One of my clients recently told me “I think you will have the biggest social agency in Philadelphia one day.”
I was unprepared, all I could say was “thank you.”
While I believe that, with all my heart, hearing it from a client was simultaneously amazing and hard to “be” with.
Then… she followed it up with “you just know so much about so many different things.”
This isn’t a humble-brag…stay with me, there’s a point to this.
I’m just an average guy, I don’t believe that I know very much at all. I’m 33, I have a small agency that I’m trying to grow every day. I work hard but I doubt myself constantly. I’m terrified before every new business meeting and prior to every strategy I write.
In fact, it’s these thoughts that keeps me looking to learn more and more everyday. I’m terrified of inferiority, of failure.
- It’s what makes me choose a podcast over music on the ride out to a client.
- It’s what makes me choose a book over TV.
- It’s what makes me write a blog post instead of going out to dinner.
If I believed I was the greatest thing since sliced bread, I’d stop playing as if I needed to prove myself.
I’ve heard the expression “he plays with a chip on his shoulder” before, but I didn’t really understand what it means until recently. I love myself, believe in myself, and I’m going to change the world, but I’ll never be good enough and I’ll never know enough. And that’s the way I like it.
Matt Engler says
This is inspiring, Jeff. I think that this mentality has served you well over the past couple of years, and like your client, will continue to push you as you grow your business. I think it will be pivotal to constantly remind yourself that there is always more to go as success inevitably rolls in.
Jeff Gibbard says
Thanks Matt. You’re a good reminder for me that I can always work harder…because I talk to you and you’re always working harder. 🙂
Wanda says
I think that many small business owners should be this open with each other and their audience. It’s refreshing, thanks for sharing.
Jeff Gibbard says
Thanks Wanda. It’s taken me a bit to get comfortable with this level of vulnerability, but I think it’s what allows my audience to actually connect with what I’m saying as opposed to thinking I’m “full of it.”