Lessons I Learnt From Blogging That Applies To Other Areas Of Life (And Vice Versa)

Lessons I learnt From Blogging That Apply To Other Areas Of Life (And Vice Versa)

Published July 31st, 2007 in Gratitude, Blogs, Life, Blogging, Thoughts.

Two months into blogging and it still feels pretty much like boarding the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4. Don’t laugh but “widget”, “plugin”, “meme” etc sound every bit like the charms Harry applies on Lord Voldemort… (BTW many of them do work like a charm.) Picking up gradually and I found that many lessons that I learnt from blogging are actually applicable to our lives on earth.

Just do it!

I got this blogging idea exactly two months ago from a seminar on Internet marketing for which I was presented a complimentary ticket. By then I didn’t have any “real-life” friends who were blogging really seriously and therefore I had to kick it off almost all by myself from scratch and made quite some mistakes along the way. I didn’t and still do not have a perfect plan but it is interesting that once you start rolling ~~the ball~~ the blog, it gains momentum. The Shine With Grace today looks very different from what I could have perceived at the very beginning and I always feel that it kind of has its own life.

The lesson learnt? Don’t sell yourself short because of limited experience/expertise/budget/time… and don’t wait till you have the perfect plan - you gain your experience over the course.

Be yourself

Trendy stuff are attractive and it is easy to imitate (or copy?!). Nevertheless, if you are serious about blogging and decide to linger for awhile in the blogosphere, just be yourself would be the substainable strategy. After all, readers are smart and it is not that hard to tell whether you’re pretending to be somebody you are not or you are being your authentic self.

The lesson learnt? Each of us is unique. It is most appealing when you are simply being yourself, and being comfortable with yourself.

Consistent quality

It is hard to be consistent and it is even harder to be consistently good. Nevertheless, I think you won’t disagree that consistent quality blogging is the only way to maintain and grow the readership. No doubt we can blog daily or even post several articles a day. Nevertheless, beware that posts contain little substance may sometimes backfire - and your readers may leave faster than they gathered.

The lesson learnt? Never sacrifice quality for quantity - and this definitely also applies to many other aspects of our lives: One true friend is better than one hundred acquaintance; a pair of nice shoes is better than ten pairs of poor quality ones that wear out quickly; one bottle of fine wine is much more enjoyable than ten bottles of average quality wine…

Create value

Time is precious. Therefore, make sure you provide value to your reader when they do spend time on your blog. Give a piece of advice, share some experience, tell a joke, recommend a link - aim at making life a little bit better with your every post.

The lesson learnt? Respect yours, as well as other’s time. Be helpful and provide something useful and you are moving ahead.

Have passion

Ups and downs are inevitable in our blogging journey. Things can move slow and not up to our expectations, while writer’s block can haunt us from time to time. The thought of giving up crosses every blogger’s mind. It therefore does take passion and determination to sustain the eleventh hour.

The lesson learnt? Do what you love and love what you do. It could be hard to carry on if you are not passionate / do not believe in what you are doing. Therefore, pick your choices carefully and give it your full once you have made the decision - and this applies to your job, your hobby, your relationships, your voluntary service…

First thing first

I don’t know about you but it is always tempting for me to “improve” the layout of my blog by adding one more feature here or there and I can spend hours on the search and the installation. But, does it worth the time? Not always. After all, if the contents of my posts don’t appeal to the readers, it really doesn’t matter how many feed buttons I have placed in my blog.

The lesson learnt? First thing first. Remember that 20% of our efforts brings 80% of our results? Focus on the essential to boost the productivity. We can work 7 x 24 with little gain if time and efforts are wasted on non-essential tasks. Have a clear mind, prioritize and focus on what matters.

Ask for help and learn from the best

In blogging, trial and error may not be avoidable but the experience of those who have already made it can save you much sweat. I am indeed extremely impressed by the generosity of many bloggers for their willingness to share with and help follow bloggers, especially newbies. So far I have not failed to find a solution whenever I encounter a technical problem, need to improve my blog in a certain way, or wish to install a particular function in my site, for many bloggers have already shared their experience or even created a particular plugin/widget that serve the purpose.

Besides, do observe what the established are doing for you are introduced the best practices right away. Pick those that suit your site and you have already saved a lot of trouble.

The lesson learnt? People are willing to help - in the blogosphere and in life. Don’t hesitate to search for an answer and ask for a favour. Besides, there are a reason why best sellers become best sellers and industry leaders are industry leaders (This is a tautology, but you get the point?!) - If you are new and inexperience, do pay extra attention to the best in that particularly industry/area for they mostly know what works and what doesn’t.

Find a niche

All experienced bloggers advice you to find a niche. Indeed, talking about breeding rabbits on Monday, racing cars on Tuesday and writing poetry on Wednesday would undoubted confuse your readers if not also yourself. So, even though you are an expert in almost everything, don’t try to talk about almost everything in one single blog or otherwise your readers don’t know what to expect from you.

