The Grueling Reality of Starting on LinkedIn, According to Alicia Teltz

In a recent LinkedIn post, Alicia Teltz offers a candid look at the initial struggles and eventual triumphs of consistently posting on the platform. Teltz addresses aspiring content creators directly, acknowledging the significant hurdles they will face during their first few weeks and months. She emphasizes that the journey is far from glamorous in the beginning, a sentiment she highlights early in her post.

Navigating the ‘Awkward Phase’ of Content Creation

Alicia Teltz underscores that the initial phase of posting on LinkedIn is inherently difficult, characterized by self-doubt and a steep learning curve. She outlines a series of common challenges that new users typically encounter. According to Teltz, these early stages are marked by overthinking, fear of annoying one’s network, and a perception that the algorithm is working against them.

“The first few posts will suck. Terribly. You’ll hugely overthink every sentence. You’ll wonder if you’re annoying everyone. You’ll think the algorithm absolutely hates you. You’ll think everyone else is growing much faster.”

Teltz argues that these feelings, while uncomfortable, are a normal part of the process. She identifies steps 1-5 in her list as particularly challenging, requiring a willingness to be vulnerable and to endure criticism or misunderstanding from others, including friends and family. This period, she explains, demands a sustained effort to step outside one’s comfort zone.

The Transformative Power of Persistence

Despite the initial difficulties, Alicia Teltz asserts that embracing this awkward phase is crucial for long-term growth and opportunity. She believes that pushing through these challenges leads to significant personal and professional development.

“Because you need to be willing to be EMBARASSINGLY 💩💩💩 at first. You need to be willing to endure eyerolls from people who don’t get it (mainly from your family & friends. Sad, I know.). You need to be willing to get out of your comfort zone for a long, looong time.”

Teltz frames this period of struggle as a necessary precursor to future success. She points out that this is precisely where growth occurs and doors begin to open, noting that not everyone possesses the fortitude to persevere through this demanding phase. In Teltz’s view, those who do commit will experience a profound transformation.

Personal Success Fueled by LinkedIn Activity

To illustrate the potential rewards of consistent effort on LinkedIn, Alicia Teltz shares her own remarkable achievements. She details how, in less than a year, her activity on the platform enabled significant life changes.

“In under 12 months, posting on LinkedIn enabled me to: Quit my $250k corporate job, Land clients such as FedEx, Amazon, Google and Samsung Electronics, Retire my boyfriend (he’s a trophy boyfriend these days), Travel the world as I have FULL freedom over how I want to design my life (those pictures are from my Italian era 🇮🇹🍝).”

Teltz uses these personal milestones—including leaving a high-paying corporate job, securing major clients, and achieving financial freedom that allowed for extensive travel—as evidence of the opportunities that arise from dedicated content creation. She concludes by encouraging readers to take action, offering further guidance through a free webinar designed to help them prepare their LinkedIn profiles for incoming opportunities.