For someone embarking on a new career like copywriting, lack of confidence could be a problem. You only have to think what the first day in a new job is like. Even if you have all the experience in the world, self-doubts creep in and you wonder if you’re up to it. But when it’s a whole new career, those self-doubts can go into overdrive.

So how do you deal with it? Will you ever reach the stage where you are supremely confident of your abilities? And how long does it take to get to that stage?

Of course, if you want to be successful in anything you do, you will have to deal with the self-doubts. And we know it’s not just a matter of ‘manning up’ (or womaning up, of course). So here are five tips to help you boost your confidence and self-esteem.

1. Write a list of your strengths – in BIG letters. Don’t be afraid to blow your own trumpet. What ten things do you do best? When you’ve done that, get some bluetack and put it on your wall where you can see it. Then READ it and admire the person who does all those things.
2. Celebrate your successes. Congratulate and reward yourself when things are going well. Print off those positive client comments and put them on the wall too. Read them when you need to be reminded of your skills and talents.
3. Set small goals. If something is troubling you, break it down into bite-size pieces and create a list of all the elements. Tackle one at a time and tick them off as you go. Not even Superman can scale Everest in one leap.
4. Rephrase the problem. You’re a copywriter, so put those writing skills to good use. Instead of saying ‘I can’t do this. I don’t have enough experience’, turn it around and rewrite it. Saying ‘What experience can I draw on to help me do this?’ will go a long way to solving the problem.
5. Don’t be reckless but do take risks! This might seem like a strange way to boost confidence, but think about it. If you stay in your comfortable rut and never challenge your boundaries, your confidence will never grow. You won’t learn and gain experience. If you fear failure you won’t achieve. So if you’ve got any room left on your wall, how about making a list of the risks you’ve taken and what you’ve achieved as a result.

Copywriting training and confidence

There’s no doubt that training is a huge confidence booster. The industry is unregulated and countless people decide overnight to embark on a copywriting career without the necessary skills and experience. By contrast, those who have trained start their new careers from a position of strength. They have learnt the necessary skills. They have made their mistakes and gained practical experience in a safe, protected environment. They have invested in their own future and their client’s. And that does wonders for the self-esteem.

More reading on the Copywriting Apprentice blog

Trained or not, it’s important to remember nobody is supremely confident 100% of the time. Ignore all those comments from other copywriters you see on social media. They are marketing their services. If they have any savvy, they won’t admit to being a gibbering wreck. Copywriter Stephen Marsh wrote about that very thing in a guest blog.

Copywriter Nick Pagan wrote a gutsy honest guest blog explaining how he coped when the client said no.

Finally … don’t be surprised to find your confidence levels going up and down like a proverbial yo-yo. If you’re having a bad day, the slightest knock could send you into a downward spiral. On the other hand, if you’re having a good day, that knock will probably go unnoticed.

Remember, you’re not alone. Everyone experiences times when they lack confidence. It’s natural. Believe it or not, it happens to everyone. All you have to do is knock the doubting gremlin off your shoulder and let your angel take over.