I built and sold a blog once. This one (which only partially works any more).
The idea for it came to me while traveling like crazy for my day job at the time. I’d previously created a few WordPress websites, so I felt I could get it up and running without too much difficulty.
In addition, many years ago I earned a Bachelor's degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. I’ve always loved writing. So I leaned into this blog after being laid off from that grueling job. I wrote, and wrote, and wrote, while looking for new employment.
It was part labor of love, part saving grace, because running the blog provided a meager, but adequate, income for the 13 months I was on the job market. It opened up multiple consulting engagements and led to friendships that are still important to me to this day.
Overall, the experience was both humbling (being on the job market for 13 months) and eye-opening (learning everything there was to learn about WordPress, writing, search engine optimization, marketing, partnerships, content calendars, Google Analytics, email marketing, and web design). I’m utterly grateful for it.
But writing about 300 articles over the course of a couple years can burn a person out. It did me. So for the years since I sold it in 2016, I’ve never had the energy to do much writing. Let alone publicly. Let alone with intention behind it.
Ready to Restart
I’m ready to restart all of that. The world has gone mad since 2016 and I have opinions about it. I didn’t really blog back in the day, as in, personal blogging. I ran a blog/magazine. Big difference.
My problem with the world is that we don’t talk with each other constructively any more. We issue statements. We show no curiosity about others. We lean into stereotypes. We don’t ask questions. We lay sketchy claims and cling to our worldviews.
I love the words of novelist Wendell Berry: “You have to develop your imagination to the point that permits sympathy. You have to be able to imagine lives that are not yours or the lives of your loved ones or the lives of your neighbors. You have to have at least enough imagination to understand that if you want the benefits of compassion, you must be compassionate.”
My opinions will resonate with few people other than me, and that’s okay. And there are friends who probably think we think alike because they’ve known me for years, but they’ll be surprised by, and disagree with, my perspectives. But I have to write about what I’m seeing, thinking, and feeling as a creative, mental, and emotional outlet.
Writing Clarifies Thinking
I agree with the notion that writing clarifies thinking. Ameet Ranadive of McKinsey said in 2013 that writing enables you to effectively frame your ideas and arguments, can help you to disaggregate and prioritize the most important issues, and enables you to synthesize data and reconcile different viewpoints.
It’s important to me to be aware of what’s going on around me. Aware of others’ circumstances. Aware of the thinking behind the decisions that are being made around the world. Aware of my own limitations and shortcomings so I can be better.
To help me uncover my own Aha moments, I’ll be writing here at this site as well as on Substack. You’re welcome to follow along. Comments welcome on Substack, but they won’t be available here for the time being. Maybe in the future.
Side Note…
If you know me and you’re a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may find it interesting that I’m also documenting my Come, Follow Me study.
