3 Mindset Shifts You Need to Make It As a Blogger

The majority of bloggers over-estimate the short term and under-estimate the long term.

Read that again and let the principle seek deep into your blogger psyche. We often hear about overnight successes online and ask the question ‘why not me?”

When we don’t see the immediate results, we become discouraged and give up. We chalk the whole internet thing up to being a big lie or worse yet we think something is wrong with us.

The Myth of Overnight Blogging Success

Ask the average coffee drinker this question: “Would you consider Starbucks an overnight success?” I think most would answer yes. Starbucks redefined the art of drinking coffee in what appears to be a relatively short period of time.

It might shock you to know that Starbucks is over 40 years old. It was founded in 1971. Back in the early 1980’s Starbucks only had a whopping 5 locations. They were well over 20 years old before the company even went public.

The point I am trying to make is that overnight successes are extremely rare. The sooner you know this, the sooner you will be encouraged. This blogging thing is a journey. It is built brick by brick and one blog post at a time.

How to Ignore the Online Hype

It is critically important you ignore the hype that exists online. There are too many failed promises from so called “gurus.” They are ready to prey on your emotions in exchange for the almighty dollar.

Unsubscribe from the gurus who are over-promoting their products and under-performing on adding real value to your life and business. How do you ignore the hype and stay focused on the mission at hand?

Don’t let money be your highest priority. Let adding value be your highest aim.

Create products and services that add extreme value. The kind of products that make a difference. When you do this, you feel more empowered about your mission.

3 Mindset Shifts You Need to Make It As a Blogger

If you are going to make it as a blogger, then you need to shift your mindset. This is a long-term deal. It is going to require and incredible amount of work from you. You will give way more than you receive up front. It is just the way it is.

Mental Shift #1 – From A Blogger Who Takes to a Blogger Who Gives

Stop asking: “How can I make more money of these people?”
Start asking: “How can I add more value to the lives of my audience?”

Decide today that you are gong to give way more than you receive and you are good with that. Too many bloggers try to hold back their best stuff. They are afraid they won’t have anything to use for a paid product. The problem is you will not have a audience to sell you best stuff if you don’t first give away your best stuff.

I know it seems completely backward, but I am telling you it works. People buy you and not your product. If your best stuff is good, they can’t help but be a part of a paid product because they know it will have the WOW factor (as Michael Hyatt puts it).

Shift #2 – From A Blogger Who is Impatient to a Blogger Who Embraces the Journey

Stop asking: “How long will it take me to have a successful blog?”
Start asking: “What will I become as a person regardless of the results?”

We all get impatient when we don’t see immediate results. We want to know this blogging thing will work before we put our heart and soul into it. I get that. One of the most asked questions I get is wondering how long it will take to have a successful blog.

Let me be clear: if you are out of a job and need income now, blogging is not for you. Get some income coming in and make your blog a side hustle. The truth is blogging has changed me way more than it has my lifestyle.

I’m on a new journey thanks to blogging. I get to share my passion, write out my thoughts through my lens, and grow from the experience. Starting a blog has been one of the best decisions I've made.

Money can’t buy personal transformation. Money can’t buy personal mission. Stop wondering how long it is going to take and start embracing the new found journey you are on.

Shift #3 – From A Blogger Who is Stubborn to a Blogger Who Reaches Out to Others

Stop asking: “How can I beat out my competition?”
Start asking: “How can I surround myself with passionate bloggers in my niche?”

If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you may grow weary of me talking about this. I had the wrong mindset coming into the blogging world and it took me well over a year to shift my mindset. I am so glad I did. The old American dream is to blame for this. “Go out there, make yourself into something, and do it your way.” That is the mantra for many Americans.

While I admire the resolve, it doesn’t work in this new economy. Times are changing. Your blog will grow better in the context of relationships. To learn more about this, see our post on Why Your Blog Will Never Last.

Questions: Have you bought into the hype of overnight success? What mindset shifts have you had to make?