What I Have Learned in Four Years of Blogging

I’ve been blogging since 2002 and have found much of the same things, Michael. Writing clarifies. Good writing clarifies even more.

As a non-employee, I salute your transperancy. It is refreshing and a blog can do that for a CEO, if he/she writes it personally. If the blog is written by the corporate publicist, OTOH, it comes across as phony as a $3 bill. You are obviously writing this yourself.

Thanks for making it public and letting the rest of us “peek in”!!

Hi Mike, I’m a lurker here, coming out to comment. I’ve learned that for me, blogging is a way to connect with like-minded people and writers for encouragement and the sharing of ideas and information. I’ve also learned that comments or feedback can be a powerful thing. As is the lack of comments and feedback. I’ve learned not to compare my blog or the amount of comments I get with other bloggers, but to be obedient to the platform God has me on, despite the numbers. That, for me, has been the hardest lesson to learn.

@Adam: Yes, of course, you are correct! I have corrected the title. Thanks.

I, too, have learned much about myself when blogging. I appreciate your blog for its transparency.

I live in Japan and I always look forward to reading your blogs!!! I had the previlege of meeting you last year in Atlanta at the ICRS show in the valet parking area. I am no longer directly involved in the publishing industry, but I will continue to read and learn from your blogs as long as you post them. I wish all CEOs were “open” as you are. Thanks Mike!

I’ve been blogging off and on for a year or two but only recently started doing it more frequently (i.e. several times a week). As a writer, I’ve found blogging to be a terrific way to get my name out there, so to speak. I try to make my posts interesting as well, but the more contact I can have with my potential readers the better (I’ve written one novel which I’m shopping around as I write my second). So really, what I’ve learned:

1. As a writer it’s important to HAVE a blog or website.

2. Update it frequently.

3. Post interesting and valuable content for readers.

4. The more personal the posts are, the more comments I get. I take this to mean folks resonate better with personal posts. And I’m not talking about throwing around dirt, but really sharing from my heart, or giving advice from my own personal experience.

Your blog is a great place to visit, Michael. I especially enjoyed and benefited from your posts on conquering e-mail. I went out and bought the 4 Hour work week book as well as Getting Things Done after reading your entries here.

I started blogging when our family moved to France to be church planters. At first it was a way to connect with so many folks back home, but then it became a place of honest catharsis–about writing, culture-shock, spiritual warfare, you name it.

Now I’m the mistress of two full time blogs (one personal, one publishing related) and write as a guest on several others. I see it as a way to form connections with people.

It humbles me when someone approaches me and says, “I read your blog every day.” What a privilege.

I love your blog, Mike! Even we authors like to have a peek inside the workings of our publishing house. I learn something new all the time.

For me blogging is a way to connect with my readers, to take the pulse of their thoughts on issues, and to let them know I care about them. Besides, it’s just fun to have an online community of friends. The bloggers that comment over on our blog at Girls Write Out have become friends with a true community feel. Who would have thought? LOL

A daily devotional blog has helped me become more disciplined in going to the Word even on hectic mornings, and staying with the Word long enough to be fed. A self-imposed space limitation has forced me to be clear and concise. Perhaps I could achieve as much with a journal, but a blog makes me more aware of the great cloud of witnesses before whom I live.

And Mike I’ve been reading and loving all your blogs since 05. I’ve watched you change in your thought process and I think it’s made you a better listener. A lot of CEO’s don’t feel the need to listen. And who’s going to tell them otherwise.
I don’t read a lot of blogs. I’m busy and most are boring. I’ve often said most blogs are either ego trips or cheap self promotion. But you’re not some random street walker, but instead in a unique position to assure us it’s all going to be ok or at least show you’re thinking about making it ok. Certainly last week’s major publishing exit is cause for concern.
I’m readings tons of research this hour on results of media impression, persuasion, and impact. I know some print guys have a strong bias for print, but with no surprise, newspapers and magazines are coming in very low in all these ad catergories. There is a lot of clutter, blur, and uselessness in all publishing.

Remember when we’d be somewhere and hear someone say thru tears “that book changed my life.” I don’t hear that much anymore. I miss that, but think for our survival, it is a necessary next step.

As a relatively new blogger (Dec 2007), I’ve learned: 1) it’s hard to always find something to write about; 2) it’s hard to find time to blog; and 3) it’s hard to establish a blog therem. At least these are hard for me.

