How do I stop self-sabotaging my own efforts to establish my niche?

How do I stop self-sabotaging my own efforts to establish my niche?

Author: Malini Devadas June 21, 2021 Duration: 41:20

056: Featured editor: Jen Tolnay, Jen Tolnay Editorial and Writing Services

Jen has plenty of corporate editing experience and wants to move toward her ideal work in fiction book editing. She's almost finished a course and has gained a bit of experience from pro bono projects. So what's stopping her from pitching to clients who could benefit from her skills?

Feeling hesitant at switching to a new field of editing is entirely normal. We're confident in our own skills in the work we've done already. We feel like we need to get qualifications and more jobs under our belts in order to show credibility. But Jen has dragged out the completion of her editing course. She's wondering where this resistance is coming from.

If this is happening to you too, think about how this behaviour serves you. By not finishing the course, Jen doesn't feel like she's qualified to pitch for new work in fiction editing. So she can stay in her safe, familiar territory. But that's not what she wants for her future. So it leads to her feeling stuck and frustrated about how to carve out this new niche for herself.

We discuss this and other aspects to establishing a new niche, or even more than one. Niching in one area makes it easier to talk about in your marketing, but if you've got other things going on in your business where you can get work in a variety of areas, there's nothing stopping you from doing that. Pursuing a niche you love doesn't mean you have to drop all the other work you're good at and that has brought you income through industry connections. Believing that you'll lose work if you establish a niche can hold you back through fear.

If you've got a feeling that you know your way forward but there's something holding you back you just can't put your finger on, consider where you might be self-sabotaging your own progress.

 

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If you want to get clear on your money, marketing and mindset, check out 'Boost Your Editing Income', my e-course and group coaching program.


Malini Devadas brings her experience as a marketing mindset coach directly to the world of freelance editing in The Confident Freelance Editor. Here, the often-overlooked pillars of marketing and personal mindset take center stage, moving beyond just technical skills to address what truly builds a sustainable and fulfilling practice. Each episode is crafted for editors who know their craft but might feel stuck navigating the business side-those looking to attract better clients, increase their income, and crucially, reclaim their time for a life outside of work. You’ll hear a practical blend of Malini’s direct advice, coaching-style reflections, and conversations with others who have navigated similar paths. The focus remains consistently on actionable steps that translate into real-world confidence, whether discussing how to communicate value to potential clients or shifting internal beliefs about pricing and worth. This isn't about generic business tips; it's a specialized resource that speaks directly to the unique challenges and opportunities within the editing field. Tune in for a thoughtful and supportive guide that helps transform the struggle of running a solo operation into the pleasure of growing a business designed on your own terms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 71

The Confident Freelance Editor
Podcast Episodes
How many clients do you need? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:16
020: Have you ever thought about how many clients you actually need? I ask this because when I work with editors on their marketing message, one of the first things I'll suggest is that they choose a niche (or maybe a co…
Losing some money vs losing the sale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:00
019: So often I hear about editors who are underquoting because they are scared of losing the job -- I used to do this too. This is usually deliberate (e.g. shave off a few hours, reduce the rate) and we convince ourselv…
How 'nice' are you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:30
018: We equate niceness with people who do things for free. So does that mean that people who charge (and particularly those who charge a lot) are somehow not 'nice'? In this episode, I ask you to consider how you judge…
Does the world need another blog post about editing? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:16
017: These days it seems like everyone's blogging; content marketing is all the rage. With so many people writing about the topic, does the world really need another blog post about editing? It's easy to feel discouraged…
Letting go of the outcome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:34
016: A common factor in what's holding us back from action is fear. I see this a lot in my experience as a mindset coach. It's not about not knowing enough. Information is everywhere. As editors we can readily find the i…
Three things you can do today to find a client [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:56
015: It can feel scary to go out and find clients, so we often spend our time taking what I call 'passive action'. Designing a logo or tweaking our website can feel like we're doing something constructive. But without cl…
The myth of passive income [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:22
014: Are you thinking about selling digital products to create passive income opportunities for your business? The idea of 'passive income' is appealing in many ways. Do the work once, sell it many times over. There are…
What is the best website platform? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:15
013: What is the best website platform to use for your editing business? Trick question - there is no such thing. When it comes to websites, popular platforms include: Wordpress, Weebly, Wix, Squarespace -- they all have…
The power of client referrals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:17
012: Most people don't buy from someone they don't know. We ask friends for a recommendation. Our past clients and contacts can refer new clients to us... once they know we are looking and would welcome referrals! Don't…