Everything starts with an idea, and those ideas are fueled by ambition. Whether the ambition is to solve a problem, to gain something you don’t have, or to achieve something meaningful, it’s usually the driving force behind the actions we take.
You wouldn’t be here, learning about how to build a successful blog, if you didn’t have ambitions of your own.
Let’s work on identifying those ambitions, translate them into tangible goals, and break those goals down into milestones and key results that you can use to maintain your focus and ambition as you work towards those bigger goals.
Why do you want to blog? The question seems simple enough but there are usually multiple reasons and we’re not always aware of the one that is at the heart of them all.
Some common reasons include:
- I want to start getting the ideas, stories, and information out of my head and into a format I can share with others.
- I want to share ideas with others who are interested in the specific things I am interested in.
- I want to demonstrate my knowledge and expertise to others.
Think about why you decided to start a blog or website. Think about the conversations you had and all the things that prevented you from doing it. Then think about the moment you decided to get started. What was the tipping point? What changed or influenced you to take action?
On the surface, this seems like a straightforward and possibly redundant question. But it’s a surprisingly important question that will, in fact, make or break your long-term journey in blogging.
Whether you’re creating a personal blog, a travel journal, sharing recipes, growing an audience for your book, or attracting customers to your business — if you don’t deeply understand why you’re doing this, it will become difficult to maintain forward momentum and you’ll begin to lose steam for creating your blog posts.
So, how exactly do we find the WHY behind what we’re doing?
There’s loads of surface level reasons that we can come up with, and they’re a great starting point.
Click to expandWhy do you blog?
- To gain notoriety?
- To secure a book contract?
- To self-publish your work?
- To establish yourself as a leader in your field?
- To gain followers? Traffic?
- To connect with others?
- To work through and clarify your own thoughts?
Now let’s take a look at how you go deeper. Pick the reason that jumps out at you first when you ask yourself “Why do I want to blog?”
“I want to share my experience with other people.”
That makes sense. But now ask yourself: Why do I want to share my experiences?
Once you’ve answered that question, ask yourself again and see if you reach a new answer: But why?
And then do it again. And again. And again. Until deep in your core you know that you’ve hit the nail on the head. That will be the motivating factor that keeps you going through thick and thin.
The challenge with the why topic is that we can’t tell you what your why is or should be. It’s something that is deeply personal to you — regardless of what type of blog you’re creating or what the surface level why is.
But there is no right or wrong answer. You’ll know you’ve found it by the way it resonates with you.
Another angle to look at when understanding your why is: What happens if you don’t do it?
Sometimes it can be tricky to approach things from the top down. So flip it on its head and work from the bottom up. What are the consequences? If you walked away from creating your blog today, what would that mean to you and your life and your goals?
This brief and innocent looking question is covered early in the course for a reason. Because, if you don’t deeply know your why, you won’t keep going. Your why is what will keep you motivated through ups and downs. Through wins and frustrations.
First, give yourself time and space for this one. Not many people can find their true why on the first attempt. It’s often best approached like a brainstorming session, perhaps using a mind map.
Whatever method you prefer, set aside some quiet time to reflect on your why and to take notes, then let it sit for a while. Keep coming back to it as often as needed until you’re satisfied that you have explored it as deeply as possible.
Once you’ve figured out your why, post it somewhere highly visible so you see it every day. Print it out and pin it on the wall. Create a custom wallpaper for your computer screen with the message. Use a sticky note on the side of your monitor. Whatever it takes to keep it front and center throughout your blogging journey — it will be your guiding light.
Then, (thought you were done, ‘eh?) pull out your calendar and schedule a recurring meeting with yourself for every three months to set aside an hour, in a quiet space, with a refreshing beverage and a notebook and revisit your why. Has anything changed? Have you lost your way? Is there a new why that is the driving force behind your passion?
This should become a routine exercise that is as critical to your blogging journey as writing the posts.
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