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Why DO I Blog . . . ? Uh-oh! The Deep, Meaningful Answer

February 11, 2007 by Liz Leave a Comment

I've been thinking . . .

When a close friend, Chris Cree, asks me a question, like the one at the end of this post, “Why do you blog?” I have to figure out whether to respond with my default response –a deep meaningful answer.

Some questions — “What are you doing?” — don’t ask for philosophy. I find I keep more friends, and they are happier, if I sort which questions want a deep, meaningful answer and which call for information. (Hey, in the end, you can walk away, but I’m stuck listening to me rattle like an old three-wheel bicycle.)

Gosh, . . . I might have already said more than you needed to know.

[Sorry]

Why do I blog? was the question.

I have three blogs of my own and two others that I blog on regularly. I did two interviews this weekend. Why do I blog? The answer to that has grown, but the reasons haven’t changed.

Chris, you asked for five reasons. When I look out at my blogs these are the ones I see.

  1. I blog because I said I would. When I wrote my first blog post, I made a commitment to myself to write every day. With the next blog, and the blog after, I made more commitments to myself and to anyone who reads what I write. Keeping my word is important to me.
  2. I blog because people need a friend. For years I gave away copies of two journal-like books by one writer. I gave them to folks I knew who needed to know they had a friend. Then those books went out of print. I wanted to make a blog that would offer a place where anyone could go to find a best friend at any hour of the day. I think people deserve a safe place.
  3. I blog because I am an entrepreneur in the 21st century. Blogging is one strategy of my business. Blogging gives my service business substance and a voice. I know that any business supported solely by print and word-of-mouth relationships is isolated and insecure. Blogging directly and indirectly supports my family. It is my credibilitiy across more than 2000 blog posts.
  4. I blog because I value the wealth of the blogosphere. The people, the relationships, the generosity of spirit, the joy of discovery, the learning and laughter, the humanity I experience are what bring me back day after day. Who with curiosity could be bored? We’ve set the bar with words I strive to live — authenticity, transparency, trust, respect, acceptance.
  5. I blog because I believe words can change the world. How could I walk away? Blogging is not an addiction. It’s a heady way of communicating, a meeting place for ideas where they become visible — more visible than the people who have them. I cannot turn my back on the possibility of being useful.

Nothing in my life could have prepared me to be a blogger, except everything in my life.

Now I wonder, you are each unique, Lisa, Brian, David, Tony, Chris . . . Why do you blog?

Liz's Signature

Filed Under: Successful Blog Tagged With: Chris-Cree, Lisa-Gates, Ramblings-from-a-Class-Half-Full, Success-CREEations, Terry-Starbucker, Why-I-Blog

Comments

  1. Brian Clark says

    February 11, 2007 at 1:32 PM

    The usual… money, women, fame… πŸ™‚

    Reply
  2. ME Strauss says

    February 11, 2007 at 1:34 PM

    Hi Brian!
    That’s kind of what I figured. . . . I also thought maybe life was boring just sitting around doing nothing . . . πŸ™‚

    Reply
  3. Lisa says

    February 11, 2007 at 2:00 PM

    When I read your post, here’s the translation I make: 1=integrity; 2=connection; 3=livelihood; 4=generosity; 5=service.

    Why? Because it links up with your core values.
    Since I just poured out a post that took me all morning, I’ll post something tomorrow…I’m going to the beach (a core value).

    Lisa

    Reply
  4. ME Strauss says

    February 11, 2007 at 2:02 PM

    Hi Lisa!
    Thank you. That’s very cool how you did that.

    See what I mean? . . . I could have it in one sentence, but, between you and me,I like thinking out loud way too much!

    I wish I was going to the beach with you πŸ™‚

    Reply
  5. Thilak says

    February 12, 2007 at 5:51 AM

    I blog to fulfill my Tech Obsession! and buy some gadgets in the mean time

    Oh.. and Pocket money!

    Reply
  6. ME Strauss says

    February 12, 2007 at 5:58 AM

    Hi Thilak,
    Great to see you! You should add to your list “to show folks how it’s done.” πŸ™‚

    You have designed your blog totally in the sweet spot. That’s one part that makes it such a fun place to visit! The other is the blogger — your amazing ability to choose and write stories that are consistenly interesting.

    Reply
  7. William Tully says

    February 12, 2007 at 8:20 PM

    Hey! I’m in that chain of tags!
    (which on a personal note is a little freaky… ok, my blog tagged by the guy who tagged Chris and here I am reading about it on Liz’s blog not realizing that she is talking about the same tag, yet it’s all part of the original tag… freaky.)

    Anyways, I shall leave you with my short list:

    1. Because I can.
    2. Exploration of Space
    3. To Download
    4. To Exist
    5. To Procreate

    HA! Out of context it’s quite the odd list.. πŸ˜‰

    Reply
  8. GP says

    February 12, 2007 at 9:09 PM

    Chris I was thinking about this as I was riding my tb mare in 6 inches of snow… Quite a surrealistic ride. But i digress..
    I blog to: hopefully pass on some of my experiences to folks that might need it along their journey
    – as part of our marketing strategy
    – to brainstorm with other blogosphere buds
    – helps me sort things out as it were

    GP in Montana where it’s snowing again!

    Reply
  9. ME Strauss says

    February 12, 2007 at 10:52 PM

    William,
    I’m not going anywhere near that procreate idea. . . . no, no, no, you can’t make me. nuh-uh, no way.

    Reply
  10. ME Strauss says

    February 12, 2007 at 10:54 PM

    GP
    What a beautiful picture you draw for us, while at the same time you point out three of the reasons that most of us blog. . . . you are a smart one out there in the Montana sunshine. I think I need to come see you.

    Reply
  11. Sasha says

    February 13, 2007 at 4:11 AM

    Thanks for sharing this, Liz. I was asking myself this question the past week (had a bad blogging week, unfortunately) and reading your answers somehow made things clearer and somehow brought me back to what got me here in the first place — your words in #4 couldn’t expresses it any clearer plus the thought that #5 can happen somewhat stirred a renewed excitement with what I’ve been doing and will do still. Thanks again. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  12. ME Strauss says

    February 13, 2007 at 6:10 AM

    Hi Sasha,
    So nice to see you!
    I hate those bad blogging weeks. They’re worse than bad hair days.

    Sasha,
    If I never blogged, I would never have met you or the whole blogosphere of people I talk to here. I wouldn’t know what I was missing, of course. Or would I? I think would feel the loss in the unsatisfied yearning for conversation and communication that I wasn’t getting, for ideas and wonderment that I had not enough people to share them with, and the platform on which to have a chance to be authentic . . . Everyone of you gave that to me.

    If you weren’t here there would be a Sasha sized hole in the blogosphere.

    Reply
  13. Gino says

    February 13, 2007 at 8:59 AM

    This is strangely a common question many bloggers ask themselves. I love your answers though – you truly are a blog inspiration πŸ™‚

    Why do I blog? Hmmm, I love to write. I love to connect. And I love to practise what I preach. And I love to share my learnings with my colleagues and clients.

    Now, when will I write that book? πŸ™‚

    Reply
  14. ME Strauss says

    February 13, 2007 at 9:03 AM

    Hi Gino!
    I was thinking about that very idea yesterday and I think that bloggers ask the question because so many bloggers do this outside of their “regular” work or as an add-on to it. In that context, it’s a viable and important question, I think.

    As to when you will write that book, you will write it when you believe you have an idea worth writing about and a place to sell it. πŸ™‚

    Reply

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