Audacious Blogging

Oct 31, 2007

Photography by msn678

In one of my earlier posts, 101 Essential Blogging Skills, I mentioned the importance of audacity. It sat, quite modestly, at #32.

Looking back, I don’t think I’ve given this word the attention it deserves. There’s no better time to do so, particularly among the congratulations and kudos being given over my column at ProBlogger.

The truth is, though, that I didn’t get that gig — or any other opportunity I’ve received — because I’m some kind of blogging maverick. Nor am I a gifted networker. There are thousands of bloggers who write better than me and work harder than I do. There are hundreds of blogs that have grown faster than this one.

You guys could do the same (or more) in your own niche. I say that without a shred of doubt. Anything I can do, you can do better.

Audacity is a practice, not a quality

There are fewer prerequisites for achieving your goals than you might first think.

You don’t need to be a great writer, or an expert at creating posts that get Dugg. You don’t need to have a network of influencers, or dozens of killer posts, or years of experience, or formal credentials.

In fact, I’m beginning to think that audacity is the most important habit a blogger can develop.

If you’re not afraid to be rejected, you keep putting your hand up. If you’re not afraid to be ignored, you keep putting yourself out there. If you’re not afraid to be criticized, you do exactly what you want. If you’re not afraid to make contact with someone more successful than you, you’ll create your own opportunities.

Whenever you find yourself thinking: “I’m just not good enough,” replace that sentence with “I’m just not being audacious enough.”

The best thing about audacity is that it’s not a quality you either possess or you don’t. It’s not the same as beauty, or a gorgeous singing voice.

Audacity is a practice. Do audacious things, and you become audacious.

A few places to start:

Write the most value-packed post you’ve ever written.
Pitch a guest-post at a blog you love: the bigger the better.
Make friends with another blogger.
Offer something free. Expect nothing in return.
Chase down a paid freelancing gig.
Become a social-media power user.
Invent a niche.
Start a meme.
Create a new kind of blog post.
Ask questions you’ve previously been too afraid to ask.

The audacity of… failure

Part of being audacious is being ignored, or rejected, or brushed off, or criticized. You will sometimes fail. You’ll certainly make mistakes. I’ve experienced all of those things, and if you’re audacious, you will too.

Thankfully, both Albert Einstein and Michael Jordan (strange bedfellows, no?) have a few words of wisdom on that point:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
– Michael Jordan

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
– Albert Einstein

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43 Comments, Comment or Ping

AL

Wow! Very inspirational! I suffer from this very problem, always thinking I’m not cut out for the big stuff, although I very much have the passion and willingness to success if given the chance.

Thank you Skillie!

Oct 31st, 2007
skellie

Hi Al. It’s great that the post inspired you — that’s exactly what I was hoping to do. If you have the passion and willingness, then audacity will take you where you want to go.

Oct 31st, 2007
Armen

Yeah, another well thought-out post Skellie.

What if you really lack confidence? Or, what if you’re the kind of person which thinks excessive humilty is important? Surely that doesn’t help?

Oct 31st, 2007
Bente Lilja Bye

Hi Skellie, I had the impression that you already had quite a network before you started this site. My understanding is that having the right network is a prerequisite for developing a major website. It also looks like the Bay area or California in general connections seems good. Not without exceptions of course, but that is my overall impression.

I had forgotten where I came over your site, but I think it must have been via NxE showing some “best of” design. I realized they where from AU when I saw your link list. Is this correct - or did you make it to another list where I could have found you?

In any case, audacity will bring you a long way - not always the direction you want, but somewhere you go…

Oct 31st, 2007
Tammy

Skellie -

Your new gig over at ProBlogger’s a terrific bonus…kudos to you.

And the post above is part of what I (and I bet others) love about your writing and ideas: Just the right blend of audacity and humility.

Oct 31st, 2007
Alex Kay

Everybody got to love Michael Jordan quotes!

Oct 31st, 2007
Dave

Good post.

I think people have to remember to be AUDACIOUS without being OVERBEARING, POMPOUS or ARROGANT, which would probably get the opposite results of what you describe.

You are providing a fine example of how to do that! (I think someone already mentioned a great combination of audacity and humility here at SkellieWag)

For some reason, in North America the word AUDACIOUS seems to evoke the above negative connotations, while in Euope and Australasia people think of audacitiy as “having balls”.

