The Ageless Project: David Wilkinson

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the ageless project


A Problogger in His Teens

by Keith Dsouza

Did you think that age could deter you from blogging? Did you think that a 13 year old only can accomplish things in school?

Well lets break the myth today. Blogging is ageless.

David Wilkinson has shattered any idea that blogging is restricted by age. . . .

David Wilkinson, a 13-year-old blogger from Manchester, England, was born on February 15th, 1994. He has been actively blogging since the age of 12. In that short time, David has become a full-time Problogger and Internet Professional without affecting his studies. He is also the CEO and founder of Zi Media.

David also likes to play golf in his spare time or hooks on with his Xbox 360 or his gaming PC. He also has an interest in Photography but meekly says that he is not a expert at that yet.

Vital Stats

Name: David Wilkinson
URL: http://www.tech-zi.net
Birthdate: 15th February 1994
Birthplace: Manchester, England – UK
Current Location: Manchester, England - UK

What David Blogs About

David writes at Techzi.net and also owns Affiliate Defined. David writes about technology and has quite an engaging way of doing it. He mixes humor with his writings that many of regular readers have come to appreciate.

Reading through his blog, I was surprised at how easily a reader could digest the information he provides and laugh while doing it.

David’s categories include Internet, Gaming, Gadgets, Web2.0 and many more.

Getting Candid With David

Here are a few questions we asked David and what he had to say. .

Successful Blog (SB): How old were you when you came across blogging?
David Wilkinson (DW): I started blogging in July 2006 which would have made me 12. Admittedly, it was complete fluke that I ran across blogging at all and I have a spammy AdSense arbitrage website to thank, ironically enough.

SB: How did the interest generate within you, knowing that you are of such a tender age?
DW: I’ve always been an entrepreneur - trying to sell things to my friends and try out new methods of work. I’ve also always showed a natural interest and a burning curiositry for anything out-of-the-ordinary, or even slightly different. Blogging presented itself to me in a strange way (see above), but I don’t regret it for a second.

SB: Did something influence you to take up blogging?
DW: I’d always had a passion for writing and like to have my views known. I knew XHTML and a bit of CSS and with the help of Blogger managed to get a site running pretty quickly. I soon picked up on sites like Engadget and Gizmodo, along with the other “usual” technology blogs you’ll run across who dictated the direction my writing took. My style, being arguably different from the masses - aimed to please and not just inform and reading my blogs for the first time, alot of people won’t pick up on the underlying humor and jokes that long-term reads will. I guess my biggest influence however was the relationship I had with my readers, and for that - I thank them.

SB: What are your most memorable experiences when you started blogging?
DW: Ha! One stands out particularly strongly, as it happens and it was perhaps one of my first ever backlinks I was to receive. I’d reviewed NABAZTAG, a French Wi-Fi Rabbit-turn-evil-villain-turn-RSS-reader-turn-alarm-clock and the makers had picked up on the article and linked to it. Being new to the whole concept of blogging, I went off and wrote three or four posts ranting on my blog about how “famous the blog was”. Oh boy - I had a long way to go… ;)

SB: Do you think blogging is ageless? If not a ProBlogger, would you have still chosen to blog regularly at your age?DW: Ageless? Certainly. If not a ProBlogger would I have chosen to blog? Bear in mind, when I started to blog, I *wasn’t* a ProBlogger. I was just your average geeky kid (which I’m proud to say I still am). Today, I’m not sure I *would* class myself as a ProBlogger. Six months ago, maybe, but my focuses and earnings have shifted from one place to another and today my main focus is affiliate marketing. Despite this, I have to admit that the blogosphere is one of the safest and most fun environments online with such a community element to it that it’s hard not to grin broadly at the random adventures of Timmy the cat and Darren Rowse’s next big thing.

SB: Could you give us some quotes on how blogging can be an ageless experience.
DW: It’s nothing like a 9-5 job. There’s nothing stopping you from doing your schoolwork AND blogging. I guess it’s flexible “working” hours, to be honest. There’s nobody to tell me off (besides my blog readers) or whine at me for not writing (besides my blog readers) or dock my pay if I turn up for “work” late (besides my advertisers). ;) Hehe… At the end of the day though, it’s one of them things that ANYBODY can do with a keyboard and a mouse. You don’t need to be 18. You don’t have to be younger than 60. You don’t have to have an IQ of ten-thousand and one. You don’t even have to write well so long as you have an interesting story to tell. A breath of fresh air in a controlled world.

Thanks, David. We couldn’t agree more.

Be ageless and let the world know. Great thoughts come from every age and all over the planet.
–ME “Liz” Strauss and Keith Dsouza
Work with Liz!!

