So How Does An Insecure Seventh Grader Help You Define Successful?
So entrepreneur do you have any kids? Or maybe you’ve got immediate relatives (a sister or brother) that has kids. If not, remember when you were that extremely shy and totally insecure lowly seventh grader?
Yea that person. Remember how incredibly intimidated you were to be the part of the lowest group on the totem pole, in (of all places) junior high school? It was down right scary wasn’t it?
Because here you were (with your friends) no less than five days per week, facing those big bad (and let’s be brutally honest) sometimes more than a little rambunctious and just short of occasionally rowdy (at what ) appeared to be on the surface anyway, totally confident eighth and ninth graders!
At times it was down right scary, remember? Anyway, did it or has it ever occurred to you, that (believe it) or not, those lowly puberty stricken and totally insecure seventh graders can be extremely helpful, when it comes to how (hopefully) going forward, you and I properly define successful?
Nod your head cadets, because it’s true!
So How Does A Totally Insecure Seventh Grader Help You Define Successful?
Okay, so here’s the deal (already), you see that extremely or slightly shy seventh grader when they’re away from their closet friends and or other immediate family members, they’re constantly struggling with a ton of personal and psychological issues! You know what I’m talking about!
After all, their bodies are changing, and their voices (this part is true for young boys anyway!) are starting to change as well.
And at different rates and stages mind you! So while some friends clearly are advancing faster in their development than others, this difference in varying stages of development really weighs heavy on their minds!
They’re not sure if they even measure up to their peers yet! Because you see, to that slightly shy (or downright) awkward seventh grader, at least five days per week, they see those totally confident ninth graders and occasionally cross paths with those totally cool eleventh graders that are already in high school!
And man, look at them, they’re practically grown! Some of them are already smoking like chimneys!
I mean, they’ve got their own cell phones, they’ve got (in a lot of cases) a drivers license! Their own cars!
They sit and text friends, family and probably (in all likelihood) either their boyfriend or girlfriend etc! They listen to their own style of music, they may even already have after school part time jobs! And they’re so much bigger, and mature and so outwardly confident, right?
They watch all kinds of cool stuff online (without) being monitored by their parents or guardians with their phones, notebooks and tablets etc! How in the world can a lowly, puberty stricken and totally insecure seventh grader possibly compete with all that?
Defining Successful Is Really All A Matter Of Having The Proper Attitude And Perspective!
Well, guess what? To that extremely shy, confused and totally insecure four grader, that puberty stricken seventh grader is the bomb! After all, they’re already in junior high school!
So how cool is that? And their Mom & Dad or guardian no longer packs their lunch for them! And some of them (if not most!) have already got cell phones and they text their best buddies, sometimes even during class! Say what?
So that shy and often frightened fourth grader tends to look up to and downright admire that lowly seventh grader! Okay, so what does all this have to do with how you (hopefully going forward) define successful?
Very simply. The very next time you get totally down on yourself (because) to date, you’ve only got 97 opt ins on your email or mobile marketing list, after 13 have already unsubscribed! Or to date, you’ve only got 38 blog post (or less), and have no clue what to write about going forward!
My friend, (fellow entrepreneur), rest assured that you’ve got 97 more opt ins. ( Or X number) more than literally millions of others that are just trying to get started online! And are totally clueless and downright terrified of trying to market online!
You’re Definitely More Of A Potential Pro-active Leader than You Currently Realize! (or Dare To Give Yourself Credit For!)
(So even if you currently only have 13 opt in subscribers after three have already unsubscribed! You’ve still got 13 more than literally millions of others!)
And you most certainly have 38 (or X number) more blog post than 99% of most beginners do! So don’t focus so much on the man or woman that has 10,000 opt in subscribers (or more) and has already earned multiple six or seven figures etc!
Because that’s not your true target audience per se! No instead, just like that slightly shy and semi awkward, puberty stricken seventh grader, you need to be offering assistance to those shy and slightly confused 4th, 5th and six graders!
Help Others Overcome Their Doubts And Fears! (And Watch Which Direction Your Long Term Profits Start Constantly Flowing In!)
After all, you’ve already been where they are and where they’re headed! Right? Yep!
Translated: write some blog post on how you were able to (not only) overcome the fear of writing your very first blog post (and or) find the courage to do your very first in front of the camera video etc!
But more importantly, what have you done or what you do currently, to consistently generate fresh new blog post/video ideas etc.
And it won’t hurt if you share how you effectively dealt with getting your very first or second unsubscribe notice! And how you actually generated your very first opt in lead or how you generated your very first 500 or 1,000 followers on tweeter etc.
