Another reason to blog…

There are many, many good reasons to have a blog.

A recent post by one of my favorite bloggers, Mitch Joel, made a great case for it (as if I needed one) and the more I do it, the more value I get from it.

But, I recently discovered a surprise benefit of having a blog…it’s become a story repository for my main themes.

I was hired to do a 12 part webcast for Microsoft and outlined the topics I wanted to provide.

Of course, I have to provide the substance to back it up…which is where the blog came in handy.

I was able to search for the key terms (about which I’d been writing about for years) and find great, illustrative examples to help bring the point home.

It saved me HOURS of time and a lot of stress in preparation for the webcast.

In essence, I’d spent 3 years blogging to prepare me for the work of sharing the knowledge with the audience.

Just one more example of why it’s good value.

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Does the Blog Make the Person?

Or does the person make the blog.

Longtime blog readers will know the name of Tjada, who has been around for a while as a reader.

She visited with her husband on Sunday and raised the following question:

“I can’t decide if you are interesting and that is what makes your blog interesting. Or if you are just average and you just share it more than other people, which makes it more interesting than average.”

Discuss amongst yourselves.

3000 posts…

Started blogging back in 2001.

Just hit post number 3000.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

Bloggestion Box...

It's a Blog Suggestion Box.
Want to see me blog on a certain topic?
Well, now you can.
Over on the right side of this blog, there is now a Skrbit Suggestion Box.
Go ahead, add your ideas in there.



Jamie-thanks for the motivation in this comment.

Why blog about your personal life?

Every now and then I’ll meet someone who asks me “why do you share so much about your personal life online?”

(Sometimes I meet people who make fun of me, but that’s a different story.)

Why?

Aside from the fact that I like sharing it, I also like hearing how it makes people feel.

I got a note from Jacob the other day, saying he was unsubscribing from this blog.

I didn’t recognize his name and thought that, perhaps, as is sometimes the case, he was a business associate looking for the Never Stop Marketing blog and, accidentally, had chosen the wrong blog.

“No,” he wrote, “I subscribed back when I was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was reading about your experiences. I enjoyed your blog and reading about your family and your other musings. It’s just gotten to the point where I can’t keep up with all the other blogs I read.”

So, for 2.5 years, this random guy decided that the stuff I was sharing was of interest to him.

In some ways, though the comparison is probably not apt, I suspect this is what artists look for.

Affect people you’ve never met through your work.

Blogging in a Nutshelll…

Big thanks to my cuz, Shelby for sending this one to me. So true ;-)

It reads

Blogging: Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.

Some nice feedback from friends…

One of the things I love about my current “job” is the opportunity to change the way people think about a few, key things.

I was really touched to get a phone call the other day from a self-described “Raving Fan,” Zakia who just said “I just really love what you write about on your blog (www.ignitingtherevolution.com)”

And then, the same day…it was a good day for me… I got the following note from another friend about reading the blog had changed his job search prospects for the better.

Here's a small endorsement of one of your mantras. Thought you might like it. (Feel free to use it anonymized.)

I have had "be remarkable" on the brain for the last few weeks while doing some old-fashioned job hunting. Seeing the phrase over and over in your tweets has pounded it into my head so much that it came to me this afternoon at a moment when it mattered.

A couple weeks ago I was rec'd for a job by someone I worked with last year. That got me a phone interview, and then they gave me a sort of take-home test (the job is, in part, data-intensive). I turned in the test, got a "thanks" email, then heard nothing. I followed up a week later and still heard nothing.

I finally got an update email today, saying they're still in process and have been busy on "a couple of big projects that are coming to a head."  This seemed sort of discouraging -- if they'd really liked me in the interview and liked my work on the test, they would've hired me and I'd be helping on those "big projects" right now, right? And job hunting is a fundamentally discouraging exercise. (As an aside, you might be shocked to hear how many people simply stop communicating, despite polite follow-up, even after taking

But "be remarkable," right?  So instead of archiving the update and waiting another week or two, I got cheeky, and replied: "Thanks, [firstname]. Want any help with those projects?"

His reply: "Be careful what you offer, I might take you up on it!  Actually, most of the projects are a little hairy right now, but if I can think of a good way to take you up on your offer, I won't hesitate."

