I think that many people have a fear of commitment. We see it all the time. People are scared to take any action that could have the remotest possibility of failure and so they do nothing. They keep the status quo and remain in their comfort zone.
Well, there’s another way that allows you to tip your toe into the water and see how deep it is. It’s using the concept of experimenting.
When you tell yourself that you’re just experimenting, there’s no huge commitment on your part to continue doing something that no longer works. You have an easy out. Because you are ‘just experimenting’, you’re not bound by the outcome of your experiments. After all, you were just trying things out. So what if the experiment didn’t work. Not everything will.
How does this relate to blogging and info products?
If you are scared to do a video post, why not tell yourself that you will just create one, as an experiment. You’re not going to go out and buy all the latest video equipment, you’ll see what’s available for free and just shoot something and put it up on Youtube. Then, wait for the reaction of others. Don’t forget to discount how you are feeling about the experiment, too. Maybe you’ll get a thrill from video blogging and won’t care if others don’t like it because you’ve now discovered your passion in life.
If you are scared to do an audio or podcast and have been analyzing forever whether you should one or not, just cut through all that indecision and use the “I’m just experimenting” excuse. Create an quick audio, put it up on your site and see what kind of response you get. You’ll never know until you try new things to see whether they work or not. If you don’t like doing podcasts, then don’t continue doing them. No one is forcing your to continue doing something that you don’t want to. After the experiment is over, and you have your results, it’s off to the next experiment. Close the chapter on the first one and move on.
If you’ve been scared to create your first info product, why not just experiment with what you already have. You don’t have to do hours of research and spend tons of cash. Ask yourself what skills can you harness to create a product? Are people telling you that they wish they knew what you know? Are there people who always come to you for answers (in whatever field you’re in)? Do you have tons of archive article? Why not bundle up your top articles and create your first product from those? They are popular for a reason and chances are you are discounting that valuable information. Look around because people are doing this all the time. If they can do it, then so can you. Even if you only sold 1 copy, you’ll be learning a lot just from the experience. Besides, it’s just an experiment.
Do you want to put up a Donate button on your site? I was flip-flopping on this one myself. It’s kind of like begging (which I don’t do well). What will people think of me if I put one up? Does it make my site less professional? I ended up using the “I’m just experimenting” excuse and put one up in five minutes. Okay, no one has donated a penny to my site, but if I didn’t experiment, I would never know that. Now, I know that people don’t donate. Well, at least to me, they don’t. Maybe they will for you. You won’t know unless you try though, right?
What are you hemming and hawing about? Should you put ads on your site? Should you try guest-posting on a populate site? Should you reach out to to form VC partnerships? Should you even create a blog in the first place? Maybe it’s time to stop being on the fence about things and just do them. Tell yourself that no matter what the outcome is from your ‘experiment’ that you will have learned some valuable information. Plus, you’ll be happy that you took action and have settled the questions in your mind.
It’s always better to take action and confirm things than sit around and wonder and do nothing.
What have you been putting off because of your fears? I urge you to use the “I’m just experimenting” excuse and accept the outcome, no matter what it is.
photo credit: flickrsven
Karen writes at A Meaningful Existence, a blog devoted to helping others put meaning into their existence through practical personal development strategies. You can subscribe to her RSS Feed and also find her on Twitter at @kruby.
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I remember creating my first product a few years back. Took me ages because…it had to be perfect before I released it.
What a big mistake!
There is no such thing as a prefect product or post or blog or…
I like the slogan, “I’m just experimenting” – it removes the fear.
Andrew
Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last [type] ..Take The Stress Out Of Blogging
Yes, Andrew. That’s the point – to remove the fear because you are not tied to the outcome of your actions. You’re just trying something new and if it doesn’t work out, oh, well. At least you tried.
I can definitely relate to the need for perfectionism, particularly for your first product. I agree that nothing is perfect, but we should all do the best that we can.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..How Zero-Based Thinking Can Help Your Future
Hey Andrew…right on. Get it done…feel the waters…take some feedback and improve.
It is so important to just test markets before putting too much time into them. Great points!
Brandon
Try rewording your Donate button. Use: Buy me a Beer! instead.
Yeah, except I don’t drink beer
I take it from your comment that people actually do buy you a beer on your site? Very cool.
No, I don’t have it on my site. I don’t drink beer either. But Joel Comm used this trick on his site and it seems to work for him.
Well, at least someone is getting rich, uhm, I mean, drunk
Karen´s last [type] ..An Important Exercise To Help You Create The Life You Want
I felt I actually had to comment here not because I felt I actually had to but because I felt that I could add some value to your experimenting post.
