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Do You Feel Like You Aren't 'Good Enough' To Do This?

by payoman
17 replies
I just had a thought. Back when I started this (outsource web design and SEO for local business) about 4 months ago now, I remember having thoughts like...

"I don't know enough yet. What if I get a client who asks me something I don't know?"

"Am I really good enough to do this? I have no degree, no qualifications, nothing except a bit of information from message boards/WSO's etc"

"Everyone says web design is saturated and there's no work and I don't even have a name for myself!"

Basically, it all came down to insecurity. I was used to just going to a job, being told exactly what to do, and taking a meagre paycheck at the end of the week.

When it boils down to it, this business is the survival of the fittest. It's for those who are HUNGRY and want to get out there and FIGHT for your future, not just scrape by under someone else.

In fact, I think we are so used to society telling us if we are good enough or not (society says get a degree, teachers tell you what to do, boss tells you what to do, parents tell you what to do) that we forget wjat REALLY MATTERS : can we help the potential client sitting in front of us?

If you seem good enough to them, that's ALL THAT MATTERS. Not your parents. Not your old boss. Not society.

The truth is, if you know how to do something (how to outsource web design and SEO) that can help that clients business (bring in more leads, better presentation of their business), THAT is what really matters.

The rest is in your own head.

I just wanted to write this because this was one of the biggest things I struggled with at first, worrying I wouldn't have enough knowledge/be technically skilled/be taken seriously.

I realised that none of that matters, the only thing that matters is, can you provide a helpful service to this person in front of you?

And if you spend 1, 2 or 3 months looking around this board, checking out WSO's, reading about Wordpress/Web hosting, believe me, you are QUALIFIED to help the clueless client in front of you.

So go do it.
#feel #good
  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    I was just excited when I started to have the opportunity at all. I wasnt worried about wether I was good enough to do it, I was just determined to learn and earn...

    Here's the thing, there are plenty of web designers here who are good and can give your customers what they need. You only have to be good enough to present the product.

    Thats all.

    Great Post "P".
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    • Profile picture of the author Housing5
      I've been pondering the same thing. I'm just about to get started with offline marketing, and I've been working on getting my site up, reading, and am currently burning Never Eat Alone to discs to listen to on my drive home tomorrow (L.A. to Oregon: a nice long 12 hours ;D). But no matter how much I'm prepping for the dive into offline, I'm always wondering... am I good enough to sell web design? Surely there are people better than me; why on earth would anyone choose my services?

      Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn said it best: "There's always a bigger fish". No matter how good you get, there will be someone who is better than you, who, when going head to head against you, would have the edge. But you're never going to even become competitive unless you take on that initial challenge... and the fact is, there are millions of people who won't take that challenge, and thousands of people who will. I'd rather compete with the thousands for this job than with the millions for a pittance.

      Nice post, thank you.
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      • Profile picture of the author mwds120
        Originally Posted by Housing5 View Post

        I've been pondering the same thing. I'm just about to get started with offline marketing, and I've been working on getting my site up, reading, and am currently burning Never Eat Alone to discs to listen to on my drive home tomorrow (L.A. to Oregon: a nice long 12 hours ;D). But no matter how much I'm prepping for the dive into offline, I'm always wondering... am I good enough to sell web design? Surely there are people better than me; why on earth would anyone choose my services?

        Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn said it best: "There's always a bigger fish". No matter how good you get, there will be someone who is better than you, who, when going head to head against you, would have the edge. But you're never going to even become competitive unless you take on that initial challenge... and the fact is, there are millions of people who won't take that challenge, and thousands of people who will. I'd rather compete with the thousands for this job than with the millions for a pittance.

        Nice post, thank you.
        I like your last line. There's definitely less competition at the top.
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        • Profile picture of the author TheyCallMeBE
          In my opinion, what you are selling is not nearly as important as HOW you sell it.

          Rapper Jay-Z summed it up best:
          "I sell ice in the winter
          I sell fire in hell
          I am a hustler, baby
          I'll sell water to a whale"

          The most important thing is to have the confidence in yourself and know that an unsuccessful sale/pitch isn't a reflection upon you. I like to look at a "no" or "not interested" as sort of a hypnotic trigger that has me forget about everything that was said before they declined my services. This gives me no choice but to move on to the next potential client with the same tenacity as the one before.
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          • Profile picture of the author Andie Parkes
            This is exactly how I felt starting out 2 years ago, little confidence and grasping at every new sales offer that would help me. I realized much later that I have alot to offer, my confidence grew and I knew I had just as much skills as the next guy and my confidence grew. After that, I landed a few customers and online sales.

            Your Confidence in youself will show in everything you do, just keep taking ACTION!
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  • Profile picture of the author infinityplr
    You are what you probably think you are.
    If you think you cannot do it, then you are right.

