Can I ask you a personal question?

We talk a lot about the professional value and professional benefits of blogging. And we should. But this time I want to get (a little) personal.

I'm not talking value like I did last time I polled your opinions (at which time I asked: What is the single greatest point of value you receive from blogging?).  Nope, this time it's strictly personal...

Sure, personally it gives us community, support, colleagues and friends. And professionally we learn a whole lot about a heck of a lot.

But what personal attribute, quality or trait has blogging given rise to in you...or made stronger for you?

How's about I go first? Blogging has given me more confidence. My lion helps a lot too, being I went and mouthed-off at year's beginning and committed to less fear. (Btw, it was the best decision I've made in my entire life).

Why am I more confident? It's not because people agree with me, though I sure thank you for the kind comments and emails. Heck, many times, if not equal times, people don't agree with me. But I learn a lot through the differing views.  Actually...it's probably the disagreements as much as the praise that bolster my confidence being I'm not afraid to post about something, be wrong about something or be in the minority about something.

I'm just grateful to be learning and discussing.

Plus, since blog software makes it so easy to be "out there" --a la the 'publish' button -- I tend to become more comfortable in my own skin since I'm 'out there' anyhow. But that's just me. I'd just love to know what it's given YOU.

(I hope that wasn't too personal.)

Disclaimer: Never fear, I'm NOT (!) creating a collage from the answers like before. I'm just mad with curiosity as to the personal attribute it's given you or made stronger for you.

Comments

[patmcgraw]

Critical thought and writing skills - because before blogging I could (and would) rely on my fervor and conviction on a topic to 'get me by'.

Blogging forces me to think, write, rewrite and strive for clarity in my written work. When writing, I regularly stop and realize that I don't have anything of interest or value to say - and that never happens when I talk. (Plus, everyone forgets a stupid statement after a while...but put it down in writing and people can refer back to it and use it to embarrass me over and over again!)

[Philippe]

I think I'm lazy by nature :)

Blogging made me read much more: blogs, books and articles and makes me think every day about my job. Thanks to the last months, I feel also very confident about my speech during presentations.

I used to have a very conceptual blog (in french) that had nothing to do with marketing or internet. It was a pure artistic experiment (big word for a modest result). I also had to read a lot (more in the cultural field) in order to spread easter eggs for the readers of the blog.

Also thanks to blogging, I called yesterday a PHD in physics(!) to ask him tons of questions about scale-free and small-world networks, power laws and clustering rules and even epidemic modeling: Food for thought and hopefully some future interesting posts.

[Steve Woodruff]

Actually, CK, I'm with you on this one - confidence. I've had growing convictions about my branding/marketing instincts, but by having the outlet of a blog, and the regular interaction with others of like (or sometimes unlike!) mind, I feel more confident that I have something of value to offer. It's been a real joy to find my "voice" via blogging...

[Andy Ebon]

For me, both blogging and reading blogs is a function of saying something poignant, entertaining, educational or simply interesting in the fewest possible, well written words.

Doing that, consistently, takes skill and practice.

I look for those elements when reading other people's blogs and I make every effort to do the same for my audience.

[Matt Dickman]

CK -- For me, blogging is empowerment. It goes beyond confidence, though that is a huge component as well. Before blogging I had good ideas, but didn't have an outlet for them. If you don't ever share you can't validate them. Blogging gives me the license to share my thoughts, pushes me to do more and improve my ideas and constantly evolve.

A great idea kept in isolation is a complete waste. A moderately good idea filtered through the community can become amazing.

[Ryan Karpeles]

Humility and honesty.

Humility in the sense of sharing and giving. That's what this community is all about.

Honesty, oddly enough, stems mostly from discussing marketing issues. If our brands are to be completely authentic, we need to be as well. Blogging has helped me to more openly speak the truth (even if it hurts).

[For the record, there are loads of traits that blogging makes stronger. I just wanted to throw in a few that hadn't already been mentioned :)]

[David Reich]

I think blogging has shored up my confidence as a marketer. Even after many years in this business, I suppose I don't always realize how much I've learned and how smart I am. Blogging forces me to think about things in a more focused and thoughtful way. Sharing ideas and comments gives validation and/or causes me to look more closely.

