If you've ever written a blog--even one post--you might be familiar with feelings of insignificance that surface as you consider your puny work against the vast milieu of the internet. I've felt that, too. But I must say that the practice of blogging has opened more doors than I could have imagined. Blogging, however haphazardly, has enriched my life by creating job opportunities, teaching me technical skills, and causing me to think critically. It can do that for you, too.
Job opportunities
Early on in graduate school, I determined that I would have job offers by the time I finished. To that end, I started a blog and began using it to record my experiences in school and to interact with influential bloggers in my industry. I took it a step further and began conducting rudimentary tests on my blog, enabling it to display posts in several languages. Within a month, someone from the school's digital media office noticed. They called me in to learn more about what I was doing, and I walked out of that meeting with a new job. I was elated. That part time job as a digital media consultant led to other opportunities and experiences that ultimately helped me accomplish my goal--multiple full time job offers upon graduation. I blogged my way into a job. You can do it, too.
Technical skills
I never liked the way basic blog themes look. It wasn't long before I started trying to modify the look, feel, and functionality of the spaces that put my writing on display. I'll be honest, most of my results looked atrocious, with very few exceptions. Have you ever set up a WordPress installation? I didn't even know what that meant until I'd Googled my way through it with additional help from technically talented friends. Web analytics? Plugins? Markup? The list goes on and on. I developed technical skills as I blogged. You can do it, too.
Critical thinking
Oh, yeah...blogging. Writing is at the very core of blogging. It's what drew me to the practice in the first place. Writing forces me to think. To slow down. To seek understanding. It encourages expression and helps me know myself. It requires considering topics from multiple points of view. Writing publicly gives me pause and teaches me what is worth saying aloud and what is better kept to myself. Writing, in my humble opinion, is the best way to learn. I made my mind and soul grow by blogging. You can do it, too.
Whatever your goals may be, consider how writing a blog can help you realize them. I promise it will work. Even if you never amass a huge list of readers. I never have. It will make a difference because of how the experience will change you. You'll think about your challenges differently. You'll find new ones. You'll find out who you are. You'll gain focus. I do it. You can do it, too.
Want to brainstorm the possibilities? Address me in the comments, a private message, or an email. If you enjoyed this post, consider sharing it with the appropriate audience and following this blog by email.
Already have a blog (even one long dormant)? Tell me about it in the comments and I'll check it out.