In the children’s book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats a boy walks through his neighborhood after a snowfall and discovers the beauty there.
At one point he breaks a branch from a tree and continues walking in the snow. Soon he looks back and observes his footsteps along with the groove the stick has made as he has dragged it behind him.
This blog is like that stick for me. I’ve been walking with it for a year (my first post went up August 15, 2012). Now I’d like to look back.
Blogging this long has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve ever done. More than anything it’s been an education! Following are ten things I’ve learned along the way.
1. It’s not about me.
In my first post I wrote, “What would knock my socks off is if this space became a gathering place for a community of people who helped and supported one another on the creative journey.” That original vision is still what gets me up in the morning.
2. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
When it comes to what to do next on my blog, sometimes it feels like I’m assaulted by thousands of competing voices. I never go wrong when I ask and respond to this simple question: “How can I serve people?”
3. The importance of sustainability.
What’s the point of blogging if it drains you or makes you cranky or, worse, if you end up feeling guilty for not posting? Stop, I say to myself. Breathe. Decide what a reasonable pace is, when you’re going to write, and what else you need to do to write during that time.
4. Traffic stats can become an unhealthy obsession.
Leadership expert Edwin Friedman compared our modern preoccupation with data to substance abuse, referencing the classic addiction cycle of “self-doubt, denial, temptation, relapse, and withdrawal.” He nails it, I think. They are a useful tool but a cruel, cruel master.
5. My family is making sacrifices for me to do this.
My blogging time is early in the morning, which means two to three mornings a week I’m not in the house when my wife and children wake up. That is a real sacrifice on their parts, and I pray God it’s worth it.
6. Finding my voice takes time.
I’m grateful that I began this journey without too defined a purpose. I was “exploring writing, publishing, life, and creativity.” I’ve enjoyed the freedom of this tagline. It has allowed me to find my feet, to discover who I am in this space. I feel like I have a better sense of that now, but I needed some leeway to discover that.
7. Blogging is influence.
Words matter, and so does blogging. As ephemeral as one’s posts can seem, I have seen with gratitude that at least some of what I do here touches people. That’s real influence, and with influence comes responsibility.
8. Bloggers inspire me.
As I write this, hundreds if not thousands of other bloggers are pounding at their keyboards too. Many of them are dedicated to serving or to exploring their inner selves. In various ways they are literally changing the world as they do.
9. Mistakes are reparable.
We bloggers take great comfort in knowing we can “update” a post with the push of a button and correct our mistakes. Elsewhere mistakes may take longer to repair, but most of them can be repaired if we just try.
10. The work is its own reward.
Who knows what all will come from this blog, but I intend to stick with it. Showing up here, doing my best to silence unhelpful voices in my own head, trying hard to serve readers–that is the reward I treasure most.
Thanks for being on the journey with me!
If you’re a blogger, what are some things you have learned along the way? If you’re a blog reader, what are some things you appreciate about the bloggers you read?
“Finding my voice takes time” and 9 other lessons from #blogging for a year. <Tweet this!>
Want to know what #blogging for a year does for you? See here . . . <Tweet this!>
“Traffic #stats are a useful tool but a cruel, cruel master” & other lessons for #bloggers <Tweet this!>
Chad, your consistency with your original post is pretty impressive. Thanks for sharing.
And thank you for commenting, Scott. Much appreciated.
What a phenomenal post! I truly mean that. I’m about 45 days into my blogging journey and each of your points resonated with me.
One of the things I’m learning is that perseverance is key. There are many 5am mornings that I don’t want to wake up. But I made a commitment to myself that I was going to give it 100%.
I’m also learning how tight-knit the blogging community is. I’ve already met and connected with some phenomenal people who have taught me a lot.
Keep up the great work Chad.
Thanks, Larry, and hang tough! The hard work is worth it in the end. I totally agree with you about how fun and meaningful it is to connect with others in the blogosphere. I’ve made some great friends!
Mr. Chad,
Congratulations on ONE year! I’m about year trailing. I’m glad I got to meet you at the Goins/Traub meetup in Franklin, TN, even though we didn’t get to talk much. I was looking at the portraits on Michael Hyatt’s recent post, and… oh, I know that guy! What a pleasure to read your blog and see the honest confessions of yourself and your readers. I just arrived so I have some browsing and checking around to do yet. 🙂 All the best in your pursuits. Looking forward to learning from you.
Thanks for stopping by, Arlen, and for taking the time to comment. Hope to see you again!
I have blogged since 2006. I think the best part of it is the friendships I’ve made over the years. I don’t blog as often now as it was taking my writing time but don’t think I will ever stop permanently.
Terri, I can relate. I’ve met some great folks too.
Congrats on your one-year, Chad! I’ve just recently got over the traffic metric obsession…it’s very freeing. I’m about 8 months in myself, and found that my numbers plateaued about a month ago. It was almost the best thing that happened to me in my blogging journey. It took me back to why I started writing in the first place: the work really is the reward.