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The Relationsheep Factor: A Successful Blog Birthday Bash Interview with the Phil Gerbyshak and Lisa Gates!

Filed Under One Way to CC It, Successful Blog | 16 Comments

Phil Gerbyshak, sheep, Liz Strauss, Lisa Gates = Relationship Geeks



In honor of Liz Strauss, the fabulously sticky writer and queen of relationship blogging, Lisa Gates of Design Your Writing Life and Phil Gerbyshak of Make it Great team up to offer this first-time-ever interview to talk about Liz’s impact on the Relationsheep factor and what it’s like to have Liz inside your computer.

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Interview 1.8: Brian Gardner — One Man Revolution

Filed Under Interviews, Successful Blog | 3 Comments

They Say the Revolution Starts Oct. 24th

Revolution and Revolution News

Out in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, a man is working has made a Revolution. Well, actually he’s made three. He’s designer, Brian Gardner. The Revolutions are his three newest WordPress Themes: Revolution Revolution News, and Revolution Sports. We’ve planned a two part interview. This Thursday and next to talk about what Brian’s been doing and how he found himself a blog designer.

Howdy, sir. Tell me, who is Brian Gardner?

My name is Brian Gardner. I was born on December 27th, 1974, at 10:06 in the morning in Bellflower, California. That makes me 32 years old, but please don’t tell anyone. I am starting to get a receding hairline, which is why I shave my head. I’m a hubby, a dad, a son, an in-law, a friend, a designer and sometimes a writer.

You might find this difficult to believe, but 12 months ago I didn’t own my domain name, had never touched a piece of WordPress code and knew nothing about blog design. In other words, everything I’ve done with WordPress and blog design in the past year has been self taught, using trial and error.

I find myself hopelessly addicted to blog design and taking nightly runs to Starbucks for a triple shot grande toffee nut latte. Other things I am addicted to are watching Grey’s Anatomy, fantasy football, and the repeat button on my Sarah McLachlan CD’s each night as I sit in bed with my laptop and work on my freelance projects.

Any signs when you were eight years old that you’d be doing this today?

Absolutely not - when I was eight years old, I was going to be a baseball player. And at some point I realized that I wasn’t “gifted” like today’s athletes are, and my dream of playing at Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia came to a screeching halt. Throughout my years in high school, my passion became writing. I have written over 300 poems, but never formally put myself through training. Then I went to college and studied geography, because of my love for nature and the mountains. After two years in college, I retreated home, where I currently am a project manager and IT for an architectural design company. In addition, I do freelance design work, and hope to go full time in the near future.

How did you come to discover blogs?

To be honest, I cannot pinpoint the discovery - what I can say is that I am a recovering Blogspot (Google’s free blog software) user, and was lucky enough to have a friend challenge me into trying out WordPress. The reason I love the concept of blogging is that I am able to combine the two things I am most passionate about - writing and design. Fortunately for me, I have been able to teach myself how to design WordPress themes, so I am able to write on a platform using a theme that I believe in!

Brian, what got you started in your career?

When I realized that I was finally making money doing something I love - I fully believe that you should be passionate about your careers, especially if you are self-employed. To be able to wake up and “want” to go to work is a huge thing, and even though I am not currently doing that, I look forward to the day I can!

What made you realize that you really were a blog designer worth paying attention to?

After releasing a few free themes, I started to receive feedback, and requests from people wanting me to do custom work for them. I realized that this was a sign that people liked what I did, and when I started to feel sought after, it really affirmed my gifts of design and motivated me to do more. Another thing that made a difference, more so in fun, was watching my Technorati rank increase - when I first started blogging, I made it a goal to break the top 100 blogs, and I am currently at #21.

I really want to thank Mark over at Splashpress Media for giving me the opportunity to do the current design over at the Blog Herald. I felt that was a turning point in my career, and that it gave credibility to my name. The exposure there has really been wonderful, and I have been able to do many other projects with them.

Thanks, Brian! See you next week . . . when we’ll talk more about more about the story behind the Revolution. Anyone else have questions for Brian?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Interview 17: Anita Bruzzese on 45 Things

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Interview 16.2 Easton Ellsworth — the Blogger

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Interview and Commentary

easton-ellsworthwith-book.jpg

Yesterday, we found out that Easton is a SuperHero! He won our hearts with stories of his work at home schedule. He also shared some great comments with us and told the story of the PEZ dispenser — in the comments following the interview. Today we find out what kind of blogger Eastonis and what keeps him blogging.

How has blogging changed who you are as a person? What do you hope you will still learn from it? What so far is your greatest blogging success?