Just a personal observation, feel free to correct me if I see it wrong!

dave

Oct 31st, 2007
pearl

I’ve always struggled with this one big time! and have always felt this lack of courage was my biggest weekeness! may be it is and I definitely need to work on it! simple but very much needed re-enforcement!

Oct 31st, 2007
Bob

Thanks for the advice, I have begun a new blog on one of my favourite past times, cooking. Not a new subject but I think that I have added a twist.

Oct 31st, 2007
Vikram

Yet again, a meaningful and power packed post!

I admire your writing very much Skellie. You should think about writing a an E-Book soon. Its would be a big hit for sure!

Oct 31st, 2007
Catana

I never thought I was being audacious, but my main blog did take courage to start. I created a sub-niche in an area that has lots of experts–professionals all. But they had nothing to say to a select population, and that’s where I stepped in. It took a year before I even knew whether it was worth continuing, but now the blog is about to expand into a full website, with appropriate monetization a real possibility. It’s a small niche and will never have the thousands of readers that the big guys can command, but for me and those I write for it’s important, and that’s what matters.

Oct 31st, 2007
Bradly Fletchall

The mantra I go by in my blogging and at my day job (I’m in sales now) is this:

Some Will
Some Wont
Who Cares
Someone else is waiting
Next

I learned that at a business training clinic I attended recently. If I get a little set back I just say that to my self and move on.

Oct 31st, 2007
Dominik Lenk

I love the quotes at the end. Well, I guess it is time to sit down and write some blogposts.

Oct 31st, 2007
Chad

Fantastic post! Thanks for the inspiration.

It took Thomas Edison 10,000 tries to make the light bulb. When asked about his failure, he said, “I didn’t fail, I figured out 10,000 ways how not to make a light bulb.” I love that quote!

I think a lot of it is the power of large numbers. I learned in sales, if you “fill your funnel” some have to filter through. The more you put in the funnel, the more come out.

Another quote that I like is, “Success is 20% talent and 80% showing up.”

Nov 1st, 2007
Ivy

Hi Skellie, thanks for this post. I think bloggers may generally prefer to hide behind their blog and hope that their content will wave the magic wand to usher in great traffic. Something I do struggle with is “sticking my neck” out there and having the boldness to just - ask-.

Nov 1st, 2007
skellie

@ Armen: That makes audacity harder, but it doesn’t mean it should be abandoned. For someone with those characteristics I’d suggest starting small. You might only blog for your family and friends in the beginning. You might then join a forum, and share the blog with a few readers there. As you receive positive feedback and increases in confidence, you can take further steps into broadening your reach. Audacity doesn’t need to come all at once. You can work up to it slowly (and most of us do.)

@ Bente: I had a few friends at the Authority Blogger Forums who were willing to take a chance on me, but nothing too big or elaborate. Just a little grassroots group, many of whom I still have contact with today.

@ Dave: You’re right, it’s a complex word and can be invoked (seemingly) either negatively or positively. I’m using it to mean fearless, adventurous, bold and willing to take a risk. I hope no-one thinks I’m using it in the negative sense

It’s 2:49am and I’m unable to reply to everyone, but do know that each of your comments have been read, digested and appreciated.

Nov 1st, 2007
Maya Norton

Hi Skellie,

In thanks for your viral ideas for my blog, I have one for you that I know many would be interested in. It has to do with the protocol or recommended suggestions for dealing with bloggers who have a little too much chutzpah or ask things of you which do not honor the integrity of your blog content. Of course, the first thing to do is to explain why the match wouldn’t work, but beyond that, I am interested in your reactions.

I am not asking for a Ms. Manners for bloggers, but moreover what are the options in these situations and what would be best according to you experience:

- You are asked to review content you don’t support (let’s say, it’s not very good)
- You are asked to add someone to a blogroll that you don’t want to
- Someone high profile pitches content to you that doesn’t apply directly to your site or your interests
- Someone guest authors a post that is off-base despite previous conversations
- Etc.

If any of my readers are seeing this, these are GENERAL questions that I have been kicking around when reading the web and talking with other bloggers and do not refer to you, my friends.

I would be most interested in your thoughts.

Maya Norton
The New Jew: Blogging Jewish Philanthropy

Nov 1st, 2007
Jon - FreelanceFolder

Hands down one of the best post I’ve read!

