The following is a guest post from my friend Laura at 10 Million Miles. I have struggled with balance in 2011. This is such a great reminder to me as I look ahead to 2012. Thanks, Laura!
I happen to have a strange soap-box. It's a random one, but I just can’t get over it. I like to preach to college students about going to their professors’ office hours. Remember office hours? They were typed at the top of the syllabus that you received at the beginning of each semester. And, if you were like me, they were promptly forgotten. I spent my entire collegiate career not going to office hours. Instead, I spun my wheels in the library trying to write “A” papers, and get all of the right answers on the next multiple-choice test. I was so focused on getting good grades, that I didn’t have time to trek across campus for a long conversation with my teacher. Meanwhile, a handful of wise peers were carving out time to meet with the professor, ask good questions, gain meaty answers, and mature as individuals. Whether or not their grades trumped mine, their personal growth sure did. Boy, did I miss out on the secret of success.
But the thing is, I didn’t know that it was the secret of success until I was a college instructor typing my own office hours at the top of each syllabus and waiting eagerly to lead some struggling student toward everything good in life. The kids who came to my office won my heart! I looked out for them and wanted them to succeed. They were the students who seemed to grow the most throughout the year. Sure, they usually received good grades, but more than that, they received an adult’s insights, good advice, and professional support. It’s easy to see now that personal maturity is always more important than making the grade. The two only come hand-in-hand when the student really cares about her growth as an artist, thinker, and human being. There’s just something about going to office hours that keeps a student and a professor human, instead of results-focused automatons. So, I’ve preached this good word to every college student I can.
These days, I’m no longer a student, but a blogger. And yet, I’m still not over the temptation to become an automaton. I’ve just replaced the struggle to make the grade with the struggle to make money, increase readers, and establish a powerful social media platform. Though a check in the mail and a faithful following of readers are both fine, I become personally stagnant when they are my sole focus. As it turns out, my seasons of blogging-happiness are when I focus on my personal growth, and let it fuel the growth of my blog.
Blogging is only worth my while when I take myself to my own office hours, ask hard questions, and formulate some answers. This means, my blog is an avenue to personal growth – not to money, fame, or power. In light of this, I’ve become pretty cut-throat about my blog; if it doesn’t offer a sweet personal return, it gets bumped. I expect my blog to improve my writing skills, develop my voice, and make me a more honest person. I expect it to help me think twice about my opinions, and five times about my facts. I expect that the feedback from my family, friends, and enemies makes me confess, buck up, or move on. I expect myself to meet other people through my blog and learn how to love, respect, and communicate better. If I’m only cranking out blog posts “to make the grade” and not to grow as an individual, I’m missing the sweet spot.
The most important thing about your blog is you. How are you growing on the other side of that screen?
I want to keep growing, and I want to encourage you to do the same. That’s why I’ve written a new eBook called “Blogger Behave: Make your blog benefit your life so you can love both!” My deepest desire is that it helps bloggers and non-bloggers alike to write with integrity and without regret. Would you like to read it? Just go right here to get started.
I love the message in this post and I agree 100%. I'm becoming fiercely protective of my blog and what content finds its way there.
Making the grade perhaps requires single minded attention? But I do agree that we cannot miss out on our personal 'all round' goals, though that is the way we have been brought up!
Convicting article! I admit I visit my own blog just to see how many clicked like.. Sometimes there are 300 likes and sometimes 1400. But anytime it's below 300 likes, I feel like a failure.. but like you said, it's not the "numbers" but rather am I learning, growing from what I'm writing rather than just throwing it out there so I can see numbers going up.
I need to go back in my corner, pray about this, repent and start with a new heart. Thank you.
Love your E-book btw.
Thank you, Laura! I just forwarded this to my favorite college student with the suggestion that he read the first 2 paragraphs. Wish I'd done that during my school days.
What does it say about me if I didn't even realize you were supposed to sit at the knee of your professors and glean insights during university? I thought the only people who went to office hours were either teacher's pets or begging for an extension. I focused so much on my performance and grades in university. Much like the blog numbers, I let that get the best of me. And, maybe I did learn some things in the process, but I certainly didn't enjoy the ride, and the PRIVELEGE, as much as I should have. I really love the idea of applying these principles to blogging. Thank you for sharing, Laura.
definately another post i needed to read. perfect timing!!!! I feel like I have gotten sidetracked from my blog's mission a bit, and plan on refocusing this week! thank you!
Thank you so much for this insight ~ can't say that I've looked at it that way at all!
This is great andmakes me feel so much better. I do write for me…NOW…it took me a while. My blog still is just a baby, but maybe if it isn't so much "work" but more "growth", I will grow readers too!
Thanks
PS- when I went back to school as an adult, I totally used office hours!!!
I wholeheartedly agree! I am a new blogger (5 months) learned everything I know by the way from sweet Amy. One of the things I have found as I am finding my own niche is that no matter what, I must be true to myself and the Lord. I can't just write articles for the sake of money or followers.
So far I'm quite safisfied. Although I would love to have many followers and make lots of money..it's as you say..honesty and growth about who I am as a person and where I'm going. Hopefully others will come along
Thanks so much for the Article
You Rock!
Blessings in the New Year!
Yes Shari Lynne…when the focus is on the money or followers, it doesn't work so smoothly! (I know from personal experience.)
Great post. You're right. If numbers is what it all becomes, we'll lose our spark and our edge. There has to be growth & development as well as a genuine desire to make someone else's life better, as well.
Well said, Sinea!
As a college instructor and the mother of two college students, I couldn't agree with you more about the importance of visiting your instructors during office hours. Like you, I didn't do it while I was in college, and it's my biggest regret about my years as a student. And I love the idea that our blogs are avenues to personal growth. So true! Thanks for a great post.
Such good advice re: blogs and professors. I'll be sharing this with my son who's in pre-med at
university, for sure! Thank you
What a great post,I struggle with this as well. I am always looking for ways to gain readers, make more money and I let things go by the wayside and I am not growing or not as happy personally. I hope in 2012 I can find a better balance. Thanks for sharing this
This post was exactly what I needed to read. It gave me a push to delete the things from my blog that I less than love. As a new blogger I did not want to do that for simple lack of content. On to deleting I go…. Thanks!
I just had a friend recommend your site, I owe her! I've started several blogs only to sputter out and die, for this very reason. My latest blog adventure is for me, and I've all ready seen the reward
Thanks for this great post!
Thanks Rob. And I really appreciate what Laura has said here too—she's got great perspective.
You're welcome, yes she does. BTW, I've been looking through more of your posts. Awesome, awesome resource…you are now at the top of my RSS reader. Sorry for the gushing, just really excited about your site
Thanks, Rob. So glad it's helpful!
Love this! So often I forget why I started blogging at all ~ when I first began I had no idea there was actually money to be had, so I was just doing it because I loved it
Thanks for the reminder to remember to use our work as a means to "develop our own voice"… I needed to be reminded of that today!