Battling Self Doubt as a 50 something
Welcome to my Blog, my name is David Thornton and Everyone Needs a Dave!
I’ve tried to create online enterprises throughout my life, but perfectionism and self-doubt have always driven me to give up.
Here’s the process:
I carefully prepare every step behind my computer before I begin something. I put in numerous hours building forms, social media profiles, websites, logos, forms, branding, and I’m sure even looking at availability of company names on the Companies House Register.
Before the launch, everything needed to be perfect. Months of preparation and perfecting gave me the confidence I needed to share the project with my friends – my way to keep things safe, reinforce my ideas and avoid failure.
And when I did finally launch, I’d let friends and family know so they could check out my incredible new (soon-to-be-failed) web venture.
Sharing your fresh business concepts with loved ones may seem like a good method to hold you accountable, but it almost always backfires.
It’s simple psychology: once you start talking about your new entrepreneurial persona, you start to think that’s how other people see you. This newly acquired status helps you achieve a component of your new identity goal, makes you feel good about yourself before you even begin, and decreases your chances of success.
Next, self-doubt took over when it was finally time for me to promote myself in the real world.
Every time I didn’t get the desired outcomes, I got disappointed, remained at the computer , and threw in the towel. Never did I fully commit. I tried to keep my personality apart from my work by remaining in a secure, predictable bubble.
It wouldn’t matter when I stopped if I didn’t put my face to it, I reasoned.
The first time I did was on this blog.
This blog is the first time it worked. Here are my theories why:
- During the Covid19 outbreak, I learned enough about myself (and in my career) to make it work.
- I launched with a MVP (Minimum Viable Product) without worrying about things being perfect. (something I learned from Agile Project Management).
- This blog is under my name, putting my personal brand at the forefront.
- Regret will haunt you more than failure.
- I didn’t tell any friends or family about it until I was making my initial target monthly figure.
LAUNCHING MY BLOG.
Over the last year or so, I learned a ton about content, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), content development and affiliate marketing from the wealth of information out there.
There was so much overwhelming evidence that I realised I could start a blog and make it work.
However, this time it would be different, I didn’t spend months planning or trying to get every little detail perfect. In October 2022 I started building content for my Blog and launched in November 2022.
I decided to start a WordPress site (the original and best blogging platform) from scratch, rather than use these pre-built sites like Wix, etc. as this had very few limitations as I scale.
NO MATTER YOUR AGE, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO.
As a guy born in the analogue era of the 70s and turning 50, my blog’s purpose is to document my journey from day one, and prove that we can operate successfully in a digital era and learn together.
My intention is to provide you with the tactics and resources to help your progress because the majority of us are generating a side income while holding down a full-time job.
Many podcasts, celebrities, and well-known bloggers began at least five to ten years ago, and their strategies might not be relevant in 2022. Additionally, the more influential someone becomes, the less specific and generic their advice becomes.
Also most of these people seem to be Generation X (teenagers or young 20 somethings), born in a digital era where all of this comes naturally to them’
You can get more flexibility and alter your life in several ways by starting a blog and earning a side income.
You might start a side business to help provide for your family or sell your content for thousands of dollars each month. Making some passive money through affiliate marketing or sharing your personal narrative with the world could suffice.
No matter your goals and ambitions, my dream is that another analogue 70’s baby reads this and realises life is too short to not give it a go.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK YOU FOR READING THIS
If you read this far, thank you for your time. I value every friendship I build through this blog very highly.
I’m here for you as a friend and a resource for blogging. I make an effort to reply to each email and would like to hear both the good and the terrible parts of your tale.
I want to create a welcoming environment where new bloggers may cooperate, offer support, and work more efficiently. Since we are all beginner bloggers, we must work together to support one another and succeed.
