I recently had an experience that convinced me that what I am doing here, with my blog and my message could potentially be very important.
I attended a training/seminar that had to do with customer service in the field of employment services. It was an interesting, day-long seminar lead by a woman who had obviously been in the business for a long time. She kept us engaged throughout the day, had activities for us to do (so we wouldn’t bet bored), kept my interest (which is hard to do these days). All in all a very good seminar on a subject that many people need to improve in my opinion, customer service in unemployment offices.
Anyway, as with all seminars that I go to, I try to absorb as many nuggets of information that I find interesting and use them in my daily life, my business and here on my blog. So at our lunch break I had an idea for a presentation so I thought I would ask for her assistance since she seemed well versed on the subject. The presentation had to do with changing the traditional mindset of an unemployed individual. (you will hear more on this at a later date.)
So I went up to her and asked her if she knew where I could find information of what a regular unemployed individual goes through while they are unemployed. I told her I had done some preliminary research and did not come up with too much that was usable. She found this rather interesting and challenging and told me she would do some research and get back to me at the end of the day.
So at the end of the seminar, she called me up in order to speak to me privately and told me that she found something that I might find useful. She went into her laptop and told me that she found a few things that I may be able to use. She showed me some studies that had been done at a University, a few statistics from some government sites and then she said “and some blogs, but that is just from a person writing from their home or something”
I was taken a little aback, being a blogger after all. I clearly saw how she perceived blogging in the hierarchy of information on the internet and I did not like it very much.
I proceeded to repeat the keywords she used in order to find what she found in order to write it down and duplicate it when I got home and as she continued, she mentioned “there is some really good information from a paper that was written from a college student on the subject, here are some other sites and the rest are just blogs which you may not want to pay attention to because it is just one person’s personal opinion and this may not give you too much information. AAARRRGGGHH!
Her intentions were good, she helped me out with something that I asked, so I said, “thank you” and went on my way. On the ride home I kept on replaying her words in my head, “these are JUST blogs from people”. I became very interested in our core difference in opinion about information found on the internet.
As I mulled over this for a while, I began to understand where she was coming from and the more I understood this, the stronger I felt about what I was doing [as a blogger].
She was coming from a place of corporate training, a place of facts, figures and statistics. I also noticed that she was not paying any attention to what my presentation was going to really be about. “The Human Experience”!
I believe blogging is bringing back the much needed human element to whatever subject matter it touches. It allows us to see things from another individual’s point of view. Allows us to learn from someone that may have already done what we want to do in life or experienced something that we are about to experience. Blogging can be used as a helping hand in many situations. Blogging does this in a way that keeps us engaged because we are relating usually with a person and not a statistic. A face and not a number.
When someone says to me that I may not want to read the blog sites because they are only from one person’s perspective. I say that this is EXACTLY what I want to read about. The human experience, emotions, thoughts. I may agree or disagree with that person but I have never found a report or statistic that instilled any feeling of connection or warmth with the material.
To put it simply, blogging makes you feel like you are in a conversation where reports make you feel like you are being lectured to.
Maybe this is why our economy is the way it is these days, It has taken the human element out of the equation. We are viewed as numbers and/or dollar signs, or at least that is how I felt for a long time.
Every blogger that I have met seems to have their own special reason for having started blogging. Some want a way to communicate their point of view. Some, in order to make money online. Some bloggers even start blogging in order to work though some type of issue that they had in the past or are having at the moment. Most of them are coming from a personal place, a place that they are sharing with the world and that makes it that much more special.
My reasons for starting this blog were varied. I wanted to communicate, educate, and motivate a larger audience than what I had at that time. It was time for me to go to the masses. One of the aspects of my blog is to share my personal insights and experiences based on years of working with people’s finances.
I try to have people to see things a little differently than they might have in the past in order to get better results in their financial worlds.
What’s wrong with that? I think this is extremely useful and necessary. I believe that I have something to share that is of some interest so here I am!
I have yet to find a study, report or statistic that has made me say AHA! I learned something today that could potentially change my life for the better. I have however run into this feeling many times while reading the blogs that I do.
