Let’s get honest for a second.
If you’re here reading this, chances are you’ve felt the tension between wanting to show up fully in your leadership, work, or family — and also wanting to shrink back because it feels safer. Maybe it feels like your “place.” Maybe you don’t want to “get it wrong.”
I get it. I’ve felt it too. And if I’m being honest, I still feel it weekly — if not daily — in certain contexts.
As a former teacher, community volunteer, small business owner, and now consultant/coach, I’ve worked with so many incredible leaders and entrepreneurs who are wildly gifted. They’re smart, capable, compassionate, and hardworking.
And yet, when it comes to putting themselves out there — whether on social media, in a meeting, or even in a one-on-one conversation — something holds them back.
They’ll say things like:
- “I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging.”
- “I’m not ready yet.”
- “I don’t have enough experience.”
- “What if people judge me?”
Maybe you’ve said some of those things to yourself too.
Here’s the truth: being seen for who you are and what you uniquely bring to the world takes courage. And courage doesn’t always feel like a roar. Sometimes, it’s just a whisper: “I’ll take one small step today.”
My Story
In 2016, I was 29 years old, pregnant with our fourth child in five years, and looking for more.
A couple years earlier, I’d left my teaching position to stay home with our little ones. That was the right choice for that season, but by this time I was craving something different: creative fulfillment, professional identity, and a way to contribute to our family’s income.
So when my dad and cousin launched a business in our small town of Cascade, Iowa, I raised my hand to help a few hours a week.
“How much do you want us to pay you?” they asked.
That question took me days to answer. I wrestled with it — drawing on my memories of being a server at $3.85 an hour plus tips, and a public school teacher earning $32,000 before taxes. I couldn’t imagine choosing my own worth.
“I don’t know…how about $15/hour?” I finally said. They said yes instantly. I was thrilled.
It sounds small now, but in that moment it felt massive. I had put myself out there. I had named a number. I had asked for what I wanted.
Fast forward a few months, and those admin tasks turned into starting a Facebook page and running a marketing campaign for the business. It worked. The community noticed. Soon, other small business owners were asking if I could help them too.
And I remember thinking: Excuse me? Me? The mom of four, working off a farm laptop during naptime? Surely, you’ve got the wrong person.
But little by little, as I borrowed the belief of others and saw real results, I started to believe too. I filed for my LLC: Molly Knuth Media.
And then came the moments of being “seen.”
- At the grocery store, my grandma’s friends would say: “I loved your live video on Facebook!”
- At school events, other parents would ask: “Can you help me get back into my Instagram account?”
- At family functions, relatives would ask: “How’s business going?”
At first, I deflected: “Oh, that video was terrible.” “This is just a side thing until I go back to teaching.”
But the more I leaned in, the more I realized: people weren’t humoring me. They were helped. They were inspired. They valued what I had to offer.
So I started to value it too.
Once I allowed myself to be seen, really seen, things grew quickly. A waitlist. A team. Speaking engagements. Workshops. A podcast.
And I realized something: courage to be seen isn’t about how others view you. It’s about having the courage to see yourself.
Rep It Out: The Three-Part Process
Over the years, I’ve used a simple three-part process with my marketing clients, and it mirrors The Restoration Project’s own restoration framework: Attract, Nurture, Serve.
1. Attract (Connection)
First, you have to connect with yourself. What stories are you attracting by the way you speak about yourself?
For me, it was saying things like, “It’s just my little side business.” Guess what that attracted? Little, side-business energy.
But when I began owning my role as a marketer and business owner, the opportunities shifted. I started attracting serious clients and aligned partnerships.
Try this: Write down one limiting story you tell yourself. Then ask: Is this true, or is it fear talking?
Practice: Keep a file of thank-you notes, emails, or client wins. Pull them out when you’re tempted to shrink. Let those words remind you of your impact.
2. Nurture (Intention)
Then, set your intention for how you want to show up. What do you want people to feel after working with you, meeting you, or following your work?
For me, I realized I wanted to serve women entrepreneurs. So I stopped using vague language like “helping small businesses.” I got specific. I nurtured that intention by choosing women-centered conferences, saying no to clients who weren’t aligned, and focusing my yeses where my mission was strongest.
Try this: Write down one word you want people to use when they describe you when you’re not in the room. Let that word be your north star.
3. Serve (Action)
Finally: action. Not 100 actions. Just one.
Post the thing that scares you. Speak up in the meeting. Reach out to the person you admire. Courage grows like a muscle, one rep at a time.
And don’t forget to celebrate. That moment of “I did it” rewires your brain to keep choosing courage next time.
Closing
Being seen isn’t about ego. It’s about stewardship.
You’ve been given gifts…your experiences, your skills, your perspective…for a reason. When you hide them, you’re not protecting anyone. You’re withholding the light only you can bring.
So the question is:
👉 Where in your leadership or life are you currently hiding, and what’s one small courageous step you can take this week to let yourself be seen?
A Note and a New Chapter: Being Seen at The Restoration Project
In 2026, I’m stepping into a new role that’s stretching me and allowing me to be seen in an all-new way. I’m honored to soon serve as Managing Director of The Restoration Project.
In this position, I’ll continue doing what I love most: helping connect The Restoration Project’s mission and services with leaders who want to elevate their skills and empower the people they serve through connection, intention, and action. Alongside that, I’ll be coordinating programming, uniting our incredible team of coaches, engaging with partners and sponsors, and stewarding the mission and collective work of The Restoration Project into the future.
When people ask about my goal in this role, I tell them this: I’m excited to work with visionaries and leaders who dream about what the world could look like when we live and lead with meaning, purpose, and alignment. I love the message and the energy of The Restoration Project, and I can’t wait to help expand our footprint in the years ahead.
If you’d like to connect with me personally, you can find me on social media at @mollyknuth or send me a note anytime at connectioncreator@the-restorationproject.com.
More from Molly
- Listen to Molly’s podcast, The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth, on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Below are a couple of her recent favorite episodes with the ladies of The Restoration Project:
- Check out this mini series of episodes to help women get their groove back when they feel out of alignment
Written by: Molly Knuth, Connection Creator at The Restoration Project
