How have you dealt with the fear of failure and being intimidated?

8 replies
I'm just getting started learning marketing and copywriting and I suffer from a strong fear of failure and I'm very intimidated by the business. I'm intimidated because as I study the great marketers and copywriter it is overwhelming to see how good they are and how much knowledge they have. I fear that I don't have what it takes to get to their level. It all seems so complicated and I am very aware of how many skills and how much knowledge I lack.

My fear of failure stems from the fact that I see marketing and copywriting as my last chance to make something of myself. If I fail here I believe I will be relegated to $10-an-hour jobs for the rest of my life. I won't go into the details why this is the case, but trust me, it's a valid assessment.

I feel this fear pretty intensely daily. My strategy for dealing with it thus far is to work harder and longer. I know that I can't control my emotions but I can control my actions. So perhaps my fear has a benefit. I would like to have more confidence however.

Thoughts?
#dealt #failure #fear #intimidated
  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
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    Every great Marketer and Copywriter started from scratch just like you are. And, they learned their craft partly by making little “mistakes” and learning from them.

    My advice would be to see if you can find a great Copywriting Mentor who can guide you through some of the process.

    And, to remember that “failure” can actually speed up the learning experience.
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    "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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  • Profile picture of the author damiensuccess
    A Mentor like Jonathan said is very helpful.

    Not someone who does sales pitch videos and product hype.
    Not a millionaire or Guru who really can't relate with you.

    Someone who is working hard like you, but at a level just higher than you.
    Someone who has an established respect for his business.
    Someone who has a clear memory of where you are now with your venture.


    Before you find a mentor, you have to find your mind power!

    It is a weird thing to ask someone to find, but it is true. It seems you are feeling down, and even worst, Desperate. This mindset will destroy your efforts. You have to satisfy yourself with what you are doing - Not question it. Again, everybody will face struggles, especially a business. Even more so, a business that hasn't really started yet.

    Are you disappointed with your skills and results? Easy enough because there are no skills or results. It's pitiful and embarrassing, but that is where the successful stand up strong and brush off the embarrassment. No Comment or Failure will stop someone who triggered the successful mindset. This is the first thing you need to find.

    Keep your chin up and realize that we all face your challenges too.

    Cheers For Now

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    Damien Parsons
    Success Coach | Writer
    Join me on Successful Lifestyle Secrets
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  • Profile picture of the author Dain Supero
    Originally Posted by NateJasper View Post

    I'm just getting started learning marketing and copywriting and I suffer from a strong fear of failure and I'm very intimidated by the business. I'm intimidated because as I study the great marketers and copywriter it is overwhelming to see how good they are and how much knowledge they have. I fear that I don't have what it takes to get to their level. It all seems so complicated and I am very aware of how many skills and how much knowledge I lack.

    My fear of failure stems from the fact that I see marketing and copywriting as my last chance to make something of myself. If I fail here I believe I will be relegated to $10-an-hour jobs for the rest of my life. I won't go into the details why this is the case, but trust me, it's a valid assessment.

    I feel this fear pretty intensely daily. My strategy for dealing with it thus far is to work harder and longer. I know that I can't control my emotions but I can control my actions. So perhaps my fear has a benefit. I would like to have more confidence however.

    Thoughts?
    The key is to start very small and progressively build on that. Don't try to hit a home run right away. I wrote a detailed article on overcoming fear of failure, including a step by step description of a fear management model I use with my clients. The link to my blog is in my profile. This article will answer your questions and provide you with an actual game plan. Not just theory.
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    Visit http://www.bettermindbodyself.com for proven advice and techniques to elevate your mind, body, and self-image.

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  • Profile picture of the author Marco Moeschter
    All the big marketers started someday somehow and I guess they haven't been top marketers from day one! You have to take one step after another. The key to success is to take action and stay committed and consistent with what you do!

    Also you have to start to believe in yourself. If they could do it so could you. Work on your mindset and think positive instead of failure.

    One thing what helped me was to listen to motivational videos or to watch motivational videos every day in the morning and in the evening.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mithral
      Other people have already touched on this, but the way any overwhelming problem is overcome is through a series of much less intimidating milestone goals. A mentor would be valuable in helping you establish what each of these smaller goals should be.

      For example, you would perhaps need to learn the secrets of the various kinds of headline to attract the kinds of prospect you want to reach; then you would study hooks to reel in the prospects whose attention you caught; and so on through to the call to action.

      Everyone has days when they doubt themselves, just don't let them deter you from the current small goal you are working on. Tell yourself you know you can reach this small goal because you set it as something that you could accomplish.

      If your emotions are getting to you, you might try the Sedona Method. I bought the book years ago and found the technique pretty helpful in melting away stress but it works for all sorts of emotional baggage.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kristiyan Asenov
    Everyone have bad or good days, the secret is: Never give up, will have fall and rise in all of our life. If you give up every time when it is hard for you, you will never be successful.
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  • Profile picture of the author C G
    Just work on your craft.

    In the beginning, don't concentrate on the outcome. Just put in tons of hours.

    You will get better. I promise

    Cheers,

    C.G.
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  • Profile picture of the author fallison
    I overcome fear by breaking the everything down into task so small that I couldn't possibly mess it up. No possible failure, no fear.
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