Hey, there -

In the fall of 2018, I hung my virtual shingle as a copywriter, joined a community of marketing professionals, and was immediately knocked on my can by an ill-natured internal critic.

When I discovered that many of my colleagues also have a nasty internal critic, I invited them to suffer collectively at an occasional meet-up called Angsty Copywriters Club. All these years later and under new leadership, ACC still regularly convenes to fuss about our work and openly fret about if we're any good at it.

There's no question that dumping dis-ease into a supportive space like that can be helpful. But internal critics aren't generally dissuaded by "OMG, me too!"

Neither do they blanch at "But you're so talented!" comments from friends and family— because obviously your friends and family have to say that, and they don't really know what they're talking about, and have they even seen the latest piece of absolute trash you produced?

There's one thing internal critics have a really hard time arguing with, though: Evidence.

Pep Talk #045: Believe the evidence.
Some time ago, I encouraged y'all to hoard kudos.

Like... I want you to have a stockpile of compliments, data points, and kind words the size of which rivals a Prepper's basement on December 31, 1999.

What I didn't stress enough in that pep talk was the need to re-absorb those kudos when your critic gets loud. Open the folder. Read the evidence. Believe it.

And in case your internal asshat is as sneaky as mine: Kudos do not have an expiration date. If you were good at something three years ago, you are at least as good at that thing now. So trust the deep-cut evidence of your goodness like you received it just today. Because it's true.

Oh, and if you don't currently have evidence to turn to, send an email today to three happy customers or clients and ask them three questions:

• What problem did I help you solve?
• What was it like working with me?
• How has our work together made your life/work/business better?

It's wildly uncomfortable to send these emails, and your internal critic will scream at you about being a needy, self-congratulatory baby. Send them anyway.

Baby, you're a firework,
Kelley

P.S. Speaking of critics: Someone who voluntary subscribed to my emails way back in January 2023 and has been receiving them ever since reported last week's email about unsubscribes as SPAM. Every one of my feelings is hurt.