[Mario Vellandi]

[I just had to stop by and comment]

It's developed within me the desire to share and reach out to others more than ever before. It's enhanced my ability to listen, contemplate, and respond better. And if I haven't given you CK, any thanks/credit before...that is the minor extent of my gratitude to you. To me, 75% of all blogging is interacting with others (not on my site)...and I hope to keep it that way, as time demanding as that is.

Again, Merci

[Cam Beck]

Interestingly enough, blogging has made me a better listener.

[Pieter Ardinois]

In arts school we had to keep a diary with a drawing or visualisation each day. After a while, you could see an idea grow in that book. It was also an alibi for a thought a day and it kept my spirit alive and sharp by exercising in visualising an idea. It was interesting to browse through other students' diary and share thoughts.
Keeping a blog has that same effect, but in an exponential and more interactive way. The curiousity is triggered by all those interesting blogs and articles and isn't limited to classmates anymore. The exercise of articulating an idea through text is also a nice side effect.

[mindblob]

CONFIDENCE... for me as well. I've been trying to rephrase what I feel, not to come up with the same word as yours. But, as a matter of facts,it is indeed confidence. This said, I am confident by nature and trust life as it is. Blogging gave me first an echo, then a common frequency to share thoughts and ideas, and make them grow.

While looking for the "what?", I have found the "why?" of all this, but am still looking for the "how?" to make it something even better. Still, I strongly believe and trust we WILL make this come true.

MEKTOUB (means... "it is written" - somewhere up there). :)

[Lewis Green]

CK,

I'm going to have to go with Mario on this one. I love to share but have often found myself trapped in the office and then vegetating on TV sports to relax. Blogging has provided me an outlet for sharing, a release point for my mental exhaustion and a reason to make new friends.

[Jane]

For me the blogging has developed discipline - it is the only thing I do every day - and the realisation that small things done regularly can add up to a lot more than their individual parts.
J
x

[Matthew Grant]

Sometimes I feel that the blogosphere is a gigantic echo chamber. Accordingly, I'll echo much of what has been said already and, hopefully add something new.

Confidence - When I first started blogging, I was hesitant to share my posts with colleagues here at Aquent (though, ironically, not hesitant to share them with the world at large) due to insecurity/uncertainty about what I was doing. Now that I've actually gotten some positive feedback from strangers, I'm more open to comments, suggestions, and even criticism from the people I see everyday.

Discipline - I've always liked to write but have tended to be kind of wordy/verbose. Blogging has gotten me to edit myself more effectively and strive for a less-is-more ideal.

Extroversion - Although I'm fairly extroverted by nature, my role has been very internally focused (internal communications, corporate training, etc.). Blogging has gotten me to focus more on the world outside of our company and especially outside the headquarters office where I work.

Thanks for asking, CK. - Matt

[Erno Hannink]

It has given me a great network of special people. Also it has given me the strength to be myself:
- to blog about me.
- to give myself a clearer picture of who I am, what I want and how I can reach this.
It has been just a great addition to my life. Not only the blogging but also the strength to become full time self employed a 'free agent'.

[gianandrea facchini]

ck, sometimes in the work environment we are used to talk and not to listen. we then charge the time pressure for this attitude but it is probably more related to each of us.
blogging is about the confidence to expose your thoughts, the discipline to have a conversation and not a monologue about them.

[Laura Tjia]

Commitment! I used to get diaries when I was younger with the aim to document what I was doing at that point in time. After about 2 weeks I give up. Get distracted by something else and leave the journal.

Share what I love. It's great to be able to have a forum for you to share what you love!

Read about stories. I find the people behind who write blogs incredibly interesting so when they blog about personal info, its fascinating

[Drew McLellan]

Interesting question. As always.

Blogging has brought me many things, but what I value most is the connections.

I don't mean connections in a "Hey, I know someone in Boston who can get me Sox tickets" way. I mean...connecting in a head and heart way with people my life is richer for knowing. People all over the globe.

Basically -- you all add texture to my life.

Sure...I gets lots of professional goodies from blogging but you guys are the best reason to blog for me.

Drew

[Katie Chatfield]

Blogging makes me hungry for my day:

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast? said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
“It’s the same thing,” he said