The Fear, The Doubts…& a Sold-Out Programme!

Happy Monday!

If you're in London, I hope you've been able to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine today—it certainly put a massive smile on my face.

Today, I want to share some reflections from the past few weeks in the hope that they inspire you to take action—even if it feels imperfect. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: waiting for perfection will keep you stuck.

The Group Programme That Didn’t Happen

I first had the idea to launch a group coaching programme back in January 2024.

I knew I wanted to do it. I love working with small groups, creating a space where entrepreneurs can share, support, and grow together. I even went as far as mapping out the structure, setting the pricing, and building a promotional page.

But then—I froze.

I didn’t tell anyone about it. I didn’t promote it. I convinced myself that I needed to 'figure a few more things out' first. And of course, if no one knows about it, no one signs up.

At first, I felt like I had failed. But instead of beating myself up, I shifted my focus to deepening my relationships in the entrepreneurial space over the course of 2024 and beyond.

I became an ambassador for Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs, collaborated with women-led businesses, and ran in-person and online group coaching sessions—even one with 20 mums and their babies!

Without realising it, I was gaining confidence. I was building momentum. I was doing the work—just in a different way.

By the end of 2024, I knew: I was ready to launch my group programme.

January 2025: Another Setback (and the Fear Creeps Back)

The new year arrived, and I was so excited to finally make this happen.

But then—I got hit with severe flu. It knocked me out for over three weeks, forcing me to delay my launch. My inner critic was having a field day:

'You’ve failed again. You should just give up.'

But then I reminded myself: 'progress over perfection.'

So, despite the self-doubt, I kept going.

Facing the Fear of Putting Yourself Out There

Launching something new is terrifying.

You start imagining the worst-case scenarios:

• What if no one signs up?
• What if only 1 or 2 people join?
• What if people think I don’t know what I’m doing?

I had to make a choice: listen to the inner critic—or nurture my inner cheerleader.

So I told myself:

✔️ Even if just one person signs up, I can still help them tremendously.

✔️ Taking action is always a win, no matter the outcome.

✔️ I am ready.

I started posting.

I reached out to my network.

I had conversations.

I put myself out there.

And at first? Crickets.

We all want instant results—people immediately saying 'YES, sign me up!'—but that’s not how it works, especially when you’re building something new.

So, I kept showing up.

Even though my waitlist page was ready, I still hadn’t built my payment page.

Even though I had email sequences drafted, they weren’t fully set up.

I had to manually follow up with people.

Nothing was perfect. But I kept going.

And Then, the Breakthrough

Little by little, things started moving.

And then—something incredible happened.

As of today, I sold out my very first Group Coaching Programme! 🎉

We now have eight amazing women entrepreneurs starting tomorrow, and I am beyond excited! I genuinely was not expecting to sell out my first cohort, so this is a huge milestone for me, and I wanted to share it with you!

The Takeaway: Perfectionism Is Fear in Disguise

If I had waited for everything to be 'just right,' this would never have happened.

Perfectionism is just fear in disguise. It convinces you to pause, delay, and second-guess. But taking action—even messy action—is what builds confidence and momentum.

Over the past two months, my learning has been absolutely huge! Just some of the things I've learnt:

✅ Sales & Marketing Fundamentals – How to position and promote an offer in a way that resonates with your ideal clients.

✅ Pricing Strategy – Balancing affordability with value and confidence in charging what you’re worth.

✅ How to Have Sales Conversations – Navigating objections, offering value, and confidently making the ask.

✅ Customer Journey & Buyer Psychology – Understanding that people don’t buy instantly; they need awareness, nurturing, and trust first.

✅ Visibility & Audience Engagement – The importance of consistently showing up on social media and in communities.

✅ Lead Generation & Outreach – How to attract and engage potential clients without feeling salesy.

✅ Mindset & Self-Belief – Managing the inner critic and self-doubt throughout the process.

✅ Adapting When Things Don’t Go to Plan – Learning to pivot when you get sick, don’t get instant sign-ups, or hit obstacles.

✅ Creating Group Coaching Content – Structuring a program that delivers transformation, not just information.

✅ Holding Space in Group Sessions – Balancing structure with flexibility to meet participants' needs.

✅ Tech & Automation – Learning (and troubleshooting!) platforms like Kajabi, email marketing software, and payment systems.

✅ Balancing Strategy & Imperfection – Knowing when to plan and when to take action, even if it’s not perfect.

✅ That No One Has It All Figured Out! – Realising that most people are figuring it out as they go, just like you!

And here’s the thing: I would never have learned any of this if I had stayed stuck in fear.

Your Turn: What’s One Step You Can Take?

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this, it’s this: fear and procrastination are overcome by action—even if that action is small and imperfect.

So, I invite you to reflect:

• What’s one thing in your business that you’ve been postponing because it doesn’t feel 'ready' yet?
• What’s stopping you from starting? Is it fear, perfectionism, or self-doubt?
• If you let go of the idea that it had to be perfect, what’s one small, doable step you could take this week?

Maybe it’s finally posting about your offer, reaching out to a potential client, or launching before everything feels 100% figured out.

Whatever it is—just start. Momentum builds when you take action.

I’d love to hear your thoughts—hit reply and let me know what step you’re committing to this week! 😊

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

And of course—I’ll keep you updated on how the first cohort goes. I’m so excited!

With love,

Marcela

💭 Quote of the week:

'You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.' – Zig Ziglar

👣 If you’d like to try out coaching for free, click here to book a 1 hour Discovery Coaching Session via Zoom.

📬 Know someone who’d find this newsletter valuable? I would be so grateful if you would share this email with them.

🗣️ My business grows through word of mouth and client referrals. If you know someone that could potentially benefit from coaching, I would be very grateful for your referral. Thank you.

Dr Marcela Aguirre

Helping Overwhelmed Early-Stage Solopreneurs Gain the Know-How & Confidence to Build a Sustainable One-Person Business | ICF Certified Coach | Doctor | Ex-Military Officer | 1:1 | Group Coaching & Workshops | Speaker