Of course I do want the numbers to increase and I’m working on an eBook that will hopefully help that. But writing the book is reward enough, too. Thanks for sharing your insights! Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Mike. I can’t say i have the stats obsession beat, but it’s not anything like it was. I hope your ebook goes well, and I look forward to seeing it. I saw good results via OptinSkin, btw. Be well, and you keep up the great work too!
Such great points.
What I’ve learned is sometimes you have to go with the post that wants to be written instead of the one you thought you’d write or had planned to write. Flexibility is always the key.
Thank for sharing!
Too true! I’ve experienced that many times over the course of this past year. Thanks for commenting!
Great post, Chad! It caught my eye on facebook. Nice to meet you. 🙂
I blog, too, and a benefit I didn’t expect was the growth in my writing. I look back at my original posts, and think, “Wow… there’s a much more succinct way to say that.” I’m also faster than I was at first. I guess I’ve learned how to use my own voice.
My favorite of yours was the clarifying question, “How can I serve people?” If that’s your ‘writer’s guideline’, then it will be worth reading… and writing.
Nice to meet you too, Shannon! My writing has grown a lot too. And while I grimace a bit at some earlier posts, it’s gratifying to see the improvement. Thanks for commenting.
I, too, want to thank you for your blog and all of the advice/experience you have offered here! It’s a pleasure to read it and I’m always happy to see a new post land in my inbox.
I agree with all you’ve said here. It’s a great list! Two things come to mind that I’ve been learning lately. First, it’s important to draw boundaries around your time when it comes to blogging because it can start taking over every area of your life. I realized recently that the pressure to come up with good content each week has led me to write mental blog posts every morning in the shower! In the last week I’ve really sat down to look at priorities and allocated specific time for the blog. No more blogs (or book proposals) in the shower!
Second, it’s OK to evolve a blog. I’ve been wanting to slightly shift my focus on the blog from intentional Christian parenting (relatively general) to equipping parents to raise kids with confident faith (popular-level apologetics topics for parents). I’ve been scared to alienate some existing readers with a slight shift in focus, but it’s where I see myself writing long term, and where I think I can most uniquely position myself as a writer. I’m now thinking about how I’ll execute that (but not in the shower). 🙂
Natasha, good points. The best blogs out there in my opinion (Buffer and Michael Hyatt’s, to name just two) have gone through significant shifts as the bloggers have learned more about what they really want their focus to be. I am thinking about shifting my tagline from “Exploring Writing, Publishing, Life, and Creativity” to something like “Find Your Voice. Do Your Art.” because it offers more of a promise and clues readers into what they can expect from me. We’ll see, but that’s the one I’m thinking about…
Thank you for your blog. I’ve been so encouraged and learned much. I have no doubt my writing journey has been/will continue to be stronger for it. A special thanks to your wife, as a Mom I know those quiet mornings… it’s a balance and she’s a big part of it.
Through blogging I have learned to be myself. I connect when I’m real.The biggest struggle, the numbers and wondering if I am making a difference. Sometimes you just have to let go of the over thinking and trust that God is establishing your work done in good faith.
Very well said, Lisa. And thanks for your kind words to Alyssa. She’ll appreciate them!
Ah, numbers 1, 2 and 4 resonate with me. When I get sucked up in the stats frenzy (more like disappointment), I have to go back and remember numbers one and two. It really isn’t about me. I’m a reluctant blogger. I still feel as if I’m stumbling around in the dark, hoping to share my little candle with someone in need, but that my encounters are few and far between. When my one year blogaversary occurs, I’ll definitely take time to ponder what I’ve learned. Thanks for the reminder that reflection helps refine mission.
You’re welcome, Anita! And keep that candle burning!!
Chad, congratulations on your year of blogging! It’s been a fun ride! Thank you for your service to others.
Blogging is time-consuming–no argument there. Two years ago, I blogged five days a week, and though I loved it, I risked burn-out. I scaled back to three days per week, and then two. I now blog on Wednesdays and Fridays because that’s what works best for me with my writing schedule.
What have I learned?
*Faux pas happen (As you said. And most folks are very understanding!)
*Don’t rush the process. (“Clicking” with our audience takes time.)
*Learn from others. Share. Be kind. Take the high road when possible. Be authentic. Christ first. Choose joy.
(And when the blog post you slaved over for hours gets eaten, don’t stress. Eat chocolate!!) 🙂
~Blessings
Ha! I love the chocolate comment! Not a bad idea. 🙂
Good morning, Chad. I enjoy blogging, it is one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Every day offers a trip around the world, from farmland to exotic locales, ocean depths to mountain heights. Last week, I paddled the Amazon with one blogger, baled hay in Colorado, took an art lesson, went birding in Florida, and hopefully, improved my writing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.
Patti, I love how you expressed your vicarious living here. So true. Thank you!
Love it. What a delight. What a time we live in to be globally connected!
It really is remarkable, isn’t it? Thanks for commenting, Arlen!