There are many reasons to blog, yet, the most valuable one may be achieving clarity with the content that comprises your expertise. More specifically, blogging helps you to shape your perspective, thereby increasing its value for your audience.
I was having a conversation over the weekend with my friend and author of Foods Heal, Dr. Bill Dean, a prolific blogger who suggested that you can accomplish the same thing with journaling. However, after further conversation, we both agreed that the difference between journaling and blogging is that your behavior changes when you are blogging. Why? You know you have an audience.
And that is what creates the clarity that you would not have otherwise achieved. Just a couple of weeks ago I was writing my monthly column for Lawn and Landscape Magazine when I came to a realization: this sucks! So, that evening I blogged about just a small portion of that column.
The next morning I completely rewrote the column in less than 30 minutes – with a much more favorable result. Blogging is active. It's a physical activity that replicates direct communication. When you envision who you are writing for, something engages in your mind to make it just as real as if you are face to face with them.
Whether your primary small business role is managing people, interacting with patients like Dr Bill, or creating content as I do that is presented in articles or live presentations - you can dramatically enhance the quality of your work through blogging.
Want to be a better communicator? Start blogging. Here's how to start a blog.
Feel free to share with your friends by clicking on the Facebook Like button, leave a comment, or considering subscribing to the feed.
Until tomorrow … or possibly after the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States – Jeff
Whether journaling or blogging you have an audience. Journaling tends to be a cathartic process. The audience, you, have expectations. Blogging, to an extent, can be a similar process. However the audience is much different, less personal and has very diverse needs.
Bruce – I have been journaling for decades, and blogging for quite a few years. The merging of the two seems to be ideal for me. Ideas start with the journal – and the blog makes them ready for prime time!
Agree there is more intimacy with journaling. Though, the more I blog, the more gutsy I get at just saying what is on my mind – which I believe is what most people want to hear.
Thanks for your insight.
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Very true about clarity. I’d add that this is the property of writing in general – any kind of writing, whether for publication or not, if done iteratively on similar topics, usually results in more clarity over time
There’s even a book about how writing shapes thoughts called “Thinking on Paper”, very nice explanation of the benefits for the mind and communication skills that writing usually brings.