Hey Reader,

Do you remember this 80's Pantene commercial? (I'm looking at you, Gen X'ers. Plus your moms.)

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Actress/model Kelly LeBrock said the iconic line, which has been used a zillion times since:

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

I don’t hate her.
But I also don’t relate to her.

She was smooth, polished, and camera-ready—everything many of us were taught we had to be before we deserved attention. Before we could speak up. Before we could be taken seriously.

Here’s what I think instead:

Visibility isn’t something you earn with perfection.
It’s something you claim with presence.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve stepped into something unprepared. Whether it was stumbling into a viral photo project, launching a business, running for office or even moving across the country, I did it with more hope than strategy and just enough confidence to fake it until the first panic attack.

Before I had the bio. Before I had the brand. Before I had the nerve.

And you know what? It worked. Not always perfectly, not always smoothly—but always better than silence.​
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Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not suggesting you wing it completely or make huge financial decisions without serious thought.

Do your research. Ask questions. Get support.
But don’t wait until you’ve earned the gold star, finished the fifth certification, or finally feel “legit.”

I’ve seen too many people—women especially—spend months, years, whole lives trying to make something perfect…only to never see it launch.

I’m not suggesting you walk out your front door and declare yourself an expert in something you’ve never tried.

But if you’ve been waiting until you feel “ready”?​
Maybe don’t.

The world doesn’t need another perfect woman.
It needs more real ones who show up anyway.

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XO,
Danielle

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P.S. The last two Roar episodes dive into this in completely different ways—Debbi Zinni’s episode (available now) is about owning your expertise, even in rooms full of generals. Mandy Rowden’s (out Monday) is about the power of imperfect creativity and why just showing up is more fun (and powerful) anyway.

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​P.P.S. This work runs on big ideas and small cups of coffee. ​[Fuel it here.]​

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​P.P.P.S. The moment you feel unqualified is often the exact moment you’re needed most. Show up anyway.

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