Last night I did a 2 hour interview with Yaro Starrak. In the interview I basically talked non stop about my life – from high school until present. (For those of you interested, it’s probably one of the most detailed interviews about the ShoeMoney story I have ever given.)
During the interview, Yaro asked me a good question, “So there are all of these people who understand affiliate marketing, pay per click, and SEO but have no capital. How do you tell them to get started?”
My answer was pretty blunt. I said, “Well there is one thing you can’t teach and it’s confidence. If someone walked up to me and said they understand affiliate marketing and PPC and have no capital, my question to them is, ‘Why do you lack the confidence to try?’ ”
Meeting my wife was a HUGE turning point for me. Here is a woman who put herself through medical school and did whatever it took to get the job done. She left me with no excuses on why I could not better myself. She had enormous confidence in me and that is when everything changed.
It’s easy for me to say this now but it has taken years for me to build confidence. And by trying… and trying… and trying until I succeed – I have been able to gain confidence. I strive to never give up and constantly challenge myself to never settle into a safe job.
- When I launched Nextpimp, everyone said I was going to get my ass sued off. I was scared but kept the fear in check and went after it.
- When we launched AuctionAds, I had a lot of fear. I invested over $250k in servers and a business that was making ZERO revenue but I believed in it and we sold the company only 4 months after launching it and it was doing millions per month in revenue.
- When we started the Elite Retreat, the first 2 years were barely profitable but it turned out pretty good 4 years later.
- When I first started speaking at conferences with Google execs on different panels, I was scared shitless. Now I enjoy it.
- When I launched a brand new company a couple months ago called ShoeMoney Tools everyone told me I was nuts for trying to launch a new startup in this economy. We are now over 1,000 users and growing at a rapid pace.
- In a couple months we are launching another new service oriented site and I am nervous…. but most of all – I AM CONFIDENT.
So throughout my career I have found myself scared quite a bit. But every time it has lead to an amazing experience. I don’t think many people have the confidence to take on their fears and this will always keep them down. So be confident in you skills, knowledge and goals and go for it.
About the author...
Jeremy Schoemaker – who has written 2415 posts on ShoeMoney.com.
Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.
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{ 69 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah, you are right, this probably implies to many people… Either that or laziness is on their way to success.
Very interesting article! I knew of a few people I’m going to be sending this on to! I’ll have to check out the interview too.
Are you planning on going to Big Omaha? (www.bigomaha.com)
Ive been asked to speak at another convention at the same time and I dont think we have ever heard back from them so probably not unless things change.
I still question if its legit.
Confidence and the Power Of Belief is a big factor in success. Don’t let anyone steal your dreams.
Thanks Jeremy….
You really hit on something huge with this … I can’t even imagine how many people are paralyzed by their fears of getting started.
I really appreciate you sharing specific examples in your own life about your own fears and how you overcame them by TAKING ACTION!
Wish you the best!
Robert Avila
Balls Out Man. That’s how you have to try and live your life.
When you’re successful it’s usually because you’ve put yourself out there and won. It’s nice to see when someone so successful doing well…but I realize that it wasn’t easy.
Also wanted to say thanks to Jeremy for the help this morning… (with the PHP code on twitter).
We’re very close to launching our first client’s Local PPC Campaign.
Keep up the good work. I’ll keep you all posted.
Confidence is the key to victory!! Without it you will fail most of the time.
Very refreshing Shoe to learn and read that you acknowledge sweating a few bullets here and there. I am the exact same way so refreshing to read someone else tell it like it is also.
So true.
Nice write up.
Even in sports its true. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, you will not reach your goals.
Hopefully you do another Elite Retreat Shoe! I would like to attend.
Interesting. I can see how that may be one of my problems. Looking forward to hearing the whole interview!
Hey there i am a newbie to your site and though i would leave a comment i like your mindset most people come online with the wrong attitude, you have to adapt your thinking to whatever you are doing great work!
I will be following this blog…….
JShoe – whassup?
Agree with you 1000%. Fear can be a propellor or a preventor, it’s a choice you have to make. When I started writing my book, and blogging no one thought I’d make a dime. Things have definitely changed and I challenge myself to do new and better things all the time.
If your’e not living, and growing – you’re probably dying and don’t even know it. We are all possible to do great things but we have to be bold enough to do something we’ve never done before to get a result we’ve never had before.
I’m sure whatever you have cooking next will grow like gangbusters. You’re approachable, open, and honest – three qualities sorely missing in most people today.
This is definately true. My brother made a lot of money online, and a few years ago a tried to get started for about a month, and then gave up. I have recently restarted, and am staying with it now. If only I would have stuck with it 3 years ago I would be in a lot better place now. ButI was scared of failing, and was not ready for the increased workload.
I got to tell you, this has to be one of the most inspirational things I have ever read.