Now, maybe I'll get the job and maybe I won't. But in his update email, the employer gave me a small opening -- an opportunity to improve my position.  And I took it, because I had "be remarkable" running through my head.

So thanks for improving me by being so damn repetitive.

Dangers of Social Media Sarcasm…

One of my favorite people from my days at Microsoft is Nelson Taggart.

He’s a funny guy and I really enjoy spending time with him.

Today, he sent me a note asking to change a previous blog post of mine.

Why?

Well, if you search on his name, you’ll see a post of mine from 2 years ago where I suggest that “questionable advice” always comes from him.

Of course, it doesn’t. I was being funny (or trying to, at least).

But, someone searching for Nelson may not get that…and may rush to judgment.

That’s his/her fault, of course, as well as mine.

You need to be yourself, but you need to recognize that people who don’t know you may not get what that means.

I don’t have an answer to this one…it’s a situation that we’ll see more of, I’m sure.

Of Addiction, Abuse, and Binging...

One of fun things about being a blogger is getting people's reactions and impressions to your posts weeks, months, and even years after you write it.

Also, it's fascinating to hear about the different "consumption" patterns of readers.

There are some daily, hard-core fans (love you!) and some who have told me that they check in a "few times per week."

Was talking to blogreader Aaron the other day and we discovered that "he's not addicted, but he's an abuser" (his words) because his habit is to not read for a month or two and then "binge."

Binge blogreading: the next psychological problem for therapists everywhere to solve.

What's your blogreading habit?

It’s True…

Blogging Illusion...

If you knew that I didn't write this post today, how would you feel?

Truth is, there are often days when I don't have a moment to blog, so I compensate by overblogging on some days and just scheduling them to release on a future date.

Since most of my posts aren't really time-sensitive and while I may have the thought to blog about it, I don't think you want to read all of them at once.

Plus, I like having one post per day show up. Feels like a nice rhythm, you know?

But, I've heard from at least one vociferous individual that this fact "destroys the illusion" that I've had that thought on that actual day.

So, now that I've come clean, what do you think?

Shout out to SW-thanks for letting me write this on your computer.

Your Type of Blog?

According to the Blog Typealyzer, I am an ISTP personality type.

Here is the description

ISTP - The Mechanics

The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.

The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HT: Greg Mankiw

FOJ Blogger Meet-up...and Hardcore Feedback

One of the unexpected side benefits of my sister's wedding weekend was the opportunity to meet up with some of the most loyal and dedicated FOJ blog readers.

Jamie (aka Internet soul sister and of the Thank You note saga), her husband Jonathan, and Annie spent about an hour with me offering up their suggestions, feedback, and criticism of my blogging style.

1. Jamie took issue with my calling them "movie reviews." The movies are multiple years old, so it's not new information. Call them "impressions from the movie" or something, but given the way my Netflix queue works, by the time I see a movie, all of you have already seen it. Point well taken.
   
   
2. Lose the ego. Annie pointed out that for a while, I was trying to pass myself off as the guy who found all the "cool sites" and technology, when in fact, that wasn't the case. They've said I've become more humble, however, and instead, I should just focus on telling the stories of how I use technology to its maximum potential, when I do find it.
   
   
3. According to Jamie, I punish my most loyal fans when I send my quarterly email updates and all I do is link back to the blog. I have to give them something new. Ok, I'm in!
   
   
4. Along the lines of the recent Obama spats and Trickle Down Economics, it isn't so fair that I control the post/blog and that those who disagree with me have to make their case in the comments (with Jonathan doesn't read, for example). In effect, I am censuring. Her point: give those people some equal opportunity and don't twist their words. [Hmmmm...the fairness doctrine?]
   
   
5. Jonathan likes the posts on my family observations. I always wonder about whether those have meaning, but for Jonathan, at least, they do.
   
   
6. Don't afraid to be controversial. Be respectful, but continue to ask the tough questions (at least that's what I heard!)

That pretty much does it, I think. Ladies-let me know if I missed anything.

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The Blogger Ego...

Image via WikipediaIn the last few weeks, I've seen 3 examples of bloggers whom, in my humble opinion, got a bit "too big for their britches."

No need to call them out (as that would prove the point, right?), but I wonder if blogging (and, to some extent, all of the craze around social media/user-generated-content) leads us to a heightened sense of self-importance.

