Reader,
The biggest barrier most of us face in trying to compete with the big dawgs online is self-belief.
"How did they do it!?"
"They make it seem so easy, why isn't it working for me!?"
Well today, I want to talk about that exactly.
It's all about The Creative Dip.
PS - Keep reading for a banger life principle from Naval, networking lifehacks for introverts, and a cool copywriting tip at the end.
I once stepped away from writing for 497 days because self-doubt and anxiety had consumed me.
I remember sitting in a coffee shop trying to write, trapped in a loop of self-pity, comparing myself to others and wishing I could achieve what they had done.
“There’s no way I can ever be as successful as him at writing.”
Quitting felt like the only rational step. How crazy is that?
My own mind told me to quit my one true passion. At this point, I mustered up the courage to put my foot down.
The devil drew me into the dark art of comparing myself to people above me.
Self-doubt is the biggest reason people fail.
The Creative Dip
There are three stages that make up the psychology of self-doubt.
- The beginners high: Man, that sweet feeling of excitement when you just start something new. It’s like soaring through the sky.
- The dip: Welcome to reality. The high wears off once the real work begins. Working with no results to show. This is the test. It’s where most quit.
- The Summit: This is where the results show. The hard work has paid off.
It's fair to say that most people are in the dip, but don't even know it.
That's why they feel so lost.
You need to possess the self-awareness to know where you are in your journey to make it through.
Now, I'll leave you with some more philosophical brain food to chew on.
“Our life is what our thoughts make of it.” — Marcus Aurelius.
When you find yourself in this self-doubting catch-22, remember this.
It doesn't have to be like that (as stupid as this sounds).
Recenter, and reprogram yourself.
Everyone has a story. And yours may have a bunch of pitfalls and periods of low success.
But the beauty here is that the pen is your own hand.
Take it, and write your story. Your journey will unravel itself.
Just quit doubting yourself.
1 Quote to ponder:
Naval Ravikant on key principles for life, Source: 'The Almanack of Naval Ravikant'
1 piece of content to consume:
The Non-Needy Networking Process (How To Make High-Value Connections) by Dan Koe
Success and growth on social media is actually about who you network with, not necessarily what you post.
The internet has created an opportunity for us to tap into an unlimited network.
You can DM a celebrity, and if you structure your message well with good writing, they could answer and give you an opportunity.
It's literally an introvert's dream.
You don't need to be confident or to be able to speak on public stages, all you need to do is shoot the right messages to the right people.
Just DM people. You can build a whole business through this.
1 copywriting tip to implement
Always engineer the last line of your copy to have maximum actionable impact.
I call these 'power endings'.
People always talk about the hook, but not enough about the ending.
The thing someone will remember the most is the last line.
So make it short, powerful, and memorable.
A one-liner punch line always works best.
It's your key to inspiring action in your reader.
*Bonus - A carousel on how to make $1M from writing.
Check out this carousel I posted this week on LinkedIn. Insane value and time went into his one.
See you next week!
I've been in Croatia all week soaking up some rays and remote working.
Forward this email to someone if you enjoyed what you read!
