# I Want to Share a Little Secret with You… I’m Not Flawless
I get it, I really do — it’s shocking, right? But here’s another reality: That’s absolutely fine. In fact, recognizing imperfection is not just freeing; it’s a crucial element for growth and achievement, especially when it comes to engaging with others, sharing your passions, or transforming into a motivational speaker or trainer.
However, I often hear people holding themselves back from realizing their dreams of speaking or teaching due to the mindset that they’re “not good enough” or “not qualified enough.” They persuade themselves that they need additional training, enhanced skills, or even a different smile, hairstyle, or manner of speaking before they can step onto a stage or communicate effectively.
They’ve fallen for a harmful myth: The myth of flawlessness.
## Why Striving for Flawlessness is Undermining You
Here’s something vital to grasp: The notion that you need to meet some ideal standard of knowledge, appearance, or demeanor before you can “speak your truth” or instruct others is not just misguided — it’s harmful. Aspiring for perfection is a surefire way to sabotage yourself.
Let’s delve into why the pursuit of perfection is ineffective:
1. **It distances you from your audience.**
People are not flawless — and because of this, they perceive perfection as unrealistic or insincere. If you enter a room or start recording, attempting to appear impeccable, your audience will likely feel more isolated than inspired.
2. **It creates feelings of being an imposter.**
Deep down, we all sense when we are faking it. If you’re putting in overtime to project an image of “perfection,” you’re bound to feel self-conscious, anxious, and overwhelmed—diminishing any confidence you may have had.
3. **Flawlessness diminishes authenticity.**
Many traditional training programs concentrate on teaching “correct” methods for speaking and presenting. While there’s merit in understanding structure, some of these techniques involve calculated gestures, forced postures, and mechanical delivery. This can make your presence seem unrelatable and unnatural.
And the most significant reason to relinquish perfection? Authenticity is *profoundly* more valuable. If your goal is to forge meaningful connections with an audience, authenticity is your greatest asset.
## Authenticity Always Prevails Over Perfection
In the realm of being a speaker, trainer, or educator, perfection is not your aim — **connection** is. And that connection arises from your *authentic self.*
To simplify: People resonate with real individuals. They relate to your flaws, quirks, and imperfections because that’s what defines you as human. Authenticity fosters relatability, and relatability fosters trust.
If there’s one belief I firmly hold, it’s this: **Authenticity is the top-quality trait you need to become a successful speaker or educator.**
Let’s break it down further. Here are three reasons why being genuine always triumphs over striving for perfection:
1. **Your audience can detect inauthenticity.**
We’ve all experienced moments when we felt someone was “putting on a show” or not being genuine. It’s an instant turn-off. Audiences crave honesty and vulnerability — they wish to witness the real you, not a flawlessly practiced version.
2. **Authenticity is simpler and more sustainable.**
Pretending to be someone you believe your audience wants to see demands tremendous effort. Over time, this becomes exhausting and unmanageable. Being your true self, however, requires no extra effort — it’s merely about being who you are.
3. **Authenticity encourages action.**
When you embrace your true self, including flaws and imperfections, it grants permission to others to do likewise. This is particularly impactful when teaching or guiding others, as individuals will feel motivated to learn from and connect with someone they find authentic and approachable.
### But… What if I Still Feel “Not Good Enough”?
Numerous aspiring educators or speakers grapple with what’s widely referred to as imposter syndrome: the feeling that you’re “not ready,” “not experienced enough,” or “not qualified” to guide others.
Here’s the truth that you need to acknowledge: **You possess what it takes already.**
– Do you have knowledge or skills that can positively influence others?
– Do you care about assisting people in their growth, learning, or achieving meaningful goals?
– Are you prepared to present yourself as your authentic self?
If you responded yes, that’s all the foundation you need to begin. The sooner you accept that you’re “enough” just as you are, the sooner you’ll start cultivating confidence and providing value for others.
**No level of training or preparation will ever eliminate the fear of imperfection.**