Four years ago, I did something that scared me — I finally launched my YouTube channel. After months (okay, years) of thinking about it, doubting myself, and recording videos that never saw the light of day, I posted my very first video on October 7, 2020. I still remember that anxious/excited feeling, wondering if anyone would watch, if anyone would care.
Now, here we are — my channel is turning four, and I’ve posted over 140 videos since that first upload. Whether you’ve been following along from the very beginning or you just found my channel (hi! I’m Flor 👋), I’m so glad you’re here.
To celebrate this little YouTube milestone, I decided to sit down and share four lessons I’ve learned over these past four years — things I wish someone had told me when I was just getting started. And honestly? These aren’t just about YouTube or content creation. These lessons apply to anything new — starting a business, moving to a new city, switching careers, launching a side hustle, or just trying something you’ve always wanted to do.
So grab a coffee (iced, obviously), get cozy, and let’s get into it 💻✨
🎥 Watch the full video below to hear the stories behind each lesson and more personal reflections:
1. Just Start (Even If It’s Messy)
I know. It sounds so simple. But it’s so hard.
I first thought about launching this YouTube channel in 2019. I even filmed some videos that I thought would be my first uploads. But I didn’t post anything until October 2020 — a whole year later.
Why? Because I wasn’t ready. Or so I told myself.
The truth? There’s never going to be a perfect time, a perfect setup, a perfect version of you who magically knows everything. You just have to start with what you have, where you are, who you are.
And the funny thing? When I started my first blog back in 2010, I made the name, wrote the first post, and published it all in one hour. ONE. HOUR. And that blog ended up kickstarting my whole content career. So why did it take me so long to launch this channel? Fear. Doubt. Overthinking.
So I’m telling you what I wish someone had told me: just start. You’ll figure things out as you go. I promise.
2. Perfection Is the Enemy of Progress
Hi, it’s me, your friendly neighborhood perfectionist 🙋🏻♀️
If you’re like me, you want everything to be perfect — the perfect business name, the perfect first podcast episode, the perfect video, the perfect Instagram caption. But perfection is a trap. It keeps you from making any progress at all.
There’s a quote I love by Reid Hoffman (co-founder of LinkedIn):
“If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.”
That hit me hard. Because when I look back at my old videos, there are definitely some cringey moments — weird lighting, questionable editing, audio that makes me wince. But you know what? That’s normal. That’s growth. And those imperfect videos are what got me to where I am today.
Progress > perfection. Always.
3. Do It Scared
This one became my mantra in the last year.
I came across the phrase “do it scared” when I was deep in fear mode — scared of launching something new, of doing it solo, of what people would think, of failing.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to wait to be fearless. You just have to do it anyway.
Whether it’s quitting your job, starting a business, going back to school, moving to a new city, or even leaving a relationship — fear is part of it. Feeling scared just means you care. And doing something while you’re scared? That’s brave.
So yes — take the leap. Even if your voice shakes, even if you’re terrified. Do it scared.
4. “But What If You Fly?”
This is from one of my favorite quotes by Erin Hanson:
“And you ask, ‘What if I fall?’ Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?”
We spend so much time worrying about the worst-case scenarios. What if I fail? What if I embarrass myself? What if nobody likes it? What if I waste my time?
But what if it works? What if it’s amazing? What if it changes your life?
I’m so guilty of always assuming the worst. I joke that I “stress first and figure things out later.” But looking back, there were so many moments when things went better than I expected — when the risk paid off, when I surprised myself, when I actually flew.
So next time you’re spiraling with all the “what ifs,” try flipping the script. What if it goes right?
Final Thoughts
If you’re reading this and you’re on the edge of starting something new, I hope this post feels like a little pep talk from a friend — because that’s what I want this space (and my channel) to be.
None of these lessons are easy to practice — believe me, I’m still working on all of them. But they’ve helped me grow so much, not just as a content creator, but as a person.
If you take anything away from this, let it be this:
Start messy. Keep going. Do it scared. And believe, even just a little, that you might actually fly.
💬 I’d love to know — which of these lessons resonated with you the most? Are you thinking about starting something new? Let me know in the comments or DM me on Instagram @flopereira. And if you enjoyed the video, don’t forget to hit that thumbs up, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need this reminder 💛
Until next time,
Flor.
Find me on: Instagram
