I’ve been in this blog game a whole six weeks.  I know that doesn’t seem long, but the journey to the starting line was considerable.  If you’re toying with a new blog or business idea, or any brave step into the unknown, I know well the battle to begin.  With that fresh in my mind, I hope I can offer some encouragement.  If you’re starting a new thing – here’s some advice from an absolute amateur:  

1 The process alone has huge value

2 Putting yourself out there changes everything.  And nothing.

3 Start with what you’ve got, don’t look too far ahead

4 All the pressure is internal.  Note to self: chill

5 Every step forward reveals new pathways

1 The process alone has huge value

I’m not impulsive.  When I committed to this blog and website I knew it would be a massive undertaking, in terms of the work involved.  What I didn’t expect was the fear and insecurity it exposed, the deeper layer of healing it enabled, the clarity and courage that emerged.  I had to articulate the message I knew was in me, as clearly as possible, and condense it into briefs and content and design.  I did not anticipate the significance of the milestone decisions, things like choosing to launch it in my name.  I was owning (out loud) the truth that my value is in who I am, not what I do. It was big.

As I reflect on the journey, I might describe it as accelerated therapy.  The lessons and growth and insight have been unexpected, and hard, and wonderful.  I love the end result but, if I pull the site down, and never write another blog post, the process alone has been worth it for me.  

2 Putting yourself out there changes everything.  And nothing. 

I’ve been happy behind the scenes for years.  I rarely posted even on my Facebook account so valuable was my privacy, my anonymity.  But really it was about hiding, fear, and insecurity.  It’s taken me a long time to realise that my voice is no less valuable than anyone else’s.  And there’s a lot of negativity out there, not to mention lunacy, so why not put together something positive and uplifting?

Still, it was no small thing for this introvert to launch a website full of personal details.  And starting a blog where I expose the wrestles of my heart and mind with the world… that was a bold step for me.  I had to make the choice to stand up and be seen.  In that regard, putting myself out there has changed everything. 

It also changed nothing.  And I mean that in the best possible way.  The world still turns, nothing exploded/imploded.  All the fears that seemed HUGE in the lead-up did not materialise, all those accusing voices in my head have gone quiet.  Standing up to fear exposes it for what it is: impotent.  When you challenge it and ask it to prove itself, it cannot, because fear is a liar.  

3 Start with what you’ve got, and don’t look too far ahead

When you hit ‘publish’ on your new blog or website you are acutely aware that the WHOLE WORLD will be able to see it.  Not everyone is looking of course, but your mind considers the possibilities of thousands of views and likes and comments and how will I keep up with the connections and what about trolls and all the haters and what about an ebook or a proper book and maybe some merchandise and then I’ll need to learn how to do the sales things and what about marketing and….

STOP. Breathe.

If you have lots of other ideas, awesome.  Me too.  But don’t let the future stuff get in the way of today.  You can learn as you go.  Those things take time to develop.  Today you have the ability and grace to do the first small thing.  So just start.  Take one step.  Tomorrow you may have capacity for more.  But don’t let the lack of grace or skill for tomorrow talk you out of today.

Besides, whatever you decide on today can be changed later anyway.  You can edit, adjust, delete, and redesign.  There is, in fact, limitless flexibility.  So just start with what you’ve got, and don’t look too far ahead.

4 All the pressure is internal.  Note to self: chill

After I launched this site I crashed and burned for a few weeks.  I didn’t realise it had taken so much out of me.  I had grand plans for fortnightly blogs and daily social media posts.  But what I needed was a lie down.

Fortnightly blog posts are a LOT.  And I struggle with weekly updates to most of my social media at the moment, let alone posting daily.   So where does all that pressure come from?  Me.  I’m pretty sure no one else is so acutely aware it’s been a while since my last post.  Note to self: chill.

I don’t want to put things out for the sake of it.  I want to write interesting and encouraging and useful content.  So I choose to shrug off the self-imposed, unrealistic expectations and give myself some grace.  People will read new posts, when I post them.   Even if it’s blogging advice from an absolute amateur.  See, here you are!

5 Every step forward reveals new pathways

I had some ideas about what would happen when I launched, who might be drawn to my message.  But I didn’t know for sure until I took the step.  And now I have a different horizon in front of me because each step forward reveals new pathways.  I’ve already had new ideas and opportunities I had not envisaged.  They would never have presented themselves if I hadn’t taken this new step. And that’s kind of exciting.

So, if you’ve got a new idea, can I encourage you to run with it, for all the reasons above.  We are all absolute amateurs to begin with, and it may not go the way you think it will… but it won’t go anywhere at all unless you make a start.

 

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”  –Arthur Ashe