It makes me want to succeed and do better, not listen to everyone else who says leave it alone it won’t make you any money, because in the back of my head I know eventually I shall be rewarded for my hard work and time invested.
Blogging has definitely helped me gain confidence! Putting yourself “out there” really can make you or break you, in my opinion… I’m looking for my blog to be the beginning of bigger and better things, because of that confidence it has given me!
Agreed, this is a great post. If you know it, do it. Confidence is key.
Showing a lack of confidence in yourself can really hinder your ability to make contacts and establish relationships with top executives and other important business people. If you’re not comfortable being you, how is someone else supposed to be comfortable being around you?
So just remember, you are just as important as everyone else! And if someone tells you otherwise, they aren’t worth your time anyway
When money is involved then confidence gets a beating. I do agree though confidence is very important, not only for blogging but everything else too.
Wow, what a great post. I am a high school graduate that has been able to achieve more than I could ever imagine. I had to overcome a lot, including my fears, and get out of my comfort zone in order to better my life for myself and my two boys. I’ve worked hard and taken some risks that paid off… risks that I might not have taken if I didn’t have the belief and confidence in my decisions and abilities. Some days I’ve had to turn to Stewart Smalley’s (Al Franken) words, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggonit people like me” or the old “fake it til you make it” mentality, whatever it took. Thanks for your words of inspiration.
Fantastic article! You just have to go for it sometimes. Jumo off the cliff and build your wings on the way down. Afterwards, I’m almost always glad I did! Most of the time I have found that Action is better than Inaction. Inspiring post, thank you!
Shoe, you are the man. Didn’t realize you had all these start-ups. I assume you are a self made millionaire. Bravo. You give me hope and confidence.
For some reason I’ve found this post really inspiring .. so much that I just wrote a few articles for a site I’m ready to sell but had been putting off working on it for weeks.
Thanks a bunch.
I enjoyed this. I’ve let a fear of failure stop me from doing a few things in the past that in retrospect would have worked out in a MAJOR way had I just sucked it up and gone for it, so this really hit home. Thanks Jeremy.
you forgot to mention fighters.com…epic fail
Great post! That’s a great way to look @ things.
where can we find the whole interview? very interesting and inspirational.
confidence was really the key, if you have some new ideas don’t be scared to try it even though it would cause you losing some amount of money but the important thing there is learning from experience and building more confidence
good post
So everyone knows, the interview is set ready to go out on my blog tomorrow (Thursday US time).
Thanks again Jeremy for the interview, it was a lot of fun and I hope everyone else enjoys it too.
Yaro
Cool… That’s exactly what I was about to ask but figured I better check the comments first. I’d love to hear a blogging mastermind call with Shoe, Yaro, Rowse, & Chow – That’d be KILLER!
It’s all about taking that step into the unknown. You can either face the fear, challenge yourself and step into it. Or, you can stay where you are and live the rest of your life dealing with a mountain of regret.
I agree with your post.
Self confidence is indeed a big factor for success. You just can’t cower behind a wall and expect success to come your way. If your dreams are the ones that ignite your will, certainly if there is a will there is a way. But to get your ways going and picking up achievements along the road, don’t be afraid to try. Remember the saying that those who lose are the ones who quit when they were already nearing the light in the dark tunnel. Be CONFIDENT in everything you do. Trust yourself, especially when you know what will be good for you.
Self confidence is indeed a big factor for success. You just can’t cower behind a wall and expect success to come your way. If your dreams are the ones that ignite your will, certainly if there is a will there is a way. But to get your ways going and picking up achievements along the road, don’t be afraid to try. Remember the saying that those who lose are the ones who quit when they were already nearing the light in the dark tunnel. Be CONFIDENT in everything you do. Trust yourself, especially when you know what will be good for you.
What say you?
Great post. Very inspiring. Sometimes it’s hard to see all the excuses you’ve built up around you, but if you want to make it big, you have to overcome them and take a leap of faith into the dark.
The key to success really is believing. I think lack of confidence has been one of the biggest roadblocks on my path to success. You have really helped build my confidence and helped me see what is possible through your blog posts through the years. You’ve been a great inspiration. Thanks and keep the goodness coming! =)
Very Intersting article
What say you?
totally agree with you,
sometimes i have given up when i should not cause i didnt had confidence to continue,
sometimes i think its better to loose after reaching the end then quitting in half way, so i do that now
It seems like I’m too lazy to become successful
Great article
This is one of those posts that makes you think. I admire you Jeremy how you can share everything you have with us. This is trully awesome.
I remember my failures and most of them turned into great experience also…
Its funny when I look back when I was trying to make money with pay to surf and MLM back in the nineties…on a dial-up with my first external modem…:)
Well things have changed…but one thing remains…love for the internet and marketing…
and this keeps me on my way to success..
and another thing…posts like this one above.
Good Article …….
Thanks
What say you?
nice, very inspiring for IM newbies like me
If you never give up and keep trying until you die, then you will never fail.
