The Power of Building in Public: The Strategy That Grew Our Membership 159% in 90 Days

In March, I made a decision. I stopped obsessing over polished content and started focusing on what actually connects—honesty, transparency, and letting people into the real behind-the-scenes of building a business.

No pretending everything was perfect. No waiting until I had the perfect system or script. I just showed up. Mess and all.

And the result? Our membership grew from 22 to 57 members between March 6 and June 1. That’s a 159 percent increase in under three months.

No viral reels. No paid ads. Just real talk, consistency, and a decision to stop hiding behind the curated version of myself.

Why Did That Work?

1. People don’t connect with perfect. They connect with progress.

The curated, highlight-reel version of your business might look pretty, but it doesn’t build trust. When people can see what you’re working through in real time, they feel like they’re part of something. And they want to be part of it.

2. It makes you a leader, not just a service provider.

Sharing your thoughts, lessons, and growth moments positions you as someone who is not just doing the work, but thinking about it, evolving it, and owning it.

3. It invites people to root for you.

When your audience sees you putting in the effort and growing with intention, they become emotionally invested. They don’t just want to watch you succeed. They want to be part of that story.

Want to Start Building in Public? Use This Simple Framework:

Vulnerable → Valuable → Visionary

• Vulnerable: Share what’s real
  Example: “I almost scrapped this launch last week.”
• Valuable: Give them a takeaway
  Example: “Here’s what I learned from the pivot.”
• Visionary: Share where you’re headed
  Example: “This is part of building a more sustainable business.”

Try One of These Prompts:

• What’s something you learned the hard way in business this month?
• What’s one decision you made even though you were unsure?
• What are you currently shifting, reworking, or rebuilding, and why?
• What’s a small win you’re finally celebrating?

Final Thoughts

Building in public isn’t about dumping your personal life online. It’s about building trust through intentional transparency. It’s about showing people that you are in it, and giving them a reason to believe in what you’re building.

Inside our Momentum membership, we practice this every week. Real growth. Shared wins. Honest conversations. Because your community doesn’t want your perfection. They want your truth.

And that truth is what sells.