No this is not something sick or perverted. It’s something I thought about the other day while I was having a conversation with someone that was just starting to blog. They were talking about how they did not know which way to go with their blog, what to talk about, if they should cover more than one subject or not.
All valid questions and concerns. This made me think about the crossroads I was visiting at that time. I was right in the middle of the thought of making a major change to everything and debating whether I should or not.
So right then I had a picture in my mind of a wood house out in the woods with a person sitting out on the porch with a piece of wood. I guess you can call it an epiphany. I saw the person taking the piece of wood (a plain, round log) and carving it out into a beautiful wooden duck.
You would never have thought that something so detailed would come from a plain piece of wood.
So how does this person carve out a beautiful object from a log? Well, there is focus, determination, skill, patience (a lot) and the most important of all I think is that he (she) sits there and get to work on it.
Little by little the piece of wood gets closer and closer to what the end result will be.
This is very similar to us as bloggers, especially beginning bloggers. So here are a few tips using the wood carver as an example:
Start carving! You have to start writing in order to get a feel for things. Start hacking at the piece of wood and sooner or later it WILL begin to take shape.
Use your skill (or passion): to begin directing your blog to where you want it to go. What is most important to you?, what do you like talking about? What do you have a specific or unique viewpoint about? What do you have a real passion for? These are all things that you can write about in order to start connecting with people, seeing what you feel most comfortable with and what the public is really interested in.
Be patient: I don’t think I would be able to sit there, take a piece of wood and carve something artistic out of it. I would probably chuck it at something (or someone) if after about 30 minutes I don’t have a model of the Taj Mahal but that would be more of an issue with my expectancy levels than anything else. (I would probably just have a bunch of toothpicks).
Carving out something worthwhile in wood or in your life takes time. Be patient and it will start to take shape at some point. If not on your blog it will be in your mind, but it will happen.
Many of the things I am working on right now, I had no earthly idea I would even consider a year ago. The ideas just came to me. I found out what I wanted to talk about more and also found out what I wanted to talk about less. (are you starting to see the duck take shape?)
Focus on you and your audience: There are so many things out there for you to get involved in that you can easily lose focus and there is a chance to get overwhelmed with all the info that is out there these days. Programs for this, E-books for that, webinars for this, seminars for that.
Don’t get me wrong, I am ALL about getting educated but we need to focus that education on what will serve us best. At least we should balance it out with our writing of content. I have had large gaps of time when I do not post anything at all and this is because I have to much on my plate at the time. Keep your focus and you will get more results. Everything in moderation!
Just like it has happened to me, you will get to a point where you will know exactly where you want to go with this whole thing. Where you are most useful, where you will get the most bang for your buck.
I decided to continue following my passion of educating and consulting individuals on how to recover from financial disaster. It’s just where I my skills and passions are, so I am going with it with full force.
I have started with www.restartmyfinances.com in order to build a community of people interested in improving their overall financial health. Go by and check out the page and sign up if you like.
This is just one part of the duck for me. The other parts will come soon. Why? Because I keep carving and carving.
Good luck with your duck!
Feel free to share this with your readers and friends. I would really appreciate it and is I ever start carving, I will send you one of my famous toothpicks.
17. November 2010 at 10:21 AM
Jose,
What a wonderful theme to talk about today. It does take time, learned skills, dedication and belief to take something new and shape it into the message you wish to share with the world. The road we travel to accomplish our dreams is never a straight path, it has many twists and turns and rabbit trails. Choosing to follow your passion will serve well in this journey.
Thanks for sharing this important message about moving forward and adjusting as you go.
Val
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
November 17th, 2010 at 9:41 PM
Thanks Val, this is a subject that I really wrestled with for a while (and still do) to some extent. Little by little my vision is becoming more and more clear and clarity is what makes dreams into reality.
Much like you and your blog.
Thanks for the visit.
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18. November 2010 at 7:37 AM
Jose,
Very relevant content! Great post, I had one of the tribe members asking me about branding this week so you are being passed around like a fine glass of wine.
Jeff Jenson
[Reply]
Caraballo & Associates Reply:
November 18th, 2010 at 10:14 PM
Thanks a bunch Jeff, I am glad you found it useful. I think we will all go through this in our careers and lives so the information is good for many aspects. Like you said, fine wine indeed. LOL
Thanks for the visit.
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1. January 2011 at 7:01 PM
Jose, I enjoyed visiting your website and reading your post. What a great service you are providing. Your post is very timely, and enlightening. Though I am a former journalist turned author and speaker,I had been feeling a little overwhelmed about how to start my blog.. but after reading your post I can honestly say that I don’t feel as overwhelmed. Thanks for sharing your insight and wisdom!
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
January 1st, 2011 at 9:08 PM
Thanks a lot Patrina!
This is especially flattering coming from someone that used to write for a living. I am actually blushing.
Thanks for the visit and thank you very much for the compliment.
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2. March 2011 at 3:21 AM
Aloha Jose,
That’s a cute title “carve out your duck”! Your article is very accurate as I have found I would have never dreamed of doing what I am doing today and certainly never writing or blogging!
It’s amazing how far we all come when we just take it step by step!
Thank you so much for sharing your truths!
Aloha,
Kellie
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