Reading blogs all day wont make you rich, trying things and experimenting on your own will. So stop reading and start doing!
Confidence to move forward is unique. That is what builds businesses. Holding back and not taking a risk doesn’t build fortune.
Really sometimes I still have large level of confidence in my readers. The articles I’m writing are technical and sometimes entertainment, but I met some questions, which are too hard.
You are right everyone need to have confidence in themselves. I am no different, I know I can be more confident but sometimes I just feel what is the point you know. Then there are times where I just don’t care and I seem to be more confident than ever… it is weird how one’s mood can change how they act.
wtf man this pic was hilarious, nice puppet lol
There was suppose be an attached pic
http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/1067/shoemoney-jeremy-schoemaker/#addcomment
Wonderful post. I think all should be thinking on what a confidence is in a bloggers view. I have also blogged about importance of being confident several month ago: http://progrecious.com/the-importance-of-being-a-confident-blogger/
Confidence is critical to any worth while accomplishment. You cannot have confidence without having any faith in what it is that you are after. Faith is only expressed in the absence of the finished product. You can tell if a man or woman has faith based on what they are doing on a daily bases. Especially true with internet marketing…..I still scratch my head at people who can see the numbers and the “gold rush” kind of opportunities that are available, but can’t muster up enough faith to go after it or to persist….NO Faith = NO Confidence = NO Persistence = $0.00
I sometimes do get discouraged when others fail to realize how important certain stuff is for me. But if I keep “digging” and start seeing progress, I realize that most people realize they have been wrong.
The thing that truly matters however is what you think is important for you, not how others view you.
Great post, Shoe. I find the process of being an entrepreneur uncomfortable, lonely, full of doubt, and at times scary. But you have to push through it, that is simply the price that has to be paid to get what you want.
Good call. If you know what you really want then it is easy to suffer through the pain because you know its worth it at the end of the day! Keep going for it!
I do agree with your point but the thing is many get afraid to take risks because it can lead to financial burden, divorces, losing your possessions and all of those things which is why people try to live comfortably which to them is just to get by while this mindset is not good enough. Why not take the risks like shoemoney not as large as his but small steps going forward because by doing so it can lead to financial gain or if unlucky the opposite thats the difference between rich and poor.
Lack of confidence definitely is the age old problem. Do it until you are good at it.
So many things left on the back burner because I’m not confident enough to work on them.
Thanks
Nice post Shoe!
I also lack confidence before. But when I was employed before in an asset management company, our boss pushed us to our limits. It serve as a challenge for me though to prove myself to him. And I somewhat gained confidence in myself.
Although sometimes, I still lack confidence depending on the situation, it always boils down to the beliefs in ourselves. With the right mindset, determination and will power, I do think that we can overcome our fears, take the challenge and emerge as a real winner and become successful in all our endeavors.
Cheers!
that is what makes me failed in many things, lack confidence.
especially in relationship with woman.
but thanks for the articles.
I truly enjoyed this post – really gets me thinking. I agree that confidence is very important if we want to get anywhere in this life. This post was very inspirational, and I thank you.
Confidence in what you are doing is essential to success.
Even if you are confident and the project fails, chalk it up as a learning experience and move on.
I’ve had a good deal of sites that just did not work for one reason or another. Each one was a “million dollar idea” too.
That being said, I am confident as can be that my newest project which consists of appx. 7 sites is going to take off and will be a great success.
If I don’t believe it, who will?
–Chubbs
Looks like they worth a look. I haven’t hear about them before but I will pay them some attention now.
At the begining stage you should need to have a certain level of confidence which can motivate you to give it a try and after that every single success will add to your confidence and every failure do multiple negative.
In some where in your heart you should retain one thing and i.e., I will have to do it … at any cost.
Wow Shoeymoney!! I enjoyed this post it was great I learned a lot about you as well as your personal struggles to succeed which was very nice of you to share with us readers. Its great how you were able to succeed with all of the business ventures you were involved in it shows us that although you took risks and that you were scared @#$%^&** you had the confidence to overcome it all.
One more thing Shoemoney who’s that beautiful girl in that picture where it says most recent shoemoney photo because boy is she fine.
nonsense! there is no reason why anyone should ever feel insecure about themselves. I recently had a lady say that she was a looser cuz her money was lost and thought everyone knew more. I said hey, “look at what all the smart people did with the financial markets!” and she smiled and completely understood my point.
One of the things I always do is measure my distance of where I am now and where I want to go and be in the future. God knows if I did give up on all of my ventures I would be beat myself over my head over and over again. This is a inspiring post! To make millions a month is unimaginable to a ordinary person, but so possible.
That is effin AWESOME DUDE~! I too need to re-evaluate my situation…on where I am head’n…
Nice post thanks for sharing us. Cool Stuff
Yes, I am lack of confidence, so sometimes people get lazy.