Last week I opened up an internal debate I was having about my blog to my readers, and the overwhelming result was this:Keep doing what you’re doing
Now there’s certainly more to it than that (in fact, I will be eternally grateful for the thoughtfulness of the responses), but that was the core of what everyone was saying. What was the specific advice? Here’s a sample:
- Don’t be someone you are not
- There is no need to draw lines when it all comes from the same place
- How about an “about the blog” page
- Be selfish, be passionate
- Build the relationships – this is about people
- Keep it conversational
- Be joyful, because you are doing something you love to do
That last one was particularly helpful, in that it just wasn’t going to be “me” to narrowcast myself into a place where I couldn’t express myself joyfully whenever the mood struck (I would imagine a strictly business blogger, for example, would have a difficult time squeezing that in).
I find joy in many things, and I’ll find it in the most unlikely places, which leads me to the final lesson I got this week about blogging.
I was at a business lunch with several people the other day. We were all dressed in our best business attire, and dutifully chatted initially about “the business stuff” we needed to address (especially to get the tax write off!). But since I knew these people very well and we had built an excellent relationship (there’s that word again!), we quickly veered off into different territory.
A territory those of you who follow me on Twitter know very well – music trivia.
I have much very useless knowledge in this area, so I leaped at the opportunity to dump a lot of it out of me. The topic turned to what we considered to be “joyfully banal” songs. One of my lunchmates suddenly rose from their chair (I kid you not) and started singing the Brady Bunch song “Keep on Movin”, also throwing in the signature dance moves.
We were in convulsions – laughing so hard we were almost crying. It was a childhood memory and joy inducer all wrapped into a big ball.
And then it hit me – no matter what I end up writing about, my blog HAS to continue to be a “forum for joy” – an upbeat expression of “Me” that can spread that joy as wide and as far as possible.
I want to be “joyfully banal” if I want to, even right after I hit Starbucks in the solar plexus, or wax poetic about John Adams and the Declaration of Independence.
Yep, I gotta be me, and oh yes, I got to Keep on Movin’! As the Brady Bunch says,
We’re gonna keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on dancing all through the night.
We’re gonna keep on, keep on, keep on doing it right
We’re gonna keep on, keep on , keep on movin
Gonna keep on, keep on, keep on grooving
Keep on singing and dancing all through the night
Thanks again to everyone who pitched in their two cents, and hope you also enjoy as much as I did the Brady Bunch singing and dancing their little hearts out for all of us (and our blogs).
Here’s the link to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyTZlJnRns&feature=related
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You’re an inspiration Terry, truly you are.
I’m delighted you’re going to carry on being exuberantly joyful. It is a frame of mind that’s totally infectious. We all get to benefit. Thank you
Joanna
I would have paid good money to see your friend in his business suit singing that song and doing the dance moves, Terry! Seriously, ditto what Joanna said. You are such a joyful person and that really comes through in your blog, making it a great place to come and hang out. Keep on keeping on
I think “strictly” business bloggers can also show an exceptional amount of joy on the blog. Even one that tries to help Cubicle Warriors with career management — a dry subject!
The reason for the joy is that business, in spite of all of the technology, complex processes, and Neanderthal rules is really about people doing good things for other people. There has to be some good joy juice in that!
Doing what we all do has become a life — not balance nor lines. Not work and home as balance, but the life we live. That is especially true with blogs — it is what we do and it transcends the day job and the night job. It should be authentic and joy is a big part of that.
You have very wise readers, Mr. Starbucker!
Scott, absolutely! Great businesspeople are great because they (we) love it, because they love solving thorny problems and making customers’ lives better and coaching employees to be more than they ever dreamed they could be.
You know, Terry, I would have bet money that I couldn’t remember that song, but I see the lyrics, and lo and behold I can. Thanks for the lousy earworm.
So do you ever feel torn between your “blogging self” and your “corporate self”? My colleagues think all this social media stuff is a bit odd. For me, there’s no disconnect at all, I share the same POV and the same experience at work that I do on the blog, but those two audiences seem a little wary of one another.
Good decision! Far better to be joyfully banal than comfortably numb.
My impression of you is that you see and experience joy in many things you do, and you share it – some like to keep it to themselves! I appreciate that you have a signature and uniqueness about you that is rather immediate. One can’t help but be in the joyful when they are around you. For me blogging helped my dig my way out of a sad place, it helped me see and be me and be absolutely OK with what I’m doing. It’s been remarkable. Like you the lessons keep occurring. Isn’t that just the coolest thing??
Hey all! Thanks so much for your comments. I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to thank you all sooner (I’m on the road again in WY).
All the best!