My First Year Blogging
Hi, everyone. Today marks a very special day for Steve the Owl’s Blog. With two humble posts exactly one year ago: one shortly after midnight, and one at 10 pm that quiet Sunday evening, I entered the world of content-driven blogging. My first post talked about some experiences that I’d had earlier that year with people insisting on “their” parking space during a blizzard, and how this only led to fewer parking spaces available for everyone. My second, fitting for something that was written on a Sunday inspired by thinking through some things on the way home from church, got to the very core of why people want to build a business, and how some have gone to a message of prosperity gospel that, in my opinion, misses the entire point of the Bible and turns God into a genie.
With these humble beginnings, I began my blog, which has to this day operated under the idea of “life, business, and so much more.” While some may argue for a more narrow niche, I’ve found that my niche has been about the everyday experiences I have had (including the books I’ve read, the music I’ve heard, and the TV and movies I’ve seen) that teach so much about our personal development and business.
There has been a lot of trial and error along the way, but I thank each and every person who has been there with my as I have worked on this labor of love for the past year. With that in mind, I would like to thank the five most frequent commenters on my blog over the last twelve months, in order from 1-5.
Coach Freddie Coach Freddie has done some wonderful work in the world of video blogging, including a lengthy and excellent series on each of the 64 success principles presented by jack Canfield. He is truly a great mind in the world of personal development. We are at the top of each other’s commenter list, and it has been a great honor getting to know Coach Freddie. Keep your eyes out for a blog exchange between the two of us coming soon.
Oliver Tausend Oliver held the number-one spot among my commenters for a pretty long time. Like me, his interests are pretty varied, with a large focus on personal development and business with a lot of stories based on his personal experiences. He has done a lot of work in several different syndication groups, so if you’ve seen him around but haven’t stopped by this blog, be sure to do so.
Karen Marrow Karen is someone who focuses primarily on personal development, with some emphasis on business. I have found a lot of great value on her blog, and I had the honor of guest-posting on her blog earlier this spring after winning a contest for a great book on personal development, Happy for No Reason.
Jayne Kopp I met Jayne this winter on the Clever Marketer Prove It Challenge, and both of us crossed the finish line together on the same day. Considering that she was pretty far behind the pace for the challenge toward the end, this shows her dedication to her blog and to her readers. Be sure to read about her experiences with personal and business development, and how she weaves them into a life narrative.
Vicki Berry Vicki is someone who has several blogs, and the blog where I know her the best is the one that I linked to. She offers some great advice on business and blogging, with an emphasis on SEO and copywriting. If you want to learn about how to build a business and how to learn the rules of the road for creating a great blog, I can think of no better place to start.
Thank you to everyone who has read my blog and commented. I will never forget you. I hope to provide even more value in the second year of this blog than the first.
Tags: anniversary, comments, friends, retrospective
This entry was posted on Monday, May 16th, 2011 at 2:20 pm and is filed under Business, Culture, Married Life, Movies, Music, Personal Development, Steve's Book Club, Television, Thoughts on Faith. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 17th, 2011 at 1:14 am
Hi Steve – what a great tribute to those who have been with you on your journey! Congrats on your anniversary
I’ve found blogging to be a great way to connect with people that have similar interests – and the things you can learn from other people’s blogs has just blown me away. It’s an amazing journey! I’m looking forward to your continuing journey:)
Lori Tisot´s last [type] ..Backing Up Facebook Profiles and Fan Pages – A Few Solutions
May 17th, 2011 at 2:20 am
Congratulations Steve! May you continue to inspire others with your blog.
Lynne
May 17th, 2011 at 8:34 am
Happy Birthday to your blog. What better way to celebrate than to “make a toast” to the people that have supported you all this while. Looks like you made many valuable connections. Well, here’s wishing you many more wonderful blogging years and meeting many more friends along the way.
Lian´s last [type] ..Little Known Ways To Get Your Preschooler Reading
May 17th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Steve:
As I wrote (somewhere yesterday), it’s the wise owl who shares his knowledge and thanks those that helped it reach the higher limbs.
Congratulations on your “anniversary”
Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.´s last [type] ..No excuses will do!
