On January 6, 2017, I published my first blog post. Today, over two and a half years later, I am writing my 100th. This blog is one of many things I have tried in order to offer value to others as well as to build my business. My attempt at a Meetup group was a bit of a bust, and I’d just as soon forget my first try at video- a time-consuming and ultimately unsuccessful effort to overcome my absolute aversion to it. But my blog has been the most enduring, the most time-consuming and the most visible of all these attempts, connecting with more than 15,000 people in over 150 countries so far. And though I can’t prove it, I imagine it provides the most free value money can buy.
I started this business for several reasons, and making money is only one of them. My vision is to support those in the field I love to create deeper impact for clients. Of course, paying clients are great, but it is also my sincere hope to support those who may not be in a position to pay me. This blog is one way to do that. I hope it has provided some learning, some thinking and most importantly, some action to make our working lives more fulfilling and more impactful for ourselves and for those we serve.
The response to my blog has been up, down and all around. There are posts that have received thousands of views and others that have struggled to receive dozens. In most cases, the quality of theses posts is no different, so this is something I am still working on understanding.
I have had people plagiarize my work and have been accused of plagiarizing the work of others. I have had people interview me based on my posts, including NPR (which was an absolute thrill!). I have spent more hours than I care to calculate writing, editing and sharing these posts, all of which I am pleased and humbled to do, knowing that it is doing some good. Maybe it isn’t. But I’m pretty sure, and pretty hopeful that it is.
So in celebration of and reflection on my first 100 blog posts, I present the following lists of past blog posts. May they provide value to you and maybe even a laugh here and there. There is always room for improvement and some of these posts are rough with a capital R but I feel good knowing that they were all created with the intention of contributing to the greater good. I am, as ever, open to your feedback and suggestions. Finally, allow me to extend my sincerest gratitude to my loyal readers, to my sometimes readers and to my once-but-never-again readers. You have all given me a chance. The rest is up to me…
MOST POPULAR POSTS
The Importance of Self-Reflection and Self-Evaluation Throughout the Year
Our Collective Disregard for Frontline Staff
How We Keep Blowing it with Volunteers
How to Give and Receive Feedback More Effectively
How to Be a Leader Without Followers
LEAST POPULAR POSTS (That deserve a second chance)
How to Discover What You Really Want
Hey, Employers, Stop Playing with Your Employees’ Money
Remembering to Look Back Down the Mountain
Why You Should Start Doing Stay Interviews
SPORTS POSTS
What the Patriots Can Teach Your Organization About Success
An Important Life Lesson from UVA’s Championship Win
What Bill Belichick Can Teach You About Managing (Even if You’re Not a Patriots Fan)
MOST CREATIVE POSTS
A Cat, Some Mice and a Whole Lot of Treats: A Lesson on Life and Leadership
Goldilocks and the Three Leaders
16 Annoying Work Situations that Finally Have a Name
Why Office Space Still Resonates Today
MY FAVORITE POSTS
Why the Best Manager I Ever Had was the Best Manager I Ever Had
The Benefits of Coaching Your Staff
Please Don’t Wear Clothes with Profanity: And Other Things You Never Thought You’d Say to Your Staff