If nobody read my shit, I’d still write my shit.

That’s not bravado.
That’s not a flex.
That’s just the truth.

And I know it because I’ve lived it—long before anyone was listening.

The Talk Nobody Came To

The first public talk I ever gave after starting FRSecure was at a big conference. This was probably 2009 or 2010. I was new to speaking, nervous as hell, and taking it very seriously.

Breakout session.
Risk management.
Real content.

I prepped a lot. Slides polished. Notes rehearsed. I even dressed nice—which tells you how seriously I was taking it, because if you know me now, you know that’s not really my thing anymore.

I got to the room 20 minutes early.
Sat down.
Waited.

And then…

Nothing.

Not a single person showed up.
Zero.
Empty room.

No late arrivals.
No confused attendee poking their head in.
Just me, my slides, and a very quiet lesson waiting to happen.

What That Moment Taught Me

At the time, it sucked. Let’s not romanticize it.
I was embarrassed. Disappointed. Wondering what I’d done wrong.

But looking back?
I’m grateful for that experience.

Because it answered a question I didn’t know I was asking yet:

Would I still do the work if nobody showed up?

The answer turned out to be yes.

Since then, I’ve given hundreds of talks. Breakouts. Panels. Keynotes. Sometimes there are hundreds of people in the room. Sometimes standing room only. Sometimes big applause.

But here’s the thing that hasn’t changed since that empty room in 2009:

I’d still do it if the room was empty again.

The Audience Was Never the Point

Some people speak because they want attention.
Some people write because they want likes.
Some people only show up when they’re being validated.

That’s not leadership. That’s performance.

The work isn’t about being seen.
It’s about being honest.

I write because writing helps me think.
I speak because speaking forces clarity.
I show up because the message matters—to me first.

And honestly? If only one person showed up, that’d still be better than my worst.
(Yeah, that joke still makes me laugh.)

Why I Still Write

This is why I don’t chase trends.
Why I don’t soften opinions for reach.
Why I don’t stop writing when engagement dips.

If nobody read my blog, I’d still write it.
If nobody showed up to the talk, I’d still give it.

Because the moment I stop doing the work unless I’m being watched is the moment I’ve made myself the point.

And I’m not.

The thinking is the point.
The truth is the point.
The work is the point.

Everything else is just noise.