Feeling Like a Failure? Get Back on Track With This One Helpful Advice

"You'll always find your way if you have just one person who believes in you."

- Sarah Dessen, American Novelist

There will come a time in your leadership journey when you doubt yourself. You'll wonder if the sleepless nights spent perfecting your craft were worthwhile. You will be discouraged when the doors you knocked on are turned down.

I've been there before. And even as a professional writer and speaker, I still have days when I wonder if I'm cut out for this. I still have moments of rejection and feeling like a failure.

Are you having the same thoughts?

Whenever I feel discouraged, I tell myself this advice: "Find one person who believes in you."

Ignite your passion.

Ms. Faith Lorenzo, my fourth-grade teacher, was the first person who recognized the writer in me. She smiled at me while complimenting my essays, and I remember her doing so.

I was already a member of a journalism club at the time. But I didn't believe in my abilities until I saw Ms. Faith's excitement after reading my work!

My story also reminds me of Oprah, whose fourth-grade teacher, Mary Duncan, also inspired her.

"Because of [Duncan], I've always felt like I could take on the world. [She] did precisely what teachers are expected to do. They ignite a passion for learning in you that will last a lifetime,"According to Oprah. "That is why I am hosting a talk show today."

After college graduation, I pursued a career in sales and marketing instead of becoming a professional writer. Nonetheless, I used my skills to write business correspondence, proposals, and reports for my job.

I consider myself a writer and would like to pursue it as a sideline or hobby. So, despite my hectic schedule as a marketing manager, I made time to do freelance writing to supplement my income.

One coworker taught me about blogging and served as my informal mentor. Nonoy Floresca of Trails Unlimited encouraged me as I began a WordPress lifestyle blog. The blog evolved into my portfolio for clients interested in my writing services. I eventually tagged along to his events, and he introduced me to PR firms he knows.

If you do not yet have a mentor or coach, I encourage you to find one, just as novelist Jonathan Safran Foer did when he discovered Joyce Carol Oates as an inspiration.

"I went into her class with no desire to be a writer, and I left wanting to be a writer because of what she showed me," he said. "I've thought it would be nice to do that for someone else ever since."

- Jonathan Safran Foer

Build momentum.

Now, let me return to my story.

After ten years of working for corporations, I decided to leave marketing and pursue a career as a public speaker while keeping my writing gigs as a freelancer. Once again, I sought out someone who would believe in me and assist me in my transition.

So I applied for a position as a resource speaker for a reputable organization. The company president believed in me and hired me as a business and technical writing trainer. I was surprised that he chose me over other candidates with master or doctorate degrees.

It was because of my conviction that my experience-based knowledge could help people. Of course, I could improve at theories, but as I worked on my training modules, I had the opportunity to do more research and study the subject.

Guess how many trainees attended my first public seminar? Three people registered, but only one showed up!

So I skipped the group activities and focused on how to help more effectively. That solo trainee appeared pleased with the free upgrade to one-on-one coaching. I received a five-star rating at the end of the session.

It appears at the beginning that only one person is showing up for you. Yet, years later, I could fill a room of 50-100 people. People began reading my blogs and e-newsletters after I launched Writing Hacks Academy. In five years, our online school had attracted at least 10,000 students.

It takes time to achieve consistent growth and readership. However, technology allows you to expand your reach exponentially. These are the outcomes over which we have no control. We only need to put in the work and wait for the results.

You may become obsessed with numbers, such as how many people read your work or how much you are paid. But your self-assurance and success are more than that.

- Jonah Chipeco

You can lose followers overnight. Your social media accounts may be restricted. Alternatively, a single event can harm your reputation as an author.

You may also experience a "dry spell" period in which life throws punches at you, and you can't seem to pull words from your brain.

It's fine. What will you do if these things happen? That's what matters more.

Focus on love.

If you love to write, you'll find yourself immersed in weaving words sooner or later.

I could provide numerous tips for overcoming writer's block, but I'll limit this post to today's advice: find one person who believes in you.

And I'm not referring to someone else this time. Get back up and be the first person to believe in you.

If you ever doubt the writer or leader within you again, try these things:

1. Celebrate your past accomplishments.

Retrieve your digital files. Or your diaries and unpublished novels. You'll notice how better your writing skills are compared to five years ago. So yes, you've improved as a writer. And you still have time to learn more.

2. Accept the rejections.

According to Psychology Today, writers and artists are notorious for persisting in the face of rejection. They accept that rejection is part of the publishing process and continue to "put themselves out there."

Reading the article and identifying writers as resilient made me laugh because this could be true!

Guess what we'll do if you mess up with writers or break their hearts? We'll turn our heartbreaks into a story! And that could be the best kind of revenge.

3. Learn from your mistakes.

Adopt a growth mindset and always look at what you can improve.

Then, of course, move forward by finding one person who believes in you. Speak with a potential coach, a loyal reader, or anyone else who can assist you in regaining your momentum.

Look forward to the future.

Even if you failed, remember that you are not starting from ground zero. Over the years,  your experiences and skills have grown. You have connections who are ready to support you. There is still so much that you can do.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself to have made it my own. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is behind me and focus on what is ahead."

 - Philippians 3:13

Live your best life,

Jonah

P.S. I hope I somehow inspired you through this article. Who are the people who believed in you along the way?