There is this one particular project hanging over my head that I need to tackle – desperately need to tackle, actually – yet for whatever reason I’ve been sitting on it for months and haven’t been able to get going.
The project? My freelance company’s new web site/blog.
The problem? I am at a total loss as to where to begin.
Beginnings are hard.
The thing is, until I begin this project, I won’t be able to complete it. And until I complete it, I won’t be able to move forward with my new business to any degree of success.
And I WANT to make my new business a success.
So I NEED to begin.
I’ve been wrestling with this for awhile now. I reserved the domain name sometime around the beginning of the year, intending to get my site set up right away. That didn’t happen. Time passed, and my next target was to have it set up before I attended BlogHer ’12 in August. Surely that would be motivation enough, right? Yet though I optimistically had the web site address printed on the cards I planned to hand out at the conference, that target wasn’t met either.
I make half-hearted attempts at it now and then. I venture over to the site with vague ideas of getting the thing up and running, but am quickly discouraged when what should be a visually dynamic and appealing page mocks me with its generic undeveloped blankness.
I could wander down a road of psycho-babble and say that perhaps I am afraid of getting my business up and running, which leads to the hesitation to start and finish its web site – but in reality, I think my biggest problem is simply that I am not a graphic designer and lack any sort of inspiration in terms of the look and feel I would like to present. Sure, I’m happy with how this blog has evolved over the past year or so – and have in fact received compliments on its look – but I feel as though while I lucked into a convenient and easily-developable theme for Alphabet Salad, I am wandering in the wilderness when it comes to beginning to set up a new site from scratch.
Today I got a little further than I have in the past: I deleted all the old files, reinstalled WordPress, then installed the brand-spanking-new Thesis theme.
And then I blanked.
When it comes to this project – both the new site and my new company, for that matter – I feel as though I am perpetually in the beginning stages, unable to move forward and get past this block. It is very, very frustrating.
Any suggestions?
Written for GBE 2: Blog On -
WEEK #77 (11-4-12 to 11-10-12): Beginnings
Jo November 10, 2012 at 9:00 pm
The motivation may or may not be the problem….could just be lack of interest or lack of ability. Why not reach out to someone like Kathy Combs. The giggling trucker’s wife. She did her own and loves doing that type of thing. I think she’s quite good!
Just a thought!
Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
November 11, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Once I get an idea, I get excited about it and am able to run with it – it’s just coming up with the idea in the first place that’s difficult!
Dawn Storey recently posted… Beginnings
Cheryl November 10, 2012 at 9:48 pm
I wish I could help but I’m woefully useless at stuff like that. You amaze and inspire me with the things you’re able to do and I wish I had your drive. I’m sure that when you decide that NOW is the time, you’ll get it done.
I’ve thought before that I’d like to have a blog but I’d have to pay someone else to design it and start it for me. Maybe you just need a little help.
Good luck on it!
Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
November 11, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Thank you! Sometimes I think I should take a beginner’s graphic design course or something. I can do the blog setup and technical stuff, but lack the design skills. Even a little bit of direction would go a long way!
Dawn Storey recently posted… Beginnings
Brenda November 11, 2012 at 5:36 am
Sounds as if you’re doing GREAT…sometimes … all you need to do is JUMP IN! then the teachers kinda come…or lifeguards :0)
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
November 11, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Good point!
Dawn Storey recently posted… Beginnings
Elaine Kehoe November 11, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Dawn, you’re already far ahead of me–I don’t have the vaguest idea how to set up a website, although I know as a freelancer I should have one. Are you new to the freelance world? What is your business? I’ve been a freelance copyeditor for 15 years, and I love the life. Good luck!
Elaine Kehoe recently posted… What I Learned…
Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
November 11, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Elaine, I am VERY new to the freelance world – in fact, I haven’t even begun yet! I’m really interested in trying to break into content writing, copyediting, etc. as a way to supplement my part-time income – also interested in the idea of helping beginners get started on blogging – but I’m still very much in the preliminary stages of investigation on all fronts.
Dawn Storey recently posted… Beginnings
Jenn November 12, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Gosh– this post brought about so many questions. What is your new business? What is the purpose of your business? Where do you see it going once it gets going? Do you have a mission statement? I guess I ask these questions because as I start project I have to define what it is I am venturing into –and the visuals sort of pop out for me. I am not sure if you are good with designing from defining…but maybe some place to try to start??
Cheers, Jenn
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
November 12, 2012 at 7:47 pm
You ask some great questions and may have hit on part of why I’m struggling with the web site – I only have vague, loose ideas about what I want to do, so naturally my design ideas would be vague! I think I need to spend some more time developing the foundation of what I’m trying to do, and perhaps some design inspiration will flow from there. Thank you!
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Tara Adams
Twitter: 33tarakathleen
November 13, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Ahhh, this is so familiar. How many projects have I begun (or dropped) in just this state? You have the know-how. You just need the mojo. Best of luck in finding that soon. I know you will.
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
November 13, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Thank you for understanding, and for the vote of confidence!
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