The Power of Iteration: 3 Elements that Maximize Your Blogging
[This is part of the Developing Great Blog Content Series.]
I hope that one of your goals is to become an Iterative Blogger because the result will be better blog content and a better blog overall. Heck, you might even become a better writer too!
You see, “iteration” can mean the following:
- Of a procedure that involves repetition of steps (iteration) to achieve the desired outcome.
- Expressive of an action that is repeated with frequency.
- Describes a procedure which repeats until some condition is satisfied.
Most simply I use this to express it this way as it relates to blogging:
Continually practice, learn, and teach good blogging principles so that you can become a better blogger.
It is really the “continual” aspect that can get a lot of people stuck, which is strange since most of the time I’m simply encouraging people to simply “get up and blog”!
There’s only one way in which I view blogging and life for that matter: Iteratively.
I’m constantly seeking to improve, knowing that I’m not there yet! I have lots to do and part of the process of becoming a better blogger is by practicing.
In fact, most of my improvements have been small tweaks, here and there, that have cumulatively achieved my goal!
Work at Your Craft, Like Art:
As you can see by the cartoon characters I’m currently iterating through some new concepts and drawings with an artist.
This makes complete sense considering that an artist has to do this all the time: Make slight tweaks with their client to find the “right” image.
I’ve gone through a couple rounds and we’re getting close, but we’re not there yet!
Often times though we forget that this is not only a necessary part of the process but can also be a very enjoyable one as well!
There are three things that I suggest you start working on and thinking about so that you can become an Iterative Blogger:
- Humility – Remember where you came from and how far you have to go. You’re not there yet!
- Learn – Seek to learn as much as you can as often as you possibly can. Find the best resources and soak it up!
- Teach – You learn best by being able to teach someone else. Share your new learnings with others.
Using these three techniques and practices you’ll work towards becoming the best blogger you can be.
Have a great day guys!
[This is part of the Developing Great Blog Content Series.]
Love this because the points you’ve mentioned aren’t limited to blogging either.
Case in point: in my – and 8BIT‘s – world, we’ve got iterative development
.
Okay, back to work.
naturally. now get back to work.
Do you have iterative vacations in your 8BIT world according to the meaning at the top of the post?
repetitive
frequent
until you are satisfied
Wait a minute, what was I thinking?
Your job is a vacation!
Now get back to “”work”".
hahah. my job is a vacation…
Good advice, and a great way to live life.
I feel like I am constantly learning new things every day about blogging, and that in order to continue to get better at it I have to never think that I know it all because there is always room to learn more.
I think that sharing with others is also great. Pay if forward…
Love the art. I have been thinking about trying to get some done of myself for the blog.
pay it forward…. definitely!
good thoughts in this post.
I’ve got to get over one major hurdle – my own lazy rear. Gotta just do and stop dreamin.
lazy-rears…………… those things.!
I love this word. I learned it first back in Greek language class. Not sure why it never came up before then? It allows me to grow through my mistakes (those are many) instead of freezing up under the pressure of being perfect.
i like it too. so software-develop-ish.
Alot of great insight.
thanks jazzmin!
So are you going to use the avatar for the blog to give people more of a concrete image of you so you can further brand yourself across tentblogger’s social media properties?
it is true. it is true.
I’m so not there yet. I will say that the last few weeks has been pretty rewarding though. I’ve had the opportunity to help a few guys out regarding how to set up some stuff and ideas for creating community.
love it. helping others teaches me greatly.
Thank you for the awesome attitude check. Since my blog is primarily about being a dad it’s definitely important for me to remember
Humility – I’ve only been a dad for 5 years
Learn – I most assuredly DO NOT know everything
Teach – It’s been rewarding to share lessons from the journey thus far
Hope you’re able to catch up on sleep soon.
5 years? that’s one more than me!
The day that we stop learning is the day that blogs are dead. Great insight here as the more you learn and are prepared to teach others you are going to get ahead or “get there”.
love that. lots of blogs start educational and interactive and then turn into just a loud-mouthed speech. i hate when that happens.
Do you ever wear a tie? Just curious.
yes. sometimes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/human3rror
Great advice!
thanks beth! i like your flower.
I promise to reference you since I love sending people this way, but I am totally going to work these ideas into a lecture. Probably tomorrow. Because I can. That’s iterative teaching
iterative teaching…! yes.
Very true Jon! This is the exact purpose I started to seriously blog. To get better at writing and speaking. As a youth pastor, communicator and storyteller, I am constantly seeking to work on my craft. I saw the discipline of blogging to be a way to improve all of those through just DOING again and again.
Great post! Thanks!
storyteller. i like that title. what does it mean to you?
I just realized I never responded to this… how rude.
To me a story is what drives us. The art of telling a story has the power to change lives. Jesus told stories, and his story alone has changed history forever. I believe every great communicator understands the power of story.
Don Miller’s book “A Million Miles In A Thousand Years” is what confirmed to me that I LOVE telling stories.
ah. a very popular book indeed!
did you read blue like jazz?
Only snippets. I have it, & my wife has read it, but I just haven’t gotten to it yet.
that one made him famous.
I know… I can’t wait for the movie!
ah yes… that was neat how the community came together to support it.
Another solid post John. Are you doing any guest posting? Or even easier, can I do a skype interview with you talking about this very thing and your Ultimate guide series?
doing guest posting? like allowing guest posts? or am i writing for others?
This is so applicable to EVERYTHING! It describes the journey, and so much of blogging simply mirrors and/or is instructive on life.
the small changes have added up to big changes long-term. it’s hard to show people this when we live in a world of “quick wins” and “easy successes”… just not the model i see!
Oh yeah…”flash in the pan” doesn’t have very lasting results. When it comes to life and life-impacting work, “Three Easy Steps” are not usually effective. Your comment, “the small changes have added up to big changes long-term,” is HUGE! Patience is not my long suit, so I need to be reminded of this from time to time.
patience is a much needed thign in my industry…….!
Are those images by Wes Molebash?
yes… yes they are!