State of My Union

by Richard Reeve on January 29, 2009

in @CCSeed

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Image by melolou via Flickr

It’s possible that the data stream that seems so frantic now, with all the information flying into readers and emails, it seems possible that it will bloom a hundred fold in the coming decades.  It’s kind of a scary thought.  How will we manage effectively?

My story here is all recent, all still the story of a start up.  When I entered this space I was pretty timid.  I had less than 100 followers on twitter for two months, and my blogging, which starting over at Blogger, was a solitary affair.

I recognized the potential on these emerging technologies from a publishing standpoint and decided to find a way to get a foot hold.  The motivation was two fold.  At work, knowledge of these tools was lacking, and I’ve always had a literary part of myself that emerges now and then, surveys my grasp and capability, and to this point, tending to recede.

Well, it seems like I’ve broken through my own psychological resistance. All the start up goals that were mapped back in September when I attended Chris Brogan’s New Marketing Boot Camp have been achieved.

Much of my strategy has been built around three tools: this blog, my twitter network and google reader.  On the secondary level, backtype and friendfeed aggregate my activity with amazing results.  All the other tools are useful, but I do not really engage with them as a practice.

What I didn’t really expect was that all of you would be here to share this with me.  I was thinking publishing, not community.  Watching and participating, especially over at Liz Strauss’ blog, changed that.  It’s an amazing surprise to interact and engage, to share and lament, and to support one another as we make our separate ways in this journey of discovery.

So moving forward, I need to establish some new priorities.

  • I need to learn how to filter better, finding ways to gather the information that I need, while not getting distracted by the interesting but personally irrelevant stuff.
  • I need to learn how to use keywords effectively, so that organic search can lead people to the blog that might not find it otherwise.  Currently less than 3% of visitors come here that way.
  • I need to settle into rhythm with these tools that doesn’t get caught up felling everything is passing me by.  For that I’ll count on all of you to send me a heads up once and awhile.
  • I need to spend more time reading off line so that I can improve the content of what I share here.
  • Finally, I need to say thank you for being a part, the main part, of this journey.  It’s been both an honor and a privilege to engage with so many of you.
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  • This was a great read. I am trying to understand what I am doing as well. I end up reading hundred (or two, maybe more) blog posts every day, working on developing a twitter following, and really trying to figure out where my niche really is. Two blogs thisoldbrain.net reflect my interest in how we use our brains throughout a lifetime, and outlawcoachjournal.com my interest in iconoclasts (those I see as outlaw heroes in business). I don't think I am even close to hitting my pace yet. If I want to continue to do this, I would love to figure out ways to improve my writing, connect with readers, and, oh yeah, make some kind of a living doing it at the same time. Your post gives me some encouragement. Thanks.

    <abbr>Mike Kirkeberg´s last blog post..Six Questions to Ask Yourself About Sleep Apnea</abbr>

  • Hi Richard!

    Thank you for this! Being so new to the community (not even a month) I have been wondering how to integrate, implement and create reasonable balance with the intake and the output.

    Sometimes I wish there was two of me: one to read blogs and new information and the other to write. As you know I am monocular and I sometimes feel that I could go completely blind just reading blogs upon blogs, hundreds and hundreds of text messages and hundreds of emails on top of that...and then there's tweeting to add...and my own studies, phew!

    I am learning to tweet less, listen more and keep my focus on cultivating my new found community of which you have become a very important mentor to me.

    So I thank you for your wisdom and gentle strength!

    Best Always!

    <abbr>Henie´s last blog post..Friday Focus</abbr>

  • Henie, Your an example that reminds me much of myself last September, showing that it is possible for folks to jump in and gain traction right away. I think it's important to remember that the next member of our circle may not be online yet.

  • Thank you for sharing your experience, Richard. You have created a unique place here, which is one of the first I visit when I go online.

    You are plowing the most difficult ground here, the human soul - but it looks and feels very easy. Like that experienced farmer in the field, whom you might watch doing his work, who is accessible and talks about his work and it's context (in the pub, in the early afternoon). And like that farmer's your context is huge.

    All the best to you! May your Union prosper!

    <abbr>Detlef Cordes´s last blog post..The way up is the same as the way down</abbr>

  • Hey Detlef,
    One of the most amazing things for me has been to watch folks building off of each other, and that is a gift you bring each and every day. I can;t wait to see where your mind will go with something, and often when I hit the publish button, I'm thinking "now what's Detlef going to make of this?"

  • Richard, I'm not exactly sure what you do for a living, but I imagine you'd make an incredible researcher. From day one, above and beyond your fantastic content, I've been so impressed with your ability to put a task in front of you, research it, and put your findings into action. That you've done all that so well is one thing...having done so AND shared so much of your findings is the proverbial icing on the cake. Whatever you've gained from your community here and elsewhere around the web, you've given back a thousand-fold.

    Your to-do list of priorities above is an excellent one...and I can already see you in my mind's eye rolling up the sleeves and getting on with the check-marks.

    Keep up the excellent work my not-IRL friend...the next chapter promises more wonderful things for your community. Cheers.

    <abbr>Jeb Dickerson´s last blog post..Becoming…</abbr>

  • Thank you Jeb,
    I'm really glad you're here.

  • thanks for that, richard! i was just wondering how you manage everything.

    always great reading your posts and following your tweet stream.

    love the story in a feather dream. so powerful. and the fact that the indian said "dance it out" makes me think it should come with that much ease and grace when the time is right. hope that's not too optimistic for you;)

    <abbr>moira´s last blog post..Yoga: A Feel Good Recipe</abbr>

  • Hey Moira,
    Well, things have caught up with me a bit today...so sipping tea and resting. I actually very optimistic. When the glass has 1/8 of itself filled, I see it as 1/8 full, not 7/8 empty. Really, my concern is that there seems to be a tendency to call 1/8 full half full...

    As for the feather, it was a great gift.

    You all did a great job with your feel good fast. I learned a great watching.

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