I’m very proud to announce that, as of last week, The Art of Great Things readership has grown to over 1,000 subscribers!
1,000. A number that’s thrilling, humbling, and frightening all at once. A number that means one thousand people like you have been kind enough to read what I have to say, add your thoughts, and then stick around for more. Some of you have even taken the time to share AOGT with your friends, bringing more people into our community here.
That’s amazing. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.
You – all of you – are wonderful. I know it’s cheesy, but I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
***
In fact, if you’re subscribed to AOGT, before you read any further, please take just a second to introduce yourself via the contact page. I swear I won’t spam you; I just want to say thank you personally. When you’re done, come back here and keep on reading, because I have a personal confession to share with you.
***
In the six months I’ve been blogging (and especially in the three months spent here at The Art of Great Things), I’ve messed up so much it isn’t even funny.
Some of you who have been around since the beginning know that I originally started writing a blog called Beyond Freelancing. After a month or two, though, I realized that I was going in the wrong direction.
After agonizing over the decision for weeks (and with the help of the wonderful Leo Babauta), I finally mustered the courage to admit my mistake and start over here on AOGT, losing most of my original audience in the process.
(If you followed me here from Beyond Freelancing, let me just say that you are responsible, in a big way, for keeping me going.)
Most of the old posts from Beyond Freelancing are still here in the archives, and you can go back and read them to see just how bad some of them are. In fact, I’ve been tempted many times over the past few months to delete them – but I’ve made a commitment to honesty and authenticity, and I intend to keep it. I hope you don’t think less of me after reading them.
If there’s a lesson to be drawn from my inauspicious beginnings, it’s this: There are few mistakes you can’t recover from – better to start wrong than not to start at all.
Since then, I’ve been locked in a constant struggle to find my voice and my direction. Some of those struggles I turned into posts … others, I kept hidden.
I struggle often with these questions:
- Am I truly being helpful to the people who take time to read my writings?
- Do I have what it takes to be remarkable?
- How do I measure up against the people and writers I admire?
The first question, at least, you can help me answer. Am I being helpful to you? What topics would you like me to write about? What questions and struggles can I help with?
***
The scariest part about blogging for me is exposing my creative and work processes to the world.
I am, by nature, a very private person when it comes to my Work (yes, with a capital W). When I write, I refuse to let people read my drafts before I’m fully satisfied. My girlfriend is the one exception to this rule – but it’s taken years for me to get to that point.
But blogging, as I’ve said before, is all about the process. It’s life, work, trial-and-error, failure, perseverance, and success, all rolled together and expressed via RSS feed. There’s no time to make everything perfect and polished, and once your thoughts are out in the world, there’s no way to fully take them back.
That’s hard for me to do. That’s why I’m so often tempted to go back and “censor” my previous writings.
I’ve screwed up in other ways too. Sometimes I forget to respond to emails. Sometimes I forget to reply to your comments. And sometimes I try to make those screwups disappear by pretending they never happened.
But I’ve realized the very real benefits of sharing the journey, even if I don’t look quite as good after doing it. To hell with appearances. Those of you who are also bloggers: don’t shy away from laying bare the unfinished work you’re doing; it’s how you’ll find your voice.
So in the spirit of transparency, this year I’ll be keeping all of you posted on what I’m doing and planning on doing here at The Art of Great Things (and life in general).
This Thursday, look for information about an upcoming newsletter, e-book series, a posting schedule change, and more.
Most importantly, I want to create a true community. And I want you all to be part of it.
There’s a lot for me to work on in 2010. I plan on stretching myself further than I ever have before. What about you? What’s been on your mind lately?
***
In writing down all these concerns and questions, I don’t want to make it seem like I’m unhappy or ungrateful. In fact, it’s just the opposite. These past few months have been the best, most productive, and most instructive of my life. I’m happy. I’m deliriously, undignifiedly (doubt that’s actually a word) happy.
But at the same time I have to acknowledge that the struggles, the frustration, and the failures were part of building that happiness.
I’ve rediscovered so much of myself through action, through doing, and that’s always a little bit painful. And I’m not quite there yet.
