“Everyone else is already successful at making money online. What makes me think I can compete with them?”
It stops you in your tracks, doesn’t it? That thought. That heavy, crushing little sentence that creeps in the moment you even entertain the idea of putting yourself out there. It’s hard not to feel like the underdog when every Instagram scroll or YouTube ad throws another “overnight success” in your face.
You look at them—the polished websites, the perfect strategies, the six-figure testimonials—and you think, Why even bother? They’ve already done it better than I ever could.
It’s okay. Let that feeling sit for a minute. It’s scary. It’s paralyzing. And yet, somewhere deep in your gut, there’s still that tiny, stubborn spark whispering, But what if I could?
You’re here reading this because you haven’t given up on that whisper, even if it feels faint right now. And that’s where I want us to start—not with the doubts (as loud as they are), but with the simple, undeniable fact that you’re still here.
Why Is Everyone Else “So Much Further Ahead”?
Let’s face it: comparison is inevitable. You’ve got access to seemingly endless examples of people who have already “made it.” You see their curated success stories, their epic wins, their dollar signs. But what you don’t see?
The messy, uncertain road it took them to get there.
Because here’s the truth that no one really likes to talk about—every expert you’re looking at today? They started exactly where you are. With fear. With imposter syndrome. With no clue what the hell they were doing. Just like you, they stared at a blank screen and thought, Why would anyone choose me over the hundred others already doing this?
The difference? They didn’t let those thoughts stop them.
And let me let you in on a little secret: they didn’t succeed by “competing.” Most of them didn’t come out swinging, trying to outdo the top players in the field. Instead, they got specific—and unapologetically themselves.
Own Your Lane (And Don’t Look Both Ways)
Here’s the thing about making money online: it isn’t about being the best in the industry. It’s about finding your people.
You don’t need a million followers, a perfect website, or the fanciest logo to succeed. You don’t even need to know everything about your niche. What you do need is clarity about who you’re here to help and why.
Think about it: maybe you’re a photographer. Sure, there are dozens of photographers online, selling presets and offering tutorials. But if your love for photography comes from capturing raw, unfiltered moments at family gatherings because that’s how you process losing loved ones early in life… suddenly, you’ve found your lane.
That’s your thing.
You’re not just selling photography tips anymore. You’re helping people preserve the fleeting, imperfect beauty of their lives. And trust me, it will resonate with the right people in ways that no one else’s work could.
When you stop worrying about “competing” and start focusing on showing up as yourself, something clicks. Because here’s what they don’t tell you: there’s no competition when you’re playing in your own lane.
Your Unique Perspective Is the Advantage
Somewhere along the way, you’ve been made to believe that what you have to offer isn’t enough as it is—that you need to slap on a layer of polish or someone else’s blueprint to keep up. But the reality? Your quirks, experiences, and perspectives are exactly what make you irreplaceable.
I’ll give you an example.
A friend of mine, Jess, wanted to start an online nutrition coaching business. But as soon as she began brainstorming content ideas, the doubt crept in. “Why would anyone choose me when there are certified experts already crushing it in this niche?”
Here’s what Jess realized: the big-name experts, the ones with massive followings, weren’t speaking to her people. Jess had her own messy health journey—she wasn’t a naturally athletic or fitness-loving person. She grew up binge-watching sitcoms with a family that loved takeout more than home-cooked meals. Her relationship with food was complicated, and her tone was warm, funny, and real.
And that’s what her audience needed.
Her clients didn’t care that she wasn’t the “top nutritionist” with fancy credentials. What mattered to them was that Jess understood them. She was relatable in a way the polished experts weren’t.
Her story became her superpower. And the same will be true for you.
The Myth of “Too Late”
You’ve probably heard that you need to be “early” to succeed online—that the waves of opportunity have already passed. But this is a lie that keeps so many people standing on the sidelines.
Let’s shift perspective for a moment.
There are more humans connecting online today than ever before in history. The pool of potential customers, clients, collaborators, and communities continues to grow every single day. So even if someone else has “done it,” your version of it hasn’t existed until now.
Think about it this way: hundreds of authors have written books about personal growth, but it didn’t stop Brené Brown from penning her first vulnerability manifesto. Hundreds of chefs have already posted recipes online, but it didn’t stop that one person you follow on TikTok who makes baking fun and approachable for beginners.
Someone out there is waiting for your way of saying it, doing it, delivering it. They’re waiting for you.
What Makes You Think You Do Belong?
Let me flip that question you’ve been asking yourself: “What makes me think I can compete with them?”
What if the better question is, “What makes me think I don’t deserve a seat at the table?”
It’s all too easy to underestimate yourself. To look at your relatively short experience or your scrappy start and think, there’s no way I belong here. But belonging isn’t something anyone will grant you. It’s something you claim when you decide that your voice matters just as much as anyone else’s.
And let’s be real—would these so-called “experts” exist without ever taking risks, making mistakes, and learning as they went? Your journey will be no different. Success doesn’t come from being perfect; it comes from doing what most others won’t: showing up, messy and unapologetic, until the pieces fall into place.
Will it be scary? Absolutely. Will there be moments when you feel lost or convinced you’ve made a mistake? Probably. But here’s the kicker: every single one of those so-called experts have felt the same.
The only difference is, they didn’t let that fear win.
The Simplest Way to Start
If you’re still here, chances are you’re ready. Maybe not for the “full leap,” but for that first small step. That’s what matters most—it’s not about having it all figured out; it’s about choosing to start anyway.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel or have every detail mapped out. You just need one action—a tiny proof point—that signals to yourself, I’m doing it. Whether that’s launching a simple website, sharing a raw and honest story online, or offering your service to one person who needs it, those are the moments that build momentum.
The noise of comparison will never fully go away. But here’s the secret: it doesn’t have to stop you, either.
Someday, someone will look at you—the person who decided to start despite the doubts—and think, Wow, I wish I could do what they’ve done. They’ll never know that you once sat in their exact seat, staring at a screen and whispering, “What if I can’t?”
But you’ll know. And you’ll be glad you tried.
The experts you admire all started where you are now—what they had was courage to begin. Click here to learn how you can bypass overwhelm, embrace your strengths, and take that first step toward making it happen.
