Why I blog
I am a fan of both Seth Godin and Tom Peters I was excited to see video links on Seth’s blog where they shared a platform. Watch the clip here where they talk about blogging from their perspectives.
I have been blogging now for coming up for 3 years . I have no idea how that time has passed so quickly. And that is one heck of a lot of posts. I look back on the earliest posts with fondness. That dipping my toe in the water was a big step for me but when I got into the habit ( I may have this wrong but I recall that you need to do something for 20 times for it to become a habit ) I found that I really enjoyed it. To sustain anything over a period of time you need to get something from doing it and Seth and Tom’s conversation got me thinking about what it does for me.
Seth suggests that one of the benefits is that by blogging you “force yourself to be part of the conversation”. Now this was a big step for me. I was very very cautious about “going public” on a number of levels not least of which was “what did I know?” but on reading other blogs I realised that this was an opportunity to share with others – and the whole being much much better than the sum of the parts.
As time has passed I realise that my style of writing is pretty much unchanged but my content is far more informed by what I have learned from other places – live, face to face, and online.
In the clip Tom Peters mentions that blogging has changed his “intellectual and emotional outlook” which I find very interesting. Intellectually blogging has challenged me more that I could have ever imagined. I find myself researching regularly and often – and not only for material for posts – which is quite a change for me. In the Honey and Mumford Learning Styles language I am strong activist learner and blogging has slowed me down some and encouraged me to reflect more which is a huge benefit to the way I work now. Emotionally I have never felt more connected to so many people. I have never been focussed on how many readers I have but always surprised and encouraged when someone takes the time to post a comment .
As a final comment on this I could never have imagined that Seth Godin, Tom Peters and I would be talking about the same thing. Actually – how would I have known? But blogging was the first step to opening up a whole new world to me and if you don’t blog yet I urge you to give it a try. And if you do – please share with me why you started and what keeps you going.
Tags: Seth Godin, Tom Peters
Aug 10, 2009
Hi Jackie, I started to blog because a friend told me to (!) and I continue to blog because of 3 simple reasons:
I love to write
I have something to say
I am part of a much larger conversation.
Nice post, as usual!
Aug 10, 2009
Thank you for jumping in Lisa. You are a perfect example of how caring about each other translates online!
Aug 10, 2009
Howdy Jackie! I decided to blog in order to “see what this blogging thang was all about”. Seriously. I had no idea I’d come to enjoy it so much! Now, it’s as much a part of me as my hat!
Aug 11, 2009
Hi Jackie;
I started blogging because a friend disappeared into the blogosphere for awhile then told me where they had gone, so I followed. Plus, I like the blogosphere because it is populated with real and authentic personalities.
Blogging for me is an extension of my reading & journaling, along with my fascination with ideas and word play. I continue to blog because some day I hope to find my voice in my niche.
I can’t get your link to work, however, I did watch the SHMR Conference session on HR Blogging live on line. Kris Dunn’s comment on blogging for personal professional development did resonate with me. As does your’s and Lisa’s voices and examples.
Cheers, Robert
Aug 11, 2009
I started really because I felt I had something I wanted to say but I quickly realised that in the blogosphere you can learn so much more by listening/reading….so I see blogging as a vehicle to learn as much as a communication vehicle. It’s a chance to engage with people you’d either not meet through circumstances, geography, social circles, etc.
That said, I tweet more than blog (blog still to be launched). There’s something quite challenging about trying to fit something meaningful and engaging into 140 characters….
Aug 11, 2009
I am looking forward to reading your blog when it is launced as I enjoy your tweets!
Aug 11, 2009
Hello Mr MZM – Just like you I was really just giving this blogging lark a go at the suggestion of a friend in the technical side of the business. He does not blog himself but tweets now so he is catching me up because after he set me loose there was not stopping me.
Aug 11, 2009
Hi Bob – thanks for your kind comments. This blog has also helped me build a community of trusted writers – which includes you – into whose blogs I dip for inspiration, ideas and other connections!
Aug 11, 2009
Great post, Jackie. I started blogging as a business experiment. I thought it would work because writing is the way I think and the basket where I collect the pieces of my life. Blogging itself turned out to be a good thing. What I didn’t anticipate was that commenting on other blogs would be such a great experience. Now I tell coaching clients that they should read blogs on topics of interest, but also comment. It helps you learn, but, more importantly, it makes you part of the conversation and a wider community.
Aug 12, 2009
Oh now Wally you make a very good point. I too learn so much from reading other blogs , reflecting on what I have read and considering my comments. Most times – if I think it adds to the conversation – I will comment. Even if I feel that I have nothing useful to add at that stage I am likely to pop back from time to time to join in when I can. Thank you