I blog for a number of reasons. The primary reason, however, is to create interesting and engaging conversations with the hope that those conversations turn into long-lasting relationships. And, of course, some of those relationships will turn into business opportunities. But I’m not blogging first and foremost for business. I’m truly blogging for the conversation.
Just a couple of days ago I asked the question are you the whole or just part of the whole? That lead to a very interesting conversation around whether we look at ourselves as whole beings or beings made up of parts. I’ll let you read and add to the conversation, if you like.
So when I was considering Darren Rowse’s lastest Writing Project, I wanted to write something that tied into that conversation. Yeah, sure, I could write the standard, top 5 blogging tips list. But that’s boring, really.
Instead, what I’ve done is gathered 5 of favorite quotations and relate them to blogging. Each of these five inspire me in different ways. And while there are thousands of quotes I’ve read (and collected), these are the most interesting ones I could think of.
- The drops of rain make a hole in the stone not by violence but by oft falling. -Lucretius
Conversational blogging is not a sprint to happy high lands of massive traffic, huge link backs and Alexa rankings. It’s a marathon of touching one person at a time with something that’s meaningful to their lives. - It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it. -Albert Einstein
At the very least, a conversational blogger gives as much (s)he receives. And if (s)he can give more, it’s all the better. - Grant that we may not so much seek to be understood as to understand. -St. Francis of Assisi
The conversational blogger doesn’t see his/her self as the expert that everyone should be learning from. Rather, they see themselves as students more than teachers - always being open to learning from what others have to share. - Once harm has been done, even a fool understands it. -Homer
The conversational blogger is careful with his/her words because (s)he does not wish harm to anyone. They may have strong opinions, but they never make it personal or hurtful to others. - Talent develops itself in solitude; character in the stream of life. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Conversational bloggers are in a constant cycle of learning, growing, changing and integrating. Their work is when the keyboard is silent. And, the fruits of their work are shown in how they interact with others.
Okay, I can’t stop. So how about two three more…
- To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day. -Lao Tzu
As conversational bloggers, we can learn to fill our selves every day with more knowledge about how to blog, how to drive traffic, how to get more links. What get, then is that - knowledge. But wisdom, and great conversation, comes from stripping it all down to just the conversation. Share, give, link and the rest takes care of itself. - To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself. -Soren Kierkegaard
The conversational blogger stretches his/her self with their blog. Since they don’t have to be the expert, there’s room for them to slip into risks without unknown outcomes. This can become exciting and engaging conversation, without which we’re not authentic. - What do I think about when I strike out? I think about hitting home runs. -Babe Ruth
One of my favorite all-time quotes. With your blog, swing for the fences. Just know that sometimes you’ll miss. So don’t let striking out get you down. Think about the sweet feeling when you connect and the ball goes sailing over the wall.
So, there it is…five eight inspirational quotes that tie directly into better conversational blogging.
Be sure to check out some of the posts that are showing up daily at Problogger. You can view the entire lists for Days 1, 2, 3, & 4 as Darren posts them. I’ve found some great topics from Day 2:
- 5 Back-to-Basics Strategies For Renewing Your Energy by Ririan
- Top 5 Top Blog Posts in SEO by Michael Jensen
- Top 5 Steps to Redirect Traffic from Your Old Site to a New One by Friedbeef
- Top 5 Tools Every Blogger Should Use by Scott
- If Only I Could Read Just 5 Blogs! by Jonathan-C. Phillips
- Top 5 Ways To Stop Being a Perfectionist by Krista
- Top 5 Easy Ways to Create Information Products by Gobala Krishnan
- Top 5 Things Moms Should Keep in the Family Minivan by Neena
- Blogging Networks: Top 5 Pros and Cons by Singhania
- My Top Five Motivational Quotes by Dave Das (hey, like me)
- Top 5 Free Ways to “Start” Generating Traffic to Your Blog by Ankesh Kothari
- Top 5 Tips for Beating Blogger’s Block by Joanna Young
- The top 5 reasons RSS is so great by Allan
- The Top 5 Strangest Things I’ve Learned While Blogging by Robert Hruzek
- 5 best places to go while visiting Acadia National Park by Norman Sargent (filed for later)
- Do You Know These 5 Easy Ways of Making Online Friends? by kayliz
- Building A Blog Community by Shelly Kneupper Tucker
- Top 5 Ways To Identify a Bad Listener by Derick
- 5 things I wish all bloggers did by Zieak
And please visit some of my friends who I know have participated:
- Self Improvement Strategy: Top 5 Reasons to put a STOP to Top 5 Lists! by Aaron Potts
- My Top 5 Successful Bloggers Who Made a Difference by Liz Strauss
- Top 5 Reasons GPS Tracking Makes sense by Dave Starr
- 5 Mistakes Made by Beginning Programmers by Brandon Wood
- Top 5 WordPress Plugins That Help Increase Comments by JohnTP
- The Top 5 Free Search Engine Optimization Tools by Wendy Piersall
What are your favorite inspirational quotes - whether they relate to blogging or not?
