The fear of the first step
Sometimes it took a while before you get started. And it’s not because you can’t do it. It’s the fear of that first step. Let me just tell you my story …
When I started out, I had to spend about $35 for a domain name. And to save cost, I chose one of those domain supported hosting. That means, I only pay for the domain and I get a free hosting.
During that time, I just graduate and worked at minimum wage (I think). So spending $35 USD in a third world country is like spending a week of meal. Oh yeah, I was a bachelor then, so I could really use $35 for a week of meal.
It’s because I have never done that before … I’ve never bought hosting nor domain names. And it took me so long to decide whether I should really do this or not. And I kinda remember the feeling when I was about to punch in my credit card numbers into the payment page. I was thinking about whether I am doing the right thing or not. I worry if all the money that I was about to spend will go to waste.
But I did it anyway … never really of it this way but now I know there’s a first time to everything. And now I think I have more than 30 domains. Some that I don’t even need (or that I didn’t have time to develop the project).
When you are familiar with something, you can just do it without thinking. You no longer have that fear feeling. And you no longer need to think twice and worry when keying in your credit card numbers online. Everything seems natural.
Well, it’s not just about buying domain names and web hosting. Some people still have that fear when it comes to starting a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaign. Heck I still do … but lesser than before. Questions are spinning in your head. Will I make money? What if I am spending to much. What if the sales are not coming? Am I promoting the right thing? Am I writing the right ads?
But once you get familiar with it, you know that you some campaigns will make money. And you may lose some too. But as time goes by, you’ll tend to make a lot more. And you start to create new PPC campaign one after another.
Here’s another example. I get afraid when I need to do an interview. At times I may need to call someone, do an interview and record it. Sometimes it’s for a bonus, sometimes I just share it with my readers. But I am a nervous wreck when it’s getting nearer to the call time. But after your first three or four, you may not be good at it yet, but the fear is getting lesser and lesser.
OK, I don’t really know how to conclude this rambling. But I guess you need to know that there’s a first time to everything. And when you have that fear, just think about how good you’ll be later and how doing it will help you in your business.
Everyone is afraid of something. It’s OK to have that fear … and you know what they say — Courage is moving forward inspite of fear. As long as you keep moving, you are on track.
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Comments
Gobala Krishnan
I had a terrible fear of blogs, and stayed away from it for nearly 14 months. The whole blog thing was mumbo-jumbo to me. Now I finally made the first step and forced myself to learn it. I guess it’s not doing that bad…
Kidino
Gobala, remember that first online purchase?
Sunny Tan
I’ve always dreaded to write my first ebook..but I did it anyway and now I’m already USD400 dollars richer as at to now.. :)
Gobala Krishnan
Yes, I remember. I also remember the first check I got for $43 for selling electric guitars as an affiliate. That changed my life :)
Zulhairy
The first time I wanted to buy online using my credit card, I waited for two weeks before having the courage to confirm the purchase. That was 3 or 4 years ago.
LeRoy
I had no problem with my first online credit card purchase or any thereafter. Where I am having a problem is with an ebook. I finally got up the courage to ask a well known online person for assistance but I have received no response yet. I have this fear of uploading this ebook to a website and also don’t know what format it should be in. I realize that after the first time I do it that I will have the confidence I need to do it again. But I confess that I have thoughts of abandoning the project at times.
Zamri Nanyan
What would people think of me? Will the message be read? Will I look professional enough?
Those were a few questions haunting me the first time I was about to send my first newsletter. In fact, I still felt the fear of people judging me a few days after that first email went out.
I braved through… and now, I’m proud that I did it. And that was 3 years ago!
Just do it! Learn, make mistakes, create the joy of success…
Thanks Dino for the thoughtful post! It reminds me of the old days and teaches others who are still finding the courage…
Kidino
Sometimes I think people are so hooked into how to make money online … but when we gave it to them, they don’t actually do anything. Actually, they haven’t really go past beyond this part — getting over the fear.
Adsense Primacy
Hi.
Fear, especially for unrational factors, is probably one of the worst things you can experiment in your life.
Fears originates 2 causes of internet business failure:
A) Paralysis by Analysis
B) The search for the magic pill.
You can’t wait to be perfect, you can´t wait to design the best website. Start right now and keep improving it progressively. Besides, Sorry but there is not any magic solution to earn money. Just the proper knowledge, adequate strategies and massive action plan.
Those are my 2 cents.
Francisco Moriones
Letian Liu
Just remember the limited days in your life :P do something with them now and it’s ok to learn along the way.
Sunny Tan
“Twenty years from now you will be more dissappointed by the things you didn’t do then by the ones ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from this safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER.” – Mark Twain
Winston
Sunny, where you get the Mark Twain quote ? It is very meaningful
David
I started my business in 1999 without any spending. I hesitate to register a domain since I can get Geocities, Fortune City and other provider for free.
After 1-2 years operating and money starts to flow in. The free webhosting website finally gone out of business and I lost my “virtual domain”. Not to mention, income also drop to ZERO.
Learn from a painful mistake … by starting all over again.
Sunny Tan
Winston,
Reading a few motivation quotes daily keeps me going strong. It was one of those great quotes which I always remember.
Stephanie Trahd
Kidino,
Thanks for yet another reminder that we only get one chance at life – so take it!
Stephanie
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