Comments on: Discouragement and Faith

By: Lori O'Hara

Lori O'Hara — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:33:35 +0000

Jumped off a cliff a few months ago to leave my director job and try to start my own company. This type of question plagues me. Who was I to…? And, What the hell were you…? And it all comes down to faith, which I confess I am sometimes searching under couch cushions to find.

Great post. Found your blog through 100 Best Blogs. Now bookmarked. Thank you.

By: Karin

Karin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:11:53 +0000

I really love this post. I remember how sending out a newsletter in December I got 8 immediate unsubscribes. Yet, I had thought it was my best newsletter ever. Whats worse it was the one I had dilligently crafted. I was so hurt & humbled that I even contacted one unsubscriber asking for the reasons in order to improve my content. I did not get a reply.

By: Karen Hartline

Karen Hartline — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:19:08 +0000

Reading your post on Faith today and Erica’s post on Fear of Success (http://reinventingerica.com/2010/02/05/reinventingerica-com-day-29-of-90/) yesterday is the double whammy I needed to hear. Why is it that we are often our own worst enemies? And why is it so hard to let the praise from others about ourselves drown out those negative self-sabotaging doubts we hear in our own heads?

Faith…something I can so easily have in others, but is a struggle to show towards myself. You truly are an inspiration to me. I admire you for chasing your dreams and making them a reality. I have faith in you!

As George Michael says, “I guess I gotta have Faith…”

By: Jorge

Jorge — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:43:45 +0000

I had the feeling I wasn’t worth it a while ago. I just graduated college and was looking for job opportunities doing what I like, rather than what my degree says I can do. I was looking for jobs and couldn’t find one, I felt broken hearted after each negative response and then a phone call asking me to join a team developing a whole on-line strategy came and I started to believe in me again, it helped me reassure that what I knew was valuable.

I think I got all this negative answers and was about to give up because I want to change lot’s of things and business people seemed to be scared of it. But when I talk to people about it they all agree with me. This may mean I’m on the correct path.

Very inspiring post. I’ll have lot’s of faith in me, because I know that every human has the power to achieve anything they want.

By: Sam Rose

Sam Rose — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:23:19 +0000

The thing that is so appealing and unique about your message is that you are a real person. One who *does not* feel entitled, but who has *earned*.

You have *earned the right* to hold your head up high.

When you get negative reviews/feedback, and if you deeply *do not* believe they are actually right: it is my best guess that you are finding people who’s fundamental world views do not resonate with yours.

This is very common now, I am finding, as we transition from industrial era paradigms to many-to-many era paradigms. People ask me to create business plans, architectures, processes to be used in real world problem solving. When those people believe that I will present some new twist on the industrial era paradigm. When I do not, I get lots of negative feedback. Those who resonate with many-to-many world-view will rate/review the same basic concepts as very valuable. Douglas Rushkoff reported similar experiences in his work (get back in the box and Coercion).

This current time period is going to be, at times, tough for those of us who do not get in line with industrial/mass culture ways of meeting problems.

By: Serge Lachapelle

Serge Lachapelle — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:50:49 +0000

Faith is only powerful when supported by great doubt. Doubt is the price you pay for faith, the bigger the doubt, the bigger the faith required….

The doubt part is what keeps us honest in our quests and is probably at the roots of why faith works as the bridge that helps us close the gap created by our fears…

Great post Tara…

By: Annemieke

Annemieke — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:04:06 +0000

I think you are absolutely right if you say that challenges and setbacks are all part of the learning and growth. And indeed if everyone completely agrees with you, what is the point.

I just read another post that said something in the line of “by the time I get to say I told you so, it all will be so mainstream that is does not matter anymore”.

It is all about timing and context. And feeling insecure at times is just part of it. Because we can never know if it is the absolute truth.

But as long as we feel a strong need to do what we have to do, it is just worth it I guess.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:12:36 +0000

@Sara — sadly, I would say the sense of entitlement IS there for too many speakers (& in other fields) Its one of the problems with the industry. People who think they are a guru and a gift to the audience kill the positive vibe that gets going when true experts (like Tara) speak. We need more authentic speakers and fewer gurus

By: Sara Chipps

Sara Chipps — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:50:21 +0000

@Tony Thank you, and he is super awesome.

Also – F spell check for replacing constantly with consistently and F 2nd grade for never teaching me to spell it correctly.

By: Billee D.

Billee D. — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:11:48 +0000

Brilliant and well-put!

This is something which I feel so many of us, women and men alike, struggle with every day. Knowing you’re on the right path and going with your gut instinct are often two notions which are at complete odds with each other.

There is an ancient saying from the Viking mythology which states, “life is struggle.” I can think of no better summary than that. Myself and countless others look up to you for your work, your accomplishments and your “joie de vivre.” I think you’re a very special person and you should never doubt yourself, but alas; I’m on the outside of that statement.

Good luck with your search for the golden gonads.