--- title: "Wednesday Buzz: Don’t Let Self-Doubt Drag You Down" id: "23710" type: "post" slug: "wednesday-buzz-dont-let-self-doubt-drag-you-down" published_at: "2014-06-18T19:22:40+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T18:23:23+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/18/wednesday-buzz-dont-let-self-doubt-drag-you-down/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/18/wednesday-buzz-dont-let-self-doubt-drag-you-down.md" excerpt: "Advice on how fears and concerns about your work can be used to your advantage. Plus: A call for communications directors." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "goal-setting" - "Leadership" - "New to Associations" - "NextGen" - "Professional Development" - "self-doubt" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Employee (Non-Manager)" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Early Career" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Wednesday Buzz: Don’t Let Self-Doubt Drag You Down If you’re hesitant to embark on a new professional endeavor, or so worried about whether the work you’re doing is accomplishing goals that you end up falling short of them, you’re not alone. Andrea Ayres, a writer for the web development startup [Crew (opens in a new tab)](https://pickcrew.com/) , delves deep into the subject of self-doubt, detailing its endurance through the ages ([even apes experience it (opens in a new tab)](http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20627566.300-apes-found-suffering-selfdoubt.html) ). The two emotions that feed self-doubt are a fear of failure and the “inability to express our desired self,” which [Ayres explains is what drives us (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.pickcrew.com/use-self-doubt-to-your-advantage/) to work toward realistic goals. A problem arises when there is a disconnect between our possible self (which represents hopes and fears) and our desired self. So if either of these sound familiar, you may be experiencing self-doubt. But that’s not a bad or abnormal thing. “You’ll never banish self-doubt for good, and any article that tells you that is lying,” Ayres writes. “What you can do is get your self-doubt into check.” And when you get control of this feeling, you can use it to fuel your professional aspirations. Ayres recommends channeling this energy into the “SMART technique,” which revolves around goal-setting: You can [check out Ayres’ entire post here (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.pickcrew.com/use-self-doubt-to-your-advantage/) . ### Tweet of the Day https://twitter.com/HoCoHowie/status/479291204211712000 Learn about newsletter tips and tricks, the ins and outs of social outreach, and more by keeping tabs on [the #mmccon hastag (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/mmccon?src=hash) throughout the day as ASAE’s 2014 Marketing, Membership, and Communications Conference continues. ### Other good reads **“Just because you have created an amazing event** it doesn’t mean that registrations automatically follow.” *Event Manager Blog*‘s Cathy Key offers valuable advice on [how to use content to drive ticket sales (opens in a new tab)](http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/content-increase-ticket-sales) . **“Social media delivers the greatest overall value** as a marketing channel and information source.” Find out why in community engagement expert Colleen Dilenschneider’s [blog post here (opens in a new tab)](http://colleendilen.com/2014/06/18/data-update-efficacy-of-various-marketing-channels-social-media-still-top-spot/) . ***Nonprofit Marketing Guide* wants to know** about your workload for its [survey of how long it takes you and your peers (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2014/06/18/how-long-should-your-job-take/) to complete certain tasks. (Wavebreakmedia Ltd/ThinkStock) [Morgan Little](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/) Morgan Little is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/) Tags: [#goal-setting](https://associationsnow.com/tag/goal-setting/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#New to Associations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/new-to-associations/) [#NextGen](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nextgen/) [#Professional Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-development/) [#self-doubt](https://associationsnow.com/tag/self-doubt/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoASAE’s The ExchangeApril 24, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/24/asaes-the-exchange/) - [VideoAllison Isch, PMP Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/allison-isch-pmp-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoIntroducing the ASAE Future Leaders Professional Development ScholarshipJune 14, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/06/14/introducing-the-asae-future-leaders-professional-development-scholarship/) - [VideoSuccess lesson: Use planning to reach your goalsJanuary 3, 2017](https://associationsnow.com/2017/01/03/success-lesson-use-planning-to-reach-your-goals/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F06%2F18%2Fwednesday-buzz-dont-let-self-doubt-drag-you-down%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !