Type, type, type, type, type.
Backspace, backspace, backspace.
Type. Delete. Ty…surf the web for “research.”
Specifically, search for this Police song from their 1980 album Zenyatta Mondatta because it’s been in my head since I wrote the headline for this post.
Abandon all writing.
The previous scenario may or may not be based on true events. But if you’re an entrepreneur who struggles to keep up with the content your business demands, it may ring true.
You start writing and you stop before you’re done.
It happens. Sometimes it’s because of an internet search rabbit hole (we’ll talk about that in another installment.) But more often than not, it’s because of those voices in our heads.
For me, Roger Ebert shows up and mucks everything up.
“Roger Ebert” is what I call my inner critic, named for the late, prolific movie critic. It’s that voice in your head dedicated to convincing you that everything you are writing is a steaming pile of sh*t. Your inner critic will tell you plainly that you’re about to embarrass yourself or that you can’t say that. It’s a shifty, narrow-minded, unhappy entity that entices you to backspace, delete and spend your writing time listening to the entire catalog of The Police.
Don’t let it.
It’s just fear speaking. Putting yourself and your words out there takes courage. Uncovering and being true to the voice of your business requires bravery. Your inner critic is trying to protect you from being you. Not cool, inner critic. Not cool at all.
Unfortunately, you can’t wish away your inner critic, but you can find ways to peacefully co-exist with it.
Lighten Up Don’t give your inner critic extra power by taking it too seriously. Just the term “inner critic” is harsh, so I gave mine a name. Now when it’s flaring up I say, “I hear ya, Roger, but it’s not your turn.” Find a way to be playful with it.
Redirect Tara Mohr’s advice on the inner critic includes “removing the inner critic from the scene” by visualizing it it someplace else absorbed in some other work. As I work through facilitator training for Tara Mohr’s Playing Big book, this is my favorite advice so far!
Tell it Off It’s hard to beat the advice of author Elizabeth Gilbert who said she deals with her inner critic the same way she deals with real-life critics, saying to them “very, very quietly, but very firmly, ‘If you don't like what I'm doing, go write your own f***king book.’"
Consult Teddy Roosevelt Like Brene Brown, I read Roosevelt's “Man in the Arena” excerpt from his “Citizenship In A Republic" speech so often, I should hang it on my wall.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Inner critics are cold and timid souls. Take a deep breath. Remind your inner critic that you've got this and nudge him aside. Then create the great content that will propel your business forward.
“Well Said Wednesday” is a blog by Barbara Govednik, Founder, Content Coach & Message Strategist of 4.23 Communication. It’s published every other Wednesday…ish.