Hey friend,
You're familiar
with FOMO, right? It's the Fear of Missing Out. FOMO drives us to act just because everyone else is and, geez... I sure don't want to miss out!
But there's another kind of FOMO, and I experience regularly. This FOMO is not about missing out on the latest Pixel release or a spot in an exclusive South by Southwest (SXSW) workshop.
This FOMO is the
Fear of Making Offers — the fear of putting yourself and your services out there because, well... what if the answer is no?
I’ll be honest, I feel it too.
Every time I’m about to hit send on an email like this, promoting my own services, a little voice in my head make me hesitate. What if this bothers someone? What if they think less of
me for selling to them? What if they laugh?
But here’s the thing: This fear, it’s not just about potential rejection. It's also about the fear of success. Yes, success. That feels absurd! But maybe it's true. Because with success comes change, expectations, and all those responsibilities. That's daunting, too!
And I know I’m not alone in this. Many of us worry
about coming off as pushy or salesy. We might even feel our old friend Mr. Imposter Syndrome creeping in, whispering that we’re not really as good as we think and say we are (even though deep down, we know we’re pretty freaking awesome).
So, how to overcome this fear? Here are a few things that have helped me:
- Normalize the no: Not every offer will be a yes, and that’s okay.
Each no is one step closer to a yes, and thinking about offers this way helps me refine my approach and understand my audience better.
- Celebrate every step: Every email I send, every offer I make, is a victory. It means I'm still here, trying, growing, and not letting fear hold me back.
- Focus on serving: I remind myself that what I’m offering can genuinely help someone. It’s not about selling; it’s about serving. That shift in
perspective makes a world of difference.
- Press 'send' anyway: This is it, the bottom line. Even if I'm quaking in my boots, worrying what people will think, I have to publish that content, send that email, make that ask on LinkedIn. If I don't do it, who will? I remember one of the contestants on Undercover Billionaire realizing her predicament and saying something like: There's no one coming to save me. I've never forgotten. Those words drive me to
act.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. If the thought of reaching out and making an offer is holding you back, let me know. Sometimes, sharing the load can make it lighter. Sometimes, you need an outside perspective to affirm what you're doing. Feel free to hit reply and share your thoughts or fears.
In the meantime, ... <screwing up my
courage> ... I want to tell you that I'm working on offers for ebook development and LinkedIn ghostwriting. The market is apparently hot, hot, hot for both of these services.
I promise that when I get the pages ready, I'll gather up my courage and send you links, just in case I can help you with either of those tasks.
Wishing you joy ... and courage!
Renae :)
