I have been working on this site for the last few days. It has been a little time since I have approached a project with such determination. I have a very clear vision of what success will look like and I have so many ideas; for material that I can share on a digital platform, for ways to engage with people through that platform and how to build subscribers. I have set myself some goals, planned, mapped out approaches, even put in milestones and reviews. I have followed all of my own advice.
Yet I do not know whether this project will be a success. I can’t do. I cannot look into the future.
I have doubts and niggles. There is that negative inner voice that is telling me, “It won’t work, you know”. I have even been procrastinating about developing some of the content (see my content on dealing with procrastination – when I write it).
However, I also know that this is all natural, that we all experience such doubts when attempting something that is substantially new. The negative inner voice is warning me what I have to address and work on. The procrastination is equally natural and yet I know that when I push through it I will be producing new material, adapting existing work that I have developed over the last 25 years and filming videos, webinars, etc.
What I do know with absolute certainty is that making a success of anything takes a combination of skills and qualities. The skills I have and will be offering on this site. The qualities needed include determination, confidence, self belief, courage and a willingness to pick oneself up when setbacks introduce doubt. I think I have enough of these qualities too. I just need to apply them in the right measure and at the right time.
So, this post is not only aimed at you reading it. It is also intended as a note to myself.
One of the many thoughts or even sayings I have about is success is, “create a good reason to celebrate every week”! Another is “plan how to reward yourself for your success”. I shall go out and get that bottle of champagne!
I will succeed with this project. I will achieve my vision and goals and I will have reasons to celebrate. Lots of them.
I am looking forward to your advice and guidance! I began setting up a site last year because of my heart attack…(can’t work anymore), still in the process and have stalled, for all the reasons you just quoted above. So your progress will be helping me as well and put me back on track! Maybe in time you could guest blog on my site? When I eventually get it up and running…lol
Sid, thanks for this. You get the prize as the first to comment on this site. I am only too pleased to help.
I ventured down this path a few years ago with a site on leadership so I know what it is like to stumble. I have learnt a lot more since then about how this works and I am more determined this time. Who knows, I may be able to revive the other site which still gets some good traffic, even though I do little to it.
The key thing, it seems to me, is to (1) know where you want to go, (2) face the right direction and (3) start moving. So, first question is – where do you want to go with your site? To put it another way, what is your dream?
I am almost finished setting up the initial infrastructure and am going to start very soon converting my library of material for this format – pdf downloads, videos, webinars, etc.
Please sing up on the first page for my free newsletter – that is key.
Love to you and Helen.