My name is Dawud Miracle and I'm a
71 responses so far ↓
Wow, your site is a gold mine of ideas for my blog - which basically focusses on useful lists.
Thank you for writing these
Much linky lovey will follow.
Dawud, thanks for the nod!
Your re-interpretation of those quotes is great! Good work!
One of my favorite quotes related to programming comes from Steve McConnell, but could easily be applied to other areas of life:
This post hit home with me. I love it when my visitors comment, and when I can comment back. Sometimes, I get stories out of people, which makes the day worthwhile. Thanks for adding my contribution as a link.
Shelly
Oops. I meant to give you a quote, and I don’t know who might have said it:
“Those who never chase a dream never catch one.”
Wow! No wonder I keep checking your site. Quotes #1 and #3, especially, blew my socks off. I don’t want to sell anything, I just want to be a great conversational blogger. I know a lot about a couple of areas, but I don’t want to set myself up as a teacher, I want interaction, sharing and mutual learning. That’s the big adventure of my life.
So, back to the keyboard and practice, practice, practice.
Thanks!
Three things:
1) Awesome post! Seriously… one of the best I’ve read from the project.
2) “The conversational blogger doesn’t see his/her self as the expert that everyone should be learning from. Rather, they see themselves as students more than teachers - always being open to learning from what others have to share. ”
AMEN!
3) Thanks for mention
Lists,
Thanks so much. I really enjoy what I’m doing with my blog. And I love the conversations. So thanks for coming by and I hope to see you back soon.
Robert,
Thanks. I was fun to write this post. Fun and useful always go good together.
Brandon,
I like. Some might read and think it’s not gentle. Yet sometimes the best solution isn’t gentle. But we can be even when we use brute force.
The Eclectic Life,
Love the quote. So true, my friend.
I’m glad this post touched you. Which was your favorite?
Jean,
Number 1 is probably my favorite of those I’ve included. Though I have a soft spot for the Babe Ruth quote seeing as I spent a lot of my life playing baseball - and it’s a great quote.
I’m glad you keep returning.
Derick,
Ah, how do I respond to that? First you pay me this huge complement, then you quote me. Boy, I’m finger-tied.
All of them did, but this one most:
“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself. -Soren Kierkegaard”
Every day I try to risk by opening up about life, hoping it touches a chord in others so that they will share. I try most often to write essays that touch a “universal theme”…just “life.”
Dawud
Thanks for the nod to my site
Just followed your link back to find this site for the first time. I really like the design and greatly appreciate how easy it is to scan your articles. I’ll have to take some tips from it for my own use
Top job Dawud, I really enjoyed this, it looks like you got really carried away, especially since you said you were only going to add two more and then added three
Oh, and am I not your friend?
The Eclectic Life,
I know what you mean. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve when I blog. But I can’t see doing it any other way.
Scott,
Sure. I loved your post.
Feel free to borrow anything you like from my site - apart from the core graphics - to use on your site. Thanks for your kind words. And welcome.
Armen,
I know, I know. I can’t help it. I’m a quote junkie in the first place. You should see the list I started with - about 30. It was hard getting down to eight. Oh well, just more for later.
