3 Things I Thought I Needed To Succeed (That I Actually Didn’t)

Hey there,

When I first started building my online business, I was convinced I needed to have it all figured out, from fancy website design to pro tools to create funnels and having millions of followers was overwhelming to think about getting to. But now, years (and plenty of lessons) later, I’m here to tell you: a lot of what I thought I had to have turned out to be unnecessary.

So today, I want to share three things I thought I needed to succeed… but didn’t. And if you’re feeling stuck because you don’t have these things yet, I hope this helps you breathe a little easier and take that next step forward anyway.

1. You Don’t Need To Be An Expert At Everything

When I first heard about affiliate marketing, I felt excited, then immediately overwhelmed. It was when a lot of affiliate scam programs were out too that promised boat loads and charged ridiculous prices for programs.

I didn’t know a thing about SEO, analytics, or how to install a Pixel. Tbh, some of this I'm still learning about.

I did not understand terms like DNS, domain, metadata, or hosting. Yes, I didn't even understand what hosting was and I didn't understand how it differentiated from a domain. Absolutely nothing made sense to me back then.

So instead of trying to figure it all out, I leaned into what was my thing like writing, storytelling, and helping others. I focused on learning one skill at a time, like setting up my blog or figuring out how to install plugins and gradually everything started making sense.

I was lucky to find Wealthy Affiliate early on in my quest so having access to tools and training did help me bridge the gap.

Now I'm even dabbling into Google Analytics and Facebook Ads, look at me go!

So remember, growth happens when you’re willing to learn, not when you already know it all.

2. You Don’t Need A Big Audience To Start

This one tripped me up for a long time. I thought if I didn’t have millions of followers or a huge email list, what was the point?

But when I started sharing my content, even with a small audience, things started happening. People responded and resonated which lead to more clicks and shares. I got comments, feedback, and the motivation to keep going.

I've even had brands reach out for paid collaborations with only a few thousand followers on IG and YouTube. I can tell you fro experience, you never know who's watching and who really admires your work.

So yes, your early readers matter probably even more than the people who follow you after you build momentum becuase those are your 'ride or dies' so to speak. Even if it’s just five people reading today, that’s five lives you’re speaking into. Don’t wait until it’s “big enough” to take things seriously. Do it now, today, and going forward into your future endeavors.

3. You Don’t Need To Post Perfect Content Every Day

I'll be honest and say that I am a perfectionist. So know that I'm speaking from experience when I say that sometimes you have to let go of the nitpicking.

I've been told that errors make your content more human. In these days of perfect AI, imagery, and texts, letting a typo go here and there lets your audience see that you're a real person. They want to connect with a person not a bot, remember that.

I’ve had people stay on my pages for 4+ minutes and come back multiple times. That kind of engagement isn’t from flashy content, it’s from producing real value and connection.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been holding off on starting (or continuing) because you feel like you don’t have enough knowledge, followers, or time to be perfect, please hear this.

You don’t need all that to succeed. You just need to take your next step.

I’m still learning. Still growing. Still figuring things out too.

And I have to also still remind myself to not be too much of a perfectionist. No we don't want to produce sloppy work but it's ok not to be perfect all the time too.

What’s one thing you thought you needed to succeed but realized you didn’t? I’d love to hear your experience. Let’s talk about it.

Marlinda
Internet Incomes | Helping pet lovers and parents turn their passion into online income.