff though, I’ve always been more cautious.
It used to take me forever to get an idea off the ground when it came to my work. I wasn’t always confident enough. I would overthink every angle, re-write every word in my head, and take no action until everything felt just right and I had lost enough sleep.
Recently, someone shared a Reid Hoffman (co-founder of LinkedIn) quote that got me thinking (and feeling a little reckless.)
“An entrepreneur is someone who will jump off a cliff and assemble an airplane on the way down.”
I could almost feel the wind in my hair. And I liked it. That visual of required action happening fast and furious, as needed made me realize that waiting to have the perfect story, pitch, or platform is the fastest way to stay stagnant and invisible. And that when it comes to sharing your business, your brand, or your offers—done really is better than perfect.
PR doesn’t just happen in a perfectly polished press release or a national magazine feature. PR happens in every single interaction—at events, online, over DMs, on coffee chats, and even in awkward introductions at networking mixers. You are always telling your story, whether you realize it or not.
One Story At a Time
You don’t need a full-blown media strategy to begin. You just need to be energized.
Start by sharing one quick story: why you started your business, a challenge you overcame, or a client win that lit you up. These real moments are magnetic. People connect with real stories more than flawless ones.
Share a post on Instagram or an article on LinkedIn. Write it, video it and share it. No pressure. That small step is where momentum starts.
Collaborations: Your Fast-Track to Visibility
One of the easiest and most powerful ways to start telling your story is by collaborating with others.
Think of other brands, creators, or service providers in your space as mini media platforms. Whether it’s a guest Instagram Live, a joint giveaway, or writing a guest post for someone’s blog—these partnerships get you in front of warm, trusted audiences. It takes some of the pressure off because it’s not just about you. It’s about shared value.
If you’re new to PR or marketing, this is one of the most organic and high-leverage places to begin.
Consistency > Perfection
Whether you’re at a networking event or posting on stories, telling your story and sharing insight into your offer consistently builds confidence. The more you say it, the easier it becomes. Eventually, it rolls off your tongue naturally, like your favorite icebreaker or elevator pitch.
Here’s the best part: you’re allowed to tweak your story based on the situation and audience. (Spoiler: You’re supposed to, your story isn’t always a monologue.)
This doesn’t make you inauthentic—it makes you smart. You’re adjusting for context and clarity, not changing who you are. And with each version, each retelling, you get clearer, stronger and more ready for opportunities.
Practice Makes Pitch-Perfect
Storytelling is a skill, not a talent. It gets better the more you do it.
Every time you tell your story—whether you’re chatting with a potential client, pitching a podcast, or commenting on someone’s post—you’re getting reps in. You’re learning what resonates, what feels right, and what makes you light up.
Here’s Your Permission Slip
You don’t need the perfect words. You don’t need a stacked media list. You don’t need a fancy brand shoot (but you need good photos, I have feelings on professional photography). You don’t need to have it all figured out.
What you do need is to start!
Tell your story today—imperfectly, honestly, your way. Unpolished and still evolving. You’ll probably never get to a place where your story is perfect. And if you did, no one would want to hear it! Perfection is boring and unreliable.
If you need support jumping off that cliff, book a PR Power Hour and let’s chat about some accessible first steps to start telling your story, whether it’s finished or not! wintcommunications.com/pr-power-hour