But 1,000 of you, even though we’ve never met in person, have been willing to help me along the way.
So thank you again. All of you. Please stick around so I can repay the favor.
All the best,
~Jeffrey
18 Comments on “1,000 Readers and a Personal Confession”
says:
Congratulations on the milestone! I am only a recent subscriber but am loving every post of it so far.
says:
Congratulations, this is amazing! Thanks for being so open and honest, it really inspires me to keep up my own journey.
says:
Congrats, Jeffrey! As you may remember, I've been a subscriber before I started my own blog. For me, I find that I really enjoy your posts where you show more about yourself, your growth and what has and hasn't worked. So definitely, I look forward to reading more!
says:
Awesome! Congrats! I am a big fan, so keep up the great work.
says:
Hey Jeffrey,
Congratulations on the milestone. I wasn't with you in the beginning but I'm sure with you now. And yes, you're being helpful. If it's relevant to you, write it. It's part of the surprise. Your words have been thoughtful, insightful, and helpful. (Can I get more -ful words in there?) I'm not sure where you were going with your previous blog but this one's direction is great. Keep up the good work and I look forward to your future posts.
P.S. I wouldn't worry too much about measuring up against other writers. Like any art, writing comes from the soul, it's a piece of you on the page (or screen). Simply write as well as you can and the rest will come. Few artists are ever happy with their final work. It's this restlessness that keeps them creating their art. Do what you do best. That's all we can ask of you.
says:
Thanks, Tom! Welcome to the group; hope you continue to enjoy what you read here in the future.
says:
I do remember, Belinda – thanks so much for sticking around :) For the record, I read your blog as well, and I'm always impressed by your poetic style.
says:
Thank you for the support and wisdom, Andrew. Restlessness is a good way to describe it. Sometimes it's a good feeling (the I-can't-wait-to-get-home-and-work feeling) and sometimes it's horrible (the what-the-hell-do-I-think-I'm-doing feeling).
I always tell myself to calm down and focus on doing my best work, not the best work of others, but it's nice to hear the advice come from someone else.
says:
Thank you, Melissa!
says:
Omar, thank you for being one of my first readers, and thank you even more for staying. Being open and honest is difficult for me, but I think it's the right thing to do.
says:
Jeffrey, you did a great job (although at times you don't feel like). So concratulations for the symbolic figure that proves you are on the right path.
Strugge and doubts – well, why should blogging be any different than “real” life. I guess all of us bloggers have those – and they are testing us constantly. I am the first to raise my hand on this.
Every blog post takes courage – to write, to edit and to publish. So every time you hit that publish button it is a victory of courage over your (and my) own doubts in ourselves.
I've been already with you since “Beyond Freelancing” and although I sometimes get lost in other projects from following and commenting, your blog is a great inspiration for my own progress.
So the question whether you are helpful is answered by 1,000+ people with a yes – they subscribed . Don't hide your light, let it shine brightly.
Keep it up man – you rock!
says:
Jeffrey, this is such a great milestone, congrats. I too rebranded and started a new site a few months after Leo and Mary's bootcamp and have been very pleased with the progress going to 250 plus subscribers in six weeks.
I remember your old site and it was good then, but you can really see that you've taken an extra amount of focus to craft some terrific articles on the new site here.
says:
Congratulations, Jeffrey! That's quite a milestone. I've always enjoyed your writing, and I'm so glad I found you.
says:
Jeffrey:
Congratulations. That's a great accomplishment and very well deserved. I have enjoyed reading your posts since your earlier days on the last site. You consistently have provided quality content and information that is very helpful. Glad to be a part of that 1007….
says:
Jeffrey,
Congratualations. That's awesome. I actually discovered your blog at World's Strongest Librarian and I liked your content alot. I run a podcast series called interviews with up and coming bloggers, and I'd love to talk to you about how you have grown and advice you can give to people looking to get to where you are at.
says:
Srinivas – I'd be happy to share what I've learned over these past few
months. Feel free to drop me a line whenever you want to chat :)
says:
Thank you for the support, Sibyl! I'm glad you're a part of the 1007 too.