To Know Know Know You

Part 2 of the Series Dot Mom Blogs™

There have been times (more than I care to count right now) when I have been in the audience at some professional conference and just felt the urge to channel Peggy Wood (the Mother Abbess from the Sound of Music), and break out in to the chorus of Climb Every Mountain.  Motivational speakers shout from their lofty podiums “Follow your passion!” “If you think it, you will achieve it.” Honesty, I swear to you on my children’s heads, if I hear someone else tout that crap one more time, I’m going to jump off the highest mountain!

Which I guess brings me to the whole reasoning for this particular post in this particular series. I certainly can relate to those that I’ve worked with who say that they wish that they had realized sooner that being passionate about something doesn’t automatically mean having the talent or aptitude to be successful at it. And, even having all three ingredients- passion, talent, and aptitude - still doesn’t guarantee success.  The surest way of finding your bliss, your life’s work, or simply something you won’t mind spending 8-10 hours doing each and every day, is to get to know yourself. And know yourself really, really well.

From my perspective, there’s nothing easy about taking a long hard look at who you are. After several years of coaching folks on all rungs of the life ladder, I’m finding time and time again, that the ones who have never taken this “inventory” of themselves are the one’s who wind up miserable in what they do and more often than not are unsuccessful in their ventures, including blogging. So stand back, evaluate yourself. Who are you, really. What are your likes, your dislikes? What makes your engine crank? What really fires you up? What things are close to your heart? What part of you are you willing to share?

So, here are my tips for getting to know yourself as a blogger.

1. What’s your perspective ? Your personal take on what ever you’re writing about matters.
2. Focus, Focus Focus- This would be my number 1-10 if I had a top ten list.  Your readers are seeking you out for one reason.  What’s your Brand? What’s your identity ? (Go back and read my article on BRAND YOU) What makes your blog different ? What makes you the “expert” on the topic ?
3. Find your niche-what can you focus on that no one else is focusing attention on ? What new take do you have on an old focus ? Finding a niche is hot!
4. Keep it simple stupid (KISS)- you’re journaling, not writing a college thesis. Most of my articles come in at between a 7th and 9th grade level of reading. At first that really disturbed me. Then I realized, I’m writing to an audience, not for text-book publication. Write for your audience, don’t write for the popular rockstar bloggers.
5. Get personal. Build intimacy with your readers. You’re building a relationship. You want them to come back time and again. Speak from your heart, your soul, the bottom of your toes. If content is King, then interaction is queen.  Drop the fluff and get to the heart of the matter. This means from time to time you might have to strip your soul bear. But its worth it.

Next- The Technical Stuff

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Kudzu, Sweet Taters and Biscuits

I’m not even used to writing 2008 on my checks yet and already this year seems somewhat craggy. The lights are dimmed, the glow is gone.  New Years resolutions are teetering on the edge. I’m already snuggled into a familiar rut. For Southerners, the ruts around us can be as warm and delicious as buttermilk biscuits on Sunday morning.  And if not, then there’s something to be said for the familiar.

That’s what makes  Benn Johnson’s  shop in Birmingham, such a kick in the pants !  Southernness was founded in 1997, with its inspired (and by the way trademarked) 7 Signs of Southernness, he celebrates all things Positively Southern. Now branded, his products are found in all sorts of upscale boutiques throughout the south, from Alabama to Texas to Virginia. (read: below the Mason Dixon Line)

Anyway, I found Benn’s shop online while I was scanning for post holiday bargains for gifting throughout the year (ya know…baby showers, wedding gifts and so forth).  And what grabbed my attention was his 2008 Positively Southern People, Places and Things to celebrate in 2008.  True to his claim there are 2008, no wait 2035 (guess someone got carried away) people, places and things to celebrate which are Positively Southern.  I read ‘em. All. Several times. I’m thinking of the old adage about kudzu here. Nonetheless, there are a few things he’s missed and I thought I’d add em here.

1. Fried shrimp - and lots of it!
2. The world-famous Flora-Bama Lounge, the “last great American roadhouse”.
3. The tallest Ferris wheel in the southeast at The Wharf.
4. Flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts.
5. Mullet madness at the annual Interstate Mullet Toss.
6. The Bird of Paradise, a restored open-cockpit plane.
7. The ferry from Fort Morgan across Mobile Bay to Fort Gaines.
8. Sucking down a Bushwacker…or two.
9. Fried green tomatoes and L.A. caviar
10. A big ol’ plate of Royal Reds (shrimp)
11. Watching  the weigh-ins when the fishing charters bring their catch back to the marinas in the evening.
12. Oysters…Slimy, maybe, but oh, so good.
13. Looking for sea turtle trails left by mama turtles coming ashore to nest. (They look a lot like tire tracks)
14. The handcrafted cheeses at Sweet Home Farm, a working organic family dairy.
15. The Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival.
16. The Blue Angels at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola.
17. Stuffing your pockets with beads and MoonPies at a Mardi Gras parade.
18. Salute our fighting men and women at the USS Alabama Battleship Park in Mobile.
19. “Silver Queen” corn.
20. The Elberta Sausage Festival.
21. Going to lunch by boat.
22. A sandcastle-building contest.
23. Crabbing at Lagoon Pass.
24. Going out to lunch in your swimsuit and flip flops.
25. Sweet Potato Queens at Hal and Mal’s (Jackson Ms)
26. Sweet Home Alabama
27. The Redneck Riviera
28. Nehi Grape Soda and Orange Crush

Got something Totally Southern to celebrate? Email us here and we’ll add to the list!