If you set big goals, you probably spend a considerable amount of time worrying:
- If others think the idea is good enough
- If someone else would do it better than you
- If anyone will support it, or invest in it
- If you will be judged, ridiculed or humiliated if you try to attain it
This is normal.
Instead of worrying about what others think, in my experience, the fundamental difference between success and failure in reaching goals is:
Believing in the idea yourself.
In this 3 minute video, I say why.
See the latest on Adam Baker and team’s film progress: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cranktank/im-fine-thanks
See Antrese Wood’s audacious goal to paint her way through all the provinces in Argentina. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/antrese/a-portrait-of-argentina-landscapes-and-portraits (She has a big goal and 12 days to hit her funding goal. If you believe in it like she does and I do, support the project! Every dime helps. 🙂
Great reminder and well said!
Keeping “WHY” do you do what you do (Simon Sinek) is the core of what you do and what your business will do. Believe and Achieve (Napoleon Hill)…now, what is your “why” is sometime difficult. What takes 4 hours but seems like 15 minutes (Sir Ken Robinson) helps you find that core “why”.
Thanks again, this is always an important reminder.
Great and timely advice. Belief in the idea is the foundation. I will share this advice with my network.
Believing in yourself is the first step to believing in your capabilities and more so your ideas. No idea is wrong, you just need to have an open mind in order to make adjustments when necessary.
This is such as timely video as I’ve been chatting to my friends about a project (an app) I’ve been thinking of putting my time in to. However, all I’ve been hearing myself say is ‘what do you think about this?’ ‘do you think this is a good idea?’. I think social acceptance is so important to people (me included) that it’s easier to gauge other people’s opinions and base ideas on these rather than just going for an idea you believe in.
This video has certainly given me some perspective and confidence to take my idea forward so thank you!
Suppose the reason I’m doing something is because I have to make a living? I’m sure I’m broadcasting “This has to work, I can’t afford it to fail.”
Pam – Wow, this is SOOO 1,000% true. There are 2 voices constantly battling it out in our heads – one is the Voice of Judgment (you’re not good enough, smart enough, famous enough, etc) and the other is the Voice of Objective Intelligence that is giving you credit for all that you are, and all you are capable and worthy and deserving of. It is vitally important in times of doubt to dismiss (angrily if necessary) the VoJ and embrace (with serious commitment) the VOI.
Brilliant video as usual. Thank YOU!!!
— David
What I love about what you say here is the piece about the bigger why. The choice to play small or to keep taking steps toward your vision because you know the work’s needed and will have a positive impact on others. Great reminder thanks!
I do, but thanks for reminding me!
I have your question from your recent InfusionCon talk on a post-it on my computer, and my answer is a resounding YES: “Would you bet your mother’s life savings on your ability to deliver value to your customers?”
[…] Here’s a very interesting article I just read over on my colleague Pam Slim’s Escape From Cubicle Nation blog. Do You Believe in Your Idea? […]
Pam, thank you for doing these short videos for us – they always give me a boost! A lonely home office is an easy place for the self-doubt gremlins to creep in, and you help me to keep on moving forward.
Doesn’t matter if you believe in things – it matters if other people believe them. So have a crack anyway and see what happens!
This is such a great reminder that people just like all of us are putting amazing, creative ideas that they truly believe in, out there every day, and building them into something real, something tangible. These are the situations where I try to remind myself, “Why NOT me?” If it’s an idea I’m excited about, it’s worth taking the time and effort to really sit down, think inward, and understanding why it’s important to me and my audience. Great insights!
No matter what the idea is self believe will help you achieve it. That is something what Steve Jobs and Apple have done very successfully.