Your Best Work is You
If you were asked to give someone a link to your best work, what link would you share?
For me, some spring to mind, but who’s to say they’re my best work? Perhaps my favourites for whatever reason, but best? I don’t know. And what defines our best work?
Is it the educational post about using the latest social media tool or application?
Is it the blog post about a charity that you’re involved in?
Or is it just an ordinary post, talking about nothing in general really? After all, if you’re just rambling as you would to someone offline, wouldn’t that be your best work for a stranger/potential friend to read because it’s relaxed and honest?
To me, every single thing we share about ourselves through a blog post is our best work.
Whether it’s sharing your expertise with someone who may be less knowledgeable on a certain topic, or recommending other people to read, that’s sharing yourself with people. Even if you are just writing about your day, if someone else finds that interesting and stays to read it, that’s your best work. You’ve helped the day pass quicker for someone, and that’s got to be worthwhile.
So, where would you recommend us to go?
PS – If you’re curious, I choose this post.
Image: textobox
52 Responses to “Your Best Work is You”
I didn’t see that post, Sally, but checked it out after your recommendation. It does seem sad that you can’t have an opinion without getting shot down in flames for it (and religion seems to be an area that brings out the worst in people).
And I love your answer.
I write two blogs – Social Media Notebook and my personal blog, Spring Rainbow.
Every day when I write something – and publish a post, it’s my best work for the day. Sure, there are days when I think I could have done better, but in the larger perspective it’s all a zero sum game.
There have been occasions when I am infatuated by a certain post of mine – and yet I find that it does not resonate with anyone else other than me. And then, there are posts which I think aren’t quite my best which draw a heap of views, tweets and comments.
To that degree, defining the best from me, is objective. Rather, as you said, it’s all about the best in me – and the best in all of us.
I’d be more than happy to direct you (and the audience here) to both my blogs – but there’s one piece of poetry that came flashing back to my mind. This one is Life’s Mirror by Madeline Bridges:
“For life is the mirror of king and slave,
‘Tis just what we are and do;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.”
Kapil Apshankar recently posted…. Is Exclusion Marketing Your Social Media Marketing Tactic
And there lies the beauty of blogging, Kapil – there’s no rigid formula as to what works.
I hear you on the low traffic/big post (and vice versa). Some of my own personal favourites have been amongst the lowest as far as visits, reads and shares go.
Nice end quote
I really enjoyed this post as well as your post on Stephen Hawking. Very inspirational!
For me, its “The Janitor and The Jedi Master” which can be found here http://yoursalesplaybook.com/the-janitor-the-jedi-master/
Respectfully,
Paul Castain
Paul Castain recently posted…. The Cold Calling “Two Step”Thanks Paul, appreciate the kind words, and I’ll be sure to check out your reference post very soon.
Great question. I stopped trying to identify my best work long ago. My aim is to make the current book, poem, blog entry and tweet my best work and then put it out there without judging it after its finished. I usually have a good sense of what people will like most, but very often I’m wrong. My experience in creating it tends to obscure my vision… and once in a while it’s the piece I nearly didn’t put out there, because I didn’t think it was all that great, turns out to be the one that caused the most smiles or the most tears.
David Weedmark recently posted…. Q&A’s with RendezVous CrimeFunny how we “judge” ourselves and what we feel isn’t as good as others perceive it, huh, David?
And you’re so on the money with the “obscure my vision” quote – thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Danny, I’m going to agree AND disagree. I agree that if you feel compelled to share your thoughts, feelings, expertise, etc in a blog post and it comes from your heart with the best intentions to affect someone’s life or stimulate discussion, then the post defies the “good, better, best” categorizations and is instead something pure.
Then there are those bloggers who feel they have to write something just to keep up with their blog post schedule or to stay relevant on a daily/weekly basis. They write because they *have* to – this is usually not their best work and that is why the internet is rampant with unremarkable blogs and lame blog posts.
So to your statement: “To me, every single thing we share about ourselves through a blog post is our best work”, I’ll agree only if it meets the criteria of my first paragraph. The rest is just fodder.
Cheers.
a lot of blog posts I would consider TMI: of course some people would read anything from an author (fans) always wanting more…
less is more, I post infrequently- I’m more about publishing what others have to say and create. But notwithstanding, man, I’ll do you your master what good I can; I appreciate a person doing their best, and would rather give the benefit of the doubt to agree with Danny on this one…
That’s a fair point, Dan, and one that makes a lot of sense.
