Fight for your Right to Write
” . . . such arrant nonsense emanating from the pen of someone who is supposed to be a thinker.”
- Ravi Zacharias criticizing atheist Stephen Jay Gould
I have to admit that – when reading some of my older posts – “arrant nonsense” comes to mind. A friend of mine once said that writing is a dying art because information is dying – changing – so fast, that anything we write becomes immediately outdated and makes us look foolish the following week.
“I wrote WHAT?” I moan.
So we blog our half-assed meanderings. Yet, there’s meaning and power in words. For me, there’s a release – a “figuring out of things” that sometimes only happens if words come out in typeset.
In fact, this may be the very reason I have missed writing so much. I can attribute this ongoing feeling of stagnancy to NOT writing recently.
It’s also the reason I encourage other small business owners – who are almost always dynamic personalities – to engage blogging and social media as a life / business outlet. It’s one HELL of a story – your business and LIFE – so why not document it? Why not share it? People (aka customers) are looking for passion and authenticity after all, right?
If you’re still at Square 1 with use of social media for your business, don’t try to “swallow a baby goat”. Start by getting some information from the how-to experts. A great source of information is Kyle P. Lacy (Kyle’s website or Kyle on twitter) – who just released Twitter Marketing for Dummies.
Another phenomenal resource that has helped me in a holistic marketing strategy has been Shawn Hesketh with leftlane designs. If you’re locked in your little box, Shawn’s probably got the key.
FIGHTING FLAB
Ever since I began my sabbatical August 1st, I’ve made some important non-work strides in my life. Yet, I feel like I’ve had little material to share as “Mr. Oberata, Strategy Guy.” I’ve dabbled in some other writing adventures (a few fun guest entries at GunsAndTacos.com for example). But missing the day-in, day-out fistfight of small business consulting has left me feeling flat, fat, and even alone.
But today there had to be a post. So here it is. Welcome back, me. Hello again, everyone.
Nov 17, 2009
Great to hear from your “pen” again, my friend. I have also been guilty of writing too infrequently myself. It’s too easy to be lulled into keeping quiet when constantly confronted with the din that is the Internet.
Thanks for the encouragement. Always appreciate your insight, whether related to business or not. In fact, probably more so when it’s related to the larger view.
Nov 17, 2009
Thanks for your thoughts! The din of the web can be daunting and even discouraging, but remember the way we change – really – is to relate well to a few.
Nov 18, 2009
Hey, It was exciting to see “New from Oberata” in my mailbox this morning!! It is always fun to read what you are up to, not every business person can put such a fun and enjoyable spin to it!! But we must keep trying!
Welcome back!!!
Nov 18, 2009
Great to have you back, JT! You truly have a unique gift for the written word… and I always enjoy your posts!
Nov 19, 2009
Jeff,
I think it’s because we are so given to language and the expression of thought that writing becomes the one time when we can (mostly) take aim and have a much better chance of saying what we really mean. Maybe pen and paper make it too slow. Maybe cell phones make it too fast. And perhaps, as Goldilocks would say, blogging is “just right.”
But maybe she’s on crack again.
Nov 19, 2009
Awesome perspective for writers and aspiring bloggers! Thanks EB.