I’m currently creating an e-course that will teach participants how to create repeat patterns, which is one of my great passions in life.
I thought to myself, “This will be a piece of cake! I’ll record some videos, I’ll write some posts, and I’ll interview some pattern designers I find inspiring. Done, done, and done.”
So I committed myself, and I got started. I did the fun stuff first: designed a website, decided on the particulars of the course, etc., etc. And then it got to be time to start creating some content, and I quickly realized it might not be quite the piece of cake I thought it would be. I had lots of questions.
For example:
- How does one go about recording a screencast, so you can see what I’m doing on my computer and hear me talking over it?
- How does one record and edit a Skype conversation?
- What does one do if the audio quality of a recording sounds crappy?
- What are the correct export settings for a video so it doesn’t look fuzzy?
Think of Gaining New Technical Skills as an Opportunity
I spent a few frustrating days wondering if I’d gotten myself in over my head. But then I realized that lacking these technical skills didn’t have to stop me — it was actually an opportunity to learn something new; something I’d then know how to do for the rest of my life. And that’s pretty cool!
So I began putting one foot in front of the other and walking (slowly) down the path of learning about software for recording screencasts, and purchasing a microphone, and using iMovie to edit Skype conversations with a little bit of newfound patience for myself.
I’m not supposed to just magically know how to do everything, and learning new skills takes some time. And I’ve made lots of mistakes along the way! But each mistake has taught me something important and helped propel me forward.
Realize that Email Marketing Is an Acquired Skill
I’m sharing this today because it’s 100% applicable to email marketing. You’re not going to magically know how to do it — what gets people to open your emails, what keeps your readers engaged, how to grow your list — without some learning. And that takes time.
Expecting yourself to grow your list from 0 to 1,000 people in a month may be unrealistic. Expecting 100% of the people on your list to buy whatever it is you’re trying to sell may be unrealistic. BUT, with some learning, some trial and error, and a heck of a lot of patience with yourself as you learn what works and what doesn’t, you can absolutely start upping your numbers and refining the messages you’re sending out.
So next time you think, “I don’t know how to do that,” or, “this is going to be too hard,” or, “I should already know how to do that,” try turning your attitude around and seeing it as an opportunity to grow and acquire some new skills, which you’ll then have for the rest of your life!
That’s pretty empowering. It makes it more fun, and each mistake you make will allow you to improve, bit by bit. So even if it takes some time to acquire the new skills and knowledge, you’ll always be moving forward.
*****
Jessica Swift, a full-time artist and surface designer in Portland, Oregon, is on a quest to inspire everyone on the planet to pursue their wild + colorful dreams … and never give up. Her magically uplifting artwork is licensed by companies and manufacturers for iPhone cases, fabric, stationery, and much more. You can find her colorfully creating and blogging online at JessicaSwift.com.
