BLOGS TAKE YOU PLACES

The funny thing about blogs is that they take you places.  Sean’s took him from Portland to Thailand.  Matt’s took him from Nashville to a new life and job in Chicago.  Mine has taken me from Memphis to Vermont to New Zealand.  Because of our blogs we connected with the right people who helped us make these moves and plans possible. Blogging can take you places if you are open to the possibilities that will grow out of your blogging.

BLOGS GIVE YOU SUPPORT

No matter what you want to do – be it become location independent, lose 50 pounds, pick up a new hobby or start a whole new career, there is a community of people online who have already done it or are doing it now.  Getting online and starting your own blog gives you a chance to connect with these people.  When I started trying to lose weight I didn’t have the support I needed in my life so I started blogging.  Now I have a great weight loss support community that helps me in my journey to be healthier.  Blogging is one of the fastest ways to connect with like-minded people.

BLOGS GIVE YOU DIRECTION

Many of us bloggers started blogging without any direction.  We have found our paths or at least a good directional wind in life because we started writing and putting ourselves out there.  In some ways I’ve done this already and now with this blog I’m trying to do it again.  I’ve not been writing here long (and I still can’t decide on a blog name) but I’m beginning to see how I’m drawn to travel, lifestyle design, and business related blogs and blogging.  The more I blog here the more I will be able to clarify what it is I want to be writing about and what I want to be doing with my life.  Blogging can help you figure out what you want to do with your life.

START BLOGGING NOW

I agree with Sean and Matt that a blog can and will help you achieve your goals, no matter what they are.  I also believe a blog can help you define new goals and explore new experiences.  No matter what you want to do we all seem to agree that a blog can help you.

If you aren’t a blogger yet, I suggest you start a blog on anything that interests you.  Start writing and find out what a blog can do for you.  

I’ve still not decided if this is a good thing or a bad thing.  It might be both.

My friend Ryan calls himself web shy.  He barely has a facebook and while I could imagine him being a great blogger he is fearful of blogs and most social media.  We are complete opposites.  I live on the web.  It’s where I keep my photos, my memories, my thoughts.   It’s where I get my news, watch my favorite shows, meet new people.  I spend more time connected to the web than is probably good for me and couldn’t imagine my life without all the tools it offers me.

Apparently a third of Web users under 25 (me, me!) claim they don’t care about their “digital tattoo” (personal info posted online that is easily found) and the items they post online, says Symantec.  They found that nearly two-thirds of those surveyed had uploaded personal photographs, while 79 percent had at least part of their address online and nearly half had their mobile phone numbers online.

Personal photos? Check. Address?  Well, I currently live where I work, so check.  Mobile phone number? Check.

So many of us digital natives have created online databanks of personal information about ourselves.  We’ve been on social networking sites for years.  We’ve blogged.  We’ve uploaded photos.  It’s just part of our lives.

However, quite a few surveyed were concerned about the negative impact their online imprint would have on their reputation and many wished they could erase things online.  No one wants to end up getting fired via facebook or because of their blog.  While we want to share and feel comfortable doing so, it seems many of us forget about the audience that does in fact exist.  We forget that their could be negative consequences to sharing online.

Personally, I am not unhappy with anything that is online under my name.  I do share a lot online and some of it very personal, but nothing is inappropriate.  I’ve found communities of like-minded people that I could not have found elsewhere.  I’ve also been smart enough to think about what I’m posting and doing before I’ve done it (always asking, would I be cool if my mom saw this?).  For me there has not yet been a negative side to sharing my life with the interwebs.

What about you?  Is there anything online you wish you could erase?  Do you think you share too much personal information online?

I follow @memphisnews because it is the best feed of Memphis news stories plus Kerry has built a community around it. I also follow other Memphis media and those that work in and around it: @theogeo, @webraw, @scribblescrawl, @wendi_c_thomas, @NewsCam, @valonfox, @RichardRansom3, @kontjianthony, @JamalMajor, @richardalley, @MemphisFlyer, @Mediaverse

For great thoughts on local Memphis topics I follow @jensized, @memphisjed, @GatesofMemphis (and everyone else on this list.)

I follow @greggwitt because he likes to bike and has a lot of good insight about the happenings in Memphis. Other bicycling folks in Memphis: @jonesdavide, @ismh, @memgreenline, @cliff_heegel, @ibikememphis

I follow @kookycanuck because Kooky Canuck makes delicious food, know hows to use social media for his business, and he let me order lunch through Twitter. Other social media types in Memphis who I follow: @LunaWeb, @lalunablanca, @blakepalmer, @bethgsanders, @thespacebase, @onehalfamazing, @mtaylor, @m_barger, @cbahm, @joespake (plus he can sell you a house).

For business and entrepreneurial thoughts and information I follow @ECMathews who is a leader helping Memphians launch startups. Also good for business insights: @brettgb, @mardiaz

I follow @thechrishaley because he draws great comics. More creative people in Memphis: @amiev (photo), @cpritchett (painting), @regalnites (photo), @MyBrewTube (movies), @jtimberlake (music)

I follow @gorocketfuel and the team there because they are an awesome company making badass websites in Memphis. The RocketFuel team: @LMReeves, @reubenb, @loribrunson, @caitlin, @rsbrown

The PR and Marketing people in Memphis I follow: @jameshutto, @SMSmidsouth, @LoriTurner, @Patrick_PR, @lokion, @VIDAPR, @reddeluxe, @HowellMarketing

I follow some Memphis people just for laughs: @sloganeerist, @fancycwabs, @bdix, @knots

These people I follow because they are awesome Memphians who have helped me, answered my questions, or made me smile: @dpritchett, @loudersoft, @rakuette, @skippytpe, @kjester, @paulandash, @moodyboy, @ruebenrock, @zacattac, @cechastain, @directorjones, @elisper, @mdinstuhl

I follow @mikejarrell because he likes Memphis tweetups. Other people I’ve met thanks to Twitter, #saucersunday and various tweetups: @Jabrown85, @Jabrown84, @calebt, @themortalcoil, @scout, @Potato_Chip, @bgswanson, @heatherleanne, @lemonslush, @Aranhia, @SWB, @team140, @suzanneschmidle, @susankmealer, @toddw

And of course I follow the people I know in real life @COYIS, @glamrokz, @BenJBailey, @StephanieMarieS, @LaurenWarberg, @Heather_Alysse, @bkblanket

(This list is not complete and it is always growing and changing. Feel free to recommend people I should follow in the Memphis area. I’m @marythompson on Twitter.)