People seem to have a magnified view of their own limitations. Recently I have been putting together a blogging course and coaching program which has put me in discussions with a lot of beginning bloggers. It has also put me in touch with a bunch of people who think they couldn’t blog no matter what encouragement I give.
- I’m too young
- I’m too old
- I can’t write
- I am not interesting
- My niche is not interesting
- Nobody will listen to what I have to say
- I have no credibility
- I will get fired
- I have no free time
- I tried once and wasn’t good right away
Here is what I tell them.
Have you tried?
I mean really tried.
If you are really in doubt that you can write then it would cost you absolutely nothing to actually try and see. In two minutes you can have a WordPress.com personal blog. The more you write the better you get. As you gain readers you will gain confidence. As you learn any new skill remember what you found challenging then turn around and teach others what you have learned.
While people have been fired for blogging it has been for two reasons, 1) indiscretion, and 2) stealing from the company. If you give away company secrets or talk about customer names then of course you will get fired. Don’t blog on company hours. It’s just common sense. On the other hand if you do get fired for blogging then milk the story for all its worth! A better approach though would be to talk to your boss about becoming the company blogger.
There are teenage bloggers and bloggers in their 90’s. Age really isn’t an issue providing you can physically see and type (and even then if you are determined …). Youth is an advantage. Experience is an advantage. Younger people tend to have more energy, creativity, ambition and grasp of technology. Older people have more stories, wisdom, and hard-won lessons that can be turned into advice.
Being interesting, persuasive, informative, is all about effort. Some people make being interesting and entertaining seem effortless. People like Scott Adams just have a quirky and fascinating way of looking at the world. The rest of us were not born interesting so we have to work harder. But you know what? You will find you achieve your own goals much swifter by helping others achieve their own at the same time.
I’m a busy guy. I understand when people say they don’t have enough time. But really, as I have said before, people are actually saying they are prioritising other things. Rather than saying they don’t have enough time they are saying they would rather do something else. Like watch soaps, play computer games, look out of the bus window, drink beer, read the newspaper … By learning to better manage your time you learn valuable productivity skills. Time management. Organisation. Automation. Motivation. Self discipline. Focus. Creativity. All these things help you in the rest of your life.
Most limitations are self-imposed. In many cases you can find people who have succeeded despite the same limitations. You will never know unless you give it a try.