(And what those incredibly meaningful experiences have taught you!)
Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself! (Especially Since You’ve Managed To Overcome Several Obstacles!
In short entrepreneur, just like the shy insecure seventh grader, the way you ultimately define successful, it’s all really a matter of having (or gaining) the right perspective! Don’t you agree?
Please share your extremely valuable comments (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!
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And they’re pro-actively looking for potential guest speakers.Please don’t hesitate to-either- pass their name and contact information directly
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Hi Mark. I remember those days – even though I don’t want to – but you make a good point. We look around at other people and think they are doing so much better than we are. But, hey, there is a lot of ‘appearance’ on the web, from people who want to appear more successful than they are to pedophiles who pretend to be young guys. I guess the most important thing is to keep your nose to the grindstone and keep moving forward without worrying that someone else might be more successful than you.
Great post – thanks for sharing your thoughts.
All the best,
Leslie
Absolutely Coach!
And besides, when you get right down to it, it
really doesn’t matter what anybody else is doing, because they
can’t and won’t do what we have to learn to do for ourselves!
So very well said!
Thanks so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts!
And for you continuous support! Both are greatly appreciated!
The way I look on the impact of my business and blog and if I only get one customer, it is one that I didn’t have when I woke up in the morning. Each potential can turn into another one. Never thought I would appreciate a 7th grader, but you made good points.
Awesome Arleen, thanks!
I’m with you, each step forward is more progress than the day before!
No matter how little and or insignificant others might feel it to be!
Forward progress is forward progress!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your extremely valuable thoughts! It’s much appreciated!
Hi Mark
That’s a very interesting analogy… I remember when I first saw some of the big bloggers with all the interaction and engagement they had going on and I looked in total awe at them and didn’t dare make a comment for fear of having nothing useful to say.
Happily I’ve grown in confidence since then, and nothing gives me greater pleasure than to offer encouragement to someone taking their first tentative steps with blogging – because it’s not that long ago that it was ME!
Likewise with the subscribers – I don’t have a mega-list, but I do have a list, and a method for growing it.
So by venturing forth I have learned and improved, and so can anyone who is prepared to put the hours and effort in.
By the way – what a clever video!
Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year, Joy
Likewise Joy,thanks!
And without a doubt you are now certainly more than qualified
to show someone, especially beginners and intermediates what to do!
Because dime to donuts, 97% of them or more have yet to
launch their very own product yet!
And like you I too can recall the very first time I stopped by
certain established bloggers blogs and saw all the comments,
especially when I had absolutely no clue how to strategically go
about generating consistent comments myself!
And I was more than little intimidated too!LOl!
And like you my list is steadily growing as well.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your extremely valuable thoughts!
And for your continuous support!Both are greatly appreciated!
And the best to you and yours too in the new year and beyond!
Hi Mark,
Beautifully written. These types of posts that engage directly with emotions that majority of us can relate too always seem so popular.
No matter what niche we are in we all have experienced the same roll coaster ride of up and down emotions within our business.
It’s always a great idea to celebrate the small wins. All the same it’s an achievement.
Naomi
Excellent points Naomi!
Thanks so much for sharing them!
And I’m so glad you can relate on at least some level! And you’re so right about the engagement factor,
because for some odd reason, this has been the most shares on Google Plus that I’ve yet to receive!LOL!
And that’s truly awesome! And I’m definitely in your camp as well, when it comes to (if nothing else)
acknowledging any and all forward progress!
Because for sure, there’s always somebody behind us that could definitely benefit from our
experiences and minor successes, no matter how trivial, and insignificant we may perceive them to be!
Thanks so much for your continuous support and for sharing your extremely valuable
input!
Both are greatly appreciated! I’m not sure if you’re currently celebrating the
holiday season in your part of the world,but if not, the best to you and yours in 2015 and beyond
just the same!
Wow, Mark… As a 7th grader, I was the bottom of the class socially. My classmates were mostly the children of white collar workers, and they all knew my stepfather was the town garbage man who picked up THEIR garbage every week. I was proud of my stepdad, but I let my classmates put me down, and I didn’t even try to get up. In some ways I am still that very shy 7th grader. It’s time for me to grow up and see who I really and, and my potential for making a change in the world! Perspective is everything!
You definitely got that right Willena!
And truth told, we’re all still that shy and extremely insecure 7th grader!LOl!
BTW, just so you know, I absolutely love reading your extremely written posts, but since
I couldn’t figure how to log in, I haven’t left any comments for a while!
