If you’re a domain or a website flipper, this may sound as something ordinary – insignificant even. But if you’re an envisioner, dreamer, and basically a gut-instinct follower like me, this means something else. It’s a new challenge which I hope would finally kick start the young entrepreneur in me.
I will talk less about Blog Design Team (because I will issue another post for that) here than a much, much more important lesson I’ve learned over the years.
Be brave enough for your ideas.
Almost three years ago, back when I was still was a blogger nobody (tss. Things were less complicated when you’re a nobody), I had this great idea of running a successful blog. The picture was already in my mind. I had plans. I did action. I tried to learn everything I can – and did. But you know what, something held me back.
I was afraid.
Half of my mind was thinking that it was possible with the right kind of willpower. The other half thought of it as futile in the first place.
So while I was trying to build a good blog, at the same time, I was hesitant of what I was doing. To top it of, I was pretty much nervous. I was fifteen years old that time! All I knew was how to keep adding more friends on my social media accounts.
That Fear Cost Me Time… and Wasted My Efforts
I’d have to say things went considerably okay (of course if not, this blog wouldn’t have made it this far). The operative word though was ‘okay’. Not bad, not good, just okay.
And like what I told you in my Blogging Blunders free report, okay is very much mediocre.
I was posting regularly, slowly building my subscriber list, trying to connect with a blogger circle and more. At some months, I was doing pretty good. Then there are those down months when I just can’t help but doubt the whole thing (15 year old’s have a lot of mood swings you know).
My strength was in coming up with ideas, my weakness is losing the right vision to what I really want.
Now, all the 'what ifs' haunted me.
One of Them, is an eBook Called BLOGSTARTER
You remembered the last time when I asked you about what to do with the domain BLOGSTARTER.NET?
Well, I haven’t actually bought the domain without a purpose. There was one. And that purpose is called “The BLOGSTARTER eBook”. It was the same ebook I created back when I was still 15 years old (yes, my first ebook, and yes, I was fifteen back then).
The original title was (guess!) – Better Blogging For Bloggers the eBook. I used to give it away for people who subscribe to my RSS feeds. A year after, I pulled it out thinking I could cultivate it as an informational product and push my blogging to a higher level.
After months of the ebook sitting idly in my computer memory, I decided to work on it. And so, I began to rewrite it. Deleting obsolete tips, and adding in more updated resources and stuff. Within a month or so, I finished the whole thing!
I was excited as a buzzing bee. I started creating plans for its release, studying how to launch ebooks and already contacting possible partners because I want to make it a big time product that people would swarm over (sorry for all the bug reference by the way. Haha).
Then, the excitement took a downward spiral.
My partners eventually set to postpone the launch because of their freelance work. This set out a bit of a conflict since I repeatedly promise to my readers that I’m about to release it in before the new year sets in (December 2009). But still, my partners were busy.
Don’t get me wrong. They (my partners) are a bunch of great talented people, and I don’t blame them for anything. My time plans are just not in sync with them.
Sadly, I had to do what I had to do. I ended the partnership and planned to go back to plan A – me, myself and I.
And so again, I went back to research. Trying to test and compare other similar products, I said to myself… ‘gee, these are all good! How can I measure up to that?!”.
I began to doubt. I know in the first place that my eBook was just meant for starters (newbies). But I still am afraid that it’ll be labeled as a worthless product compared to the advanced ones already in the market.
To further insinuate my fears, at that time, the Problogger eBook has gathered widespread buzz, and then came another one that made a lot of people excited, Blogging To The Next Level.
Right then and there, I said to myself. I. Am. Doomed.
And so, I backed out on my ideas. Putting the plans in jeopardy and completely making the worst possible case of my vision.
The BLOGSTARTER ebook never got released.
Then There’s The Great Realization
Ta-Da!
Defeat is a matter of acceptance. And guess what, I am not willing to accept it.
We always make bad decisions. I make a lot every month if only you know. But the thing about it is that you really do honestly learn IF you put some time to reflect. The important note here is that you have to reflect. You don’t learn from something unless you spend some time to figure out what you did wrong.
Listen people, learning from a mistake isn’t automatic. It’s a choice and it’s a responsibility.
So here’s the big lesson I learned –
If you have an idea, and you believe in it, you MUST FIGHT FOR IT no matter what.
Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Don’t be intimidated. And if you were, keep looking up. Crashing to failure only fuels the necessity for success.
On Being Brave, or Trying To At Least
So here I am now, working to get back in the right direction again (last time I checked I got back to the good course). I just signed up for an email delivery service to put the BlogStarter ebook to good use, possible using it as a giveaway to finally start building a list.
Then of course, there were other good suggestions.
For the BlogDesignTeam, the idea is still fresh. This time, I am much more prepared and optimistic. With careful planning, good execution, and a braver mindset (as to not be intimidated by those monster-sized popular names), I believe things will work out.
Then again, I forgot to tell you I’m still saving up for my start-up capital. But that’s another story of course. Read Full Content »
