On November 23rd, 2020, in the middle of the COVID pandemic, I did something way outside my comfort zone. I pulled out my phone, hit record, and posted a selfie video to Instagram Stories. It was part of a 20-day challenge from my friend Dan Parker, who runs a successful YouTube channel helping people move to San Diego. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Just a few of us REALTORS trying something new. I figured I’d knock out the 20 days, check the box, and quietly move on.
The Accidental Streak
I never stopped. What started as a short-term push out of my comfort zone quickly turned into an accidental streak that taught me everything about showing up.
Today marks 1,718 days in a row of posting a video story. That’s nearly five years of putting my face out there every single day. No filters, no scripts—just real moments, whatever I'm thinking about that day. I talk about my family, tech, real estate, soccer, movies, or whatever else has my attention at that time. Looking back, it’s kind of wild to think how much those things have changed since that first post. Instagram Stories turned out to be the perfect playground: casual, temporary, low stakes. If you're looking for an easy place to start, that’s it. IG Stories are only seen by your friends, so they'll be the only ones judging you.
Starting in Survival Mode
Back then, the world was upside down. I’m a REALTOR, and the pandemic had completely cut off in-person interaction. No open houses, no coffee meetups, no office meetings. Everything went digital overnight, and so did my business. And if you weren’t showing up online, especially on video, you basically didn’t exist. As someone building a real estate brand in Dunwoody, showing up online wasn’t just a creative experiment. It became the way I stayed connected to my neighbors, clients, and friends during a time when we couldn’t see each other in person.
Video was always intimidating for me. I was self-conscious about how I looked and how I sounded. But mostly worried about what other people would think about me posting everyday. But the more I posted, the less I cared. And the less I cared, the better I got. Turns out, consistency is a better teacher than confidence.
What started as a challenge became a discipline. And that discipline changed how I market myself, how I connect with others, and how I think about showing up in general.
Lessons I've Learned Along the Way
You're gonna be awkward. That’s just part of it. You have to be bad before you get better. You have to hate the sound of your voice before you own it. You have to stumble over your words before you find your flow.
The camera teaches you things. It shows you how you carry yourself, where you ramble, what you avoid. It’s not always flattering, but it’s always honest. And honesty is the best kind of growth.
Don’t worry about views. Most people won’t watch, and that’s fine. The audience builds slowly, and the real win is showing up for yourself. Your early videos are like reps at the gym. No one’s clapping for your pushups, but you’re getting stronger anyway.
Shortcuts don’t help. Filters, scripts, over-editing. They might make you feel safer, but they also keep you from getting comfortable. Raw beats polished, especially when you’re building trust.
Make it a habit. Not a once-a-week, when-I-feel-inspired thing, but a daily thing. My videos are rarely longer than a minute long. I think about a topic for a minute or two and then just go.
Accountability matters. For me, it was the streak. Once I hit 20 days, I never set another date for a goal. I just never wanted to stop. Then it became part of my identity. Figure out what keeps you going: a challenge, a partner, a sticky note on your mirror. Whatever works.
Your audience will shift. Some people will watch silently for months, then suddenly message you like they’ve known you forever. Others will fade out. That’s normal. What surprised me most is that while my audience size hasn’t grown dramatically, the relationships I’ve built have grown much deeper. The conversations are more meaningful, the trust is stronger, and the people who stick around truly feel like part of the journey. You’re building connection through presence, not perfection.
Eventually, you’ll start to like it. I know, wild. But there’s something therapeutic about hitting record, reflecting out loud, and sharing a small part of your day. It becomes less about performance and more about perspective.
And it bleeds into everything else. You’ll speak more confidently in meetings. You’ll pitch better. You’ll write better emails. You’ll stop obsessing over tiny imperfections and start focusing on just showing up.
Just Hit Record
You don’t need fancy gear or a content calendar. You just need your phone, your face, and a little courage.
One of my favorite quotes from Ed Mylett always stuck with me: “Confidence is the stuff that comes from keeping promises you make to yourself.”. Every time I hit record, even when I didn’t feel like it, I was keeping a promise to myself. And over time, those little promises stacked up into real confidence in myself.
You’ll be surprised how much progress you can make just by hitting record.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time, the perfect lighting, or the perfect idea, skip it. Just hit record. Show up once. Then again. I’ll be cheering you on from Dunwoody.
You’ll be surprised how much progress you can make just by hitting record over and over.