I’ve used this more now that I have a daughter than anything. I tell myself that if I don’t just go for it and do whatever it takes, convenient or not, that I’m always going to wonder and wondering just isn’t good enough for me. I want to know for a fact what’s going to happen, bad or good the outcome may be. And the only way to know that is to actually do something and see what happens.
That being said I thought I’d add that I typed all this on the ipod touch while my daughter sat on my lap. And I’m getting faster at typing on this.
Eric´s last [type] ..Other Project At Play
You always add value, Eric
The older I get, the more I realize that some things just don’t matter as much. Being a perfectionist and waiting for the perfect conditions has stopped me from just doing things. Using this technique has helped, as I’m sure having your daughter as a motivator has inspired you to take action, too.
Thanks for adding your thoughts.
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..Understanding Your Chances In Life – Guest Post
Funny you should mention video blogging — I just published my first video blog post! You called it an “I’m just experimenting” excuse “, while I viewed it as a way to explain a complicated subject. My real ‘excuse’ was in labeling the video a ‘companion’ to a previous ‘real’ post. So I’m waiting for the outcome. Thanks for the advice on ‘accepting’ no matter what! I’ve already gained so much just by going down the path.
SBA´s last [type] ..Video- How to Link Your Custom Domain to Blogger
Hi SBA,
Good luck with your first video blog post. Like most things, it becomes easier with practise. Now that you’ve done your first one you can see what kind of feedback and how you feel about doing them. The fear is no longer holding you back. Good for you!
Thanks for adding your experiences,
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..Understanding Your Chances In Life – Guest Post
I’m going to occupy the “perfection” niche.
I’m well-suited for it.
And it’s empty!
Perfect!
Dave Doolin´s last [type] ..Who’s afraid of outbound links
Hahaha, Dave
It looks like it’s been working for you so I wouldn’t change a thing
Karen´s last [type] ..How Zero-Based Thinking Can Help Your Future
The flip side is top not let the “I’m just experimenting” excuse to turn into an excuse…an excuse to quit anything you do after the first failed attempt.
Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last [type] ..2 Immediate Feedbacks Needed PLEASE!
Good point, Dennis!
Use the excuse as a stepping stone to get over your fear of trying anything for the first time, but don’t let it become a larger excuse to try everything under the sun, either. It’s important to observe what kind of feedback you get from your ‘experiments”. Even if no one likes your experiment, but you are happy and energized doing something new, then why not stick with it?
Great idea Karen.
Its a great little tool to trick your brain into doing something that you actually know you want to but have been putting off. We always view changes and new/different things as permanent, when in actual fact hardly anything is
Cheers,
Schmidty
Exactly, Schmidty!
Nothing is permanent so we can divorce the result from our efforts and just experiment on those things that we have been scared to do.
Thanks for adding that.
Karen,
I love your twist on this idea. I have been fighting myself for putting up a video forever. I hope that this one will push me over the edge…just experimenting…just experimenting…just experimenting.
Great stuff!
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
T.I.P. Team Member
Joshua Black | The Underdog Millionaire´s last [type] ..Sales Letters- 4 Ninja Tricks For Getting Your Direct Mail Opened Almost 100 of The Time
Thanks, Joshua
Definitely do it at least once. If it’s not something that resonates with you, at least you know after your ‘experiment’.
It may bomb, but it may also be wildly successful, too. You may find out that you absolutely hate doing videos and would rather have your privacy and so you don’t have to do another one.
Karen´s last [type] ..How Zero-Based Thinking Can Help Your Future
Really good post, Karen.
Reminds me of my first blog post, spent the entire day shooting for perfection when no one was going to read at that point in time anyway. I acted as if I had an audience of 2 million.
Fear is a paralyzing thing which keeps us from being as productive as we can often be. We tend to over-think things, worrying how others will analyze the effort. In the end, it really doesn’t matter. Most times people will appreciate the effort, even if the results were less than stellar. Hell, at least you tried to do something, as opposed to sitting on your hands like many others.
Best bet; put it out there and move on. Like you’ve stated, if you don’t like what you’ve put together or did not enjoy the experience, do something else. There are plenty of choices for producing products and delivering them. You just may find one that is absolutely fun to do.
Jimi Jones´s last [type] ..A Digital Voyage
Exactly, Jimi!
None of us have the elusive 2 million pageview or stats to worry about, so why are we allowing our fear to prevent us from just trying (or just experimenting) to see what works and what doesn’t?
I know that I have a tendency to over-analyze things and I’ve lost out on great opportunities because of it. I’m getting better though
Thanks for adding your thoughts,
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..4 Best And Worst Things About Being An Entrepreneur – Guest Post