I mean, if there is more than 1 person reading this blog (after me, that is), well then, I must have something important to say...

As we move into an era where everyone is a reporter, broadcaster, etc., it's something to remember.

"With great power, comes great responsiblity...."

[and on that topic, please...no matter what, if you are eligible, go vote]

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Guide to my Blogs for the FOJ’s…

Enough feedback has come in that I’ve recognized some market confusion. Probably my fault…

For the long-time FOJ’s (Friends of Jeremy) who are loyal readers of this blog, I just wanted to spell out the difference between the two blogs.

 

1. This blog (aka http://jer979.blogspot.com) covers a wide-range of topics from parenting to books to movies/politics, random observations, and bigger “life” issues.
   
2. The “Igniting The Revolution” blog (found at www.IgnitingTheRevolution.com) covers marketing, social networking, and building for-profit communities.  It’s a sales and educational vehicle for my consulting business.
   

The one page overview of my business can be found at www.jer979.com (you can click through to the “revolution” blog from there.)

You can Subscribe by Email (or RSS) to the (business-focused) Igniting the Revolution Blog if that interests you (or just as good, please forward the link on to someone whom you think might find it interesting).

Thanks for reading and for your support!

 

Any questions? ;-)

Sewage Pipes and Why I Love Blogging...

Image via WikipediaThe skeptics and naysayers often ask me "why do you put so much useless stuff on your blog? Who wants to read about your sewage problem?"

The answer is: I don't know.

But what I do know is that IF I write about it in an interesting way, then people will read about it, but the BEST part is when I get valuable input as a result.

"Why do you have to tell the world?"

I don't, but the thing is, I don't know what my network knows.

By putting information out there, the people who do know will tell me what I need to know. And this happens...A LOT. Which is why I keep doing it.

So, for the rest of you, here is Steve's note:

 We had a similar problem. You need to put copper sulfate crystals in the system every 6 months or so.  The crystals inhibit the growth of roots.  You can buy it at Home Depot or online, and you just flush a jar of the stuff down the basement toilet twice a year.   There also are some other stronger products that can kill off small roots before they grow.  We had a similar blockage years ago and the plumber recommended this treatment.  So far, so good. 

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Keeping Your Blogger's Voice

Image via Wikipedia A longtime reader of this blog and the IgnitingTheRevolution blog told me that some of my posts over on ITR were "starting too get a bit too commercial."

In his opinion, they were too focused on positioning myself as a consultant. Not as a value-added blogger.

Now, I don't know if there's any connection, but I noticed that my readership in the first week of September dropped from the end of August.

Seemed counter-intuitive, since I figured people were on vacation and now they are back at work and reading.

Though it could be that people were not working as hard in August and thus had more time to read blogs, etc., and now, they are "doing their real jobs."

Either way, it sent me a strong message...and a good one.

Sharpen the saw time.

Blog on what I am passionate about. Stick to my voice. Do what I love to do.

The rest will follow.

Thanks for keeping me honest, guys.

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Re-run Post

Image via Wikipedia This may be a cop out, but the NFO is away for 3 days at a dance camp. 24 hours  a day. It's crazy, I know.

Anyway, I am playing zone 1 on 3 (yes, I have imported a lot of assistants, but I'm still on solo point).

So, today's post is this:

Pick one of the two discussions that are currently raging on this blog and add your comment to it.

• what if Obama actually loses?
• the changing nature of the Olympics (part 1 and 2)

Hopefully I'll have some energy tomorrow for a good blog post :-)

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Perception and Social Media…

Loving the discussion that is going on among the readers on the post: At what price ‘social’ media?", but here’s another angle.

Let’s work on the assumption that we are all creatures of perception and, to some extent, it’s more important than fact.

Ok, good…

Now, I’m in a start-up business, right?

I’ve had some client wins and some setbacks. Well documented.

Potential clients want to associate with winners, right? They want to feel like they are betting on a proven commodity.

So, here’s the rub…

If my blog is a place where I can be open and honest with you, the reader, and I write about, say, losing a proposal, or a client not happy with my work (hasn’t happened, don’t worry) and I try to frame it within the context of personal development, am I taking too big a risk?

What if a potential client, who isn’t a longstanding FOJ, reads that post and concludes: “nice guy, but obviously not a winner. If others aren’t hiring him, why should I?”

