Procrastination Is For Squares

I love the idea..
Image by apesara via Flickr

I had a conversation on Twitter last night with a good friend, Lizz Harmon, the basis of it being why Lizz didn’t blog.

She’s one of the smartest PR people around and always has some interesting things to say, so I mentioned that it might be a good idea for her to start blogging in 2009. Lizz responded with reasons why she doesn’t blog (for now) although it may be something she’ll address next year.

We ended the conversation with Lizz agreeing to write a guest post here, so I guess I’m the winner all-round!

It got me thinking, though, that there are probably a great many that don’t blog even though they could potentially blow everyone away with what they have to say. There are numerous reasons – fear of opening up, leaving a comfort zone, there are already too many similar bloggers so where would their voice be positioned, etc. All valid, yet all equally reasons to overcome as well.

I often say that some of the best points made on my blog are through the comments – some of the best conversations I’ve had recently have been discussing the various merits (or lack of) in my posts. It often leaves me wanting to hear more on what that person has to say, but then there’s no link to a blog.

This is a shame.

So here’s what I hope for in 2009. For anyone that isn’t blogging but has either thought about it or kept putting it off, make the decision to start one. Don’t worry about being lost in the wilderness – we’re all in the same boat and we’ll help each other through. If you’re worried what topics to write about, go for what inspires passion in you. The best voices come from passionate beliefs – yours can be one of them.

Ask for help as well. If you’re unsure how to set one up, or how to design your look and feel, look at blogs that you read and which ones catch your eye. And contact the blogger in question and ask if they’d mind offering some guidance. The good ones will be only too happy to help – after all, it should be one big happy blogosphere, right?

If you really don’t want to blog, then fair enough – you shouldn’t be forced. But if you can share great views in the comments of other blogs, maybe these great views can be the basis of your own rockstar blog?

I look forward to reading you in 2009.

  • Disclaimer – I’m not actually calling anyone squares, the title just seemed to fit. :)

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11 Responses to Procrastination Is For Squares
  1. Clinton Skakun
    December 22, 2008 | 3:19 pm

    Great post!

    The reason I didn’t start a blog at first was that I couldn’t come up with anything to say. I thought that I wasn’t “experienced” enough to share my ideas and views. After I found out that to COME UP with anything to say I had to simply start.

    Once I decided to just go head with it, it started coming easy. New ideas would pop up and I’d be inspired. It was like magic. I think people too often under estimate themselves. “That’s only my opinion…” or “I’m not a writer”, “I was never good at that English in high school…”

    My advice is to defeat fear with action.

    Clinton
    ClintonSkakun.Wordpress.com

    Clinton Skakun´s last blog post..Being Your Role Model

  2. Jim Lee
    December 22, 2008 | 7:01 pm

    So why doesn’t Liz blog?

  3. Danny Brown
    December 22, 2008 | 7:51 pm

    @ Clinton. That’s the thing – sometimes we are too guilty of having too many reasons, but maybe not one specific right one. :) Great to see you got in running and having so much success with your blog now! :)

    @ Jim. It’s a matter of time and perhaps a crowded field of other PR bloggers. Yet Lizz has such a wealth of knowledge and insights that I’m sure she’d stand out well from most. Hopefully we’ll find out. :)

    Danny Brown´s last blog post..Procrastination Is For Squares

  4. Mark J Carter
    December 23, 2008 | 12:48 pm

    Thanks for the post!

    It was just the kick in the butt I needed to finally get moving with social media, blogging, etc.

    Looking forward to more insightful posts…

  5. KyNam Doan
    December 23, 2008 | 7:24 pm

    Found you through Chris Brogan’s post on the top 8 Marketing Bloggers to Watch for.

    I know several people who should be blogging and your post gave me the inspiration to try to help them get started. :)

  6. Danny
    December 23, 2008 | 7:36 pm

    @ Mark. Look forward to seeing what you come up with – be sure to come back and share your link!

    @ Kynam. Hopefully I can live up to Chris’s recommendations, and glad to offer any incentive for your friends to start. As I mentioned to Mark, feel free to come back and share links when/if your friends start writing.

  7. Ari Herzog
    Twitter: ariherzog
    December 24, 2008 | 3:38 am

    While Lizz doesn’t blog, she does offer valuable tweets. And in PR, being a successful Twitter user is just as, if not more, important than being a blogger.

    Ari Herzog´s last blog post..How Blogs are Music Stores

  8. Danny
    December 24, 2008 | 8:21 am

    Twitter is definitely making things more interesting for the PR industry (and others in a similar field). Using 140-characters to pitch an idea has made fluff redundant and that can only be a good thing all round.

  9. Mark J Carter
    December 24, 2008 | 12:33 pm

    Here’s a guest post I did to “get my feet wet” (I also have a couple interviews):

    http://sanderssays.typepad.com/sanders_says/2008/11/networking-for-mentoring.html

    And here’s another one:

    http://www.savingtheworld.net/index.php/blog/post/mjcarter/135

    Any feedback would be great–thanks for your help and your posting!

    • Danny Brown
      January 27, 2009 | 2:04 am

      Welcome to blogging, Mark. :)

      Commented on the first, couldn't on second as requires registration (pet peeve) – good job though!

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