I see this kind of statement a lot with folks just starting out in business.
It doesn’t have to be about copy necessarily… just swap in the field of expertise of your choice and it still makes sense.
“Technically I’ve been taking my own photos…”
“Technically I’ve been designing my own websites…”
“Technically I’ve been baking friends’ wedding cakes…”
And to all of you, I say this:
Get “technically” out of there.
You’re qualifying yourself. And if you have a creative talent or a skill, you don’t need any qualification.
If I can save you any time and heartache at all, I hope you read this with an open heart and mind:
You naturally undervalue what you do because you have a talent and a skill.
Most other people out there can NOT do what you do.
They don’t know how to put their ass in a chair and conquer a blank page.
They don’t know how to change the angle of this photo and completely alter the vibe and meaning.
They don’t know why one website design works and another is super clunky and annoying to navigate.
They don’t know that subbing in that one ingredient is why the whole cake came out wrong.
You are an expert.
This is your wheelhouse. Never forget that you have a skill others find valuable and necessary.
Remind yourself of that fact, constantly. Find others that will help you remember it when you forget it. You have skills that others don’t… and just because they come more easily to you doesn’t make them any less valuable.
Remembering the value will help you cut loose anyone who talks down about your skills or implies anyone could do your job.
People can tell me they can write better than me all day long, and in my head I’m saying, “You think you can do better? You go right on ahead… there’s more than enough for all of us, and I’ll be over here in my corner making money for people that like what I do, the way I do it.”
You don’t need someone to give you permission to be good at something.
If you’ve been waiting for someone to anoint you an expert before you feel qualified to go share your skills with the world… well, this is me with my vodka bottle, anointing you an Official Expert™. You now have Official Permission™ to get out there and start your own thing.
The world needs your talents.
I’ve been officially anointed with vodka…
Absolutely. So anointed!