I was talking with someone at church on Sunday who recently started a new job. This job is part of a start-up company that is beginning to manufacture its own products. He relayed how exciting it was and how much dedication it was demanding. For someone who has held hourly labor type jobs previously, I think he now has a start with a career.
Me, being the conversationalist, related my observation that there is about a three year period with a new house (or new job) where large tasks get undertaken and completed. After that energy and distractions creep in and progress slows…or stops.
In my mind, I extended this observation to what has been bugging me about B2Blog. Over the last four years I’ve explored a lot and written a lot. I’ve found my voice and place in the blogosphere. I don’t want to say I’ve exhausted myself and the subject, but I do feel exhausted. Settled in. Happier sitting on the couch than putting up dry-wall, if you know what I mean.
Well, not happier sitting. My thoughts bug me. They want to be written. But getting off the couch seems so much harder sometimes. Determination gets things done, but tackling those big jobs is so hard. And, quite honestly, my job and home life have similar lulls right now.
I could add to the metaphor that reading other blogs is like watching TV. So much easier to be entertained. But even now that content seems so familiar and vacuous. I leave the couch not energized, but drained.
The fellow at church I was speaking to found his new job only after being laid-off. It was a surprising twist for him and his family, something that they didn’t want. But in the end he is better off and excited to go to work. Of course, I told him, that’s a push off a cliff-edge that I don’t want either.
So, I am left with the nagging question that is the title of this post, “What to do when you’ve settled in?” I could babble on with what could be done, but I’d rather the question linger a little longer in my mind (and yours). (And ‘what could be done’ is different than what will actually be achieved, which would just make this another vacuous post.)
To be continued…
It’s a good question, and related to what a lot of people call “blog burnout.”What can you do? What inspires you? A vacation? Reading a new book? Exploring a new topic? Or maybe you just need to take a step back, relax, laugh a little and get re-energized.In terms of blogging specifically – what about branching out into a related, but different topic? Something that you know your readers would enjoy, and you would enjoy as well. Something that you could plan out, write a few pieces and publish over time…
It’s a good question, and related to what a lot of people call “blog burnout.”What can you do? What inspires you? A vacation? Reading a new book? Exploring a new topic? Or maybe you just need to take a step back, relax, laugh a little and get re-energized.In terms of blogging specifically – what about branching out into a related, but different topic? Something that you know your readers would enjoy, and you would enjoy as well. Something that you could plan out, write a few pieces and publish over time…
Thanks Ben. Yea, I have inklings to do new stuff along the lines you mention. It may be something I end up doing.Interesting fake-news site you have. Some funny headlines!
Thanks Ben. Yea, I have inklings to do new stuff along the lines you mention. It may be something I end up doing.Interesting fake-news site you have. Some funny headlines!
Yes, Dave, it really does feel like there’s a “What Now?” affliction among bloggers everywhere. I think part of it may be related to what always made the best blogs work – extreme focus. Focus has always been the difference between the lame and the not-so-lame but, at this point, it’s starting to feel suffocating for many of us. Perhaps it is time to start thinking about blogs as projects that eventually run their course.
Yes, Dave, it really does feel like there’s a “What Now?” affliction among bloggers everywhere. I think part of it may be related to what always made the best blogs work – extreme focus. Focus has always been the difference between the lame and the not-so-lame but, at this point, it’s starting to feel suffocating for many of us. Perhaps it is time to start thinking about blogs as projects that eventually run their course.
Dean–Thanks for the thoughts. The ‘revolution’ that I started documenting has settled down and is more of an ‘evolution’ now. Is it really lame of me to have to document the 1999 marketing of companies like Thames and ThomasNet because they are so far on the tail of these changes?
Dean–Thanks for the thoughts. The ‘revolution’ that I started documenting has settled down and is more of an ‘evolution’ now. Is it really lame of me to have to document the 1999 marketing of companies like Thames and ThomasNet because they are so far on the tail of these changes?
Dave — good luck with your pursuits. Shake it up a bit, who knows what’ll fall from the proverbial tree.And I’m glad you liked IGotNewsForYou — I hope you’ll try it out!
Dave — good luck with your pursuits. Shake it up a bit, who knows what’ll fall from the proverbial tree.And I’m glad you liked IGotNewsForYou — I hope you’ll try it out!
Your couch sitting is similar to the Boomer experience. We were passionate about zero birth control (that was the focus of the first Annual Earth Day celebration – but we sadly don’t hear too much about the topic these days), air/soil/water pollution, ending a war that seemed to have no purpose nor exit strategy…and then suddenly all that angst evaporated. The catalyst was we began having families which required jobs and houses. Our focus changed, and we became passionate about child safety. Changing focus may be the answer to your couch-sitting days. Where’s your passion? Mine has been marketing…but it’s beginning to blur into community involvement with downtown development associations, etc. Still use the marketing expertise, but in a new way.
Your couch sitting is similar to the Boomer experience. We were passionate about zero birth control (that was the focus of the first Annual Earth Day celebration – but we sadly don't hear too much about the topic these days), air/soil/water pollution, ending a war that seemed to have no purpose nor exit strategy…and then suddenly all that angst evaporated. The catalyst was we began having families which required jobs and houses. Our focus changed, and we became passionate about child safety. < />< />Changing focus may be the answer to your couch-sitting days. Where's your passion? Mine has been marketing…but it's beginning to blur into community involvement with downtown development associations, etc. Still use the marketing expertise, but in a new way.