Good post, Mike.

DAT

Your blog helps me as a writer. And as a fellow blogger, I blog to untangle my thoughts too.

Loved this.

“Blogging helps me to clarify my own thinking.”. That’s why I encourage all CEOs to start a business blog.

I think that in the future most of the CEOs will blog. Because the CEO is the best spokesperson of the company and because it helps the CEO to think about marketing strategy.

I want to point Michael’s words to all the readers in his recent comment: “The days of the lone CEO figuring it out from the ivory tour are gone.” You are right but this truth in most cases can be seen only by those CEOs, who are in real (not through market research company)touch with customers. And one of the best things to achieve this is to start a business blog.

For those CEOs I even wrote an e-book “The New Rules of Business Blog”, you can freely download it from my blog http://www.positioningstrategy.com.

this is awesome. thanks for this mike!

Well we have something in common with respect to writing. You have written for the internet and thus what you have learned is a certain wisdom that only comes with someone who is passionate about what they do.
For me I am a diarist and have been since a very young age. Although I have been on the internet for 5 years or so and have had several blogs I was never ever comfortable with writing online. But I am keeping a journal.
What I have learned about being a diarist is similar with respect to no.1 in your post. However keeping a journal [see http://www.moleskinerie.com/2008/04/the-notebooks... ] all these years makes writing easy for me just as blogging has for you.
I share this with you because I think both are important for writers over the long term with surprising results. Don't you agree?

Thank you Deana! I visited your site http://deanaohara.com/ and you are going great there!
I liked your description of your use of a blog very much too in your comment to me.
As for learning, the day we stop learning we might as well give in to the couch and a bag of chips. Life without learning is not creativity in motion. That's the way I feel about what our real purpose is.
Cheers and you might want to join my group on twitter @thecalvenigroup for writers and publishers at the intersection of technology. Trying to find a better way for all and there are many voices there. Pass this along to someone you care about enough to share this blog here by Michael Hyatt as well.

I'm still relatively new at blogging. So I am still learning. After a year and a half I am finally beginning to get feedback and more interaction. The reasons I began blogging were to share my perspective on social media, best practices and agency culture as I see them in the insurance industry. I am striving to continue to expand my base for more interaction so that I can learn how insurance agencies are thinking about and using technology and social media. Thanks for share with us Mike.

I have learned how to communicate more concisely, especially with written communications. Big help with emails..
I am learning that not everything I think to be profound really is.
I have become more open as a person.

I love your blog & definitely am with you on #1 – I blog about career/resume advice because people were constantly asking me, "What's the secret to getting a job in this lousy economy?" – and writing about it has helped me clarify it for others, and for myself as I screen for positions as a recruiter – what does set someone apart? How can you tell someone is talented on paper? These were not questions I could have quickly answered before I started blogging.

One additional thing I'll add – I've learned that blogging can bring fulfillment. I'm surprised how happy I am to write and share my knowledge, and love seeing spikes in my view stats. It's like volunteering for a good cause without leaving my living room. Puts a smile on my face in a way that I didn't expect.

At the top of my list, blogging is an outlet for me to write, since I'm not currently able to do that anywhere else. And I love to write (even if nobody reads it). In addition to the personal release this provides, I'm a firm believer that you must write to get better at writing and stay sharp.

Dear Mr. Hyatt, I'd like to thank you for sharing your thoughts on writing and blogging. Because of your blog posts encouraging authors and writers to develop a writer's blog of their own along with my Pastor's encouragement as well, I was motivated to take the plunge and figure out how to do it. Although it took me a while to figure out the basic WordPress application, I'm glad I took the time to dig into it and develop my own blog for faith-based leadership development at http://www.makeithappenmoment.com As a result, I am excited about the new opportunities I have through The Make It Happen Moment ® faith-based leadership education blog to reach people and unleash their extraordinary God-given potential to make a difference in life! Thanks again and have a blessed day!

Blogging has allowed me to be more transparent, and that transparency has caused people to get to know me better. Very cool.

Mike, These are great thoughts. For me–I an relatively new and it has been less than a year since I began playing around with the social media–some of the benefits I gleaned have been:
1. Learning –It is also free. :) I learn a lot!
2. Helps improve my communication.