May 17th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Hi Steve, Thanks so much for mentioning me. I am honored to have you as my friend, blogging partner, and it is always my pleasure to read your posts.
I have thought a lot about you these last couple of weeks, I have been trying to tie up some loose ends… and still recovering from he challenge! ha ha
I find it humorous that we not only crossed the finish line at the same time during our challenge, but we also initiated our blogs on the SAME day! May 15 was the date of my first post. Is it not neat to imagine we were both sitting at our computers getting to launch our Labours of Love??
You too are one of my fave commentators. I love the way you relate to what I’m saying and introduce your own thoughts and experiences.
Thanks so much Steve. I am honored to have you in my life even if a few miles of land puts distance between us!
Jayne
Jayne Kopp´s last [type] ..Online Business Reasons for Failure
May 17th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
PS. Steve, I believe loooong ago, I may have run into Vickie… I am looking forward to re visiting her blog as well as Karen’s blog. You have mentioned the book Happy for No Reason, I am intrigued by the title and the fact you enjoyed it so much. Thanks for mentioning everyone. Of course I know Oliver… but I haven’t met Fred either.
Can’t wait to get to know them!
Jayne
Jayne Kopp´s last [type] ..Online Business Reasons for Failure
May 17th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Hi Steve,
first of all congratulations to your blogging anniversary and thanks for the kind mention. I also started on my self-hosted blog one year ago though I posted a couple of articles on my wordpress.com blog before. Interesting that Jayne also started a year ago and that we all met in the challenge. I second her on what she writes about you as a commentators, the characterizations you wrote about us here on this post are another proof of it.
Keep up your good work.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend´s last [type] ..Business And Sports – Lessons From A Golf Lesson
May 17th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Hi Steve,
Keep up the good work! It’s been a pleasure to be in the prove it challenge with you!
Congratulations! This is a great month for blogiversaries!
Stacy
Stacy´s last [type] ..Finding Answers to the Riddles of Life
May 17th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Thank you for your reply, Lori! You are so right about how much you learn from other people’s blogs. I know that I didn’t even have the first clue about what to write about, and I’ve also been amazed at how the blog has evolved over the last year to something that I didn’t really expect it to be when I began, but it’s great to get the chance to share with so many people.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Thank you for your reply, Lynne! I’m honored to have so many people who have read it over the past year and found value in it.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Thank you for your reply, Lian! I have definitely learned a lot from the people I linked to in my top commenters section, and I have learned a lot from so many people since I started my blog. It has been a great journey, and I know that there will be other blogging anniversary celebrations to come!
May 17th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Thank you for your reply, Roy! This is a very fitting thought as I look back on the first year of my blog.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Thank you for your reply, Jayne! That is very interesting, that we started the same day, and we finished a challenge together on the same day. I have enjoyed reading your posts and your experiences; it has definitely been a wonderful journey. As far as the other commenters, I have learned a lot from all of you. Coach Freddie has some great posts. We met each other through the Unified Tribe. (Come to think of it, I think that you are the only one on the list who I didn’t see there. For that matter, that is where I met Heather, who hosted the challenge; so in a way, it was responsible for all of the top five commenters.) I can’t wait to see what is in store for next year!
May 17th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Thank you for your reply, Oliver! I thank you for finding enough value in what I wrote to continue the conversation. I think Stacy also started at about the same time, so it is just so interesting that so many people happened to start at about the same time and find each other.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Thank you for your reply, Stacy! I can think of about three or four people who all started their blogs the same month, which is very interesting to me. I kinda wonder how many of those people are current or former UT members
I know that a lot of people left (and I’m coming to the end of the road of my time there), but I will always give it credit for helping me and so many others get started. It was great to be in the challenge with you as well. I can’t wait to see the special surprise Heather has in store for those of us who finished and for the three winners, whoever they may be.
May 17th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Steve,
You are doing a great job with your blog and always have great content. It’s been great getting to know you. Thanks for the mention above and keep doing what you do best!
Stay inspired,
Karen
May 17th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
That’s awesome, a whole YEAR! I don’t know how I’ll feel after being at this for a year, but I know the feeling will be crazy good! Coming up with content for a whole year, with more planned for the year to come.
Congrats Steve!
