Great points, Wade, thank you. I love the part about ego, and the part about what you project as opposed to how you feel. I think that when you’re self-employed, it’s all about persistence, in all things.

Nicely written.

A long time ago I changed professions, and became a salesman. The first couple of months were difficult. I was really unsure of myself.

Then while talking to a prospective customer on the phone it clicked. No one knew how unsure I was except me.

No one.

It was remarkably freeing knowing that. Nothing else about me changed, but I started to pull in the sales. Over the next ten years I got to travel just about everywhere, called on many household names, and sold to them.

So for those who are uncertain of themselves, remember that no one except YOU know how uncertain you feel.

The remainder is hard work. Practice, practice, practice. Being a bull headed idiot has its points. I knew a salesman who used to say you only had one chance to land a customer. He was wrong. Unless your ego got in the way you had as many chances as you were willing to try for. Customers (readers) are always open to reading your next book.

So keep on writing.

Wayne

PS: As a salesman I developed an ego the size of Jupiter. I also learned how to turn it off so I didn’t become an insufferable jerk to my family and friends. You have to know when it is appropriate to be an egotistical jerk, and when it isn’t. At least you do if you want to remain human…

You’re welcome, Paul. Thanks for the comment

Congratulations on 1) the sale (very important, as you know) and 2) taking the risks. Taking the risk is the hardest part, and it sounds like you’re doing great.

A few weeks ago I managed to put together an eBook of flash fiction pieces I had published on my blog. I did it to see if I could actually do everything myself. It worked. A few days ago I got my first sale! My book only sell for ninety nine cents, but that one sale thrilled the heck out of me. Before that, I was beginning to think I wasn’t good enough a writer for anyone to buy my words. I still think it most of the time but I’m getting better at accepting I may have something to offer.

When I publish my first novel I will write another and then another; just keep going. For the first time in my life I feel I can achieve my goals.

Thank you for constantly providing us writers, out here in the cold, with the tools, knowledge and inspiration to keep going. When a person grows up in poverty, and an abusive environment, it’s sometimes hard to believe they can be what they want to be. It’s taken me almost fifty years to say ‘I can do this’ and ‘I will do this’.

Thank you, Kris.

Thanks, Annie. 🙂

Great! I hope you find it helpful!

Particular to Idaho, MaryA. Seems strange to me, but in Idaho if you graduated from the U of I law school, the bar was a formality. Dunno if it’s still that way, but it was then.