Blogging has made me more courageous and less selfish - not because of the technology, but because of the activities and relationships I’ve experienced along the way. I still hope to figure out how to decide at any given moment, what’s the most important thing to say and who to say it to, and in what way. Now there’s a lifelong pursuit! I think my greatest blogging success so far has been using blogs to benefit people in spite of opportunities to do the opposite.

What was the biggest surprise about blogging? What is the part you most enjoy? What is the part you could live without?

How personal it is. That’s what I love most about blogging, by far. I could live without the technological limitations we still have to deal with - the latency, the bugginess, the complexity under the hood.

What’s the best advice you ever got from a blogger about anything? What advice would you like to pass on?

I’ve gotten one supreme piece of advice from several bloggers, and there are several ways of saying it: Don’t give up. Be persistent. Keep at it. Stick with it. I might boil that down to one word: persevere. Change your strategy as needed, but always strive for a higher level of excellence. There’s never a lack of opportunities, only a lack of vision. So get out there, believe in yourself and your power to change the world, and use the opportunities that come to you and create them where you can’t find any. You can do it. So do it. Do it!

Easton, you are an inspiration and a friend. I feel lucky to have met you. Thank you for this interview. Thank you for being a blogger.

Meet Easton at SOBCon 07 on May 11&12 — Why SOBCon not that Other One. Register now

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Interview 15.2: Jeff Talks about the Two Myths that Get in Our Way
13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt
Interview 11.1: Rajesh Setty — Raj’s Story

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Interview 16.1 Comments from Easton Ellsworth!

Filed Under Interviews, Successful Blog | 20 Comments

Interview and Commentary

dscf1491-easton-pez2.JPG

If you read comments, you know that a great comment is hard to find. If you write them, you know why.

On some of the most readable blogs, the most readable comments are in the voice under the name of Easton Ellsworth. Easton writes a great blog post — no kidding — but he also writes the most interesting comments you might find in a comment box. People I know actually look forward to coments Easton leaves on Blogtipping Day. It’s because he’s authentic and a great guy. Here’s few comments I picked up . . . Easton is cheerful and funny. He’s also a wise man.

A HUGE key to blogging success - and also to writing success and life success - is being able to read and drink in knowledge effectively. And along with that, developing a keen sense of what constitutes good or bad writing.

Good blogs don’t write themselves - people with engaging intellects produce them. So it will be with SOBCon. I hope everyone who reads this drops what they’re doing and registers!

Off the top of my head, I’d say I work hard to connect professionals with other on the Web. That’s just one aspect of my life though … hmmm, need some time to mull it over!

Sometimes we write forward - across the table to our readers - and sometimes we write sideways - around the table to our content producing cohorts. It’s important to learn how to do both to the satisfaction of both parties.

So I wanted to introduce you to the Easton that I know. He’s a guy that’s one in a million and well worth getting to know. So let me introduce you to the first of a two-part interview.

Easton, You are more than a blogger. You’re involved behind the scenes at KnowMoreMedia, but even more you really are the face of the company. Is there anything you’d like people to know about who you are and what you do?

I want others to know that I pour my heart and soul into my job - not just my blog posts, but also my efforts to improve and promote Know More Media as a source of relevant business news and information. I spend most of my workday teaching and motivating our bloggers and reaching out to connect with others who might benefit from working with us. And that I am proud to be a work-at-home parent who knows how it feels to juggle diaper-changing and banner ads, Teletubbies and teleconferencing, grocery shopping and blog brainstorming, etc.

What were you like when you first started blogging? What was your blogging goal then? What is it now? Where would you like to be in three years if there were no obstacles?

When I started blogging in August 2005, I knew almost nothing about blogs. I stumbled across my blogging job via a part-time copywriting job that helped pay my young family’s bills while I was a full-time college student. At first, my biggest blogging goal was just to tell all the people I could about Know More Media. As I met other bloggers and made friends, helping others excel (blogging or otherwise) became my number one goal. I’ve found this to be the most rewarding and uplifting course to pursue, and I’m grateful to have met so many excellent people who feel likewise. Three years from now I would love to be with Know More Media or maybe even start my own business on the Web.

More Comments from Easton.

Ya done good thar, Liz. Ya done good. . . . post coming soon - great job making people blush, Liz!

Thanks, Easton. You look good in that blush red color. . . . Can I have a Pez?

Meet Easton at SOBCon 07 on May 11&12 — Why SOBCon not that Other One. Register now

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Interview 15.2: Jeff Talks about the Two Myths that Get in Our Way
13.1 Meet Glenda Watson Hyatt
Interview 11.1: Rajesh Setty — Raj’s Story

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