Brandon Wraith
Knowledge is POWER
Brandon Wraith´s last [type] ..Do Things…Without Thinking!
May 18th, 2011 at 12:20 am
Hi Steve,
Happy Birthday to your Blog! What a nice way to seal off your first year… by honouring those who have supported you the most during that year.
I know Oliver, and have met Vicky in the past, but I don’t know the others. Yet.
Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling´s last [type] ..The Starting Point of All Achievement
May 18th, 2011 at 3:25 am
Hi Steve,
How wonderful! Congratulations on your first year of blogging.
I think it’s wonderful that as you look back you that those who have helped along the way.
Here’s to your next year of successful blogging.
All the best,
Emma
Emma´s last [type] ..6 reasons why chickens make the perfect pets – yes- really!!
May 18th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Thank you for your reply, Karen! I have enjoyed getting to know you and read your posts as well. I’ll continue to provide content, share, and get to know those who continue the conversation. I can’t wait to see what happens next year with the blog and with all of us and our pursuits!
May 18th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Thank you for your reply, Brandon! If you keep up the effort, keep writing your posts, you will find your voice and I’m sure that you will be able to look back with pride and satisfaction on your first year.
May 18th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thank you for your reply, Willena! The others have some really great blogs. Check them out, and I am sure you will love what they have to say. I couldn’t think of any better way to cap off that year, because in many ways, these people have helped me become a better blogger.
May 18th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Thank you for your reply, Emma! I have nothing but great hopes for the next year of blogging, because a lot of the things that I have learned in the past year are things that I can now build upon in making my blog the best I can, and I look forward to the journey and sharing it with others.
May 18th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Steve,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I am so inspired by the what you said concerning your second post. I couldn’t agree with you more about the prosperity gospel. It has stolen the hearts of many.
I am encouraged by what you are doing here.
Keep up the good work
Martin
Martin´s last [type] ..Self Discipline-Staying In Shape As An Entrepreneur
May 19th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Thank you for your reply, Martin! I am glad to hear that you appreciated my writings on the prosperity gospel. I remember more than a few heated debates on the prosperity gospel in seminary. I don’t have any problem with people getting rich, but I have a huge problem with people taking the attitude that every struggle is a sign of disfavor, kind of like Job’s friends. There are definitely times when we have to do things for ourselves, but I will continue to point out that there are bad things that happen to good people and vice versa, and that we should understand the way to build wealth and income are not the same thing as religious values.
May 19th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Steve, what a perfect way to commemorate your year of blogging. =) Congrats on your hard work and perseverance! =) I hope that I can continue strong for at least a year and hopefully beyond as you have. =)
Oliver and Jayne are some of my favorite bloggers, but I’ll have to meet Coach Freddie, Karen and Vicki as well. Thank you so much for the recommendations. =)
Take care and looking forward to reading more and more! =)
Samantha Bangayan´s last [type] ..A 5K Race on Crutches
May 20th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Thank you for your reply, Samantha! Just keep at it, and you will not only continue, but as you continue to do so, you will learn and get even better with your blog. You’re welcome with the recommendations. They have some really great content, and I’m sure you’ll like it.
May 25th, 2011 at 1:04 am
Happy anniversary Steve, a year of blogging is a milestone worth celebrating. Good to see someone reflecting on the process and experience up to this point on something they spend good time doing.
May 26th, 2011 at 1:18 am
Thank you for your reply, Adrian! It has been a good year and I’ve learned a lot about blogging. Now, I’m looking forward to making the second one even better.
June 5th, 2011 at 6:27 am
Well congratulations Steve,
Since we only met w few months ago I had no idea your blog was coming up to a year. Nice work!
It’s true there’s much trial and error along the way, and blogging is a constant learning process, certainly an enjoyable one.
Wonderful to see a reward fro some of your ‘regulars’ over the time as well, it’s always good to give something back and it just goes to show the positive network which we are all a part of here in the blogging community.
Here’s to another (even more successful) year my friend!
Cheers,
Jym
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June 7th, 2011 at 12:15 am
Thank you for your reply, Jym! I was definitely glad to give credit to some of those who encouraged me along the way. I’m looking forward to see how things look on the second year of blogging next May.