It’s coming up on six weeks since yours truly
dipped his feet into the “Blogging Waters”. For others here on
Blogging Idol, this was a similar “baptism by fire” - while for some,
this contest was an opportunity to continue a journey already started -
build on previous experience, and come out of it a “better blogger”. I
had some very specific goals and outcomes in mind, looking at this
“competition” as a vehicle and mechanism to help achieve those goals
and drive to the outcome; an outcome that, until this contest presented
itself, had eluded me. Through this (albeit) short, but at the same
time long and “learning filled” 6 weeks, I found myself often put in
the position to answer the question “Why are you doing this? Why are you blogging?”. This post looks to dig into that question, and more importantly, the many answers to this question….
How Do You Answer This Question? What Motivates The Blogger?
Before I add more “meat to the bone” of this article, let me build
up the ’spine’ a bit more as I believe it is informative to look more
broadly at ourselves as human beings, and present day “rulers” of this
planet prior to focusing on the details specific to answering the
question of “blogging” in the year 2009.
So what defines us in the broader sense - the broadest sense possible - that being the homo sapiens as a species, is (and I paraphrase from Wikipedia):
“…notable for the desire of
some of its individual members to understand and influence the
environment around them….This natural curiosity has led to the
development of advanced tools and skills…Humans pass down their skills
and knowledge to the next generations and so are regarded as dependent
upon culture.”
This notion that we are “dependent upon culture” and possess a
“natural curiousity” to “understand and influence the environment” is
quite instructive and relevant (to me) in this discussion. The
“passing down of skills and knowledge” is a behaviour and tendancy all
of us I think can certainly relate to. When considering the activity
of “blogging” and even more broadly, how quickly and deeply “social
networking” has integrated into the fabric of present day society — the
outcome we are seeing perhaps is more “natural” than we might otherwise
think.
Stepping back to a more “pragmatic”, and less “academic”
perspective, my motivation “to blog” could be traced back to an “unmet
need” I have probably been looking to fill for some time, with
“blogging” finally being the medium and “technology” that has enabled
it. I believe many bloggers “who blog” share the common desire, linked
back to “what defines us as humans” to share knowledge and add value to our audience.
For those of you familar with the concept of Job Sculpingas it relates to talent retention and engagement, my own personal DELI’s (Deeply Imbedded Life Interests) are, in descending order of emphasis:
Application of Technology
measures interests that are often associated with engineering,
production, operations, and the general use of technology to accomplish
business objectives
Counseling and Mentoring measures
interests that involve developing relationships as a crucial part of
business work, such as coaching, training and mentoring
Influence Through Language and Ideas measures interest in exercising influence through the skillful use of written and spoken language
The thinking about DELI’s is that we all have our “DELI’s” which are
evident from an early age, and don’t really change throughout our life.
Think of a DELI as “what makes you tick”. From the HBR article - Deeply embedded life interests do not determine what people are good at — they drive what kinds of activities make them happy…
So back to this contest, and this blogger, and “Why I Blog” and how
I have “answered that question” over the last 6 weeks. The question
asked by friends, family, co-workers, my spouse, and even “myself”.
The fact is, I had been “thinking” about blogging for at least 2 years
now. The roadblock? Where to find time. And for
someone who is often deeply analytical and introspective, thinking
about “time” as a finite resource, and with the “fight for time” being
a constant, sometimes “daily” struggle - staying on the sidelines was
an easy call to make.
So “this contest” for me, was a way to “challenge
myself” to find the time and balance to “fit this into” my life -
because the “activity” in itself, was certainly aligned with my DELI`s and a logical evolution really, of what I already do in my daily analog
life - at work, rest or play - connecting people with needed
information, processes and technology. And as a specific outcome of
“making Blogging “stick” for Cardoso”, that has been successfully
attained (sorry, yes that means you’ll hear more from me…somewhere, if
you choose to dial in). If you ask my spouse (who is “happy” that
today is the last day of the contest, perhaps that balance I spoke of still needs to be fine tuned (read: attained). The truth is, the pace of this contest, in particular the last 3 weeks, has not been as sustainable a level or committment that myself, and I think many others, would be prepared to make 52 weeks of the year. But I have learned a lot -
with much more to learn. I have also written some articles, where the
“end game” was traffic - as a “means to an end” being “this contest”
that was a necessary “evil” - but I didn’t (and still don’t) feel that
good about it. But some of them fell into the “most popular” bucket as
far as my posts go, so I may still need to calibrate my measurement
system. Perhaps “value” to my audience, in my mind, still needs to
hone in on that target. Having said that, I believe it’s probably a
“moving target”, and that every blogger is trying to constantly hit
“that zone” their “community” is looking for.
So for this `blogging idol`, blogging is here to stay, and that, for
me is mission accomplished. The details around what that looks like
going forward is not yet clear, but in the days and weeks ahead, that
clarity will come.
A secondary, but equally important objective for me, around this
contest and activity, was to open up new doors and opportunities to learn and grow.
The beginnings of that has already been achieved. This through new
and developing relationships and networks - with fellow Blogging Idols,
such as Chris Lau and Don Sheppard,
two peers that I have tremendous respect for and from whom I have
learned much, and hope to continue to learn and be motivated by the
unique skills and energy both of them bring to the table - whether
through posts or other interactions we may share. I look at other
Idols, such as Asma Rafi and Steve Harris who I have had less interaction with, but hope to hear more from them going forward.
I hope that will be a third installment of Blogging Idol, and that
the great work that ITWorldCanada is doing, sponsoring great programs
and initiatives such as this, will continue to nurture and foster the Canadian Blogging Scene,
as I feel we still have far to go before we have adequate
representation in `this arena`. Our braintrust and bench strength in
this knowledge domain is not properly represented when you look at the
blogging scene here compared to the US. Part of that I think is
cultural and a Canadianthing that we just need to get over and get out there…
So why do I Blog? For myself, it is a natural evolution and step in
my professional and social development. At the end of the day, it
makes me happy - and not to suggest of course that in my life
this defines my happiness - that would be silly. My wife (thanks hon,
for wearing the “blogging widow” hat), daughter, family, friends,
work…the list goes on with items of exponential higher importance and
contribution to happiness - but Blogging is now also part of the
“package”.
Thanks ITWorldCanada - Shane, Anna, Jeff and Vince to name a few -
and my fellow Blogging Idols. It has been a slice, and I look forward
to another night at Paupers, where we can share some drinks and reflect
on the last 6 weeks. It has truly been an experience that has not just
met, but exceeded my expectations. I hope that “next time around here
at BI” there will be a way of moving beyond just traffic to “building a
community”, which would have a different metric, and perhaps a contest
with a longer time horizon. Perhaps that would help address that
“Canadian je ne sais quoi” cultural piece — Canadians after all are all
about “community” and less about “the 1-way soap box” platforms. For
me, the “comments” are what I wait for after a blog post. No comments
on a post, makes for a sad, forlorn post - in my eyes.
And this Twitter thing - boy, was I ever ”wrong” about this medium coming into this contest and didn’t I do a full 180. Thanks to vijay
for “setting that bar high” - 4 “articles”, all over 1000, 14,000+
hits. If you had posted a few more…you can do the math. My eyes have
been opened wide on that one….
Cardoso signing off - for tonight only. In the meantime, why do you blog? Inquiring minds want to know.