What to Do When It Feels Like No One’s Listening
You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just in the part that feels the hardest.
The hardest part of creating anything isn’t always the beginning.
It’s the bit right after, when you’ve made your move, shared your work, opened the door, and all you hear is silence…..
You know what I’m talking about.
You send the email and get no replies. You post your offer and no one buys. You write something from the heart and it feels like it just disappears.
That silence can be brutal. It brings up everything you were already afraid of.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
Maybe you're not cut out for this.
Maybe no one wants what you're trying to create.
The Resistance
Steven Pressfield in his book ‘The War of Art’ calls this ‘The Resistance’. It shows up the moment you try to do something that matters. And it’s nasty!
It fills your head with doubt and makes everything feel harder than it should. It convinces you to pause, hold back and wait for better timing.
What it’s really doing is trying to protect you from the risk of failure. But all it does is stop you from moving forward.
Imposter syndrome shows up here too. That feeling that everyone else has it figured out, and that you don’t belong in the room.
Would it surprise you to know that everyone goes through this? The quiet, wobbly, what-the-hell-am-I-doing phase.
Even the mahoosive celebs that make it look like it all came naturally.
You’re not alone. You’re just early.
What To Do While You're Sitting In The Silence
You’ve taken the leap. You’ve posted, published, offered something up. And the response has been… underwhelming.
Maybe completely non-existent.
This is the bit where most people quietly disappear. It feels easier to stop than to keep showing up to an empty room.
But the silence doesn’t mean it isn’t working. It just means it hasn’t reached the right people yet.
So while you're here, in this stretch of slow progress and second-guessing, here are a few things that might help:
1. Focus on doing the work, not getting the response
It’s hard to keep going when you feel ignored. But showing up consistently is what builds trust. It’s also what helps you get better. Every piece of content, every offer, every messy attempt teaches you something. Even if no one says a word.
2. Keep a private record of tiny wins
A save. A comment. A kind email. A single sale. When things feel slow, it’s easy to miss the little signals. Write them down. Let them remind you that it is working, even if the results are small.
3. Stop checking stats and start building rhythm
Refreshing your email, reloading your dashboard, obsessing over numbers (we all do it), just drains your energy. Instead, build a rhythm that feels doable. One post a week. One newsletter. One offer every month. Something you can sustain, even when the results aren’t there yet.
4. Talk to one person
Forget the algorithm. Forget the masses. Imagine one real person who might need to hear what you’re saying. Speak to them. That connection is what builds everything else.
5. Keep going a little longer than you think you can
This phase always feels endless, until suddenly it’s not. One day, someone shares your post. Someone replies. Something clicks. You don’t know when that will happen. Which is why you need to stay in the game long enough to find out.
What The Silence Is Really Building
It might feel like nothing’s happening right now. No feedback, no growth and no signs you’re on the right track. But that silence is doing more than it feels like.
You’re learning to trust yourself and to keep promises to yourself.
You’re finding your voice and building your rhythm. And you’re getting clearer with every piece you publish or offer you put out.
It might not be visible yet, but the foundation is forming.
You’re also becoming someone who follows through. Someone who creates in motion, and doesn’t stop just because no one claps straight away.
That kind of grit isn’t glamorous, but it’s gold and it’s what sets you apart. Because most people won’t get through this part. They’ll stop, rethink, change direction, start again, and stay stuck in the beginning.
You’re doing something most people never do. You’re staying with it and that’s what the silence is giving you.
If you’re still in it, here’s what to remember:
Silence doesn’t mean failure. It means you’re still in the early stretch.
You’re not behind. You’re just building something that takes time.
Small things count. One message, one save, one kind word, all equal momentum.
Your job is to keep showing up. Let the results catch up later.
You’re already doing the hard bit. Keep going.
You’ve Done the Hardest Part
You’ve started.
Now comes the bit where you prove to yourself that you can keep going.
Even when it’s quiet, awkward, and no one’s watching.
In fact I urge you to embrace obscurity, because now’s the time you can experiment freely and build without pressure or applause.
Use this time to strengthen your consistency muscle, and gradually you’ll earn the results everyone else is still hoping for.
Don’t wait to feel ready, or seen. Just keep going.
You’re not here to be perfect. You’re here to keep showing up.
So show up. Then do it again tomorrow.
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I am just in the silent stage.