Maybe you know starting a blog would be great for your business, but you just haven’t done it yet.
Maybe you already do blog, but you haven’t posted in weeks.
Or maybe you’re just going through the motions but have zero confidence that it can or will move the needle whatsoever in your business.
I get it. Been there.
There’s a common misbelief we content creators tend to fall for. And this misbelief could very possibly be one of the main things holding you back. (Another major one is that you just don’t have the time, which I talk more about here.)
If you continue to fuel this misbelief, you eventually give up on pushing forward. You fold your hands and sit down nicely—and miss out on what’s ahead for you.
And the most frustrating part of this misbelief is, as the name implies, it’s not even true!
So what is it? I won’t keep you in suspense. Simply put, it’s that you have nothing to offer.
Has anyone else struggled with this lie in their head? Or is it really just me?
Even just this past week, I was wrestling with that thought.
I have nothing to offer. What am I even doing? What could I possibly teach people about blogging or writing or content marketing that’s worth anything?
Wow.
Once I realized I was throwing myself a major—and rather embarrassing—pity party, I stopped what I was doing and took my thoughts captive as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Why Is This Misbelief So Prevalent?
From listening to a lot of other business owners, writers and content creators share their experiences, I know I’m not the only one to have struggled with these kinds of thoughts.
Chances are, somewhere along your entrepreneurial journey, you’ve thought it too. Maybe you’re struggling with feeling this way even now.
It’s easy to feel like a tiny guppy in a vast ocean. You’re trying to move forward, get the word out about your business, and serve the best you possibly can, and it’s hard.
I mean, face it. Growing your business, your ministry or even your personal blog isn’t easy. It’s hard work and sometimes it requires a lot of trying new and different things until you discover what really works for you.
It can be daunting and frustrating and confusing and overwhelming.
And in the midst of all that, we can tend to feel inadequate. We begin to think that we’re not strong enough to push our adventure forward. Or we don’t feel smart enough to strategize. Or we don’t feel outgoing enough to network. (That last one was definitely a thought I’ve had several times since I launched my business in January.)
And then that thought slips in: What do you really have to offer?
In essence, why are you even doing this?
At the heart of “What do I even have to offer?” is the fear that I’m not enough.
And, in a way, that fear is actually true. None of us are enough to produce anything good in our lives apart from Christ. Jesus makes that super clear in John 15:5b—“apart from Me, you can do nothing” (NASB, emphasis added).
So really, when we’re in that place of saying we have nothing to offer and we shouldn’t even be doing what we’re doing—we’re telling ourselves that God is not enough to produce something good out of us and our endeavor. That’s a bold statement.
If we give that misbelief ground in our minds, it works its way into our entire business. It corrupts every blog we write or every podcast we record. The words we use to help or teach people lack conviction. We shy away from telling someone about what we do, even if we know it could help them.
It causes us to shrink away from opportunities to grow, to put ourselves out there, to push forward toward the goal we believe God has put in our hearts.
That would be a huge mistake. A mistake I really don’t want you to make.
So How Do You Deal With This Misbelief?
Now that you know you’re dealing with this misbelief, it’s important you know how to deal with it. But how do you do that?
1. You have to recognize that it’s not true.
The same Paul who told us to take our thoughts captive also told us to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
So if something isn’t true, should we really be wasting our time thinking about it? Obviously not.
And yet when we’re in that place of telling ourselves we have nothing to offer, it’s because some small (or big!) part of us truly does believe it.
That’s when we have to remind ourselves of what’s actually true.
For me, that might mean sketching out a quick list of what I actually do have to offer, why I’m in this business to begin with, and my motives for serving my audience.
Why am I writing about blogging, writing and content marketing?
Because in the last 5 ½ years of working for a Christian publishing and media company, I’ve written hundreds of articles and hosted hundreds of podcasts. In the process, I’ve learned the difference between an article that gets 100 clicks and an article that gets 100,000. It’s not an exact science, but I’ve experimented enough and written enough to know what it takes to write compelling content that people are eager to consume.
In that time, I’ve also seen dozens of writers struggling to know how to write content that speaks to their ideal audience or write headlines that catch the eye. I’ve been able to give them pointers along the way and, hopefully, equip them with better tools to improve their writing.
As soon as I remembered that, it was almost like an “Aha” moment. It snapped me out of my funk and back into reality. It was if my brain remembered, “Oh yeah, I actually do know how to write well and have experience teaching others to do the same. I can help people!”
What is it for you?
I want you to take a moment and write down what you have to offer.
What experience do you have? (It doesn’t have to be a job! Real-life experience is just as important as, if not more so than, corporate experience.)
What have you done or accomplished in your niche?
What lessons in your niche have you learned the hard way?
Write it down. And remember it.
2. Remember the people you serve.
Yes, it’s important to earn money and make a living. But ultimately, that’s not really why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Whether you’re writing for your business, your personal blog or your ministry, you’re ultimately not doing it for you. You’re doing it for the people you’re serving.
I remember one writer who really took to heart what I was suggesting as an editor. This person was submitting content for our online publication, but the articles just weren’t resonating with our audience. I talked to this person on the phone and just coached them a bit on how to write for our audience better and how to choose topics our readers care more about.
The next article I got from that person was a home run. The content exactly catered to our audience, and no surprise, it got a lot more views. That’s the power of coaching.
Being able to help that person reach the goal they were after was so encouraging.
So now it’s your turn. I want you to think of one person you’ve helped along the way. How did you help them reach their goal? Or if you sell books or products, how did those books/products impact them?
Great. Now think of another. And another.
That’s why you do what you do.
3. Fix your eyes on Jesus.
You know, this one really should’ve been first because it’s most important. But I wanted to save it for last because it’s the most precious to me.
When I’m struggling with the misbelief that I have nothing of value to offer, I can guarantee you I’m not thinking about Jesus. I’m thinking about myself.
I’m upset because I’m not enough or I’m not getting the results I want or I’m not like so-and-so.
That’s all about me.
But choosing to look at Jesus instead is a completely different experience. When I remember that my life is not about me at all but about the One who owns me and loved me enough to die for me, suddenly I gain a fresh perspective.
Suddenly, I remember that my business is not about getting the results I want. It’s about honoring my Master and my First Love. It’s about being faithful with what He’s given me.
If He has given me a talent for writing and coaching, you better believe I’ll use that talent for His glory.
If He has given you a gift for writing, for networking, for speaking, for ministering, for singing … do it for His glory! If He’s entrusted you with an idea that can help other people or a product that can change people’s lives, then pursue those for His honor.
Remember that He owes you nothing. And yet He’s given you everything.
Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.”
Next time you find yourself thinking, What am I doing? What do I even have to offer?, I hope you remember these truths. And most of all, that you remember to look at Jesus.
Want to read more content from me? Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook. I’d love to chat with you about anything … especially if it’s about writing, blogging, business or Jesus!
Jenny Rose is a freelance copywriter and content marketer specializing in B2B marketing, real estate, and accounting. She's written for clients like AAA, Edward Jones, Flyhomes, Guild Education, and more. Her writing has also appeared in publications like Business Insider and GOBankingRates.
