Hi again,

I'm just starting out. I have no experience in writing professionally but it's still what I want to do--always has been. I love the idea of writing for a living. To be my own boss, set my own hours and when I stumbled across this copywriting idea, well let's just say I was sold. But now that I'm ready to dive in face-first, I find myself very aware of that surface tension. Lord knows I don't want to do a belly-flop with my face. I'm scared. I'm severely underconfident and basically feel like a fraud. I do have good moments where I manage to convince myself that I'm just starting out and I have to start somewhere and if I just pretend or "act" like I know what I'm doing it'll become reality. These thoughts persist only for so long until I hear that cynical,grating voice in my head that tells me to get a real job. How did you guys get over all that, provided that you experienced these things at all, that is. Maybe I'm a unique case.

What keeps you going?


Flying by the seat of my pants,

Joni H.

Joni,

I don't think there is a person on the planet that doesn't harbor doubts about a new project or endeavor.

I don't care if they tell you from 7AM to 11PM that they KNOW their new (whatever) is going to work and they are just brimming with confidence... at 3:14AM, their eyes will fly open from a deep sleep and that "twinge" of fear will work down their spine and into their belly.

It's not only completely natural but it's expected. Doubt is a good emotion. It will help force you to be careful and to do things the right way rather than half-arsed.

And you'll encounter prospects that doubt your abilities-- no matter if you've been at this copywriting stuff for 6 hours or 16 years.

Failing isn't bad. I've learned so much more from my failures than I have from my successes. I know that's almost cliché anymore but it's 100% true.

When you come to not only accept failure but appreciate its appearance and the lessons it brings-- then you'll really be on the threshold of something great.

Copywriting is a high failure business no matter what anyone says. Many times your efforts will not lead to a big improvement of your prospects business... that's because copywriting is only a piece of the pie-- it ain't the whole thing!

So trudge forward, fall down a few times, get banged up a little and simply carry on towards your goals.

Thank you so much for your encouragement, Michael (may I call you that?). I guess I'm just looking for some mutual support. Nobody I know is a writer, not professionally anyway, so I'm ecstatic to be here where people might know what the hell I'm talking about.

You rock!


Flying by the seat of my pants,

Joni H.

We're all flying by the seat of our pants Joni.

There isn't one of us that puts on our "Super Copywriters" suit before we start our day.

What a relief!

I just finished attending Troy White's Wild Wealth Summit here in Calgary. Ted Nicholas was here for two of the three days. Ted is pretty much a go getter - and has been since he was in his teens - he is a force to be reckoned with - even at his age now (which I estimate is late 70's or early 80's - but I don't know). He talked quite a bit about failing and has been pointed out here on the board many times - he failed a lot - his failures exceeded his successes in terms of ratio - but the payback on his successes far outweighed the cost of his failures. He is one of the few that discusses it in this manner.

I think he says that you need to "fail forward, fast." Pretty good advice coming from a guy who started his direct marketing business in his basement and now lives in a castle (I believe) in Switzerland.

I also wanted to add: Troy's event was excellent and I can't wait to see what he has in store for next year!

Step 1. Get over yourself.

Step 2. Just do it.

Seriously.

If you're having a problem with either of those steps...read THIS: Robert Rodriguez's 10-minute Film School ...and substitute "film-maker" with "copywriter".

Then, see step 1.

Dean,

That link is absolutely awesome. Thanks!

RJ

Thanks Dean! Very good advice and the link was very cool as well. I'm a big Robert Rodriguez fan.

Take care

Hi RJ,

"Fail Forward Fast" huh? Sounds like he knows what he's talking about. Thanks for the encouragement.