When we’re about to do something great…

Today, I received this email from a prospective client who wants to write a book on her story as a successful female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry.

When we first chatted about her book, she was excited and full of ideas. But after I emailed her the next steps, she didn’t respond for a couple of weeks. I let things be, as I always do because I know a prospect owes me nothing even after I’ve spent time with her in a discovery or proposal.

Then, this morning I got an email from her:

Here’s what I wrote back to her:

Hi S.,

I definitely think writing a book brings up so many things, especially fear-based emotions.

I went through the same thing: for the past 15 years I kept saying I would finally write my book (and then I would always *not* write it). This year, I took the leap, and now it's finally underway. Yep, it took that long! I'm still working on it with another editor, but now it definitely feels like an exciting adventure instead of this looming dread. Just getting started with writing has already contributed a lot to my peace of mind.

Looking back, there were two major limiting thoughts that froze me up and stopped me from writing my book, and maybe you can relate to this, too:

1.) Who did I think I was? - Basically, this was my "impostor syndrome" talking, making me feel like I wasn't good enough to write a book, or that my story wasn't really all that interesting, and

2.) Will my life blow up if I tell my true story? This was the big one for me...and I usually encounter this fear from many of my nonfiction clients, too. I come from a very tight-knit family, and since I was writing a memoir interlaced with the story of my grandfather, I was frozen with fear with what my family and friends will think or how they'll react.

I'm not sure if these are some of the thoughts that are running through your head right now, but I assure you that you're not alone. I don't think that these fears are "normal" -- I think a lot of them comes from our social and cultural conditioning to minimize ourselves as women.

And here’s the thing: we all feel this fear, this hesitation when we're about to do something great.

I know writing your story will inspire countless more women out there. But you know what's best for you, and it will always be your decision.

I hope this helps in some way, and whatever you decide, I'll keep following you and looking out for your next adventures.

Sincerely,

Neva