Failure is good for you.
On why you shouldn't wait to be perfect before you go for it.
I don’t know about you, but I hate doing things I’m not very good at, especially when I know other people will see or hear about my shortcomings firsthand.
I avoid playing new sports or going to the gym with my super athletic friends. I loathe discussing a complex subject with a friend who has studied it for years. I just don’t want to come across as not fit enough, not smart enough, or not capable enough. It’s embarrassing!
But there’s a major issue with that mindset.
It prevents me from two essential growth factors of life:
You first have to start something in order to get good at it.
You learn more efficiently from people who are experts at what you’re trying to learn.
Once I realized how much I was missing out on because I was worried about my pride, I started taking more risks.
Making a living as a writer requires taking risks. Quitting my day job was a risk. Spending extensive time and energy on a Substack newsletter was a risk. Investing hours into building a website, developing a portfolio, and drafting a novel - all of these were big risks.
But each risk made me a stronger and more capable writer/business owner.
The moral of today’s post is simple: Don’t avoid branching out and taking risks in your writing career just because your work won’t be perfect the first time.
You can’t get any better at novel writing, newsletter writing, ghostwriting, or marketing if you never start!
The bottom line is, you’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to fumble opportunities. You’re going to write stuff that will make you cringe when you look back on it later. But that’s all part of the beauty of a writing career - you hone your skills and develop your craft as you work.
Mistakes make you stronger, but especially when it comes to writing. With practice, you expand your vocabulary, learn what flows and what doesn’t, develop new metaphors and ways of explaining things, etc.
Frankly, failure is inevitable to reach the upper echelons of a freelancing career. Those who succeed have accepted that reality and boldly charged ahead despite it.
Thomas Edison, inventor of the lightbulb, was once asked by a reporter about his 10,000 failed attempts at creating the lightbulb.
He famously replied, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
While Edison eventually found the 1 way that worked, he first had to rule out 10,000 ways that didn’t work. His extreme perseverance and willingness to ‘get it wrong’ is what led him to ‘get it right.’
Don’t wait to be perfect. Write the book. Start the podcast. Grow the newsletter. Build the website.
Whatever it is that you’re afraid of going for in your writing career, just give it a shot. The worst thing that can happen is you find a way not to do it next time.
Let us know in the Chat: What’s something you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t because of the fear of embarrassment or failure? Are you ready to try it now?
i think that people would love to help you turn your weaknesses into strengths, but I guess people tend to fear being judged and end up choosing to run away instead of believing in themselves that i can do it
Love this. An inspirational message at the right time. Cheers to taking risks! Cheers to you, Emma!