We’re totally potty training our almost two year-old right now.
Fun times. (We’ve gone through four changes of clothes so far on day one!)
For whatever reason as we got started, I couldn’t help but connect pitching with potty training. They have more similarities then you think!
And since the majority of people I coach and that email me for advice tell me they’re not pitching, scared to start or haven’t sent very many, I thought it’d be timely to share.
Here are three reasons I believe pitching for freelance writing jobs is like potty training a toddler. (I stand behind it!)
1. You Should Try It Before You’re Ready
It’s hard to know when your toddler is 100% ready to potty train. Some parents start at birth (yeah, it’s weird), while others wait a bit too long. They say that girls typically train before boys, so we’re starting a couple months earlier with our daughter than we did with our son.
You’ll never feel 100% ready to start pitching for freelance writing jobs, just like we’ll probably never feel 100% sure it’s the exact right time to start potty training.
The solution? Just do it! Nike said it best…
2. It Won’t Ever Be Perfect
Potty training won’t ever be perfect. You’ll go through more pairs of Minnie Mouse underwear then you’d care to admit. It’s complicated, it’s messy, but it’s certainly necessary for both your growing child and your pocketbook (diapers are expensive, yo!).
Many of us type-A’ers suffer from perfectionism. We don’t want to hit publish before a post is perfect. We don’t want to answer a job ad if we’re not confident our pitch is on point.
But this isn’t how you’re going to be successful in this business. You can’t wait until your pitch is perfect, your portfolio is perfect or you’ve landed the perfect client to get started.
You just have to start.
And then keep going.
3. Even When You Don’t Feel Like It, You Need to Do It
Parents will totally get this one. You won’t always feel like asking your child for the 1,000th time if they need to go potty. Or stopping for the fourth time during your Target run to dash to the bathroom.
But if you want potty training to be effective, you need to be CONSISTENT. Meaning, it’s your #1 priority, over and above whatever else is on your schedule.
Same goes for pitching. You might get a little lazy (or let fear win) and stop pitching for awhile, because you “don’t really feel like it.”
But guess what? If you don’t have enough clients or you’re not making enough money, it’s kind of your job at this point, aka your #1 PRIORITY!
Even when you don’t feel like pitching, you still need to do it.
In Conclusion
I never thought I’d write a post on this blog about how pitching is like potty training. But they do have similarities. And sometimes you have to go with whatever comes up when inspiration strikes!
As a new (or maybe experienced) freelancer, your pitching activity is probably the most indicative to your future success. You’ll never feel 100% ready, it won’t ever be perfect and you won’t always feel like doing it.
But you need to do it anyway. Early and often. Put yourself out there. Don’t let fear or laziness hold you back.
Just Do It!”
What do you think? Do I have something here?