The lesson learnt? Honestly this is tempting - in blogging and in real life - there are so many options and there are so many things I wanna try / talk about… Bear in mind that at the end of the day you can build a conglomerate. But, now, at ground zero, let’t pick a niche and focus on making it work first. Then, we can start another, and another, and another… Diversify, when you have built a concrete base.

Work hard

If you are serious about blogging and really aim at building a readership, there is much work to do - you will have to do your research, pick your niche, write your posts, develop your site, market your blog, visit follow bloggers, response to comments, reassess your position from time to time and never stop learning…

The lesson learnt? If you are serious about anything, there is much work to do - and again, this applies to your job, your relationships, your family, your hobby, anything. You put in the effort and you reap the results.

Make friends

We blog to communicate and the conversations with follow bloggers are always enjoyable and amazing. Many times, they would pose a question which have never crossed your mind, or offer a point of view that unlock a question that have lingered for longer than you can remember its origin. Over the course we bump into many interesting people and make friends with some. It is the friendship that is truly treasurable.

The lesson learnt? Friends make our hearts warm and we learn from each other. Don’t just talk and forget to listen. Don’t just take and not give. It is most wonderful when the feeling is mutual.

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Note: Cartoons adapted from gapingvoid.com

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36 Responses to “Lessons I learnt From Blogging That Apply To Other Areas Of Life (And Vice Versa)”

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1 Justin Jul 31st, 2007 at 3:38 pm

Great blog. Read about you in the Internet Riches newsletter. I can recommend a great book that helped me, “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser. It has improved my writing tremendously and recommend it to anyone who writes regularly.
2 shine Jul 31st, 2007 at 3:55 pm

Hi Justin,

Welcome! Most glad that you like my blog. Thanks for introducing me the book. Will definitely check it out.
3 Titus-Armand Jul 31st, 2007 at 6:26 pm

As usual, a good post. Beautiful I could say!

There is one phrase that made me laugh:
“one bottle of fine wine is much more enjoyable than ten bottles of average quality wine…” - I thought that if one drinks ten bottles of average quality wine, he ends up so drunk that the ten average bottles would seem like the best wine in the world.

Joking aside, it’s obvious that you’re putting a lot of work, and soul, into this blog. Keep up this pace and success will find you soon enough! Maybe one of your Christmas presents this year will be to see that your blog has grown beyond your wildest dreams…

Kind Regards,
Armand
4 Markk Jul 31st, 2007 at 7:07 pm

Once again you continue to amaze. This post is just like…well, drinking champagne. Many bloggers would give an arm and a leg to write like you and with so much understanding of the blogging world in so short a time. Pardon me if I repeat myself…I’m still amazed!
5 shine Aug 1st, 2007 at 1:50 am

Hi Armand,

Most glad to know that I make you laugh. Humour is an art and one “talent” I always crave for.

And you know what, your work always inspires me. Firstly it’s the contents, for many times you’re talking about sth I don’t know about and I gain much new knowledge from you. And, of course, many of your posts make me think. Secondly, and more importantly, is you look and write and appear like a pro. I don’t realise that you’re new until the 1st-month celebration of your blog…

Thanks for being a good example and always sharing experience with me.
6 shine Aug 1st, 2007 at 2:07 am

Hi Markk,

May I buy you a bottle of champagne for your champagne comment? You really make my day. Champagne… (Vs sparkling wine :P)

Seriously, I don’t know how good (or bad or average) I am, I don’t know how to benchmark. All I can do is write as I can and do not hold back - and see how it goes (or, how far I can go) and enjoy the process along the way. Therefore lucky me to have bumped into you, who continously give me tips of the blogosphere, include me on your lists, give me comments and guide me here and there.

You know what, for many times I visit your sites wanna leave a comment or two, but don’t know how - for many of your topics are so fresh for me that they are new subjects from Hogwarts - so all I did was read them, learn about them and hope that one day you see more comments from me on your blogs.
7 Tom O'leary Aug 1st, 2007 at 11:56 am

Nice post. Its exciting to hear what you have learnt from your first 2 months.
I was particularly interested in the section:

“The lesson learnt? Respect yours, as well as other’s time. Be helpful and provide something useful and you are moving ahead”

It is such a challenge to try and write helpful and useful articles every single time. You seem to be doing this well judging by what I have read on your site so far. Keep up the good work. I’m going to subscribe to your RSS feed now so I can keep up with what you are writing.

Thanks

Tom O’Leary
8 shine Aug 1st, 2007 at 2:04 pm

Hi Tom,

Welcome to Shine! Delighted to learn that you enjoy your visit here so far and WOW!! You are subscribing to my feed?! Feel a bit pressure but I promise to give my best in the coming posts.

Tom, I really enjoy your blog and you definitely are delivering value in your every post. Nice meeting you and so glad that I can learn from you through your blog.
9 Winston Aug 1st, 2007 at 4:45 pm

Hi shine,wasnt intending to post a comment but HAD to.This post is beautiful. I am a 3 wk new blogger and your experiences sounds so real,so near to my heart..

