Do you ever feel scared or unconfident?
Most bloggers do at times – and sadly, some give up within a few weeks (or even before they’ve launched their blog at all).
We all have moments when the road ahead looks very long and difficult, and at these times, a few
words of wisdom can be just what we need to take the next step.
You might like to bookmark this post, or write out one or two of your favourite quotes and keep them near your computer.
(Hat-tip to Barry Demp (aka “The Quotable Coach”) who inspired this!)
#1: “Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.”
– Jack Canfield
“What if no-one reads my blog at all? What if I never make any money? Perhaps it’s not worth starting…” Have you ever thought something like that?
Every single “A-list” blogger you know has failed in the past. Some might have started several blogs before they got anywhere. And yet they wouldn’t have every succeeded without these failures.
#2: “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
– Aristotle
Criticism can be genuinely hurtful, but don’t let the fear of criticism stop you blogging. One negative comment isn’t going to ruin your blog (and you’ll probably be surprised at how positive most comments are).
If family and friends don’t “get” your blogging, look for a network of supportive, like-minded friends online.
#3: “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs … one step at a time.”
– Joe Girard
It’s very tempting to think there’s a “quick fix” solution, particularly in the fast-moving blogging world. Unscrupulous marketers who promise overnight riches prey on this desire.
The truth is that success is gained step by step. Even people who look like overnight successes almost certainly aren’t.
#4: “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
– Benjamin Franklin
I think this is a great rule for bloggers! Never write a post just to have new content on your blog; make sure that what you write is genuinely worth your readers’ time.
“Do something worth writing” is a good idea when you’re short of material. You don’t necessarily need to do anything dramatic – you could simply read a book or take a course and blog about what you learned.
#5: “If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.”
– E. Joseph Cossman
Worries can sometimes get the best of us – but the truth is that the things we’re worrying about are often fairly insignificant. If you’re struggling to get things into perspective, ask yourself “will this matter in a year?”
I can be a bit of a worrier (just ask my poor husband!) and I know that when I’m anxious about something, the best thing I can do is take some action, even if it’s just a tiny step. I always feel better.
#6: “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”
– Bill Cosby
This is handy advice for any blogger who wants to build a business. Your target audience can’t be “everyone” – you need to narrow it down so you can choose topics and a writing style that appeal to your ideal customers.
It’s also good advice more generally. Your posts won’t please everyone, your products won’t please everyone, and the mere fact you want to make money blogging won’t please everyone. This dosen’t mean you should change your strategies – some people are just impossible to please!
#7: “In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed.”
– Sid Caeser
One trap that some bloggers fall into is being too focused on their goals. Of course you do need to put in quite a bit of work in order to succeed – but you don’t want your goals to crowd out everything else in your life.
Take a weekend off now and then. Enjoy spending time with friends and family. Post less frequently over the holidays. Your blog will still be there when you get back.
Over to you! I’d love to hear your favourite motivational quotes, especially ones that you think are a good fit for bloggers. Share your quote – and what it means to you – in the comments.
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