How to Overcome Business Blogging Despair

July 10th, 2008 by Easton Ellsworth

Welcome to Part 5 of a 24-part series on how to use the Visionary Blogging method to overcome business blog problems and develop good business blogging habits. This series covers all the virtues and vices you need to know about in order to maintain a clear vision for your blog.

See Parts 1 through 4:

How to overcome fear and develop courage
How to overcome doubt and develop faith

Now let’s talk about how to overcome despair, one of the worst enemies of visionary business blogging.

What is despair?

Despair is the opposite of hope (which we’ll discuss in the next post). It’s a feeling or state of hopelessness. You might believe you nothing to live for and that nothing’s gonna come your way (name that song).

Despair is ugly.

Oh, and Despair has an ugly stepsister named Self-Pity. Together they can blind even the brightest visionary blogger.

Why do business bloggers experience despair?

The blog fails to make money
The blog takes too much time/energy
No one seems to notice/care about the blog
Competing blogs/websites appear to be doing much better

What can you do to overcome blogging despair?

Figure out where your blog stands. You can’t get anywhere until you know where you are and what direction you’re pointing. Evaluate your blog. Or have me inspect your blog. Turn on the floodlights.
Stop tying success to what people say. Start tying it to what they do. So what if a heckling comment bashes your latest blog post? As long as your key metrics are stable, all is well.
Learn how to rise from your rut. No need to remain hopelessly ignorant. Knowledge is power. Get it. Find the solutions to blog problems or find someone who can.
Move. The classic picture of despair is not a runner, but a benchwarmer. Get up and get busy. The bulk of inspiration comes when you’re on the move. The longer you sit and worry, the less time you’ll have for doing important blogging work.
Decide to be sometimes disappointed but never discouraged. The difference lies not in whether you fall, but in whether you spring back up when you fall. Every blogger makes mistakes. Every day brings bad news to somebody in the world. But keep your head up – you decide how to respond to blogging failure.
Celebrate even the smallest success. One lead via the blog is better than none. 17 blog visitors a day is better than none. Think “glass half full” and believe in your blog’s incredible potential.
Grab a buddy. Despair hits hardest when you’re alone – or when you just think you are. Find a cheerful soul you can trust – bonus if she’s a blogger too – and lean on her when times get rough.

Have You Ever Tasted Blogger Despair?

I have. It’s a dark, bitter thing. If you haven’t, you probably will someday. But tasting it and gorging on it are two totally separate things. I’ve done my share of gorging. It never helps.

You can overcome despair when it attacks. You don’t have to treat every blogging difficulty like it’s the end of the world. You’ve overcome worse. Case in point: being born.

Thank you for helping me overcome blogging despair time and time again. I may never be able to fully repay your kindness. If you’re ever up Despair Creek without a hopeful paddle, you know what to do.

photo credit: lavenderlou