Are you talking sissy talk?

Welcome to Week 25 of my adventure as a member of the Marketing Plan Group. In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a website copywriter, my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and what I’m learning from my group experience.

In school, I was a bit of a hypochondriac. I spent many hours in the nurse’s office trying to convince her that I had a fever and should be allowed to go home sick.

Most of the time I wasn’t sick at all. She knew it, and deep down I did too. I suppose I fled to the nurse’s office because I didn’t feel like being in class at the time – but aside from a momentary delay, I always ended up in class anyway.

Yes, I can admit I was a bit of a sissy.

Fast forward to today… I’m a self employed 30 year-old, and in my Marketing Plan Group, it’s time to set some tangible financial goals. And I’m sort of resistant. I’ve been resistant to the idea of a financial goal since I heard the words mentioned. It sparks terror in me. It makes me want to go to the nurse’s office and get permission to go home sick.

Why? Here’s what seems to be getting in my way of setting a financial goal:

• If I don’t reach my goal, I’m afraid that I’d be disappointed in myself instead of proud of myself.
• Knowing that I’d actually be accountable to a number frightens me. I’m a big fan of setting loosely defined goals so I never have to actually fail. But by picking a number and not reaching it – there’s no room for lying to myself.
• I know about how much I make each month without trying too hard – and that amount sort of works for me.
• I know I’d actually have to work for it, and maybe I’m scared of what that would entail.
• I’m not a big fan of pressure. I already put enough pressure on myself as it is.
• Happiness, freedom, and enjoyment were the main reasons I became self employed. I worry that focusing too much on money will take some of those things away. I worry that I might resent the goal, or the business.

So, when I told Ilise that I hated the idea of setting a financial goal, she asked me why. I jotted these things down. Then we had a little chat on the phone.

As I heard these things come out of my mouth, I realized that they are simply excuses. It’s just FEAR that’s getting in my way – and fear can come up with a lot of excuses if you let it.

So, now that I’ve gotten the sissy talk out of the way, it’s time to get back to class where I should be. Learning, growing, and moving forward. It’s time to set a monthly financial goal.

Here is a tool from Freelance Switch that I’m using to help me get a realistic view of what my goal should be: http://freelanceswitch.com/rates/

Are you talking sissy talk too? What does your sissy talk sound like?

If you hear yourself talking sissy talk, and you need someone to send you back to class, consider joining the next Marketing Plan Group. It starts the week of April 5th and there are two spots left!

Comments

[Dee]

Fear = fiction experienced as reality.

Just saying thanks for sharing, the link, and I hear ya!

:-)

[Deidre]

Dee, you said that perfectly! Thanks,
Deidre

[Tara Fort]

Fear? What fear?? : ) Deidre, you hit it home as usual!

[Alan Kravitz]

Deidre,

Thanks for sharing the link, and yes I have these fears, too. Talking about them with others certainly helps.