Because you often write this types of reflective post and I truly enjoy reading them!
So please go to my contact page and send me some incredibly simple (meaning) non techie
instructions on how to sign in to be able to leave comments again! Thanks!!
And you’re so right, the right perspective is everything! i’m so glad you found at least some
value in the post!
And thanks for sharing and adding to the conversation! Your continued support and
extremely valued insights are greatly appreciated!
Hi Mark,
Excellent analogy and the message is quite clear.
Indeed, we need to go our own direction and become the best we can, learn from those who are ahead of us and lead those who are behind us and never compare ourselves to others.
Because, those who are ahead were at some point where we are and at some point of time, we were at the same place as those who are coming behind us. And as you said, there will always be those who are new and need our help.
Thanks Mark for a great message.
Happy New Year to You and Your family!!
Be Blessed,
Neamat
Absolutely Neamat!
as usual you are simply able to articulate and put together your words so well!LOL!
And as you mentioned, our first order of business is to become top flight
students!
Then after we get the basics down, we then evolve into perpetual student/teachers!
Hmmm.. Neamat, you’ve just given me some food for thought
for a nice sequel or two follow up post! Thanks!LOL!
As always, thanks for stopping by and sharing your extremely valuable input
and for your continuous support!
Both are greatly appreciated! And the very best to you and yours this holiday season
and for 2015 and beyond!
YESSS, I’ve had to use the same analogy with some of my coaching clients who are feeling less than qualified to put their services out there. In the end, everything is all about perspective! And we have the choice to decide whether we choose to see the glass half full or half empty.
Thanks so much Victoria for your totally awesome endorsement of that proven analogy!
BTW, please forgive my late reply! But I somehow skipped your comment originally, it wasn’t until I was
scrolling them on the actual post and read yours and realized that I had not replied!
My bad!LOL!
Thanks so much for that ringing endorsement, I could literally feel your passion and energy in your words!
And I just bet your Coaches getting that vote of confidence and your kind and much needed words of
encouragement, not only meant an awful lot, but really gave them that emotional
validation that we all need from time to time!
Because truth told, there’s a little bit of that shy insecure 7th grader, to various degrees in all of us
from time to time!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your extremely valuable input! And for your continuous support!
Both are greatly appreciated!
Mark, Thanks for sharing some really valuable insights! I think so many of us look up to the most successful people in our chosen field and feel that if we don’t have the same level of success immediately, we are doing something wrong. I agree that if we change our perspective and start teaching and celebrating what we have created already to people who need to learn what we know, we will be able to see that we are already a success. Also experiencing gratitude for what we accomplish on a daily basis no matter how small should be celebrated as a victory.
You’re so welcome Shelley!
And I’m so glad you found some value in it! And I couldn’t agree more than we tend to
look to the most experienced and successful within our particular niche to try
and compare ourselves to!
And like you said, our immediate thoughts if we haven’t equaled or surpassed what they’ve accomplished,
then somehow we failed!
When the truth told, we are most certainly qualified to help others who’ve yet to experience
what we have!
And I definitely agree every victory is worthy of a celebration of some kind, no matter how small
and or trivial we may perceive it to be!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your extremely valuable input Shelley!
I really appreciate it!
Mark
It is amazing when you have more knowledge than others you can become the expert. So w can all be that 7th grader if we want.
You should never compare yourself to others but to yourself. It is the only way to grow yourself.
Thanks for sharing a great article.
Andy
Thanks for such an awesome compliment!LOL!
But you’re so right, we all have the potential and probably have at
least some form of accomplish that allows us to be that lowly 7th grader
to somebody!
But without the right appreciation and perspective, the obvious alludes us!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
And for your continuous support! Both are greatly appreciated!
Hi Mark,
I love this analogy.
Who doesn’t want to be “the bomb?”
So we try and try and try again, wondering when we’ll “get there.”
As you show us, though, we’re already there! We just don’t know it, so we’re always afraid to show it.
The key to having a successful online business is really complicated, lol… just do it!
Figure out what you’ve learned that can be helpful to people who have not yet learned it. Find those people, and build a good relationship with them. Let them know you care about them. Then, teach them the “how” and your going to be “the bomb” in their eyes.
Thanks for this, Mark. Happy New Year!
-Donna
Wow Donna you shared some really great insights!
First, you pointed out to find those potential customers or clients
that are most in need of our help and we are most qualified to help.
And next be sure we let them know how much we do in fact care about them and
that’s it’s not just about money!
And then as you pointed out, we can proceed to show them
how we will be the bomb in their eyes!
I may need to do a sequel post and share your insights!LOl!
