Thought it was important to update this post. Originally written in 2008, it's a daily reminder that trust is important in words-written or spoken.
"I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out, that is why I compose."
-Ludwig Von Beethoven
You may not need this post, but I'm going to proceed anyway. In the blogging world many talk about how to increase subscribers, increase hits/page views, or how to monetize the blog itself. Each of those efforts have merit. But why should someone who blogs want results like an increase in subscribers? I think many of us in the blogosphere have missed something in our motivations.
In a celebrity obsessed culture it is easy to get carried away by attention and notoriety. We forget what an authentic following means versus momentary infatuation. You could have a thousand subscribers, but does that really mean that something is being flipped? I don't think so. In my last days in corporate America I had a number of people who were "subscribers." Funny thing though, when I was escorted out my subscriber list fell dramatically. Did my ideas change? Did my expertise diminish? No, to all of those things and more. But my cache did.
So when I write (books, columns or blog posts) I make sure it comes from my heart. That way I can sleep at night knowing I didn't write in order to make a sale for a sale's sake. Believe me I had enough posing and posturing in corporate America to last me two lifetimes. No sense in resurrecting those tired positions for the sake of numbers. Besides, I really want change to be my partner.
If you're writing/communicating through a blog or some other portal, give people authentic content.