I’ve been tagged.  And I’m honored.  So here goes.

I first heard of blogging just last year, February 2006, at the National Speakers Association Workshop in Washington D.C.  The hotel was buzzing with, “Are you blogging?  You’ve got to blog, oh; you simply must get a blog.”  The idea was that blogging would replace media kits.  Put your sample videos, audios, articles, etc. on your blog and direct potential clients there.  The concept sounded very efficient to me so I came home, researched software, set up this website, and started my blog.

Since then, however, my blogging has taken on a much higher purpose to me.  In the beginning, I was blogging every day about Dental Practice Management, and I’m pretty sure my only daily reader was my father-in-law.  (God bless you, Dad.)  Since he isn’t a dentist, I know many of my earlier posts had to bore him almost to death, so his loyalty is very special to me.

When I wrote, The Power of a Smile, he e-mailed the link to a lot of his friends and they must have passed it on as well because my traffic went up for the following week.  I thought, “Hmmmmmmm.  Maybe I should write for a broader audience.”

Then one day while consulting with a dental office employee, the young woman and I started talking about women leaders.  She shared her story with me and her feelings of being trapped in a situation beyond her control.  I reminded her that she has more power than she realizes.  I reminded her of her incredible strength just in overcoming and dealing with everything she has already.  I encouraged her to summon her strength to do what she needed to do at that time to get her life back on the path she wanted.  When I arrived home after a two-hour drive, I had an e-mail waiting for me from her.  She thanked me for the consulting that I did for the practice, but mostly, the encouragement and for reminding her that she can create the life she wants. 

That was a defining moment for me.  I realized that I could certainly use my blog to promote my speaking business, but how much more meaningful and powerful it could be if I used it to fulfill my ultimate purpose in life, which is to motivate, educate, and inspire others to be their best.  From that point on, I strive to make sure every post has meaning.  Not necessarily deep and heavy every time, but always uplifting in some way.  Motivation, education, inspiration.  At least one, if not all three.

Since revamping my content, I’ve had the most amazing experiences.  I’ve received e-mails from people all over the world telling me that one of my posts changed their life.  And not just women – I have almost as many male readers as female.  I’ve thought about changing the “Women leaders” verbiage in the title, but I want to remain true to myself and that really is my passion.  It’s just icing on the cake that so many men are encouraged by my posts.  On some topics that I discuss, like leadership and time management, men and women really aren’t that different. 

Blogging has helped me to reach out far beyond my small, rural community and touch the lives of people I may never meet.  What an opportunity, and an honor!  To have an outlet for my writing and experiences that literally spans the globe is very humbling to me.  I have many times posted an article that I thought was good, but not my best work, only to have someone from, for example, India, e-mail me or post a comment saying, “Wow!  I had never thought about it like that before.  Thank you so much for writing this post.”  I can’t even put into words how that touches me.

Then there’s the blogosphere of PWB’s, or People Who Blog.  To be counted among one of these is as much an honor as being accepted into the National Speakers Association.  Sure, there are people who start blogging on a whim and quickly lose interest.  But for those of us who have been doing it systematically, for a while, for similar reasons that I described above, there is no greater compliment than to be linked to, mentioned, or quoted by another blogger.

Finally, not all of my motives are altruistic.  I’ll admit that one motive for blogging regularly is in an attempt to make money.  It would be very nice to get paid for the hours I spend creating  meaningful articles that add value to the world.  However, if I never make a dime, I don’t think I’d stop.  It’s kind of like being a physician.  The money that hopefully comes with the job is nice, but helping people and making a difference is the real reward.  I’m sure you’ve met doctors whom you knew had your best interest at heart.  Then you’ve met others who were only in it for what they perceived would be high-status and high-income.  It’s the same with PWB’s and you will be able to tell the difference.

My last selfish motive is simply to have an outlet for my writing.  Anytime I catch myself in a bad mood, it’s always on a day and time when I haven’t written yet.  There’s something about writing for others that puts me in touch with my higher, spiritual self.  I suppose it’s because this really is my true purpose in life and as long as I am fulfilling that, I’m happy.  When I don’t, I’m miserable.  Perhaps that’s the number one reason why I blog.  (Okay, I could have just started and ended with that.  But no, not a blogger.  We take a thousand words to say what “normal people” would say in 10!  Just kidding!  Not really.)

Now I’m tagging Kim Snider, and John Kinde.

And now I’m tagging you.  Why do you do what you do?  What is your reward?  Would you do it, even if you made no money whatsoever?  What value are you adding to the world?  Who surrounds you, as in, who is the company you keep?   Do they deserve you?  Are you honored to be among them?  Are you living in alignment with your higher self?  Are you fulfilling your mission?

Posted under Inspiration, Motivation