What I Learned from Not Knowing the Answer (in Front of 100 People)
A few weeks ago, I got to cross something off my goal list.
I gave a presentation on copyright issues YouTubers face — a topic I’ve wanted to speak on for years. We were expecting about 30 people… and more than 100 showed up.
The reviews were mostly excellent, and the comments were overwhelmingly positive. Attendees reviewed the presentation as a 3.7 out of 4.
But there was one moment that completely threw me off.
The Moment I Didn’t Know the Answer
During the session, someone asked a question I didn’t know the answer to.
That’s pretty rare for me — I’ve taught a lot of classes, and it almost never happens. So I said honestly, “That’s a great question — I don’t actually know the answer right now.”
Later, I saw one review that said:
“This person clearly doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Ouch.
A few years ago, that one comment would’ve wrecked me.
I would’ve replayed it in my head for days — spiraling into negativity about the presentation and about myself, wondering if I even deserved to be there.
Looking at the Whole Picture
But this time, I decided to zoom out and look at all the evidence:
✅ I did something that’s been on my bucket list.
✅ Attendance was triple what we expected.
✅ My average rating was 3.7 out of 4.
✅ Feedback overall was overwhelmingly positive.
When I looked at the full picture, I realized: I actually did a really good job. And one comment doesn’t get to define the experience.
The Real Confidence Builder
That moment reminded me that confidence doesn’t come from being perfect — it comes from being brave, doing the hard things, and learning as you go.
And with a new year always just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how you want to stretch and grow next.
I’m a big fan of setting monthly goals, but I also like using this time to reflect on my bigger picture goals — the things I want to do, learn, or finally cross off my list.
So, what’s one thing you’re going to do this month to stretch yourself and grow?
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