“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

So far, we’ve only discussed confidence when looking into the future.  What happens in the heat of the moment, when a big ugly roadblock jumps in the way?  There are two battles to fight: the one against the big ugly roadblock and the one to win over the hearts and minds of…well, probably yourself.

First, let’s talk about the problem going on within, because that one has to clear the way first.  Next week, we’re going to talk strategies for dealing with the actual issue.

In my experience, confidence gaps aren’t really related to any single problem.  They’re more like a long expanse of “meh” and “I don’t know” that can usually be ignored until a roadblock forces you to look the “meh” in the face.

As luck would have it, there are ways you can harness that “meh” and make it carry you right over that roadblock.  Remember, “meh,” grows out of uncertainty (the same breeding ground for fear and game shows).  However, uncertainty is also where you find curiosity, and eventually, discovery.

Problem: My skills aren’t up to par.
Solution: Maybe you need a lot more practice.  So do the people who have already made it in your industry.  Even the established pros are constantly learning and updating their skill set.  Join in.

Problem: I can’t rely on this job because it’s not a decent source of income.
Solution: Change your framework.  Maybe you’re not making as much money as you want (or you’re not making any money at all).  That’s okay too.  Who do you know out there who is being paid exactly what they want and doesn’t wish for more than they’re making now?  People only get paid for their jobs, not their hobbies.  What makes a job is the fact that you get paid for it.  If your hobby has meant something to you all this time, and you’ve devoted so much of yourself to it, then clearly you see value in it.  Therefore, there is a chance that someone else will too.

And on that note, unconventional jobs sometimes result in unconventional forms of payment.  Maybe you’ll make money online.  Maybe you’ll trade your services with other profans (that’s how it worked in the middle ages, and I know people who do it like that now).  Maybe you just need to keep pushing until you get your big break.  In the meantime, remember that your job that pays the bills is just a temporary gig and not your destiny.  That guy waiting tables in Hollywood does not think of himself as a waiter.

Problem: I’m not so sure this is going to work out.  (This often appears in the form of “meh” and “I don’t know”).
Solution: Be confident.  Everything you do in the name of your hobby-turned-career now counts as professional.  Don’t say “I’m learning programming.”  Say you’re a programmer, even if you’re still learning.  You will ALWAYS be learning something new.  That’s how you become great at it.  Being a professional isn’t about already knowing everything.  It’s about the attitude you have towards yourself and your craft.  Practice, learn the market, and give yourself the credit for the work that you do.  No one else can do that for you.  Set a goal and reach it, then set another, and so on. 

What makes someone an artist or a programmer or a webmaster or a writer is that they CARE.  They MAKE something.  They DO something.  They TRY.  It doesn’t matter if the quality is not up there at the “professional” level yet.  If you take yourself seriously, and you tell yourself and everybody else that you’re in it for the long haul, then you’ll push yourself to improve.  The quality will get up there in time, with a lot of hard work.  On the other hand, if you brush yourself off as just another n00b, then you’re probably not going to work as hard.  You’re not going to fully commit, like there’s some kind of shame or embarrassment about not being top dog from the get go.  That’s not the case, but if you act like you’re not up to standards, then that’s how people will treat you.


Problem: People keep telling me I’m wasting my time.
Solution: Keep your friends close.  Don’t keep your enemies at all.  Be open to advice but always stay focused on your ultimate goal.  And always, always, stay geeky.

-Tamara Hecht