A
while back I wrote about the fact that I hadn't been posting as much recently
as I had in the past and that I was regrouping. I believe I wrote that while I
was still out west on the last trek. So, what's up with my rather infrequent
article posts on the blog? Have I run out of wind? Have I exhausted all the
possible topics I could write on? Have I lost interest? As Bugs Bunny would
say, "Eh, what's up, Doc?"
Well
the answers to all of the above questions are, I've been reevaluating and
planning, No, No, No, No and lots of new things. Did you figure that out?
So,
here's the deal. I have long lists of topics to write about. Most of these
topics are things I like to get deep into and that means research time, time to
write and edit and most importantly, the time it takes for you to read it. I've
talked about how time is my most important and priceless commodity. So, if I'm
going to invest the time to research and write the posts, I certainly want to
know that someone, and more specifically, you, is willing to invest the time
to read the articles and hopefully gain some insight or a point or idea or two
you can apply to yourself and your life. However, just as I value my time, I
respect and value your time. I know if I send out too much, you'll grow
weary of expending and granting that time to me.
So,
I've been reading, researching, studying and listening to podcasts from various
sources about how to be a more effective blogger. Yes, I blog because I like to
research, opine and write. But, I also blog for you. I don't expect to change
who you are. I don't expect to become your guru (I'm no one's guru). I simply
want to write enough to inspire you, present some ideas you may want to apply
in your life and have the fulfilling knowledge I'm contributing to a better
life and world for anyone seeking it.
Additionally,
I'm not financially independent. Like most people, I need to create revenue
sources and streams that allow me to pursue my new (over the past decade) love
of writing. So, while I have no pretense of my blog or any of my writings (or
the upcoming podcasts) making me a wealthy man, I am hoping to realize some
monetizaton (the new buzz word in the blogging and podcasting arena) to support
my efforts. In order to do that, I have to "serve" you, my reader the
best way I can by fulfilling your needs and interests.
The
Weekly Schedule
To
this end, while I'll continue to write informally, conversationally and
topically, I'm adopting some basic professional techniques. I'm currently
formulating a calendar or schedule that will provide a variety of forms of
information, some, longer form and others shorter form. There's too much detail
to go into regarding this process, but suffice to say I am aiming to make this
blog more interesting and fulfilling.
I
have been talking about doing a podcast for a long time. Here I am, a 50 year
veteran professional audio and video producer and engineer and I've yet to turn
out something that comes to me as naturally as sleeping and eating. I have to
figure how I'm going to format the podcast and the kind of information I'll
provide through it. I realize some people would rather read information while
others prefer to listen while they are doing something else. I'm hoping you'll
take me along when you're walking, jogging, working out, driving or doing other
day to day life activities.
Political
Correctness
I'll
warn you now. I am NOT politically correct. I've realized in the past I've
actually pulled a lot of my thoughts or changed them in order not to offend
anyone. I'm not being true to myself nor am I being true to you. So, if you
expect political correctness in the future, this may not be the blog for you.
Please
don't misconstrue what I'm suggesting here. I have no intention of using
defamatory language or slurs or specifically denigrating any group of people
based on any of the number of things we always talk about in disclaimers.
However, I'm going to call it as I see it. You don't have to agree. I do discriminate,
because it's my personal and natural right to discriminate, but I consider
myself to be color blind, racially unbiased, religiously tolerant, etc., etc.
I
am a WYSIWIG guy. What you see is what you get. I love people. I loathe
stupidity (that does not mean someone who wasn't blessed with whatever level of
intellectual capability I may have and I know I'm not the brightest light bulb
in the chandelier). I think you get the point. I'm not as brash as "The
Donald" but I'm not a "pussy" like so many of the candidates
seeking seats in government elected offices.
More To Come
So, there is more to come. You have probably seen
some changes occurring on the 2LiveFreely blog already. With my buddy, Dave's,
graphic assistance we're working on improving the appearance and readability of
the blog. Those changes will continue. I'll be revising information on most of
the additional pages listed along the right side of the main text.
I now have some ads appearing on the blog, but I
will continue to limit the amount of landscape they take up and hopefully,
they'll be relevant. I've also moved my Amazon link to all the pages including
the landing page. Thank everyone who has used my link to make purchases. As you
know, it doesn't cost you any more to use my link than if you go directly to
Amazon, but it does help me to keep the blog going. Since I am not compensated
by Amazon if I use my own link, I go to other people's blogs and use their
links so they gain some benefit from my purchases.
Short Survey
To wrap up this article, I'd like to conduct an
informal survey. I'm just going to do it here through the blog and not use one
of the online survey services we've all probably received from other sources.
I'd like to ask three simple questions. You can
reply by commenting on the blog or emailing me directly to ed.helvey@gmail.com
or go to my Facebook Fan Page (and please like it if you haven't already, I'd
appreciate it, there's a link on this page) and leave your responses there.
Q#1. How did you find, discover or how were
introduced to this blog?
Q#2. Do you find the blog informative, educational,
entertaining and have you made any minor or major life changes or realized any
other gains because of something you read here?
Q#3. What do you want from this blog - topics,
ideas, resources or anything that would help you in your life journey?
Your responses don't have to be long. Just simple,
direct responses to give me an idea of the direction I need to go with the
future articles and features of the blog (and podcasts for that matter).
I also have a forum (the link is on the right side
of this page - Living Free) that I really want to get activated with relevant
discussions about whatever you're looking for in your life? I'd like to pose
one "Big Question" each week for anyone to contribute their thoughts
to, but you may pose your own and start as many threads as possible. The more
people we have participating the more interesting and informative it will
become.
It's my plan and hope to expand the reader base (that's
already worldwide) and serve more people, but only those seeking to live
personally freer and happier lives in a pretty complex and increasingly unfree
world.
Thanks for your time reading my blog and assisting
me in doing a better job for you.
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