Yes, your coworkers (and former coworkers) are spying on you.

I know a lot of people are hesitant to start putting out content not because of their friends or family finding out, but because of their coworkers. One way you can try to avoid this is to not use your name, but if you want to use your own name do it. As someone that has blogged on and off since high school and started a YouTube channel and podcast in the past year or so, I’m aware of my digital footprint and that it’s accessible to anyone that chooses to seek it out. I’m also someone that keeps up with their analytics across platforms regularly. When places I’m unfamiliar with appear in my results like Alpine, California and Newbury Park, California I tend to look into it out of genuine curiosity. There are also the places I’m very familiar with. Believe me, there is no such thing as a coincidence. If that struck a nerve for you, welcome.

If it didn’t, I’m here to tell you that the most your coworkers will do is slip up and mention something you have never told them about because they saw it on one (or more) of your platforms. Let’s be clear, most people do some sort of digital spying on their coworkers. I do it when I accept or am considering a new job to see what I’m getting into and I will say sometimes I am pleased with what I see and sometimes people have their own businesses or side projects they work on. In this day and age, who doesn’t have one or at least a hobby?

At the end of the day, the only person who will regret you not starting is you. Some of my favorite former coworkers actually encouraged me to start a YouTube channel — taste. People can poke fun at you and talk behind your back, but you’ll never know. If the past two years haven’t taught you anything, let go of the what ifs and do what you want to do. Go ahead and click publish.