Thank you this post.I loved it,and i joined ur community.You have a new reader.Congrats.Haha!
10 shine Aug 1st, 2007 at 4:51 pm

Hi Winston,

Thank you so much for your kind words and most glad to know that you share the feelings. Blogging is a great experience, I gain much more than I could have expected. Shine is still very young so we can actually learn together.
11 David Airey :: Graphic Designer Aug 2nd, 2007 at 8:12 am

Hi Shine!

Thanks very much for visiting my blog earlier, and I’m glad you liked my blog mistakes article.

“Be yourself” - so true. It’s important to show your own personality through blogs as it’s so less formal than a static website (in general).

Here’s a quick tip for your blog:

Add the number of comments (link to post a comment) at the foot of every blog post. This will save your readers having to scroll back to the top after reading in order to leave their comment.

Making it as easy as possible to comment is key in my opinion.

Bye for now!
12 Daniel Ted Aug 2nd, 2007 at 10:14 am

Cool, your post made my day. I’m looking forward to reading more posts from you.
13 shine Aug 2nd, 2007 at 10:24 am

Hi David,

Most glad to see you around. Your blog looks great and your posts are real good reads.

And, also thank you for your great tip. Will figure it out asap.
14 shine Aug 2nd, 2007 at 10:25 am

Hi Daniel,

Thank you so much for your kind words. You made my day too.
15 shine Aug 2nd, 2007 at 10:33 am

Most delighted that this post has been included in the 1st batch of Reader Blog Tips of Problogger (www.problogger.net)!
16 Genesis Aug 2nd, 2007 at 12:59 pm

Good post. I found you through ProBlogger and have to say that this blog doesn´t look like you started just 2 months ago! Good on you for working so hard to build a quality site in such a short time!
17 David Airey :: Graphic Designer Aug 2nd, 2007 at 1:11 pm

You’re very welcome, Shine.

I think it’s great that you respond to everyone individually!

Here’s another tip. Reply to everyone’s comments in one comment post of your own. That way, everyone who subscribes to your comments won’t receive your three emails above, but will receive just one instead.

Ciao.
18 shine Aug 2nd, 2007 at 3:00 pm

Hi Genesis,

Thanks for your comment and most glad that you like my site!

Hi David,

Lucky me for receiving two excellent comments from you. Yes, I should think from the reader’s perspective. And, I’m following your advice…
19 Emad Ibrahim Aug 2nd, 2007 at 4:34 pm

Thanks for this post… I found you through ProBlogger where my post on blogging tips
made it to the list
20 Bob Walsh Aug 2nd, 2007 at 6:56 pm

Hi Shine - very nice post! Your enthusiasm and open-mindedness is great to see. I’m adding you to my RSS reader as of now after finding this site via the list of other “Tipsters” at problogger.net.

Looking forward to reading you back posts when time permits.
21 shine Aug 3rd, 2007 at 10:08 am

Hi Emad and Bob,

Nice meeting you and glad that you like the post. Apart from the traffic generated from the problogger list, what I am most grateful is the chance of getting to know so many surperb bloggers including you two. Really eye-opening and I learn a lot! Thank you so much!

And Bob, thank you for adding me to your RSS reader - a bit pressure felt but it’s good - reminds me I am really responsible for the quality of my posts!

Have a nice weekend.
22 Takuin Minamoto Aug 10th, 2007 at 9:49 am

You have a great site! I just found you from your post on Problogger. It is a great topic, and you certainly have a wide range of experience to draw from.

Your list will be useful to newbie, as well as “oldie,” bloggers.

Great Job!

Takuin
23 shine Aug 10th, 2007 at 3:28 pm

Hi Takuin,

Thanks!! Nice meeting you. Just visited your site and I regard myself your fans already - I share a lot of what you talk about and your writing is, hm, how to put it… very comfortably, very “you” I guess.

Good luck with your Rule of 5 and your goals achieving!
24 ROG Aug 15th, 2007 at 4:28 am

Still muddling thru on my blog; good ideas. Thanks.
25 shine Aug 15th, 2007 at 1:07 pm

Hi ROG,

Thanks a lot for leaving me a comment - glad that you did as I gain a path to explore your website and found a treasure. Hey you’ve got a very enjoyable site - I’ll come back often.
26 Lucas Aug 22nd, 2007 at 4:13 pm

Yeah! I can relate to the whole “niche” thing. It’s hard to find one and especially to tap into the audience to read them. But thanks for writing this!

Lucas
www.doandont.com
27 shine Aug 23rd, 2007 at 3:19 pm

Hi Lucas,

Thanks for dropping by. Indeed I’m still learning and there’s lots of testing and fun along the way. BTW, you’ve got an interesting name - Do and Don’t. Really nice.
28 GnomeyNewt Aug 26th, 2007 at 3:28 am

I am closing in on 2 months of blogging and can relate to a lot of the lessons you have learned/teaching us now :c). You are right that you just have to dive in and keep chugging along. I think bloggers are always learning and changing, that is why blogging is so unique.
29 shine Aug 27th, 2007 at 2:10 pm

GnomeyNewt,

Thanks for dropping by. Blogging is definitely a unique experience. Glad that I found it and gave it a try.
30 hiutopor Sep 18th, 2007 at 12:44 am

Hi all!

Very interesting information! Thanks!

G’night