Do you ever feel like you’re not living up to your potential? Like your abilities always fall short of the mark?

I sure do, at times. And it makes me feel like a failure.

Here’s the thing: I’m competent in just about everything I do in life, personal and professional.

But I’m not great at any of them.

From playing guitar to playing squash, as a copywriter and as a marketer. At best, I’m an inch above average.

I feel unremarkable. 

I’m also my own worst enemy. You see, this type of thinking causes me to spiral and give up. At least, it used to.

A good example is the Davis Daily. 

The main reason I launched the blog in 2019 was to improve my writing skills. It also served as a way to get thoughts out of my head. To work my shit out and grow. 

Sure, it led to some milestones within 18 months—freelance writing and then a new job. But by 2021, I hit a plateau. I started to doubt my skills, I lost my focus, I struggled to write routinely.

Eventually, I stopped publishing entirely and gave up freelancing.

In fact, I went 280 days without posting to the blog and 269 days without sending my newsletter. I haven’t had a freelance client in more than four years.

Then my mindset changed.

I realized growth isn’t linear. It doesn’t happen fast and it’s rarely pretty. The rise from mediocrity is slow and humbling.

Truthfully, I’m not as far along as I’d like to be (patience isn’t a strength of mine). But I continue to show up and move forward each day. Bit by bit. 

It’s not easy and I still struggle at times. I think that’s the point: it’s part of the process, it’s part of the journey. It’s a reminder that greatness comes in many forms. And it comes from staying the course.

So, when you feel like you’ve hit your ceiling, when you’re ready to toss the towel, buckle down and block out the inner critic. 

Believe in yourself and don’t get in your own way.

Remember, success looks different for everybody.

Stop doubting. Keep going.