Truly great insights! Thanks for sharing and for your continuous support!
I truly appreciate both!
How I can relate to that shy 7th grader, even among the other 7th Graders. After being consistently top of class in the earlier years I suddenly had competition. Then, when walking down the street returning home dressed in my new Grammar School Uniform, I’d feel a kingpin again.
You are so right, Mark, we shouldn’t underestimate our knowledge, experience and success based on those who’ve been around longer. We can still help others even if it means asking someone else. That’s all part of our learning process too.
Absolutely Sue!
I can’t tell you how intimidated I was the very first time I visited your site!LOL!
Because I thought, wow this lady really understands all this really techie stuff and
I’m basically lost when it comes to that end of the Internet!LOL!
But as you pointed out, there’s simply no need to being trying to compare ourselves to others!
Especially if they’ve been around longer!
It’s not an equal comparison! Thanks for sharing your extremely valuable insights Sue!
It’s definitely appreciated!
So true! We have to follow our own path and not compare to others (besides, we can’t just look at a surface result and know what it took for them to get there) and we only need to be one step ahead of the people we serve. We have our own audience and our own expertise that we can teach about.
Those are some really great points Leanne!
We are the only ones that can walk our paths!
And as you pointed out, as long as we are at least one step ahead of our audience,
then we’re qualified to teach those in our niche.
And the best insight you shared (as far) as I’m concerned, is to stop
comparing others surface results, because as you also pointed out,
we simply have no clue exactly what they did and who’s help they may have had
in order to get those results!
Thanks so much for sharing your extremely thoughtful insights and for your
continuous support!
Both are greatly appreciated!
First, I have to say that personally I can’t identify with the grades thing because my schooling was much different than the norm, moving around a lot as a military kid and going to schools with many different structures. lol
Second, I can agree with the confidence thing a lot. As an independent consultant, I not only have to be confident in my abilities but work up confidence when it’s time to market myself again. Now that’s where the real courage comes into play because I have to reach out to a group that not only doesn’t want to own up to having any issues but probably has no idea what I’m talking about. lol
Actually, when you get down to it, blogging takes a lot of courage also. Over all the years I’ve written I run into many people who couldn’t conceive of even trying it, saying “what if no one likes it or someone gets mad at me?” What the hey? We do what we do and if someone doesn’t like it, that’s on them… as long as we’re not jerks. 🙂
That’s so true Mitch!
Confidence can be as an important and valuable asset as your skills!
And the more confidence you have,it actually shines through and that can
be very attractive to any potential customers or clients!
Those are some great insights, thanks fo stopping by and sharing them!
Mark,
You have made a really important point here. I have certainly been guilty of thinking the top experts in my field should want to learn from me or I me not successful. The truth is, I can learn from those top successful people but that only makes me more valuable to those who view me as an expert, those who are ready to hear what i can teach them because I have been where they’re at, if only recently.
I will now have this image in my head of a shy 7th grader who is seen as ‘the bomb” by an even shyer 4th grader.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Absolutely Dr.Erica!
And you make a really good point that had escaped me until you pointed it!
And that being, as that 7th grader and or intermediate marketer learns more,
their value to the marketplace increases in the eyes of those who are already looking to them
as leaders and or experts within their chosen niche and or industry.
That a really important point! Thanks so much for sharing such an incredibly powerful
insight!
And thanks as always for your continuous support!It’s definitely appreciated!
One thing I do to maximize the impact of my blog is use the Google text prediction algorithms to see what people are searching for in my field. Then I write about it.
That’s definitely smart marketing Zach!
After all, if there is little or no demand for our content Zach,
ultimately what’s the point?
Thanks for contributing to the conversation and for your continuous support!
I definitely appreciate both!
Success certainly is relative, Mark.
Like the shy 7th grader who is the 4th grader’s hero, if you’ve accomplished anything at all online, you’re in a position to help others improve their own game.
An authority on a subject or in a niche is someone who knows just a tiny bit more than you do. When someone is a few steps ahead of you, they are legitimate authorities relative to the position you’re in. If you can just learn the few things that they know, that you don’t, then their experience and know-how in invaluable… at least to you!
Thanks for the interesting article, Mark.
Happy New Year!
What you say is so true David!
In fact it reminds on an old saying, “I the land of the blind, the one eyed is King!”
Meaning, exactly what you pointed out, as long as you slightly ahead of your niche audience, then your
in fact qualified to teach them how to get to your level!
Thanks for sharing your extremely valuable insights and adding to the conversation!
Your continuous support is greatly appreciated!