I’ve been reading you for only a few weeks now and am actually very new to the whole blogging thing. I’m still at the reading/learning about stage, prompted because of having ideas for blogs/newsletters, etc. that have been flooding my consciousness. I’ve still got a ways to go before I am ready to start my own. But what prompted me to respond to this post was your explanation about building community and the relationship thereof with blogging media. See the light bulb going off in my head??? Well, this post did that for me. I’ve not been a 20-something for quite a long while now and having these kinds of conversations is still somewhat of a stretch for me. What I realize after reading this though, is that if I truly want to blog, then having conversations will be the essence of that. I’ve been big on community in the physical, face-to-face world, but this will push/allow me to grow in new ways. And that is what has always moved me forward to what’s next.

Thank you! Keep doing what you’re doing–I find your “voice” very stimulating!

Laurie

I think this should be mandatory reading for everyone who is trying to win big in the “making money online niche”.

thanks for this.

the timeliness and tone of this post is just what i needed to hear.

in the middle of branding/gauging tone of emails for fearless and this reminded me why i feel uncomfortable in the world of “branding” at times. more often than not, a facade of hip, cool branding/jargon is encouraged to “attract” people (personally makes my skin want to melt off) instead of the authenticity and genuine gratitude i feel toward anyone who reads my stuff. copy and engagement that’s “quirky” and “cool” doesn’t need to come off as arrogant. thanks for the reminder that sometimes my gut instinct is correct! sometimes!
ishita

There you go… Well done.

I couldn’t have said it better. Lard knows in the industry I’m so often correlated with, health-fitness-nutrition, this sort of non-sense is more than standard than the exception.

On a one to one basis, I’ve taken the time to suggest a similar path to some of the people who’ve sent me pitches… at least the ones I know and like.

One of the things I’ve noticed is that the people sending JV’s seem to suffer from a belief that what they are doing is the only thing going on on planet earth. Thus, when they email me I feel like I’ve walked in on a conversation mid-stream. They expect me to know what they are talking about and to have nothing going on but waiting for them to share this with me.

Furthermore, they make the mistake of thinking that just because making LOADS OF COLD HARD CASH is all that they think about, that the rest of us must think exactly the same.

That said, at the same time I do know that there are SOME people who have really built / created some interesting, well crafted and thoughtful products. And while I’m not a JV guy I do feel like there are some things that are a service to share.

Sure, they are the exception but when it’s really great stuff it makes all the difference. When it’s not all about money, it makes a difference. When the people really have a passion, talent and care…

Thanks for sharing this… it’s the sort of thing that really needs to be said and it’s good for all.

Thanks!

In Strength,
Shawn

PS Running a major JV promo for Strength-for-LIFE… oh wait, that’s a hardback book… no money to be made there. Ha… LOL!