Why Sharing Your Journey Matters (and Why Most People Don’t Do It)

I recently saw this post from Nathan Barry about the “90-9-1 Rule,”

• 90% of people love to consume—they scroll, they read, they watch, they learn and move on.
• 9% go out and do things—they learn, they try, they experiment, they build.
• 1% do things AND share the journey.

Most of us (including me) are in that 90%, or maybe the 9%, and that’s fine! But sometimes it feels soothing to my soul when I share my thoughts or create something and put it out there.

This is what I learned from my friends, colleagues, and those 1% people—the people who don’t just learn and grow but actually share what they’re learning and going through.

The Power of Putting Yourself Out There

Here’s what I noticed: sharing doesn’t come naturally to most people. It feels vulnerable, and a little intimidating, and honestly, it can be a time commitment. Been there.

But when you share your journey, even in small ways, you start to see the impact it can have.

I believe we all learn a lot from our own lives, whether it’s through the work we do, the challenges we face, or the people we meet along the way. But too often, we keep those lessons to ourselves. We get busy, we move on, and we assume no one else really needs to know.

But imagine if more of us shared. Imagine the collective learning we could all tap into. When one person shares their lessons, it can make someone else’s path just a little easier or spark an idea they hadn’t thought of.

Why Sharing Isn’t Just for the “Experts”

You don’t have to be some big expert to start sharing your experiences.

Honestly, people connect with real, raw, everyday stories more than polished “success” stories. You can share small wins, failures, or even things you’re still figuring out or things you are struggling with.

• Did you learn a tough lesson at work? Share it. Someone else might be going through the same thing.
• Tried something new that worked? Share the details. You might save someone else hours of trial and error.
• Facing a challenge? Put it out there. You’ll be surprised by how many people have been in your shoes.

Building a Community by Being Real

In a way, sharing is how we find “our people.”

It’s like saying, “Hey, this is what I’m up to, here’s what I’ve learned, and here’s where I’m trying to go.” When you do that, you attract others who are on a similar path. It’s one of the simplest ways to build an authentic community around you.

And in the process, you’ll probably realize you’re not alone in whatever you’re going through. You’ll get support, ideas, and encouragement that you didn’t even know you needed.

Here's How You Can Start Sharing (Without Overthinking It)

I know it’s easy to get in your head about sharing—"Is it good enough? Will people even care?” But the truth is, most people are just looking for something real.

Start small:

• Post a quick lesson you learned this week.
• Share an insight from something that went wrong and what you’d do differently.
• Talk about a new idea you’re trying out, even if it’s still a work in progress.

Just be yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be you.

My Thoughts

There’s a lot of noise online, but that doesn’t mean your voice doesn’t matter. There's space for each one of us. If you’re doing meaningful work, or if you’re learning and growing, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it. Chances are, someone out there will relate, benefit, or just feel a little more connected because of what you put out there.

So if you’ve been on the fence about sharing your journey, consider this your nudge to start.

The world could use more genuine stories, and you’d be surprised at what can happen when you step into that 1%.

#Sharing #Community #Growth #WritingOnline #CommunityBuilding