At the new year, Jeff Pulver posted his “Bucket List” to Facebook, an outline of things that he’d like to accomplish, more so than a New Year’s resolution. Jeff tagged Merlene Paynter, who then tagged me, along with social media powerhouses Laura Fitton (aka @Pistachio) and Jim Long (aka @newmediajim). It was then that I knew the jig was up.
Merlene didn’t know about my dreaded secret. A fact so dark and horrible in social media circles that I felt it was only a matter of time before I was discovered and shunned, amish-style, by the community.
The thing that kept me awake at night: I don’t didn’t have my own blog.
Sure, I’ve had a few attempts at a personal blog when I was home alone with a baby, but I quickly got bored with the “cheese sandwich” aspect of it. Professionally, I’ve participated in social media in many other ways:
>I contribute to the OneDegree blog and Media Bulleseye. I’ve guest blogged too.
>I comment on blog posts regularly (here, here, here, here, here and here, for starters).
>I am a heavy Twitter participant, starting discussions, contributing, offering support.
>I started the Twitter Punks Flickr group for like-minded rabble-rousers.
>I helped to start the wiki for SXSW Twitter buds and participate in other social media wikis and groups.
>I use Seesmic and Utterz.
>I share my bookmarks on del.icio.us and my photos on Flickr.
>Of course I’m on LinkedIn and answer questions. I’m on Facebook and was a group Chief Instigator.
>And I’ve lost count of how many different social media sites I’ve puttered with, because every week there are more to play with, like BrightKite and FriendFeed.
Despite all of those efforts, without a blog of my own, I felt like a social media fraud.
Thank you, Merlene, for unwittingly making me overcome one of my biggest self-imposed obstacles to success. Just like your Bucket List, I want to tap into the best part of myself too. So, before this year gets away from me and the shiny has rubbed off of good intentions, I’m coming clean and stepping up.
Welcome to my blog.
Are the monsters pictures of your sisters? I think I recognize some of them…
Tell me where you find the time so I can get some too! Looks great….what was your excuse for waiting so long again?
Love the monsters! Good luck with it Adele. I think sister no 5 is the one on the left with many eyes! hahaha.
It’s a testament to your pre-blog presence that you got 50+ comments just for saying “Hello”!
I think that a lot of the conventional wisdom about online presence that has formed over the past few years of bloggery is coming under constant revision now, thanks to the many new collaborative tools available.
The really good news about this: anybody can start at their own best point of entry. If you like tweeting, then tweet. If FB is your thing, go for it. Flickr? Rock on. And then it can morph in wonderful new ways.
Anyway: welcome, formally, to the blogosphere. Your RSS feed went straight into the inner circle of my feed reader. Cheers!
Welcome to blogging! LOVE those monsters, awesome!
I’ve subscribed, can’t wait to see what you have to say.
Have fun!
Let me begin with some Washington-speak. “I would like to associate myself with the remarks of my esteemed colleagues here.” hehe
As I am comment number 56, it occurs to me that there are A LOT of folks out there who care what you have to say and appreciate the conversation you bring to the table. Looking forward to keeping up with this part of your world!
The Curse of the Sophomore Slump // May 25, 2008 at 1:03 pm
[...] incredibly welcoming and supportive response that my first blog post brought. There were more than 50 comments left by an incredible array of heavy hitters from Twitter and the social media scene, people who [...]
Great intro, Adele – you are quite the Twitter-holic aren’t you? =)
Following you there…!
(ps, found you via your guest post on conversation agent)
To Blogroll or Not to Blogroll // Dec 23, 2008 at 1:46 am
[...] be honest, when I first started this blog, it went live and started attracting comments before I was ready with all my widgets and [...]