My Blog World

I never thought that I would be so interested in the BLOG WORLD.  Since joining Twitter last year and starting “On the Go”, I have been introduced to a whole new world of thoughts and opinions that I never knew existed.  I should have known better, really.  I had heard about the popularity and growth of them, but never paid them that much mind since I considered them the “minor leagues” of news and information.  Well, this has all changed.  I realize now that blogging is one of the best forms of personal and professional development out there, and for the most part, it’s FREE!  Here’s why:

1.  BLOGGING forces you to STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING:  In the craziness of our lives, we rarely stop to think about what’s happening around us.  In order to understand the impact of what is going on in our lives, periodic thoughtful reflection give us proper perspective.
2.  BLOGGING gives you NEW IDEAS: My best creative spurts of new ideas have come from the shower, silent car rides, and now blogging.  When you allow your mind think freely, whether it be through the serenity of water, the powerful sound of silence, or free form writing, you would be amazed at what your mind comes up with in these settings.
3.  BLOGGING allows you TO LEAVE BREAD CRUMBS: Whether you’ve ever kept a journal or wondered how you could share all the great knowledge you have in your head, when you blog you do both.  I can now share the most frequently asked questions of me and their answers here, assuming at some point, someone will ask me again.  Blogging allows you to to leave your legacy in a place where friends, family and others can find that piece of you.

Want to Start Your Own Blog?

Two of my favorite blogs are currently doing very cool things to help:

1.  Shannon Albert at http://shannonalbert.me (@shannonalbert)
She is setting up blogs for FREE right now until mid-February.  Details here.

I enjoy Shanon’s blog, a lot actually.  She’s real, funny, and her posts are fantastic.  She’s recently added video blogs as well, which has made connecting with her even easier.  She opens up a lot on her blog, and I admire that about her.

2.  Jamie Varon’s “A Life in Translation” (@jamievaron)
Do you have a blog already that could use a face lift?  Jamie is running a contest right now where you can get your blog tricked out by @shatterboxx (@jamievaron and @nicoleisbetter)!  Details here.

I read Jamie’s blog because I appreciate her style, both aesthetically and in her content.  As you read it, you feel like you’ve known “her” your whole life, and you’re finally getting inside her mind to understand her better.  She’s cool people and makes me wish I liked whiskey more.

In addition to the two blogs above, here are more blogs that give me inspiration, information, and reflective thoughts every week.  If you’re not following them and their fantastic Twitter owners, you need to!

3.  PostSecret: The largest ad-free blog in the world, PostSecret is an ongoing community mail art project, created by Frank Warren, in which people mail their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. Select secrets are then posted on the PostSecret website, or used for PostSecret’s books or museum exhibits.  It is an unbelievable expression of the human spirit. (@postsecret)

4.  Life Without Pants: Matt Cheuvront (@mattchevy) sees his blog as a metaphor for putting life into a less restricted perspective. Loosening your belt, exposing your “true colors” so to speak, and going commando. Ultimately, it’s about challenging reality, rebelling against the norm, and reinventing the status quo.  He makes me think and inspires me not to take myself so seriously.

5.  Dude to Dad:  Are you a father or will be soon?  If so, Hugh Weber’s (@hughweber) Dude to Dad (@dudetodad) blog is a must read!

6.  Kenn 2.0:  Do you know who the hippest “Dean of Students” is in Web 2.0?  It’s Kenn Elmore (@DeanElmore) at Boston University.  If other Student Affairs offices out there are trying to find out how to do Social Media integration correctly, look no further.

7.  Dreamin’ The Life – Karen Hill’s (@dreaminthelife) blog has been a favorite of mine since I started exploring the Blog World, and I’m not the only one.  She has consistently produced solid personal development content, mixed in with amazing personal stories.  It’s really hard not to like her!

8.  PR Sarah Evans – Sarah Evans (@PRsarahevans) is bonafide Public Relations rock star.  Her blog and company strive to engage and employ the use of emerging technologies in all communication, which connects her with a rapidly growing base of more than 40,000 people every day.  If you want a PR role model, she is it!

9.  Penelope Trunk – Penelope (@penelopetrunk) is the founder of Brazen Careerist and her blog has over 40,000 subscribers.  At the core, she talks about the intersection of career and life, but her stories and writing style are what evoke an emotional response that keeps people coming back.

10.  The Student Affairs Collaborative – Of course this list wouldn’t be complete without this blog that I contribute to regularly.  Thanks to the work of Tom Krieglstein and Debra Sanborn and the team at Swift Kick, this blog, along with its corresponding weekly #SAchat has been a great professional development tool.    It’s the best collection of Student Affairs practitioner stories and advice out there.  If you know someone who works at a college, not on the academic side, this blog is for them.

How about you?  What BLOGS are you on your “must read” list and why?