More powerful than a locomotive…
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…
Look. Up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s SUPERMAN!
I love watching the old reruns of the early Superman TV series. Superman knew who he was. He was confident in his abilities and successful in all of his adventures.
He also knew his nemesis: kryptonite.
It could zap his strength faster than you can say “Lois Lane.” And although he was the “Man of Steel,” full of strength, confidence and a success mindset, he had an Achilles heel, and it was the only thing that could zap his confidence.
Superman wasn’t indestructible, for he had a weakness. But, the reason for his success was his dedication to developing his ability to overcome this weakness. He had a “growth” mindset. Even though he was Superman, he knew there was more…more strength…more victories…more success.
What does “Superman” have to do with freelance writing?
Personal limitations affect your life no matter what your occupation.
That means whether you are Superman or a freelance writer, you will have limitations and specific mindsets to overcome.
Kryptonite was Superman’s limitation. Once you discover your personal kryptonite, it will be easier to overcome it and move forward.
In this post, I will teach you simple ways to do this as I have had to personally overcome my own fears in my quest to six figures as a freelance writer. Once you apply my strategies, results will happen quickly! You will feel like Superman because you will be flying toward success you never dreamed could happen!
Let’s clobber a couple of common fears right now, shall we?
Thought: Freelance Writing Isn’t Safe – Your Own Personal Trojan Horse
You love to write. You dreamed of leaving the corporate grind to embrace your own freelance writing business. You smile and think, “Could I really do this?”
Suddenly, a Trojan Horse parks inside your mind. Its doors open. Thousands of insecurities come rushing out of it, filling you with doubt where hope was just resting its head.
FEAR has overtaken you. You decide it’s not time to pursue your dream. Your bubble of hope and desire has just popped.
“I feel safe working for someone else.”
I can understand that thought. You’ve worked 9 t0 5 for many years. You get paid every Friday. You count on that income. It is comfortable. You are assured of money for yourself and your family.
So, you put away that hopeful thought of working for yourself and you suck it up. You’re ready to go back to the 9-to-5 grind. Ugh.
STOP THE INSANITY!
I have to ask you one question.
What are you really afraid of?
Most people can’t even answer that question. They don’t understand why they are afraid or they don’t even realize there is fear present. Fear can show itself in laziness, inability to move forward or a reluctance to taking risks.
Let’s dive into this further…
Fear is not a bad emotion. It can protect us from danger and warn us when there’s an unsafe situation. These are normal fears that are based in rational thought. This type of fear is the perfect response if your life is threatened!
The problem is people tend to believe that their thoughts are reality! They believe what they think is fact.
The truth is, until a thought becomes a reality, it isn’t fact. What that means is all your thoughts based in fear, are just that…thoughts… fears…fueled by past failures and learned insecurities.
The Wisdom of the Wizard
One of my favorite films as a young girl was The Wizard of Oz. The first time I saw this movie I was scared of “the wizard” who I couldn’t see; only hear. I would watch the rest of the film through my fingers, ready to block anything that would frighten my young mind.
Then, the ultimate happened! A little, old, gray-haired man stepped out from behind the big, scary wall. HE was the Wizard of Oz! My fears melted away after he revealed himself because I realized that what I was fearing was not as big as I supposed it to be.
What’s behind the scary curtain in your mind?
Many people fear to take even a peak behind that curtain because they are afraid of what they will find. For others, what scares them most is that once they have an awareness of those fears, it will require a response.
Let me ask you a few questions.
If you become a freelance writer…
- Are you going to starve to death?
- Will you be shot by terrorists?
- Will you be thrown in jail?
I’m sure all of you answered “no” to those questions since they seemed drastic. But, that is how our minds sometimes perceive the result of doing something we are afraid of.
Do you want MORE strategies to increasing confidence and overcoming crippling fear? I am NO stranger to fear. I was petrified to send any work to clients! But I discovered how to manage and overcome it to become the well-paid freelance writer I am today. In my Free Report, “Freelance Writing Fear Smashers” I teach you exactly how I did it and how YOU can too. Download my Free report right now. I promise it will change your life.
What should you really fear?
You should fear living your entire life without fulfilling your dreams.
You should fear regretting staying in that same ole, boring job.
You should fear that you might spend your entire life living in these irrational fears.
That’s what you should fear.
Of course with freelance writing, there are legitimate concerns. And, there will be scary moments as with any venture in life. And you will even make mistakes as a writer.
But what mistake can be worse than living a life full of regret?
Bottom Line:
Life isn’t safe. We risk every moment of our lives when we do anything of value.
Why spend your life worrying about a fear that might never happen?
As a child, you may have been afraid to ride your first bike. Of course there were risks. You could fall and scrape your leg. But the thought of the fears were far worse than reality. Fear is an “irrational thought” magnifying glass. Remember that, and it will help you put things in perspective.
Thought: “I’m too old to begin freelance writing.”
Have you ever said that to yourself?
I wouldn’t say that to my mother though. She is over a half-century old and started her freelance writing career last year!
Age is just a number. One never gets old unless it is in your mind!
I feel another story coming on.
Did you ever read about Colonel Sanders who is the creator and owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken?
In 1930, Sanders was the owner/operator of a gas station in Kentucky. He not only supplied travelers with fuel but also fed their appetite as well.
He didn’t have a restaurant. He didn’t even “plan” on having a restaurant, except he was getting a lot of business at his gas station for what he would soon call, “home meal replacement.”
That humble gas station turned into a restaurant, and the Governor of Kentucky made him a Kentucky Colonel in recognition of his contributions to the state’s cuisine.
In 1955, at 55 years old, Sanders opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Over the next 10 years, he opened 600 more restaurants and at the age of 66, he sold his interest in the company for two million. That was quite a chunk of change back then. Actually, it’s pretty good for now! He didn’t do too badly starting at nearly retirement age!
What if the Colonel said, “I’m too old to start a new venture”?
We might have been without those yummy biscuits forever!
What are you waiting for?
You love to write.
You want to write.
You want to work from home.
You want to be home for your kids.
You want to be your own boss.
Don’t waste any more valuable time. Be like Nike….Just do it!
Let me help you become successful. All the tools are at your fingertips.
I can feel your blood percolating!
I’m excited. You’re excited.
Let’s make it happen.
Need some more motivation? Check out my other posts on how to be a good writer.
And if you need a little extra instruction, check out this step-by-step comprehensive guide on how to become a freelance writer. Enjoy!
photo credit: Superman_UN_4_color_D via photopin (license)
I really needed to read this today. I’m bookmarking it so I can read it daily. Thank you Maggie!
Engaging anecdotes. Crisp Writing. Fabulous Advice.
Thank you, Maggie #HUGS
Kitto
Thank You!!
First of all I truly love your spot on analogy Maggie!
And I also like your reference, to the late great Colonel Harland Sanders!
He definitely proved beyond any reasonable shadow of a doubt, it’s your
current and future mindset, that counts the most!
And for sure, we’ve got a ton of bogus excuses, for not at least attempting and
pursuing our goals!
Thanks for helping us identify and effectively deal with the real cause of our
reluctance to pursue our dreams and goals!
Great job! And another outstanding post!