This post has struck a chord with me. I don’t really know why - perhaps it’s because I’ve seen too many ‘how to get links’ and ‘how to market a successful blog’ and ‘how to write blog posts’ that a take on conversational blogging is just … a breath of fresh air.
I love Lao Tzu’s quote. And you’ve made me realize … at the end of the day the mark of a true successful blogger isn’t the money he makes, it’s the lives he’s touched.
Thank you.
Eli,
I take that as a high compliment, thanks. My blog is all about the conversation - with the occasional risk that doesn’t work. But that’s why I’m blogging in the first place - conversation.
I couldn’t agree more…a successful blogger is the one who does his/her little part to make our world a better place. And, we still need to pay the bills.
You seem to be as addicted to quotes as I am - great list
What about Liz’s manifesto?:
I will be a writer that keeps alive the music of the language, holds head and heart together in the words, and writes in hope and passion that one person will be better because he or she read what I wrote.
alicia,
I could say that too. I’m always inspired by words, whether they’re in song, poems, speeches, books…doesn’t matter.
Thanks for visiting.
Jean,
Absolutely. Without a doubt I feel the same way as Liz. I want what I write on my blog to help make the world a little better place to live - one person at a time.
What a wonderfully brilliant addition to the power of blogging. It confirms what I believe and helps me refocus what I desire.
I tried to catch your insight but it went so far over the wall… man, it’s gone. Great work.
I LOVE gathering the meaningful words that have been said in the world. Thank you for presenting me with some that I haven’t see yet.
-Renee
wear the law of attraction
http://www.manifes-t.com
Very nice! I am the writer of “Top 5 things to do in Istanbul” This was my first group activity, but i liked it very much.
http://meeting-continents.blog.....anbul.html
Have you ever been to Istanbul which links east to west, and west to east like a weblink. Istanbul played such a critical role in the world politics and culture throughout the history.
Now i have a dream i would like to share with you and Darren Rowse. All the Probloggers should meet at Istanbul and join the 29th edition of the Eurasia Marathon on Sunday 28th of October, 2007.
Let’s meet where the continents meet : As the Istanbul Eurasia Marathon starts from the Anatolian side while taking the runners to the most beautiful spots of town, signing its name under a touristic attraction as well. The Bosphorus is one of the most beautiful spots on the world and as you run through it, history of the centuries run with you on the streets.
I joined the 28th Intercontinental Istanbul EurAsia Marathon on 5th of November, 2006 together with my friends, Joe and Suat San. We enjoyed the wonderful Bosphorus, and beautiful streets of Istanbul on a cold but sunny Sunday morning. The slogan for last year’s marathon was “let’s run for a non-smoking world”.
this was my blog post for last year’s marathon:
http://meeting-continents.blog.....athon.html
I would be happy to invite you to the 29th Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, the only marathon to run between two continents - Europe and Asia. Istanbul is one of the oldest settlements on the world. What about participating in the 29th EurAsia Marathon in 2007 which takes place in the most beautiful places of a wonderful city that has been the capital of three empires ?
You may find details about the marathon here:
http://www.istanbulmarathon.org/english/main.asp
Please let me know if you are interested.
Have a nice day!
Mert
Mr. Besilly,
Thanks. Love the name. Now I have to click over to your blog to find out how Mr Besilly is…
Renee,
You’re so welcome. Thank you for reading my blog. I do hope to see you back sometime.
Mert,
No, I haven’t had the chance to get to Istanbul yet. My wife and I would love to visit some time.
Thank you for the invitation. My wife and I, howver, are expecting our third child the first of November. So travel for her is out of the question. And there’s no way I’d miss the birth of my children.
So while I’m touched and pleased with your invitation…I have to decline. Maybe next year? Thank you so much for asking.
I love the quotes. This was nicely done.
Deb,
Thanks.
I enjoyed the post, Dawud. It’s creative to link quotes with blogging.
Doris,
Thanks. I had a lot of fun writing it. I tend to love quotes. Actually I tend to love anything that opens the heart and moves your spirit.
Wow, I’m glad I found this post and your link to Darren’s writing project! I think I’ll be reading for the whole evening now!