” If you’re not afraid to make contact with someone more successful than you, you’ll create your own opportunities.” that is so true, it takes some time to overcome this fear, but once you do and see results, you kinda nod your head and wonder why you didn,t do that sooner

Nov 1st, 2007
Patricia

Skellie,

I loved your post! As a woman who has founded a business, and just started a blog to accompany it (without really knowing a thing about blogging), I couldn’t agree with you more. Audacity is a good thing!

What fantastic thinking: “Audacity is a practice. Do audacious things, and become audacious.” I’m passing that on to all my friends.

Nov 1st, 2007
Elliott from ejcross.com

Great and inspirational article!

In my “regular” job as a firefighter, I find that being audacious can also mean taking charge. Decisions have to be made and stuck to for the team to succeed. So, for me, being audacious is having the gumption to make a decision and stick to it.

I relate this to blogging from the standpoint that you need to stick with it even when you feel like you are going to fail, learn from your mistakes, and proceed on.

Thanks for another great learning experience Skellie!

ps. Hope you get some sleep!

Nov 1st, 2007
skellie

@ Maya: That’s a really cool idea. I will definitely use it. Hope you don’t mind if I quote you?

@ Jon: Absolutely. Most of the interactions and opportunities I’ve had with popular bloggers — even some A-listers — happened because I made contact. It took me a long time to learn that generally the worst that can happen is being ignored or a polite rejection email… not so bad when you consider how much there is to gain.

@ Patricia: Congrats on your success!

@ Elliott: That’s a great point: part of being fearless is making decisions and committing yourself to them, even when the going gets tough. If I write on this topic again, I’ll have to remember to quote you.

Nov 1st, 2007
pablopabla

Audacious post Skellie! Ever thought of conducting motivational seminars for bloggers? I’ll be the first to endorse your motivational and persuasive skills

Nov 1st, 2007
Faye

I think I love you, Skells.

Nov 1st, 2007
Maya Norton

Please quote me. I think you are just the one for this topic.

Nov 1st, 2007
Nancy

Your idea is so beautifully simple - and so true. No point in sitting quietly in a corner hoping someone might notice you. There is too much other noise going on out there!

Of course, your audacity is also backed up with great value, excellent content and a care for your commentors. All of that together is what makes the difference.

Nov 2nd, 2007
Elliott Cross

Skellie,

I would be honored to be quoted by you!

Thanks!

Nov 2nd, 2007
Tina Su - Think Simple Now

Hi Skillie,

This is a very well written article. I am so impressed with your articles and very happy to have found it. You have a new subscriber and fan.

I found you through your tumblr link to my article on ‘7 Habits of Highly Innovative People’. Thank you for that, by the way.

Your links to “blogging maverick” and “gifted networker” made me laugh. Indeed Maki is a gifted networker and Leo a blogging maverick. I love the candidness and openness in your writing.

Keep up the fantastic work you are doing.

Love & Gratitude,
Tina

Nov 22nd, 2007
MaxBro

An Ayn Rand quote comes to mind on this topic:

“It was like advancing through empty rooms. Nobody opposed her, yet nobody approved of her progress.”

I suspect the challenges of building a well-trafficked blog lay mostly in the region of the blogger’s cerebral cortex, and that the “obstacles” that supposedly stifle success are, well, just empty rooms.

Nov 22nd, 2007
CDW

Skellie

Sometimes writing a blog brings back wonderful feelings that were missed the first time around. In our case, grandchildren remind us of all the pleasant episodes raising our children that we did not notice when we were merely parents..

Thanks for your excellent writing.

Nov 30th, 2007
Jen

Another awesome post! It’s time for me to click the “Subscribe” button.

I’m in the midst of trying for the first time - “offer something free” as a giveaway contest. All the visitor has to do is make a comment on the post. I was hoping for at least 10 or so entries into the giveaway. I don’t get much traffic. I went from 25-30 unique visitors per day to 200 unique visitors per day, and I have had about 80 entries into the giveaway. I am getting comments now on other posts, and these visitors are clicking around the entire blog. This really does work!

Now, it’s time for me to try the other suggestions.

Dec 7th, 2007
Catherine Lawson

Thanks for even more wonderful tips. I’ll be trying these next week too.

It’s good to do something that moves you outside of your comfort level as often as possible.

I know Armen was concerned about lack of confidence and I just wanted to say that the more things you try and achieve, the more your confidence will grow. It really does work - promise.

Feb 2nd, 2008