Once upon a time, I was sitting in my home office in Mesa, Arizona with a tiny baby boy in my arms, and a big idea in my head.
“What if I could help all those people I met in my years consulting in large corporations who wanted to start a business?”
It felt like crazy talk.
I imagined disguising myself and going into the cafeterias of Silicon Valley companies and handing out flyers.
I had no idea where to begin.
Thankfully, through Andrea Lee, I met Suzanne Falter-Barns. Her course about building an online presence had an assignment to start a thing called a blog. I didn’t know what it was, but I loved the idea.
When I wrote my very first post, I had no idea what I was in for.
I didn’t imagine it would lead me to spend the night on an aircraft carrier with a bunch of famous bloggers.
Or meet Gloria Steinem.
Or write an Op/Ed piece for the New York Times.
Or become friends with the software developer in Pakistan who would break the Osama Bin Laden story on Twitter.
Or get a book deal.
Because of my blog, I have a place to share things that I don’t want to be forgotten.
I have a gigantic love magnet that brings amazing people into my life. Tens of thousands of them. That astounds me every day.
And I have a vehicle that has made magic happen in many people’s lives. Not magic because of what I say, but magic because of what happens when people have a place to connect and share ideas with each other, and provide encouragement. Like Jon the Ballplayer.
I have a place where prospective clients can come get to know me from a place of total freedom. They can read my thoughts. Check out the comments of people in my community. Pay close attention to what I say and how I say it. All with total anonymity. If my message doesn’t resonate, they can leave with not one cent charged on a credit card. That creates freedom for them.
And when I do have something for sale, like a book or a class or a live event, I can talk about it openly. Without a fuss, pressure or shame. This has allowed me to build a thriving business that takes care of the family I love so much.
It is home for ideas. A place of abundance. A place to celebrate.
I remember talking with Penelope Trunk once about negative blog comments. She gets thousands.
“Hmm,” I said. “I think I can remember two.”
Controversy is not what lights my fire. Discussion does. Compassion for each other and for ideas. That may have slowed readership or incoming links over the years, but that is OK.
Because those of you here are family. You are just right. You are that invisible force that gets me all misty-eyed when I stop and look at what this whole experience has meant to me.
You, through this blog, changed my life.
#FreedomIsBlogging.
Thank you.
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My big blogging brother Hugh MacLeod released Freedom is Blogging in Your Underwear yesterday. This post is in honor of that book, and of the inspiration I got from reading Hugh’s posts when I first started blogging.
I started blogging when I was job hunting to pass time. I’m really proud of myself for starting my own personal blog. My blog made me like writing.
Blogging has changed my life too. I met nice people. And I am ready to learn new stuffs everyday.
Blogging has changed my life too, and I don’t think it could have happened with the magic of Social Media. I have to get a glance at that book. I blog in my PJ’s 😉
Guess I finally have start blogging as well!
I was looking for exactly this information here to there but in your blog post I just fund some extra information about this field! really appreciated work you’ve done.
You never fail to inspire me! I needed to read this at this moment in my life. Much gratitude!
-kamala
Beautiful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your experience of how blogging has impacted your life!
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You wrote for the NYT? That’s a great outcome!
Good luck with the rest of your blogging journey Pam.
Thanks for sharing your journey! It always seems like the biggest changes in life are the ones we don’t plan for.
May I send those hearts right back to you, dear Pam? Because you inspired me to go out on the blog limb, too. Big love and thanks to you, from my little leaf to your mighty oak. xoxo
We all have been there done that. For me it was about cars. I started on blogspot and had no idea about programming. Nor did I have money to register a domain, I was a student then!
Hi Pamela.
I have the same desire of helping people like you do. I was a corporate prisoner 6 years ago when I stumble upon your site at alltop.
But what’s your opinion on blogging if I’m not even a writer or can’t write as good as you are.
English is not even my native language.
Hi Jon,
Just do it! If you have something to say, then say it on your blog. What make you connect to readers is not your vocabulory or perfect grammar, but the substance behind your words. If you have the desire to help people then don’t hold it back. English is not my native language either but it doesn’t stop me from blogging. I had been suppressing this desire too, but I can tell you that once you let it out, you will feel so much more alive! If you want to build up more confidence in finding your voice, I recommend Morning Pages. All the best! (http://yourlifeexpression.com/?page_id=10)
Wonderful post Auntie Pam. You always have a knack for the epic post that propels my day. Thank you for giving the universe this community.
Always proud of you, nephew. Keep using your superpowers for good, and I will keep writing. 😉
Lovely. And inspiring as I’m just getting started myself. 🙂
Good for you Peri, have fun with the journey!
Good to know where to find more from you, Peri–your Small Business Start-Up Kit is one of my very favorites!