The first step is admitting I have a problem

[natbag]

I am a very shy person. Like, "shots of vodka before posting on a forum" shy. After reading MJ's books, I figured I could just lurk and passively absorb the wisdom but... that defeats the purpose of committing to change. So here I am, hi!

"Worked" (read: interned) in self-publishing for about a year, but I was basically being outsourced for my boss's 4 hour work week. I went from ghostwriting/editing fiction to learning copywriting, which is actually how I found this forum! It's interesting coming at it from a creative writing background, because a lot of the principles stay the same. (Research! Know your audience! Make them feel! MOVE THEM!)

Anyway, thanks for the awesome forum, everyone. One of my goals is to help people like a lot of the threads here help me.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for "stepping out".

"Worked" (read: interned) in self-publishing for about a year, but I was basically being outsourced for my boss's 4 hour work week.

LOL. What's stopping you from creating your own self-publishing venture?

 

[natbag]

Thanks a ton for the warm welcome, MJ! Here's to the first of many "steps."

LOL. What's stopping you from creating your own self-publishing venture?

Haha, the funny thing is it's not like the dude's got more time or inherent talent on me, and managing a lot of the process has given me an idea of the amount of work involved (and what can be made more efficient...)

But it honestly comes down to his brass freaking balls, tenacity, and follow-through. So, to answer your question... the only thing stopping me there is ME.

It took months for me to realize this, and it'll probably take even longer to reverse it -- but I'm ready to broadcast my floundering to the world! (After another shot of vodka.)

 

[NC_Carlos]

@natbag kudos to you for realizing and admitting the only thing stopping you is yourself. Considering you are a "shy" person and admitting this on the forum shows you are committing to change

 

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[GMSI7D]

the first step is not " admiting a problem "

the world doesn't care


the first step is knowing what we want

whatever we think of the wolf of wall street , the guy knows what he wants regardless of society's current moral


might is right



knowing what you want is more important that admitting you are shy or whatever weakness


you know what ?

i have lost 20 years of sex and relationship because i was shy and i couldn't figure out how to handle rejection and talk to women


20 years


but nobody cares . at all.

 

[Late Bloomer]

Thanks so much for joining the forum, Nat (is that your name?). Some of the best writers and even public speakers I know are introverts. They don't intrude with their ideas. But when they have thought it over and they really do have something worth sharing, that's when they speak up... and it's worth it to listen!

I'm in the 30 days of copywriting thread here. And you'll find others who have a lot to say about writing and publishing as steps to success.

Including MJ of course! A great success story of someone who observes and thinks about more than many people might know who randomly encounter him in everyday life... who has set up his life so he can share his views on the printed page, on the screen, and in person, as much as he likes, and in the way that he likes... and close the gates for his own privacy, whenever that's what he prefers.

 

[drew212]

Hopefully this will be encouraging:
Maybe not being shy isn't your goal, but I don't think being introverted(shy) is completely genetic. I think some people have more of a tendency towards being introverted and it requires more work from them but it is learned behavior. In my case I grew up pretty introverted and I think this was learned behavior from the way I was treated. I was bullied a bit as a child/youngster after moving to a new school at a young age. I don't say this as a pity party but as a fact (at least a fact on how I remember things).

I've gotten myself to be more extroverted and comfortable around others by practicing "fake it until you make it," and putting myself into positions where I know I'll be uncomfortable: large social groups, and giving talks in front of an audience. Making a conscious decision to either succeed or fail until I learn to succeed in social interaction has helped. I still talk less than some of the other people around me, and I don't think people would call me extremely extroverted, but I am comfortable being in many more social situations than I ever would in the past. I'm now willing to talk up about things I'm passionate about when I would have just sat back and listened.

Knowing you want to change and make better of yourself is the first step! Looking forward to more posts on your journey!

 

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