Is perfectionism holding you back from saying what you really want to say?
Are you afraid to write about the things that truly fascinate you? Do you feel like you need to be perfect, before you can share your perspective, or change your niche?
- Maybe you’d love to write about contemporary vegan food, but you still eat meat sometimes.
- Maybe you’re intrigued by the movement towards ethical consumption, but you still love bargain homewares and the odd fast fashion fix.
- Maybe you love creating recipes, but you’re holding back from sharing them because you’re not a trained chef.
Your fear of getting it wrong, looking foolish or being unable to maintain a high standard is preventing you from exploring what you really care about.
That’s the thing about the pursuit of perfection.
It’s a trap. It keeps you stuck, biting your tongue, afraid to launch, and playing in the shadows instead of stepping into your power.
Yes it’s important to make sure that your message is aligned with your personal values and your brand. And yes, some knowledge of your subject is important.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be the number one expert. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to meet some unattainable standard before you’re allowed to join the conversation, launch a product or teach what you already know.
Your quest for perfection is holding you back
If you’re afraid to write about a contentious issue, or step into a new niche, here’s some tips to help you write with confidence:
- Avoid taking hard and fast positions. By all means write about your freshly-adopted vegan lifestyle, but until you feel confident and comfortable that this is a permanent change, treat it like an experiment. Approach the subject through a lens of curiosity and let your audience know that you’re not out to be perfect but merely figuring it out as you go.
- Invite your customers along for the journey. Tell them what you are doing and learning, what you are questioning, and what you’re curious about. Invite them to join in the conversation, share their knowledge and opinions, or recommend resources.
- Seek advice from the experts – Interview people who can answer your questions on your blog or Facebook page. This not only makes interesting content for your tribe, but it takes away the pressure to “have it all figured out”. Instead, you can curate a variety of perspectives as you build your knowledge through great conversations.
- Don’t be afraid to let some readers go. Yes you may lose some readers if you adopt a drastic new position, but it’s impossible to please everyone anyway. It will be easier and more satisfying to write and create content that aligns with your current interests rather than trying to , and you’ll attract new readers along the way.
If you’re ready to move into a new niche or explore something contentious in your writing, let me help you get your message sorted. Click here to book your free mini-session and get you personalised advice to help you down your new road.