I am not saying that there isn’t a place for studies and stats, I am just saying that there is definitely a place, a BIG place in our society for quality blogs and bloggers.
I would hate to think that my blog is not being read by someone because “It’s one person’s opinion of a subject”. In fact, I would tend to think that my blog gets much more down and dirty on important subjects in someone’s day-to-day life.
Take the time to visit the blogs of the people that are commenting on this post and see for yourself, the mass amount of quality information that is being shared.
If you like the point that I am trying to make, make it a point to share this information with your friends by forwarding, tweeting, facebooking or sending it via email to anyone you think may benefit from the information.
Thanks for visiting!
21. February 2010 at 7:03 PM
Great Post, reminds me of a telephone call I received the other day asking me to participate in a survey. They wanted to create some statistics, but didn;t really want to listen to my answers. I think I will do a post on this!
Bill
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Thanks for the visit Bill.
That is funny, it should be tough to get accurate stats without listening don’t you think? Let me know when you make your post, I would like to read it.
Thanks
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23. February 2010 at 11:00 PM
Thanks for sharing. I think sometimes people that are trained in the corporate world thinks they can’t learn from people on a smaller scale. I don’t know if that makes sense. But I know everyone can learn from everyone, no matter how smart or what degree one holds.
.-= Jaden Daniels´s last blog ..MLM Is Not A Real Business =-.
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24. February 2010 at 2:44 PM
Wonderful and Refreshing Post! Often too, it is the forest and trees ….
The human element is so needed these days…like oxygen for the brain and heart. I believe that people are actually starving for that personal and truly heartfelt touch in all aspects of their lives.
Look forward to your next post.
drlinda.
.-= Dr Linda Douglas´s last blog ..The Power of the Aha Moment =-.
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1. March 2010 at 10:22 PM
What a refreshing point of view. It just reminds me about the way some people think and view things in life. There is always the corporate type of mentality which to me always seems to be closed minded to anything outside their world.
Bring on the real world with real life experiences. That’s where it’s all happening.
Thanks for sharing this experience.
.-= Don Enck´s last blog ..Celebrate Your Victories…Even If They’re Silver =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
March 1st, 2010 at 11:07 PM
I with you all the way. We all share a common thread and it is through human emotion.
Thanks
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1. March 2010 at 10:29 PM
Right on! Human emotion over facts and figures for sure! What a great epiphany you had from this experience. And yes, stats have their place ~ but I choose connection and truth any day!
Thanks for sharing this, Jose!
.-= Beth Allen´s last blog ..Successful Weight Loss & Long Term Weight Management =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
March 1st, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Good use of the word connection. Isn’t it so true? I have learned so much since I moved away from being a robot to understanding that it is all about PEOPLE!
Thanks Beth.
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1. March 2010 at 10:42 PM
Jose, RIGHT ON! You nailed it, and this woman showed that she’s not dialed in to what’s real on the net. Uh, hello- this isn’t 2008! Really. It’s not. It’s a whole new ballgame out there and it just shows you that blogging is still cutting edge and new enough to make your name….talk about being in the right place at the right time…you’re there now. She’s a bit behind you, but she’ll get there….media is changing so fast that people just won’t know what hit them, not for a while, and when they do, it may be too late…but not for you…go Jose go!!!
.-= Amy Posner´s last blog ..Business Development – Are You At It? =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
March 1st, 2010 at 11:11 PM
From your mouth… I think that by us sharing our gifts and talents here that we are creating something more powerful than we realize and we are both there. It’s a pleasure to share this experience with you!
Thanks
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1. March 2010 at 11:32 PM
Jose you are brilliant! I had not really considered this but yes, blogging may be the last remaining “socially acceptable” human experience outlet for many people today. Cut off and trapped in a high tech word of sterile environments, facts, lectures and datagraphs, emotions and personal perspectives have taken are backseat and been left neglected.
