Dear Reader,
I came home yesterday.
Home being Minnesota. The land of 10,000 lakes and many more mosquitos. They don’t like me though.
My folks are moving again – soon this will all just be memories. I even gave away my skateboarding equipment, but thankfully to an 8 year old kid I’m secretly hoping will become the next Tony Hawk.
Home is fun. But oddly enough, I’m realizing things about my home of 18 years that I never realized before.
Surroundings. Wait What?
- My room has a chimney coming up through it. I’d kill for this in New York.
- From our bathroom window you can see clear into the next town (hope it’s not a two way thing).
- Our neighborhood might be enchanted by elves.
It’s sad I never realized these things growing up – just little things – because if I had I might have found ways to enjoy them more. But I feel like when your time is condensed into a finite period, you are forced to appreciate things, where as you could live in paradise for an indefinite time period and not think much of it at all.
A Home Online
Like no other period in my life, I feel at home online now more than ever.
This is one reason I blog. To have a finite space I can depend on. A place of constant excitement, where I’d just as rather spend my work days and nights out.
So, thank you for joining in. As I always say, it’s the reader who makes a blog. The blogger is just providing any old service.
I also blog to add value to the world (cliche, sorry). Adding value from our own expertise is something all of us need to do to feel fulfilled, whether we write, build, perform, or just lead meetings. This is proven stuff.
Why do you think you blog?
Leaving People
Being home has also hit me on a well, personal chord as some people just aren’t around anymore, and some are more distant. And that’s fine.
I think prioritizing is key here. For example, last night I didn’t follow up on several invites because I needed time to blog. Blogging been a major focus of my life and one I see developing in the future.
With some folks, there’s no future. How many times can you have the “whoa, haven’t see you in forever” talk before you just realize there’s really no point? Old friends – keep ’em. But if you can recognize that you only have a finite amount of effort to give in each corner of life, you’ll start putting it where it counts.
eBooks #2 and #3
I know I promised some new eBooks in a previous post and I assure you they are not yet started 😉
They are “in the works” as they say and you’ll hear more about them in the next month. Why does it always take so long to get the ball rolling on new projects?
I did, however, streamline the layout here. You probably hate it and I’m sorry. What changed?
- Font
- Header
- Sidebar
- Lists
- Pages (didn’t delete them, you can guess why not)
I think a simplified design without all the vanity will encourage me to actually post more because there’s less to worry about.
A great blog after all is (at least) two things. All about the content, and a vehicle for content delivery. So I’d like to make it more like this.
From the Community
One my readers, who’s oddly accurate with all her advice, suggested such a shift. A morning coffee with Greg sort of thing where I’d deliver more frequent insight instead of the long-winded bi-annual guides 😉
As always, I’m open to feedback, so I listened to said reader, mulled it over, and well…
When you think of something once, it’s an idea. Twice, it’s a good idea. Thrice, and you should have done it yesterday. Tweet this quote.
This would mean more blogging advice and more stories too.
Happy Memorial Day
I hope you all have amazing memorial days weekends that create lasting family memories. And for my readers across the globe, please celebrate those who fought for your country as well.
To Great Blogging,
Greg
Hi Greg,
Given the advice line bend of your blog, I agree that sounds like great advice!
I feel you on that line on ‘leaving people’. Complex emotions there!
I have had my share of those feelings and many nights I am torn between hanging out with friends and doing another blog post.
By the way, if I were you I would take that advice, but I don’t tell people ‘if I were you’ because, obviously, I am not!
So, follow your heart. From your post, its not so hard telling where that would lead… 😉
…and thanks for linking to me!
No prob Yeremi, I always think back to that post of yours. I’ve had to balance the life adventures that inspire me to write, and the writing itself. Not easy!
Thanks for sharing with us a new approach and the way you have explained and given a message is superb. Keep it up man…!
Great to hear from ya Daniel, and thanks!
I’m secretly in love with you, Greg. Like your blogging style, no matter what those mosquitos think about you.
Ha ha. Oh yeah, trying to get our joint post ready! 😯
Hi Greg! I tweeted your quote, since it makes perfect sense.
I also wanted you to now that honesty is the best policy. Connecting with readers on a personal level is trending!
As we grow, it’s tough to “go home”, especially when your home is no longer there, and you have to re-define the word “home”. Moving, and living in different apartments does not always constitute this re-defining; you have to search your soul to find the meaning that makes sense to you.
I am sure that many people can attest to this, can’t you DearBlogger readers?
So true Lorraine, wow. This can be painful as I’m learning.
Thanks for an amazing comment.
And yeah, how DO you all out there define “home?”
I appreciate your humbleness and honesty, as well as your example of knowing how you needed to prioritize blogging during your trip. Inspirational, man!
I used to be awful at prioritizing, always out of time. But being selfish feels good too.
I enjoyed reading this post, Greg. Also once a Minnesotan (Anoka) there are things about it I miss…but not the bugs. There are few blogs I actually read through but I do yours, mostly, I think, because of your writing style. I also like the information you give but the solid and personal aporoach in the writing sustains my interest. More. And, though the previous design was good, this is better. OK then.
THANK YOU Darrell! Ripping away from the old design was indeed tough.
Dear Greg,
Your new design is wonderful. And your new approach is very friendly.
You are a wise writer to listen to the advice of well-meaning friends.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend spending time with your family and talking to the elves.
All the best,
Pamela
Dear Pamela,
They continue to dodge my advances! Thanks a mil for the advice 🙂 Weekend is relaxing. How is yours?
Deepest regards,
Greg
Love the quote ‘When you think of something once, it’s an idea. Twice, it’s a good idea. Thrice, and you should have done it yesterday.’ Greg, all the best.
Thanks JC. It’s an actionable rendition of my Mom’s words.