Then, if that’s the case, the unfortunate end result could be an unwillingness by me to share what is REALLY going on via my FOJ blog.

Or, should I just do what “feels right” and hope that clients will have the courage to hire me even if others have decided not to?

Thoughts?

Note: this is entirely hypothetical. All of my clients love me and people are knocking down my door to hire me :-)

Thank You Note Bankruptcy and the Beauty of a Blog Community…

I was just loving the multiple, varied, and challenging responses to my post on Thank You Note Bankruptcy as they came in.

This is why I tell people that I think the comments are the BEST part of the blogging experience. I like how commenters respond and build on each other. This is what makes us a mini-community and why people say that “blogs are conversations.”

So, jump in and add a comment.

Now, onto the matter at hand.

There were some AMAZING comments. What’s better than having your readers quote back your previous posts to you and telling you that you are a hypocrite?

I’ll tell you: NOTHING! Well done, Ben.

Now, Gadi led the charge in asking for my response. And, if I were smart, I would have buried this in the pre-4th of July deadzone so people wouldn’t see how much of a beating I took, but you know me and 2400 posts into the FOJ blog, that’s not how I roll.

Anyway, there are two points here.

1. Is it ungrateful to not write a note or at least somehow acknowledge the gift?
2. What is the point of the gift-giving process?

Let’s dispatch with number 1. I’ll grant that it’s ungrateful to not acknowledge. I’m all in favor of acknowledging, I was just asking about notes. The consensus seems to be stop blogging, write some T.Y. notes. Ok, done.

Now, the second point, for which Jamie and Keren were the primary proponents, that gift-giving is about BOTH the giver and the receiver.

Jamie wrote:

when you shun the whole process, or try to engineer it for some people, you are taking away something from them. Gift-givers get something out of going out of their way to give you something. At least I know I do. I enjoy thinking about a couple or a family on a special occasion and trying to figure out what they need and how I can give them something to help with that need.

And Keren wrote:

While I am not opposed to registries, gift-giving is neither entirely about the recipient, nor entirely about the giver - it is about both. Which is why, sometimes, there is special value in the giver going outside of the registry box to think about what would be a good gift for the recipient (although, as I have said before, the process should not be unduly influenced by the giver's own preferences).

But, here is the part I can’t reconcile.

Both of them say that one of the best parts of the process for the giver is in the effort to try and find that good gift for the recipient. Their intentions are pure, they want to get a “fit” based on a whole slew of criteria. Great.

But, as we all know, some times the giver is wrong in his/her assessment of what is a perfect fit. (Let’s assume that a portion of those were from people with Keren/Jamie pure intentions.)

So, for the sake of argument, let’s say that the Keren/Jamie’s of the world (hereafter: KJ) are right in their “out of the box” thinking 65% of the time that a non-registry gift is a good fit. Whereas, if you give a gift that is off the registry, it is 100% certain that it is a good fit.

According to their logic then, they’d rather have a 65% chance of having a perfect fit and a 35% chance of giving a gift that isn’t right than taking the 100% guarantee.

But, I guess it comes down to process vs. results.

I am focused on results, not on process. So, for me, that doesn’t work.

If I give you a gift, I want to KNOW that I have given you something that you value.

(Maybe that’s a global micro-brand thing, I don’t know, but I know the reactions I have had (and I’ve seen from others) when you get a gift that is just a dud. You want to be grateful, but man, who really needs this thing, right?)

KJ, on the other hand, puts more emphasis on the process of gift giving.

They enjoy the thought, preparation, search, the creative aspect of aligning all of the factors that come into playa, and challenge of finding the perfect fit.

To me, that just doesn’t make sense, since I’d rather have the bird in the hand, so to speak.

Frankly, it also seems a bit selfish. If the gift is FOR the other person, then the only thing that matters is whether it benefits the other person or not. In the KJ scenario, they are perfectly happy that they enjoyed the process of finding the perfect gift even though they actually didn’t accomplish that goal 35% of the time (or whatever it is, but we know it is less than 100%).

I guess KJ likes the self-deception :-)

The process (and results) are about the recipient, not about the giver, nor what I get out of the process as the giver.

I’m going to pay for this one.

Ok, readers…you smell blood in the water, now go for it!