I think, had this woman given you what you asked for, she would have given you less than what she did. By giving you the stats, she showed you this worldview and opened your eyes in a way that will likely forever shape both your blogging and coaching style. That is an incredibly powerful gift.
Thank you for keeping it real and leading with your heart!
.-= Kimberly Castleberry´s last blog ..How To: Change Your Twitter Name Without Losing Followers =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:52 AM
Funny how these things can happen even by mistake. The power of perception…
Thanks
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2. March 2010 at 2:06 AM
Jose,
I remember when I kinda had that opinion about blobs. I didn`t see the bigger picture or the relevance of sharing ones opinion in public. I am so glad I saw the error of my ways!
I think blogs are the marketing edge of the future. With the formation of Tribes and now with the #1 Mommy blogger getting a gig on TV, if you don`t have a blog that has relevance, gives value and makes a difference, you are going to get left behind.
Thanks for this great post!
Live a Juicy Life!
Susan
.-= Susan Davis´s last blog ..Change is Good. You Go First! =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:51 AM
I did not know about the Mommy blogger, that is awesome!
Thanks for the visit
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2. March 2010 at 4:32 AM
Hi Jose,
What a great post. I think there is a kind of ignorance out there in the corporate world. It kind of comes back to the fact that there are two camps of people – those who are happy working for someone else and having someone think for them….and those who want to be in charge, work for themselves and think for themselves.
I feel very fortunate that I am in the latter camp and not only am i helping others and being able to embrace the freedom of speech and the written word, but I am also able to show what its really like to be a Human Being!!
Beth
.-= Beth Hewitt´s last blog ..Successful Email Marketing. =-.
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3. April 2010 at 1:54 PM
Jose, really great post. I agree with what you’re saying friend. Recently I did some online research on a hip procedure done for congenital hip dysplagia (POA). I visited numerous sites all with the sterile facts and figures but it wasn’t until I stumbled upon a blog from a competitive figure skater that I REALLY got what I wanted. She had done the research, experienced the surgery, and blogged about the entire process from finding the right surgeon to several months post procedure. I found incredible value from what she shared. Facts intertwined with the personal experience is very powerful no matter the subject. Thanks for sharing your insights on this!
.-= Kara Grabenhorst´s last blog ..Don’t like it? Change it NOW =-.
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
April 5th, 2010 at 7:30 AM
Thanks and I am very glad that you agree. This seems more and more apparent to me as time goes by and I for one will continue to share as much as I can in order to bring “real life” into the fore’.
Thanks Kara
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16. April 2010 at 11:25 AM
Hi Jose:
Love your post. The new economy is about people and their passion. The old economy of facts, stats and impersonal corporate America is going bye bye. People are not sheep, they are leaders that need to find their passion, which is personal. The heretics and revolutionaries are the ones that breakout from the impersonal status quo and do something with their lives and the world. Just a simple smile lights up the world! Keep your blogging coming and enlighten and educate the world and people of the old economy, my friend.
.-= Arlan Murata´s last blog ..What are autoresponders and how do they help build your list =-.
[Reply]
Caraballo & Associates Reply:
April 19th, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Thank you for your kind words Arlan. I really appreciate the feedback and am always excited when my writing has an effect on people.
Thanks for the visit.
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16. August 2010 at 7:06 AM
Hi Jose,
I agree whole heartedly that blogging keeps the human element alive. As we all know, many stats are often manipulated anyway in order to influence the reader. It can be as simple as leaving out emotion (or the human element) that makes a difference to the overall stats. E.g. to say that 90% of unemployed people were unmotivated to find a job, wouldn’t be a true stat if you left out depression and loss of confidence.
While it sounds like the lady that helped you came from the right intention, it sounds to me like she was quite behind in what’s evolved on the internet as far as the importance of blogs. After all, even journalists are visiting blogs to get the inside scoop on the latest news and events!
Michaelé
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Caraballo & Associates Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 1:46 PM
She was definitely well intentioned Michaele’ and she was very knowledgeable in what she spoke about. I just saw hings from a different perspective than she did and I think we have to be open minded to see both sides of the story these days.
Thanks for sharing!
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