Blogging Is Easy Even If Old Habits Die Hard

Old Habits Die Hard 

College was awesome.

It was a time of intellectual growth and stimulation,

an exploration of life’s possibilities,

impossible flirting,

cramming for exams

and of course…

major post-exam celebrations.

I liked school so much,

it took me 6 years to complete my B.A.

(I’m a renaissance woman –  had 5 majors)

Then,  grad school in Monterey, California. 

Yeah, it was kind of more serious,

studying was more intense

the commitment was greater.

But it still was a raucously amazing time in my life,

a time for building lifelong friendships,

of house shares,

and heartaches,

California wines, all night parties,

and driving to Big Sur for breakfast as dawn was breaking.

Still, I managed to learn a thing or two.

I emerged with a head full of facts

that could earn me a spot on Jeopardy

and armed with a really useful skill

– I could write.

I could follow the rules of grammar,

spell check (without the benefit of a spell-checker)

and proofread my work.  (Yes – I went to school THAT long ago).

Eventually, I entered the work force.

In order to get hired

or even get an interview

your resumé had to be perfect;

no typos, proper punctuation with concise but descriptive hyperbole. 

I learned the art of positioning the smallest achievement

as a stunning accomplishment.

I could market the most basic skillset as an invaluable expertise;

it became a handy tool that I would need and use throughout my career in corporate America. 🙂

Now the business world sets great store on “awesome presentations”.  

Like in school,  it has to be perfect. 

Your facts must be accurate and defensible and you must simultaneously be able to expand or contract what you say depending on the volume of the content that is expected.

Presentation is everything;

almost more important than what you say. 

No spacing issues, proper margins and an attractive readable font.

And if it’s a Powerpoint – there should be a consistent sprinkle of humor to prevent the audience from falling asleep.

OMG – so much to think of!

I spent HOURS, working on reports for my director and even longer working on Powerpoints presentations that she would present as her own.

So it isn’t surprising that when I left it all behind all that to become a blogger,

I didn’t understand that my story or message was paramount and that my endless edits and attempts at “perfecting” my style were a huge waste of time.

I had no clue that hitting “PUBLISH”,

as often as I could, 

was far more important than  looking for “just the right word” to describe something that people might not even consider.

I had to unlearn 7 years of schooling and 20+ years of business protocol

to understand that people on the internet are much more forgiving than academia and  far less critical than the business community.

Yes – your facts must be accurate and of course your content must be interesting, informative or funny.

Old habits die hard but you have to “let go”

or you’ll be left in the dust.

Don’t dwell on it,

it’s not your baby…..it’s a blog. 

Publish or Perish

Want to give it a try. come on, be bold be brave! .  You’re going to love it and trying doesn’t cost you anything.

The comments and “shares” you get is a reflection of your content

and to what extent  your topic resonantes with  your readers – 

NOT of the beauty of your prose.

In fact the more conversational you are,

the more accessible your audience will find you.

You may find ‘letting go’ to be very liberating 

and who knows what’s going to bubble out of you

once you break free from the chains of the “perfect paragraph”!  

Don’t let those old habits die hard, toss them aside!

Blog often and publish even more often!   Publish or Perish!

Your audience is waiting.

Be bold, be brave and Don’t Ever Settle.