Is this all I’m ever going to be?

I was 21.

I had a good job.

I was managing my own shoe store. The store was doing really well and I was making more muney than I’d ever made in my life. I was on the fast-track to a bigger store and a six-figs income before I was 30.

And, I quit.

This one thought kept haunting me.

And, despite all the success…

All the opportunity…

All the money…

I couldn’t let it go.

“Is this all I’m ever going to be?”

Is selling shoes all my life is ever going to amount to. I could be the best shoe salesman in the world… I’d still just be a shoe salesman. It’s not the life I imagined when I was a kid.

So, at 21…

I made the most difficult decision of my life.

I faxed in my resignation and walked away.

No plan.

No job lined up.

No place to go.

It was scary as hell.

I bring this up, because I recently did an interview for the Digital Dads podcast where they asked about this and I tell the whole gory story… among other things. It’s about an hour long and I think worth a listen. You can check it out at: https://johnmorrisonline.com/dd111

But, I imagine a lot of you are in a similar boat.

Maybe have some success.

Good job, good muney.

But, just not satisfied.

Feeling like your life was meant for more.

Dying inside for meaning and significance in what you do.

If so, there’s two things (and I talk about these more in the interview) that you need to latch onto. Two things way more important than if you know MySQL or comment your code real nice.

A great developer isn’t someone who knows everything…

Nope.

A great developer is someone who brazenly tackles the unknown. When everyone else is saying, “I can’t”… he (or she) says, “I will”. That’s what makes a great developer. That’s what matters in all this.

The rest falls into place IF you have that.

And, THAT comes from those two things:

  • Dogged persistence… to stick in there and figure things out… even when things get dicey, even when everyone else has given up, past what makes rational sense. You stay with it until you figure it out.
  • Self-efficacy. An almost irrational belief in your own skills.

Yep…. woo-woo, foo-foo stuff.

But, I see it time and time again.

The line between “meh” developers and great ones…

Are those two things.

Anyway, like I said, I get more into it in the interview I did. Go check that episode out. And, be sure to give those two some like, share and subscribe love. They’re two really cool guys (and developers) that are definitely worth listening to.

Here’s the link again: https://johnmorrisonline.com/dd111

Later,

John

P.S. Watch the video version of this message here:
https://youtu.be/agERqdBd1Zs

Listen to the audio version here:
https://soundcloud.com/johnmorrisonline/is-this-all-im-ever-going-to-be

Join 7,700 Other Freelancers Who've Built Thriving Freelance Businesses

Over 7,700 other freelancers have started thriving freelance businesses using the information on this blog. Are you next? Subscribe below to get notified whenever a new article is posted and create your own success story:

You might also like

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Pinterest
John Morris

JOHN MORRIS

I’m a 15-year veteran of freelance web development. I’ve worked with bestselling authors and average Joe’s next door. These days, I focus on helping other freelancers build their freelance business and their lifestyles.

Join 7,700 Other Freelancers Who've Built Thriving Freelance Businesses

Over 7,700 other freelancers have started thriving freelance businesses using the information on this blog. Are you next? Subscribe below to get notified whenever a new article is posted and create your own success story:

Success Stories

Ready to add your name here?

Tim Covello

Tim Covello

75 SEO and website clients now. My income went from sub zero to over 6K just last month. Tracking 10K for next month. Seriously, you changed my life.

Michael Phoenix

Michael Phoenix

By the way, just hit 95K for the year. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve taught me. You’ve changed my life. Thank you!

Stephanie Korski

Stephanie Korski

I started this 3 days ago, following John’s suggestions, and I gained the Upwork Rising Talent badge in less than 2 days. I have a call with my first potential client tomorrow. Thanks, John!

Jithin Veedu

Jithin Veedu

John is the man! I followed his steps and I am flooded with interviews in a week. I got into two Talent clouds. The very next day, I got an invitation from the talent specialists from Upwork and a lot more. I wanna shout out, he is the best in this. Thanks John for helping me out!

Divyendra Singh Jadoun

Divyendra Singh Jadoun

After viewing John’s course, I made an Upwork account and it got approved the same day. Amazingly, I got my first job the very same day, I couldn’t believe it, I thought maybe I got it by coincidence. Anyways I completed the job and received my first earnings. Then, after two days, I got another job and within a week I got 3 jobs and completed them successfully. All the things he says seem to be minute but have a very great impact on your freelancing career.

Sarah Mui

Sarah Mui

I’ve been in an existential crisis for the last week about what the heck I’m doing as a business owner. Even though I’ve been a business for about a year, I’m constantly trying to think of how to prune and refine services. This was very personable and enjoyable to watch. Usually, business courses like this are dry and hard to get through…. repeating the same things over and over again. This was a breath of fresh air. THANK YOU.

Waqas Abdul Majeed

Waqas Abdul Majeed

I’ve definitely learnt so much in 2.5 hours than I’d learn watching different videos online on Youtube and reading tons of articles on the web. John has a natural way of teaching, where he is passionately diving in the topics and he makes it very easy to grasp — someone who wants you to really start running your business well by learning about the right tools and implement them in your online business. I will definitely share with many of the people I know who have been struggling for so long, I did find my answers and I’m sure will do too.

Scott Plude

Scott Plude

I have been following John Morris for several years now. His instruction ranges from beginner to advanced, to CEO-level guidance. I have referred friends and clients to John, and have encouraged my own daughter to pay attention to what he says. All of his teachings create wealth for me (and happiness for my clients!) I can’t speak highly enough about John, his name is well known in my home.

Sukh Plaha

John is a fantastic and patient tutor, who is not just able to share knowledge and communicate it very effectively – but able to support one in applying it. However, I believe that John has a very rare ability to go further than just imparting knowledge and showing one how to apply it. He is able to innately provoke one’s curiosity when explaining and demonstrating concepts, to the extent that one can explore and unravel their own learning journey. Thanks very much John!

Mohamed Misrab

Misrab Mohamed

John has been the most important person in my freelance career ever since I started. Without him, I would have taken 10 or 20 years more to reach the position I am at now (Level 2 seller on Fiverr and Top Rated on Upwork).

Join 7,700 Other Freelancers Who've Built Thriving Freelance Businesses

Over 7,700 other freelancers have started thriving freelance businesses using the information on this blog. Are you next? Subscribe below to get notified whenever a new article is posted and create your own success story: