Ever had that little voice in your head say,
“Who are you to do this?”
“Why would anyone buy from you?”
“What if you fail… publicly?”
Yep. Me too.
In today’s episode, we’re getting real about self-doubt — where it shows up, why it’s so sneaky, and how to finally stop letting it run the show.
If fear and overthinking have been keeping you stuck, this one’s for you.
Because your Etsy shop won’t build itself — and passive income starts with taking imperfect action.
Let’s talk about how to actually get past the mental drama and start selling digital products on Etsy — even if you don’t feel ready.
xo,
Jacqueline
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Okay, real talk for a second…
I deal with self-doubt all the time.
In my Etsy business.
In my coaching business.
In this podcast.
On social media — like literally every time I hit publish.
I get scared of failing.
I second-guess whether anyone’s going to care.
I wonder if I’m doing enough… or if I’m doing too much.
I spiral into “what if this doesn’t work?” more often than I care to admit.
So if you’ve ever looked at your screen and thought:
“Who am I to do this?”
“Is anyone actually going to buy this?”
“What if I mess it up?”
…just know — you’re not alone.
In fact, I think self-doubt is part of the process.
And today, we’re talking about how to move through it — not avoid it, not pretend it’s not there — but move through it, so you can actually start building the passive income business you’ve been dreaming about.
Because here’s the truth:
You don’t need to feel 100% confident to get started.
You don’t need a perfect niche, or the perfect Canva skills, or the “right” moment.
What you need… is to start even with the doubt.
Even with the fear.
Even with the shaking hands and the little voice in your head that says, “What if this flops?”
Because that voice? It gets quieter every time you take action.
So today’s episode is all about how to get past the mental blocks, stop waiting for permission, and finally take that first step into building passive income on Etsy — even if your inner critic is super loud right now.
Let’s get into it.
So lets just admit it — self-doubt is loud.
And it doesn’t magically disappear once you’ve had a few sales or a couple of wins.
I still deal with it. All. The. Time.
In my Etsy business.
In my coaching business.
In this podcast.
Even just showing up online sometimes, I’ll have that moment of “Is this even good?” or “Am I really the right person to be saying this?”
And I know you probably feel it too.
Because self-doubt is sneaky. It shows up in all these little ways:
- You overthink the product listing, so you don’t hit publish.
- You get stuck on the perfect niche or the perfect logo — and never actually start.
- You downplay your wins or avoid talking about your shop because you’re afraid someone will judge it.
- You tell yourself “the market is too saturated” — when really, you’re just scared to put yourself out there.
And I get it.
Self-doubt isn’t something you outgrow. It’s something you learn to manage.
Most successful Etsy sellers didn’t start because they were confident.
They became confident because they started.
Because they took action — even with shaky hands and a nervous heart.
And listen, I want to normalize that fear.
It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you.
It doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this.
It just means you’re human… and your brain is doing what it’s wired to do: keep you safe, avoid risk, and cling to the familiar.
But safety and success don’t live in the same place.
And the life you want? The freedom you crave? The passive income you keep hearing about?
That lives on the other side of action.
Even imperfect, awkward, messy action.
Even if your Canva design isn’t perfect.
Even if you only get two sales this month.
Even if your first few listings don’t take off.
Because action creates clarity.
And clarity builds confidence.
But it starts by acknowledging that self-doubt is normal — and not letting it decide your next move.
Alright, now that we’ve called out self-doubt for what it is — let’s actually break down what it says.
Because this voice in your head? It’s sneaky.
It sounds logical. Protective, even.
But it’s lying. And we need to call it out.
Lie #1: “The market is too saturated. There’s no room for me.”
this one shows up a lot, right?
You open Etsy, type in your product idea, and boom — 20,000 listings.
Your brain goes, “See? Everyone’s already doing this. Why even try?”
But here’s the truth:
Saturation doesn’t mean failure. It means demand.
It means people are actively looking for this kind of product.
The real question isn’t “Is it saturated?”
It’s “How can I stand out in a way that feels like me?”
Your story, your style, your spin — those are your superpowers.
And no one can duplicate them.
You just have to look at that demand and figure out how you can make it stand out.
So here’s how to reframe that lie:
“There’s room for me. People are searching for this — and I can offer something unique.”
Lie #2: “I have to have it all figured out before I start.”
And this my friends, is perfectionism in disguise.
This one tells you that before you launch, you need:
- A perfect brand
- A perfect shop
- A fully stocked catalog of products
- Maybe even a custom font you commissioned from a monk in the Swiss Alps
But the truth?
You learn by doing.
The most successful Etsy shops didn’t start perfect — they started scrappy. Thats what mine was. Totally messy, totally scrappy, no clue what I was doing.
But those most successful ones – They launched with a few listings, tested what worked, pivoted, and improved as they went.
You don’t need a master plan.
You need one small, brave step.
So here’s how to reframe that lie:
“Done is better than perfect. Every listing is a chance to learn.”
Lie #3: “Why would anyone buy from me?”
This one hits deep.
Because it’s not really about Etsy — it’s about worthiness.
It’s that lingering voice that whispers:
- “I’m not creative enough.”
- “I’m not tech-savvy.”
- “I’m not a ‘business person.’”
- I don’t really know what I’m doing
And I just want to pause here and say:
That voice is lying to you. That voice is a little bitch.
Because you don’t need to be anyone else to succeed on Etsy.
You don’t need 20 years of design experience or a fancy marketing degree.
You need heart. A willingness to learn. And the courage to keep showing up.
So here’s how to reframe that lie:
“There are people out there who need exactly what I have — and I’m building this for them.”
So if any of those lies have been swirling around in your mind lately — I see you.
But I’m also going to lovingly challenge you to call them out.
Because they’re not truths.
They’re just fear… dressed up as logic.
And when you start recognizing them for what they are — you take back the power.
You stop letting self-doubt steer the ship.
And you start creating from a place of confidence, clarity, and purpose.
So now that we’ve called out the lies self-doubt tells us, it’s time for the real antidote.
Not more overthinking. Not another free webinar.
It’s action.
Here’s what I’ve learned from building multiple Etsy shops, launching a course, starting a podcast —
Any time I let myself sit in analysis paralysis for too long, I completely spiral.
I start questioning everything.
But the moment I do something — even something tiny — I start to feel better.
Because clarity comes from action. Not from thinking.
You’re not going to “think your way” into confidence.
You’re going to build it by taking steps, even if they’re messy and awkward.
Let me give you a really practical example.
Let’s say you’ve been sitting on a product idea for weeks. You’ve sketched it out, played with it in Canva, maybe written a title for it — but you haven’t listed it.
Why?
- Because you’re worried it’s not good enough.
- Or that no one will buy it.
- Or that your mockup doesn’t look quite like that other shop’s.
So it just…sits there.
But what if you just uploaded it anyway?
What if you clicked “publish,” even before it felt ready?
What if you let the market tell you if it’s good — instead of letting fear decide?
That’s how you build momentum.
And momentum is so much more powerful than motivation.
Because motivation is flaky. It comes and goes.
But momentum? That builds on itself.
You list one thing, and it gives you the confidence to list another.
You get one sale, and you realize — wait, people do want this.
You get one review, and it lights a fire you didn’t even know was in you.
So here’s your reminder:
If self-doubt is screaming at you, you don’t have to wait until it’s quiet to move forward.
You move forward — and that’s what quiets the noise.
Start where you are.
Create the product.
List the thing.
Try the idea.
You’re not stuck. You’re just paused.
And the way to un-pause is to press “go” — even if you’re scared.
Even if it’s just one tiny action today.
That’s all you need to shift the energy.
Because once you start moving?
The magic shows up.
Let’s be real for a second — you’re not always going to feel confident.
There are going to be days when you question everything…
Days when you think, “Who am I to be doing this?” or “Why would someone buy from me when there are already a hundred other shops out there?”
I’ve been there. More times than I can count.
I’ve had launches flop. I’ve had quiet months on Etsy.
I’ve recorded podcast episodes and thought, “Was that even helpful?”
And if I had waited to feel 100% confident before doing anything…
I wouldn’t have done anything.
So here’s the mindset I want you to borrow when your belief in yourself feels wobbly:
“I don’t have to fully believe in myself yet — I just have to believe in possibility.”
That’s it.
Not that you’ll be a bestseller overnight.
Not that you’ll make $10K this month.
Not that you’ll nail every design on the first try.
But that it’s possible.
That maybe — just maybe — your ideas are worth something.
That someone out there needs what you’re creating.
That it’s not about being the best, but about being brave.
Because courage doesn’t require certainty.
It just asks for a little bit of willingness.
Willingness to try.
To be seen.
To learn.
To show up anyway.
You don’t need to have unshakable confidence right now.
You just need enough belief to take the next small step.
And if that belief feels hard to find — borrow mine.
I believe in you.
I believe in the power of what you’re building.
I’ve seen it work — in my own life, in my students’ lives, in shops that started with nothing and turned into everything.
So even if your inner critic is loud today…
You can still take action from a place of hope.
Just because doubt is present doesn’t mean you have to listen to it.
You can walk forward with fear in the passenger seat and still get to where you want to go.
You don’t need to be fearless to be successful — you just need to keep moving.
So here’s what I want you to remember today:
Self-doubt doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this.
It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
It just means… you’re human.
Every Etsy seller, every entrepreneur, every creative person I know — we all feel it.
But the ones who succeed?
They don’t wait for the doubt to disappear.
They move with it.
They take messy action.
They keep showing up.
They decide to believe that something good is on the other side of staying in the game.
And friend — I believe that for you, too.
Whether you’re in the brainstorming stage, the “I just opened my shop” stage, or the “I haven’t made a sale in 3 weeks and I’m freaking out” stage…
You are not alone.
You can build passive income.
You can create something that supports your family and gives you freedom.
You can take that self-doubt and turn it into fuel.
So don’t let the fear of not being ready keep you from starting.
Don’t let comparison steal your joy or your momentum.
And please don’t wait for perfection — it’ll never show up.
Just start.
Start where you are, with what you have.
That’s how every success story begins.
And hey — if you’re ready for more support, more structure, and more strategy?
That’s exactly what I created Etsy Profits Pro for.
It’s my step-by-step course to help you create and sell digital products on Etsy — without needing social media, paid ads, or a design degree.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
- Choose digital product ideas that actually sell
- Do keyword research to get found in search
- Create beautiful, beginner-friendly products in Canva
- Set up your listings to convert
- And build a shop that brings in passive income while you live your life
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re ready to go all in — I got you. Head to jacqueline-butler.com/etsyprofitspro and get started today. Like right now.
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