Embracing Imperfection: My Journey Teaching My First Class as a New Coach

I vividly remember my very first class as a new coach. Back before my digital courses became the norm, I stood before a live audience at a conference in Michigan. There were about 50 people in the room, and the space felt incredibly intimate—almost as if they were sitting right on top of me! With no stage or podium to provide a barrier, I was completely exposed.

(Note: The featured photo is from one of my later classes; I didn’t have anyone to capture my very first one. I wish I did!)

With no podium to hide behind, I was front and center, and my nerves were palpable. I was sweating, shaking, and trying desperately to steady my voice. As a confidence coach, appearing anything less than composed felt like a major misstep.

To add to the challenge, the night before, I discovered that all of my meticulously prepared PowerPoint slides had vanished. I still don’t know what happened, but they weren’t saved. I had to scramble to recreate slides from memory, throwing together a presentation that was neither complete nor polished.

Despite the setbacks, I decided to roll with the punches. I shared my story of panic with the audience, and they responded with laughter and understanding. Being open and real with them helped ease my own nerves. I used my experience of facing fear and overcoming self-doubt as a teaching point in my class, titled “Identity Crisis.” I discussed the disconnect between where you are and where you want to be, emphasizing how fear and courage play roles in bridging that gap.

I explained that even though I was nervous and my slides were far from perfect, I still showed up that morning with a strong coffee and a makeshift presentation because I owed it to myself to teach this class. I had valuable insights to share and wanted to make a difference.

The result? The class was incredibly engaging! The audience was receptive, laughing, asking questions, and clapping at the end. Many approached me afterward to thank me and compliment the class, and several signed up for one-on-one sessions. They even shared positive feedback with the event organizer.

There’s a version of me that would have canceled the class, overwhelmed by nerves and the lack of perfect preparation. But that day, I chose to be the version of me who stood up, shared authentically, and made the most of the situation.

Update: Since that first class, I’ve taught hundreds of in-person sessions, digital courses, live streams, and on-site workshops to thousands of women around the world. The key takeaway is that everyone has to start somewhere—what matters is that you start!

Love, Jana

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