10 Mental Mistakes Bloggers Make And How To Fix Them

Why not me?

That’s the question I asked myself at a pivot point in my life. I had a background in IT and had spent my entire adult life behind a computer writing code.

I really loved personal finance, but then I saw these experts who had been talking about money for twenty years or more.

  • On the radio
  • On TV
  • Millions of website visitors per month
  • They had written dozens of books on money

I hadn’t written a single word on the topic. All I had was a dream.

My choice was the same as your choice might be right now. As I sat in my black chair with the white polka dots from Kohl’s

butterfly-chair

I boiled it down to one question:

Why not me?

I could go for it, and one of two things would happen:

  • I would succeed
  • I would fail, but at least I would have tried

Or I could have gone the safe route and stuck with IT. And 5, 10, 15 years from now I would be looking back and wondering:

What if…

Here are my Top 10 mental mistakes that can hold you back from blogging success.

Mistake #1 Thinking you have to be an expert

What it is

The belief you need some level of expertise or certain years in a field to call yourself an expert.

Why it’s a mistake

It’s a limiting belief that you can’t teach someone that has less knowledge than you on any subject. If you read one book on a subject, you know more than any person that has read zero books on that subject. In their eyes – you’re an expert.

How to fix it

Become an expert. Read books, take classes, learn from other experts. Nobody starts out as an expert or is born an expert.

You can become an expert by documenting your journey to expert status. Sharing what you learn along the way is a great way to get started blogging about any topic.

Mistake #2 Thinking you don’t have enough time

What it is

Using your busy schedule as an excuse to not do something.

Why it’s a mistake

Nobody has enough time. Time can’t be created – we all have the same 168 hours in a week. What you choose to do with your time is up to you.

The words ‘I don’t have enough time’ are incorrect. What you really mean is

I’m choosing to do something else that I place greater importance on than _____.

Fill in the blank.

For some people it might be spending time with the family, working eighty hours, watching football on weekends, sleeping, or just being lazy.

Sorry but don’t kid yourself – you and I make choices where we spend our time. If you spend 30 minutes a day on social media, there is your time to blog right there. Choose wisely.

How to fix it

  • Create a written schedule where you set aside 30 minutes per day to write.
  • Create a content calendar where you set due dates to publish.

Mistake #3 Waiting to hit publish until you’re writing is better

What it is

Striving for perfection and ending up with analysis paralysis.

Why it’s a mistake

Perfection is the enemy of the good. You can end up with a bunch of half written posts or almost ready posts and never publish anything.

How to fix it

Most of your first posts will be terrible – it’s normal! Just hit Publish.

Mistake #4 Thinking you can’t break into a crowded field

What it is

Seeing many other bloggers writing about your chosen topic and abandoning your writing dreams.

Why it’s a mistake

The Internet is a big place, and there is always room for someone awesome like you.

I got into the personal finance space in 2015. There were already thousands of other personal finance bloggers, plus hundreds of major publications.

Are you reading this right now? There is your proof you can break into a crowded field. I did it – so can you.

How to fix it

Carve out your identity.

Think about the music or TV shows you watch. Have you ever watched a new show or listened to new music? People are always looking for fresh and new content.

Mistake #5 Believing you can go it alone

What it is

Overconfidence in your abilities to figure everything out on your own.

Why it’s a mistake

You can accelerate your learning curve by getting help.

Michael Phelps – the greatest Olympian of all time – has a coach. So does Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots.

Warren Buffet – greatest investor of all time – surrounds himself with smart people.

How to fix it

  • Join blogging Facebook groups
  • Subscribe to newsletters that send you blogging tips.
  • Follow other bloggers to see what they are up to

Mistake #6 Falling for impostor syndrome

What it is

The fear of being exposed as a fraud once you’ve achieved success and become accomplished.

Why it’s a mistake

We all feel like this at one time or another when writing, teaching, or speaking.

How to fix it

Recognize it’s normal to feel like an imposter. Even the people at the top of their game sit back and have doubts about their abilities and everything they have done.

  • Am I good enough?
  • Do people like my content?

Yes.

Mistake #7 Trying to be Superman or Superwoman

What it is

Trying to master every part of blogging and do it all yourself.

Why it’s a mistake

Nobody can be an expert at everything related to building a blog or business.

How to fix it

As your income grows, hire contractors to work on projects you don’t enjoy or don’t have time.

Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you are.

I’ve never done a single thing on Pinterest. At first, my wife did it for me (free of course), and now I pay someone to do it for me.

Mistake #8 Living in a shell

What it is

Hiding behind your screen in anonymity.

Why it’s a mistake

There is a difference between being shy and an introvert. I am an introvert. I have met a lot of other introverted bloggers.

People want to do business with people, not a nameless, faceless corporation. Or a nameless, faceless blogger.

How to fix it

  • Attend conferences
  • Email bloggers you like
  • Share personal stories about yourself
  • Be social on social media

Mistake #9 Staying out of overwhelm

What it is

Becoming paralyzed by everything you should be doing to the point you end up doing nothing, or the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Why it’s a mistake

Overwhelm is part of the mental game, and I speak from personal experience. When you start blogging and learning about blogging you suddenly realize you should be doing all of the following:

  • Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, Pinterest, LinkedIn)
  • Search engine optimization
  • YouTube videos
  • Finding stock photos
  • Email list building
  • Newsletters
  • Product development and research
  • Networking and connecting with others
  • Generating income
  • Plus you still have to write the darn blog posts!

How to fix it

Create your end goal of where you want to be 1/3/5 years from now. Work backward, so you understand what it will take to get there.

Focus on one big thing each day, and each month. Even if you only have 60 minutes a day, stay focused.

When I’m practicing my guitar for an hour a day, for 40 of those minutes I’ll work on one thing. The other 20 are spent on the lower priority stuff.

Mistake #10 Giving up too soon

What it is

Giving up before you’re blog has had enough time to grow and find an audience.

Why it’s a mistake

There is an adage in the gardening/landscaping world:

  • The first year you sow
  • The second year it grows
  • The third year it shows

It doesn’t mean it’s going to take three years to earn a living blogging. But it’s going to take longer than three weeks or three months.

Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

You will never become successful at anything if you quit before you’ve reached your true potential. You will either have the false belief of ‘only special people can do that,’ or spend the rest of your life wondering ‘what if I had stuck with it.’

I quit Kung Fu lessons in college. Several times a year I think back and wonder ‘what if.’ What if I had kept practicing, how amazing would I be today at Kung Fu. I could kick the mouse out of your hand right through this computer screen – that’s how amazing I would be.

How to fix it

Spend your time on making what you’re good at better (like writing). Improve your strengths. Spend less time on your weaknesses (social media, making Pinterest images).

Over time you can farm out the things you don’t do well, or figure out ways to streamline them.

Where to go from here

If there is one thing I’ve learned about tomorrow, it’s that when it comes I will have wished I had started today.

You’re not alone on your journey. All those doubts and fears are the same ones I’ve had and gone through.

Crush them.

Now write something!  If you don’t have a blog set up yet, please read How To Start A Blog: A Step-by-Step Guide

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