Fifth Anniversary for Three Star Leadership Blog
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Five years ago today I created and published my first blog post, "Building Relationships at Work." Since then 1565 posts have been pushed out into the blogosphere. The world and I are both different and the same today as we were five years ago.
Back in 2006 there weren't many business blogs and, just like today, the number of really good blogs was lower still. Some of the good ones, like Slow Leadership and David Maister's excellent Passion, People and Principles have ceased publication. Others are still active and stimulating.
There were three blogs that introduced me to thinkers I wouldn't have met otherwise. Steve Roesler, Lisa Haneberg, and Jim Stroup still publish their first-rate blogs and I still learn from what they have to say.
I knew that life was about people, passion, work, and learning. I learned that social media, specifically this blog and Twitter make all of those things richer and easier to do. But why blog at all? When Shonali Burke asked that question on her Waxing Unlyrical Blog, here's what I answered.
"I write to make my living and because writing is the tool I use to understand things. I blog because blogging is a wonderful basket to collect the pieces of my working life."
That's as true today as it was five years ago. I've reaped business benefits from blogging and Twitter and that's important, but blogging for me is like playing pinball. If you do a good job, you get to play again. I'll keep doing this until it's no longer fun.
Some things have changed on the blog over five years. In May 2006, I began my first regular feature: "In case you missed it" which changed in February 2008 to "Leadership Reading to Start Your Week." My other feature, "A Midweek Look at the Business Blogs" launched in February 2007 and changed to concentrate on independent business blogs. They remain among the most popular posts every week.
Other things have remained the same. The purpose of the blog is "to help bosses at all levels do a better job and lead a better life."
In that regard, there are some posts that stand out from the five years because they've drawn lots of readers, lots of comments, or both.
Getting Real about Deliberate Practice and Leadership Development
Why people would rather plan than execute
One of the most important things I've learned in the last five years is that my blog post is only the beginning. Commenters add perspective and insight and the final combination is far better than the original post.
That's what I'm looking for now as we begin the next five years. What do you
like? What would you like to be different? How can I help you be a better boss
and lead a better life?
Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.
Categories: Leadership Reading, blogs
Tags: Blogs Leadership Reading
Wally, congratulations on reaching your 5-year milestone. One of the highlights of my own (shorter) blogging career has been getting to know you as a professional and as a friend. You inspire, educate and you make us think about being better people and leaders. Thank you for everything that you do for us! Best, -Art
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Thanks so much, Art. Your blog is another one of my "must-reads" and I learn a lot from you.
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Congratulations Wally! You and your writing have certainly been an inspiration to me as I've learned about blogging and writing. Here's a virtual toast to another great five years!
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Virtual toast? I'm going for the real thing and using my imagination to put you there when I raise the glass. Thanks for those kind words, Mary Jo.
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Congratulations Wally! Producing five years of quality, essential reading is no easy feat. I appreciate your efforts and good thinking. I look forward to another five years.
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Thanks, Michael. I truly appreciate the kind words.
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I also congratulate you on 5 years. I've been doing our blog for about half that long, so I know how much of a commitment that is...especially posting daily like you do. I like that you used the post to introduce new readers to all that you offer, which is substantial. Keep up the great work, Wally, and here's to another 5 years!
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Thanks so much, Mark.
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Wally, Many congratulations and Thank you. Your Blog has always been a source of learning and inspiration for me. I’d join Mary Jo in raising my glass to you in celebration, but its breakfast time here….okay, just give me an hour ☺
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Thanks, Gwyn. Hey, there's no reason you can offer several toasts beginning with a breakfast beverage and progressing theough the day.
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Congratulations, Wally on your five year anniversary. I'd like to join in the chorus in thanking you both for your inspiration and your giving back to the blogging community by openly sharing ideas and thought from other sources with your readers. It's just one example of how you exemplify the ideas about leadership and helping others succeed that you write about here on your blog.
Here's looking forward to another 5 years of inspiration and thought-provoking content, as well to deepening on our connection and engagement.
Raising my cup of java to cheer your milestone, Wally.
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Thanks, Tanveer, for the kind words and your own excellent blog. For me, the java was this morning. Around here we seize opportunities to celebrate and this is a good one. I'll be toasting you back with a fine Trappist ale later this evening.
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Happy 5th Blog Birthday!
This isn't a "boss" question, more of a blogging question: over the last five years, I'm sure you've dealt with blogging block; when you're stuck for an idea, or a post just isn't coming out right, i.e. the way you want it to.
How have you dealt with that, and what advice do you have for folks who go through that?
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One thing I like about blogging, Shonali, is that you rarely have to have a specific post at a specific time. That means you can "let the water flow around the rock."
I have a list of post ideas, some of which are a scrap of an idea and others of which are quite well outlined. If the idea I'm working on now isn't coming out right, I try another idea. If that doesn't work, Mrs. Bock's opinionated little boy can always dash off a couple of hundred words as a comment on a news item or someone else's post.
I also adhere religiously to my Raymond Chandler Rule, based on his work pattern. When it's time to write, you don't have to write. But you can't do anything else during writing time. I've found that if the only option is to stand at my desk with my hands on the keys, I usually find something to write about.
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Way to go, Wally! If I had a nickle for every time I mentioned Wally Bock when I talked about blogging, I'd have a lot of nickles. Thanks for setting the standard for how this should be done. Bret
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Thank you, Bret. Your comments mean a lot because I appreciate the way you parse the academic research and share with us the points that make a difference.
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Congrats Wally on 5 years! You're an inspiration.
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I'm an inspiration celebrating with some fine Trappist ale, bartender. Thanks for all the good info.
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