    Warriors, one thing I learned when I started off on my own, is that those people that are rich right now do not know a single thing before when they started. Just like us. But it was harder before as there was no internet and information would take you hours to find.

    We have all the resources there is to stat anything. As you all have said We just have to learn it first

    We I started I a clueless about marketing, advertising, SEO and freelancing. Up to now I'm still clueless on a lot of things, but thank you for WF and other forums I get to learn the things that i need to know

    It's all in your head, those doubts. Think of it this way, while you are busy thinking if you are good enough for this, someone else already started your idea and earning money from it now.
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    GO. MOVE. Keep GOING! Even with the smallest steps and slower paces, the important thing is you are NOT STOPPING! You'll get there!
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  • Profile picture of the author FrozeN2694
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Gotham
      Yes, and I would add, "Fake it till you make it". Tried and true.
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  • Profile picture of the author RexMapes
    Just a bump up as everyone should see this thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    OK. Think about it this way.

    You're talking to business owners or managers. These guys and gals delegate for a living. Consider:

    1. Even if they have the exact same skills you do, they don't want to do the work. They want to delegate.

    and

    2. If they don't have the skill, they want you to do the work because they cannot.

    So they either cannot or will not do the work. And they will value you because of that.
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  • Profile picture of the author go4glory
    I feel the same thing everyday. I feel I don't have enough knowledge in this field. And I agree, it might be due to insecurity or lack of confidence. I'm working on it slowly but surely.
    Nice Post btw.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarketingManUK
    It's all about perspiration, perspiration, perspiration. The people that succeed in life don't necessarily know more than anyone else, they just graft harder and more effectively. Hence the much quoted adage "the harder I work the luckier I get".

    As infinityplr said don't think just do - and good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author moneymakersguide
      I think many started off feeling this way. I know I did..but after taking a step back I realize I'm starting to live my dream. I said "I'm going to work from home one day." That's exactly what I've been doing for the last couple of years. Sure there are lot of ups and downs but the key is to not give up. If you try and it fails...you find something else until you start getting it (or until it works)....it will happen eventually so don't give up.
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  • Profile picture of the author jideofor
    Wow... I remember feeling this way back in 2010. I wasn't confident back then I didn't know that wordpress could be tweaked to look like a corporate website and feel. I used to think that it could only be represented in a blog form. Anyway, I had the opportunity to do a website and due to infiority complex, I asked if it would be possible to design a website with wordpress and I gave a sample of the blog-like site I have ever done. I told them that there was a project or contract on ground already and people discourage that I can't do it. They said it's obvious that I am not a webdeveloper and that I shouldn't waste the man's money. And you know what? I believed them and allowed that money to go just like that.

    Several months down the line, i set up Seo article press | SEO Article Writing Service and sold it at flippa.com for dirt cheap $75. Infact, I made no profit from that sale but the experience I got from the configuration of that website is well worth it. And, it's wordpress, which I didn't know I could do before now. I also did that with no help from anyone.

    After that, I went back and asked how I could scale up my flip and the same people said. Hey... That's too cheap for a lot of work. And all this happened at the main internet section.

    But now I know better and thanks to John Durham.
    Don't let you or anyone stop you from succeeding.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
    I was a Field Engineer for a number of years (definition - we make things work.) And while I was good at what I did, I didn't know everything. So what I didn't know, I learned.

    And one of the most important things I learned (by far) is that the client can tell you what the problem is, but they don't recognize the solution.

    Two of my favorite examples were where I worked, and where I was a consultant. The client fought a problem for a week or two before giving the company I worked for a call. I HAD to fly down to Florida that weekend to solve this pressing problem. While waiting at the machine while he got the technician (about 5 minutes), I had the machine up and working.

    The second, I had set things up and trained the people on who to maintain a computer system. A problem came up and I was told to stay away. A week later, I was told to go up and find the problem. Again, about five minutes later (they changed some stuff that I told them specifically not to change) the problem was solved and they were up and running again.

    In each case, I was told what was happening at which point the solution was obvious ... to me .

    This is what consulting is all about. We not only know the problem, but we know how to identify a workable solution. But exactly like John, Jason, etc. keep saying about telemarketing, you have to do it to appreciate and experience the power/knowledge we have.

    And the learning will continue on forever.

    Marvin
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  • Profile picture of the author John Williamson
    Indeed, mental self sabotage can destroy your entire business as well as your confidence.

    Consciously choose to not listen to your inner skeptic, be supremely confident, and tell yourself you can do whatever you set your mind on. Also strive to not care what other people may think about you.
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  • Profile picture of the author AgentHomes
    The only time you can be brave is when you are scared!
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    • Profile picture of the author cwill184
      Yeah, I've felt like this. Just got to keep going and learn more every day.
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      Online Recruitment
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