This is hard to hear because we are deluded into believing we see things as they are. We assume we can see ourselves and everyone else clearly. We trust that our perceptions about our level of talent, and other people’s talent, are pretty much on target.

But that’s almost never the case. In truth, we tend to underestimate our own potential, while overestimating everyone else’s. In other words, we think everyone else deserves success while we don’t.

Not everyone sees the world this way, but most writers do. When we see other people succeed, we believe they deserved it more or are probably more talented than we are. But the reality is that they probably just worked harder, had better connections, or were more creative with their marketing.

So the question is: Why not you? Why shouldn’t you also get to experience success? Is there any reason you shouldn’t be just as successful as the next person?

They are no more deserving than you are. In fact, none of us really deserves anything in this life. We all start with nothing, and we will exit this life not being able to carry anything with us into the next realm.

Success in your writing doesn’t have anything to do with what anyone deserves or doesn’t deserve. Success comes as a result of actions you take consistently over time.

Yes, some people are more connected, some have more resources, and so forth. But all that is irrelevant because you have the same opportunities.

So don’t ask, “Why them?” Instead, ask “Why not me?” Success doesn’t come to those who deserve it. It comes to those who work for it.

Question: Do you believe you deserve to be just as successful as the next person? If not, what’s keeping you from that belief?

Today’s episode is sponsored by the Book Marketing Mastery course. Use the code “DailyWriter” to get 10% off.

The post Why Not You? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

One of the most helpful perspectives we can adopt as writers is understanding that we don’t have an objective view of reality.

This is hard to hear because most of us naturally believe we see things as they are. We assume we can see ourselves and everyone else clearly, as they are. We trust that our perceptions about our giftedness and other people’s talent are basically on target.

But that’s almost never the case. In truth, we tend to underestimate our own potential, while overestimating everyone else’s. In other words, we think everyone else deserves success while we don’t.

Not everyone sees the world this way, of course, but most writers do. When we see other people succeed, we believe they deserved it more or are probably more talented than we are. But the reality is that they probably just worked harder, or had better connections, or were more creative with their marketing.

So the question is: Why not you? Why shouldn’t you also get to experience this success? Is there any reason you shouldn’t be just as successful as the next person?

They are no more deserving than you are. In fact, none of us truly deserves anything in this life. We all start with nothing, and we will exit this life not being able to carry anything with us into the next realm.

Success in your writing doesn’t have anything to do with what anyone deserves or doesn’t deserve. Success comes as a result of actions you take consistently over time. Yes, some people are more connected, some have more resources, and so forth. But all that is irrelevant.

So don’t ask, “Why them?” Instead, ask “Why not me?” Success doesn’t come to those who deserve it… instead, it comes to those who work for it.

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What do powerful words look like?

When you think of powerful words, you probably imagine Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, or JFK giving a speech about America’s mission to go to the moon. Or maybe you imagine an author like Maya Angelou talking about how she overcame a difficult childhood.

But powerful words aren’t just reserved for classic speeches or world-renowned books. You have powerful words, too. In fact, there is a single two-letter word that has more power than anything else in your vocabulary.

But first, a quote from E.B. White, who was the author of classic children’s books such as Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web. He was also the second half of the Strunk & White duo, who was responsible for ​The Elements of Style​—the best little book every writer should read.

He said, “I must decline, for secret reasons.” We do not know the reasons he declined, but we do know this: he said “no” to an invitation and he didn’t elaborate on the reasons. He was confident enough in his reasoning to let his simple “no” be a no.

“No” is such a small word—just two simple letters. But it has immense power because it can give you the freedom to make time for your writing and focus on what is most important to you.

You have a lot of things pulling you in different directions. It’s OK to say no. You can’t do everything, and you can’t please everybody.

If your writing is going to be a priority, you must make time and space in our lives to write. That means saying no sometimes. It’s easier said than done. But if you want to reach your full potential as a writer, you must focus on doing the work that matters, rather than trying to make everybody else happy.

That little two-letter word, NO, is the key to your success.

The post The Key to Your Success appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.