Of course, it could then beg the question, is a “lame” blog post lame in the eye of the creator, versus the reader who doesn’t ever attempt to blog?
Are you implying that I don’t blog myself? Au contraire, mon frère: http://southfloridafilmmaker.com/category/danperezblog I’m in the game
Ha, not at all, sir.
But often I see a few folks that “complain” about blogs, yet don’t see the love that bloggers (for the most part) put into every post.
One person’s lameness is another person’s inspiration.
Plus ca change
Boy what a good question my man, my best work will probably be and article I wrote about motivation.. I’m not going to link to it from this comment though..and it was about the motivation to take control of your life. Its was by far one of the best articles I have written in time.
“TrafficColeman “Signing Off”
TrafficColeman recently posted…. Dan Lew Interview – Breaks His Silence on Seo DominationDude, you so need to link to it from here, sir. That’s one of the reasons for the post, so would love to see it.
What a good point and what a good idea to have everyone share their best post so I can come here to read awesome posts.
And I agree with Dan’s qualifier that every post is the best when written from a place of inspiration and is heartfelt rather than a scheduled necessity.
And for me it is hard to decide which is my best because each post spoke to something I was experiencing at the time and felt compelled to share with the world.
That being said, I think this one has a good set of questions to reflect on when feeling stuck:
http://iam-bc.com/blog/why-am-i-not-advancing-my-career-10-questions-reality-checkI like so many of my posts, so this was really hard, which goes to prove your point. And your favorite post definitely moved me. Thanks for the genuine inspiration you bring to so many…
Thanks for sharing your personal favourite, Shalini. It’s hard to choose, huh? I guess the fact we share in public means it’s something we’re happy with, so then every post has the potential of our best.
And thank you for your kind words, really appreciate them.
Hi Danny!
Thanks for this. Love this post and your ‘best work’ .. although I like all your work!
Our day is just beginning here – thanks for the inspiration. Best wishes,
AnneRe my ‘best posts’ ..a good question – I personally liked this one .. http://marketingisus.com.au/romancing-the-brand/ but the following received some comment: http://marketingisus.com.au/business-communication-its-a-little-big-thing-its-everything/
However – enjoyed writing this one
http://marketingisus.com.au/social-media-for-good-businesses-making-a-difference-using-social-media-12for12k/Thanks Danny.
Ha, nice job on the sneaky last post there, Anne
And thanks for the reference links, will be checking them out shortly.
..
..and it’s time that special post was revisited .. had been thinking about that just before you wrote this one! Stand by!
Anne Sorensen recently posted…. Spring clean your marketing – let’s audit!
Danny – great points as always. I think one of the things this should teach people is to be careful of what they post online and how they do it. I do not just mean on your blog but on social media mediums because what you post is a representation of you. People really need to learn to think that way.
One of my better posts was http://www.robertbcairns.com/2010/08/the-pogo-plug-review/
Rob Cairns recently posted…. The Social Media LandscapeJust the title alone has my interest piqued, Rob – gotta love something called the Pogo Plug
You know what I would love to see? What your readers think is your best work. I’ve narrowed it down to three.
Yowza. So, out of 661 posts so far, I’ve had three good ones? I need to steal your writers
You are such a brat! I said I’ve NARROWED them down to three. Danny Brown, none of your content stinks.
Hehe, gotcha!
(And thanks kindly, miss).
Danny, oh my gosh. I just read your ‘best work’. May 25th (the post date) is my birthday. Stephen Hawking was a topic of discussion between my husband and I this weekend. Did you see the post about him on Yahoo News on Sept. 2nd? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100902/lf_nm_life/us_britain_hawking)
More than 49,000 comments and many of them sooooo hateful and disrespectful. I loved reading your ‘Little Boy That Could’ post – THAT’S the way this man needs to be featured.
Sorry, I’m getting off track.
I put my heart and soul into every post I publish. I have learned that people who need to hear/read the message I’m sharing have a tendency to find it. I feel every post I write is my best work, and they just get progressively better; and all because they flow directly from my heart.
So to answer your question – I’d simply give my blog site’s Home link if asked, and let the reader gravitate to the post that best serves them in that moment.
Sally G. recently posted…. Who are you today