This is a true story. I finally found my soul mate, and it wasn’t the opposite sex or even the same sex for that matter. It is my blog; hands down.
This blog, named ever so rightly as Soulati-‘TUDE!, is approaching a birthday in March. It is turning the big 4, not the big 4-0, but the big 4. I’d hasten a guess that four years of straight blogging as a professional is akin to the big 4-0. You know, something like cats have nine lives or dog years are longer than one human year.
My blog has become:
- My obsession (it tells me to write without even speaking)
- My OCD (I have to write or else I succumb to the next bullet)
- My guilt
- My happiness (I’m thrilled when I know I’ve written a winner)
- My sadness (I’m gloomy when I need a break and then force myself to write)
- My investment (Uhmm, yeah, time is money)
- My professionalism (It defines my read next bullet and competency)
- My brand marketing (Indeed)
- My influence building (Writing gives me influence, right?)
- My authority (The content I write builds authority, authenticity and thus creates influence)
- My emotion (Agony, pride, laughter, happiness as above)
- My daily activity and neglect (It’s a totally consuming)
- My love (Right?)
I am totally immersed eye-deep in this blog after 650+ posts, 10,000+ comments and four years of lessons to navigate the complexity and rewards of professional blogging. Add all the guest posting I’ve done and NOT captured here, and that post tally is likely up to 700 now.
Is It Time For A Divorce?
Do you think all marriages end in divorce? There’s a great piece of data somewhere that supports something like that, I’m sure. For a blogger to divest herself from blogging, the outcome would be much like a divorce – extreme sadness, too much time on hands, where to write and about what, how to keep the brand front and center and alive, and how to share with a community that’s invisible yet not.
After four years of blogging, I’ve learned this:
• I have mastered the content strategy – my content is my craft, and it’s NOT an echo chamber at all, ever.
• Data and analytics continue to plague me because I’m a creative, presenting creations via words for everyone to see.
• Digital marketing is more challenging than one thinks, and I’m unhappy having to make it happen.
• I write my best work for others and love guest posting for the ability to showcase talent in another’s house or use a different voice than how I pen for me.
Rocky Start to 2014
I’ve not been posting much; first time ever, and can’t say the guilt has consumed me…yet. This break was unplanned and it was necessary. As I continue to ponder what it means to be married to my blog, I came to the understanding that MY BLOG OWNS ME. It is in charge, top dog, drives the ship, dictates decisions and eats my money. But, with every unbalanced marriage where one partner holds the upper hand, there is some balance of give and take and partnership, too.
In this partnership of four years that is truly 10, I married my blog and continue to work through the kinks and experience every growing pain and emotion, whether happy or sad. One day soon, we will make money together (we’re already making music) and add more variations of bread for the table loaf by loaf. As blog and blogger continue to evolve, inspiration comes from bread crumbs and eventually loaves are baked until it becomes a bakery.
You know, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.
Keep your sights high on the greatest of treasures, Jayme. You have done amazing things here and elsewhere in the blogosphere, intertubes, and internets. And you will do more. It will be more amazing than you can imagine.
Because love never fails.
FarynaOh heck. You almost made me cry, Stan. I know love comes from your corner, and I know, too, you’re there every day whether I see you or not. But, I see you. Muwahhh.
I can relate to a lot of those bullet points, Jayme. One of
the things I love about blogging is that the process of writing my ideas forces
me to master the subject, if only for a moment in time. I learn every time I write
a blog post. So yeah, I get the love/marriage/obsession analogy completely. I hope
you two kids live happily ever after!
I feel the same way about my blog, although I have been blogging for only one year. It’s really like having two wives and I have to say it’s difficult to decide which wife to spend more time with – the real one or the blog. It’s a tough decision. 🙂 If you don’t see more comments from me in the future, it means my real wife found this comment. 🙂
Hi Jayme,
Digital is a way to ‘expand our world’ and connect ‘who we are’ with much more of the universe.
Like attracts like. Everyone in our life is merely a mirror of ‘who we are’ at the core.
When we begin to focus on the people instead of the tools, technology, schedules and doing all of those things the gurus tell us needs to be done in order to be successful – that’s when you will resonate with those you can help the most…
We get past barriers in life by recognizing our oneness with people in our lives and purposefully joining hands with them to help each other accomplish the vision within.
We are one… After all, that’s what marriage is, right?
Mark_HaraiI think we just got hitched! Oooooh!
ChurchillLOL! Hi, Churchill! I’m so happy you came by to leave a bread crumb…eventually, if she’s savvy, your blog will tell all and you’ll be in double trouble! Appreciate you already know what I’m talking about; now come back to me in 3 more years and tell me how you’re feeling!
digitaljgoLet’s not get too drastic, John! Happily ever after…fairy tales, right? Heh. After I get through the rocky and smooth out the stones, I’m sure I’ll be on my way to ever after again. What I always say is that when the strong fall, they pass out awhile. I think it’s called something like rejuvenation. Call you soon.
Happy Blog-a-versary, Jayme!
Congrats on four years! Here’s to many, many more!
Congratulations. I have made it almost 2 years of blood, sweat, and tears over my blog. I hope that my investment in myself (blog) will one day pay off. Of course, I mainly blog to take me away from my own issues and to help others.
Faryna Hey, I feel you bro – hope all is well in Stans World – best to you and yours in 2014, sir!
upliftingfamBlogging is the most wonderful journey I can express. I’m so glad you’re nearly through two years. I remember the earliest days when everything was new. After 4 years? Nothing much has changed! Everything is new! Heh.
There’s always something to do to tackle the next rung and grow; just keep on and nurture through your writings and the gifts will flow. Thank you for coming by to support me!
I’m pretty sure I’m married to my blog too. I can relate to so many of the points you posted above. However, I’m pretty sure I could have worse hobbies that benefited far fewer people. I’m still in it for the long haul.
profkrgHah. Love that, Kenna! You’re right, we good be boozing it up and getting nowhere in life; instead we’re doing what’s right — being daily challenged by a blog. Heh. Thanks for coming over!