Another pieces of the puzzle: Stepping Into the Online World with Jackie Golynia
There is something quietly powerful about someone who helps you feel capable again.
Not flashy.
Not overwhelming.
Not “you should already know this.”
Just steady.
That’s how I would describe my experience of working with Jackie from Get Online Step by Step — and why she absolutely belongs in our Pieces of the Puzzle series. This website would not exist, these blogs would not exist, and my ability to align all the pieces would not exist.
Because digital confidence?
That’s part of recovery too.
That’s part of independence.
That’s part of building a business when your energy, time and headspace are limited.
And for many of the women I work with — especially those rebuilding after cancer treatment — tech can feel like one more mountain.
“I’m Not Good With Tech”
When someone says, “I’m not good with tech,” Jackie wants them to know:
You’re not alone — and it doesn’t mean you can’t learn.
Most people haven’t been taught how websites or online tools actually work. They’ve just been expected to know. When things are explained calmly, step by step, people usually realise they’re far more capable than they thought.
And that sentence alone feels important.
Because so often what people are really carrying isn’t a website problem.
It’s embarrassment.
It’s fear of getting something wrong.
It’s the pressure of running a business and feeling like you’re failing at “the online bit.”
I see that same pressure in bodies. In healing. In movement. In recovery.
Different context. Same feeling.
The Story Behind Get Online Step by Step
Jackie didn’t start this because she loves plugins and hosting platforms.
She started it because she kept meeting capable, thoughtful people who felt completely shut out of the online world.
They weren’t lacking ability.
They just needed someone to slow things down and explain it properly.
Her “why”?
To help people feel independent rather than reliant on others to “do the tech” for them.
That word — independent — matters.
Especially in small business.
Especially when illness has already taken enough control from you.
Her Method: The Learning Ladder
Jackie meets people at their level.
She starts by asking what someone already understands — not what they don’t. Everyone knows something. You build from there. It’s all in the communication.
Her “step-by-step” approach is exactly that:
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One task at a time
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No jumping ahead
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No overwhelm
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Do it together
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Repeat until it feels familiar
She calls it the Learning Ladder approach — something she honed while teaching seven-year-olds (which, let’s be honest, is probably the best training ground for patience on earth).
And she truly believes:
There are no silly questions — only things that haven’t been explained yet.
Phrases she often uses:
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“Let’s just look at this one piece.”
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“We’re not breaking anything.”
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“There’s no rush.”
You can almost feel shoulders dropping when you read those.
What Happened With My Website
When Jackie helped me get my website running more efficiently, the first thing we did wasn’t technical.
We stopped trying to solve everything at once.
We broke it down into small, manageable steps. Baby steps.
And here’s the interesting bit:
People don’t usually get stuck on the technical parts.
They get stuck on the fear of doing it wrong.
The difference before and after?
More confidence.
Less hesitation.
A clearer picture of where my business is heading.
And the knowledge that I can manage things — with backup if needed.
That feels very “village,” doesn’t it?
And… She is the neighbour who is always there when you need that bowl of sugar!
Generosity and Giving Back
What I also love about Jackie is that her work isn’t confined to small business.
She volunteers with Home-Start UK, supporting young families with emotional support, paperwork, budgeting, childcare, decluttering — sometimes just watching the baby so Mum can have a shower.
She is also an Involvement Representative for North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), where she proofreads policies, sits on interview panels and contributes to steering groups and focus committees.
That’s not about tech.
That’s about care.
Balancing generosity with boundaries, she admits, isn’t always easy — especially face-to-face — but help must stay focused and realistic. You can’t solve everything.
There’s wisdom in that.
What She Wishes Small Businesses Understood
You don’t need to do everything online.
Just the parts that genuinely help your business.
Your business is your business.
It shouldn’t be built around someone else’s ideals.
And if you’re scared to start?
Choose one small task. Just one. That’s enough.
Quick Fire (Because I Know You’ll Ask)
One tool she loves: Divi WordPress Theme
Common myth: You need to understand everything before you begin
Proud moment: The “light bulb” moment when someone realises they can do it themselves
Please don’t do this: Give up at the first hurdle
Best part of her job: Seeing someone’s confidence return
And what does she hope people feel after working with her?
Calmer.
More capable.
Less intimidated by the online world.
Why This Matters in Our Puzzle
In this series, we talk about scar therapy, lymphatics, breast awareness, skin care, support groups, movement.
But digital confidence?
That’s part of rebuilding too.
If you are self-employed and navigating cancer treatment…
If fatigue makes tech feel impossible…
If you feel embarrassed asking for help…
This is your reminder:
There are people who will sit beside you.
There are people who will go step-by-step.
There are people who believe you are capable — even when you don’t.
And that, once again, is another piece of the puzzle.
Where Can People Find Out More?
You can connect with Jackie and learn more about Get Online Step by Step via her website and social media channels.
If you’re local to Essex or working online anywhere in the UK and feeling stuck, overwhelmed or quietly avoiding your website — she is very gently brilliant.
You can find Jackie at Get Online Step by Step