Issue: Numbers That Humanize
Because it’s the small, human-scale wins that connect.

Think about the last time you saw a creator flaunt a massive number:

·       “50,000 new subscribers in a month!”

·       “$100k launch!”

·       “7-figure business in under a year!”

Impressive? Sure.
Inspiring? Not really.

If you’re anything like me (and like Lena, my ideal reader), big numbers often trigger comparison, not connection. They make you wonder: Am I too far behind? Am I even cut out for this?

That’s the irony: numbers are meant to prove authority, but when they’re too big, too polished, or too detached from reality, they can push your readers away.

The truth? It’s not the size of the number that matters.
It’s how human it feels.

One of the most underrated things you can share with your list is a small win.

·       “Three people hit reply and told me this email changed their day.”

·       “My open rate nudged up from 20% to 23% this week.”

·       “Two clients said yes to my offer — and they’re the right fit.”

Do those sound earth-shattering? No.
Do they sound relatable, human, and worth celebrating? Absolutely.

Here’s why small numbers land so deeply:

1.     They’re achievable. Your readers can see themselves hitting them.

2.     They’re specific. Small metrics are concrete, not abstract.

3.     They show progress. Growth is visible, even if it’s incremental.

For someone like Lena, who worries about being “invisible,” celebrating small wins reminds her she is making an impact — even if it’s not measured in six figures.

Compare these two ways of sharing the same situation:

·       Cold number: “Only 15 people signed up for my webinar.”

·       Humanized number: “15 people signed up for my webinar. At first, I felt disappointed. But here’s the thing: during the live Q&A, I realized those 15 people were deeply engaged. We had conversations I couldn’t have had with 150. One of them even became a client the next day.”

The first one makes you feel like a failure.
The second one? It feels like a win — and a lesson worth remembering.

That’s the magic of humanizing numbers: you transform what could be perceived as “low” into something meaningful.

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Numbers that humanize resonate for three big reasons:

1. They make you relatable.
When you share micro-metrics, readers see that you’re walking the same path they are. You stop being the untouchable “expert” and become a guide they can trust.

2. They create intimacy.
Big numbers feel distant. Small numbers feel close. Saying “five people replied” feels like you’re talking about real humans, not faceless stats.

3. They highlight progress.
Progress is magnetic. Your readers aren’t just looking for proof of success — they’re looking for signs that success is possible in stages.

Here’s the rub: sharing small or “low” numbers takes courage.

It feels risky to say:

·       “Only 12 people joined my list this week.”

·       “Just one person bought my offer.”

But that’s exactly what makes it powerful. Vulnerability is a form of authority. It shows that you’re confident enough in your message to share the whole truth, not just the highlight reel.

And for readers like Lena, who are tired of overhyped, cookie-cutter marketing

From Inbox to Income Avatar Len…

, that vulnerability builds more trust than any six-figure screenshot ever could.

Here’s a simple three-step process you can use the next time you want to share a number in your emails:

Step 1: Pick a Small or Specific Metric
It could be replies, unsubscribes, webinar sign-ups, client calls, or even the number of times you had to re-draft an email before hitting send.

Step 2: Add a Human Story
What did that number mean to you? What did you notice? What surprised you?

Step 3: Pull Out the Lesson
What can your readers learn from it? What can they take away for their own business?

Example:

·       Number: “My open rate was 18% this week.”

·       Story: “At first, I felt frustrated. But then I realized the subject line was vague and didn’t match the body. I tested a clearer subject line the next day — and my open rate jumped to 23%.”

·       Lesson: “Your readers value clarity over cleverness. Try it in your next email.”

Now your small metric becomes a teaching moment.

Here are some prompts to help you humanize your numbers this week:

·       “This number looked small at first, but it taught me…”

·       “Here’s the real story behind my [open rate / sign-ups / sales].”

·       “It wasn’t the number that mattered. It was what I learned when I looked closer.”

·       “What felt like a loss at first actually turned into a win because…”

These shifts change numbers from sterile stats into meaningful stories.

Pick one metric from your own business right now. Maybe it’s:

·       How many people opened your last email.

·       How many clicked through.

·       How many unsubscribed.

·       How many said “yes” (or “no”) to your offer.

Now, instead of just staring at the number, ask:

·       What does this number really tell me?

·       What’s the story behind it?

·       What lesson can I share with my list?

That’s your next email.

Numbers are everywhere in business. They measure, track, and benchmark. But they don’t connect on their own.

What connects is the human story behind them.

So the next time you’re tempted to hide a “small” number, don’t. Share it. Celebrate it. Teach with it.

Because your readers don’t need to see perfection. They need to see progress.
And progress, even in small numbers, is what makes you human.

👉 Call to Action: Reply and tell me one “small win” metric you’ve had recently. I’d love to hear it — and it might inspire others, too.

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