Jen Clendineng's notes on focus, vision, and strategy!
[This is part of the Developing Great Blog Content Series. Check out the other posts!]
I’ve been extremely encouraged in the last few days as many of you have taken this Blog Content Series to heart! Many of you are setting aside some time to create not only some strategy for your blog but to ask yourselves some tough questions about what your blog is really about and where you’d like it to head.
In particular, this post here about clarifying your focus and then actually listing them out (passion, expertise, unique value) has really gotten people moving and I wanted to share with you one excellent example of what one person did and how they constructed their thoughts.
Jen Clendineng has been a long-time community member here and has been actively engaged in not only the conversations but also promoting the values of being a strategic blogger.
Yet she took it to the next level in her activity of finding her blog’s focus, TheWabisabi.me, with her own spiral notebook.
With her permission I’ve attached her notes so that you can see the level of dedication and effort she’s put into it:
There are a few things that I love about what Jen’s done here:
- You can tell that she was personally invested in the process. This took her some time and effort!
- You can also tell that she was honest with her answers to the questions about her passions, expertise, and unique values.
- There were a few points of self-editing that she did that really helped her drill down to some of her core foci.
- She went beyond the activity that I had laid out and really took it seriously.
- There’s a great mix of visioncasting, dreaming, and practicality to her notes.
I think she’s got the right ammunition to make some serious decisions about her blog and then go knock it out of the park!
A few things I can’t wait to see in the evolution of Jen’s blog property:
- An intimate tie with her Blog’s Promise (do you have one?) and the philosophy of the “wabi-sabi”. If you take a look at the Wikipedia article on it then you can see how nuanced and “deep” this lifestyle and philosophy is. It could provide such a rich message!
- How she’ll create a brand around slowing down life and enjoying it more. Who wouldn’t be interested in learning about how to do that better?
- Creating a “place for guests to stay” via her blog and the community. Love this idea! Fits perfectly! I want my own blog to have some wabi-sabi-ness to it!
- Wabi-sabi inspired recipes and food. Can’t wait to see what that is about!
Pretty exciting potential and opportunity if you ask me!
An Interview with Ms. Wabi Sabi!
I asked Jen if she’d also answer a few questions for the encouragement of the community here and she was kind enough to oblige; and she even neglected some housecleaning for me (and you)!
Ms. Wabi-Sabi!
1. How has this activity helped you clarify your thoughts around your blog?
I knew I wanted my blog to reflect my life. But I know not everyone wants to read about my kids and all the other random stuff that happens around here. I had to look at what parts of life might be useful to others, but also what would fit with what I feel is my message.
By starting with my blog’s promise, I defined my message, then I could make my lists for focus. The lines connecting my passions and my expertise really seemed to materialize once I knew what my main message was.
2. What was the most surprising piece of information that surfaced from the activity?
What surprised me the most was that a lot of what I listed as a passion, had the same motivation (another passion): Helping people feel special/loved/cared for.
It really hit me that I do most of what I do because I want the people around me to feel loved and valuable. I grew up with my mom modeling this same attitude and I guess I never took the time to put words with why it was so important to me.
Realizing this motivation changed the way I looked at what and how I share on my blog.
3. In what specific ways has it focused your vision for your blog?
One idea I have gained is that I should share why I’m posting something. For example, I knew in my head that I share simple recipes is because I like to give my family a warm, comfortable place to come home to after school, work, etc.
I never really articulated that idea before in my posts, but I think it will bring more of me into what I’m sharing.
I also gained a bit of a forward focus. I can see a little further ahead than just getting another post up tomorrow. Brainstorming without a filter allowed me to see what is working for me now, but I could also see some interests/ideas that could be good ideas in the future with a little more attention.
4. Do you have any suggestions or tips for other bloggers as they work through this process?
A few things:
- Write with Abandon – List anything you can think of while you’re thinking of it. You never know what will turn into something exciting.
- Funnel your Ideas Down – Once you’ve got everything written, go back over it. You don’t have to get nasty with your ideas, but figure out what fits in now and what could fit in later. Don’t throw out the extra ideas, keep them in your funnel so you’re ready to expand when necessary.My example: I have a category for Chickens. We recently started raising chickens which will provide us with eggs starting this fall. We really would like to start raising other animals, but life is not ready for that yet. So, Chickens fit in right now, but the idea in my funnel is Livestock, waiting for when that time come
- Ask people for advice/share your ideas – I really struggled with my expertise list. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 7 years and don’t feel like I’m qualified to be an expert on much of anything. Until I asked my husband, and he pointed out that I could consider myself an expert in child care, managing a home, organizing, things that have become so much a part of my daily grind that I didn’t even “see” them. Ask other people what they see in you, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.
Thanks so much for willingness to answer my questions Jen and I can’t wait to see how your blog grows! I think you’re on to something here!
Go check out here blog here and give her some encouragement! In addition, if you’re interested in learning how to become Wabi-Sabi yourself you can check out her series on becoming:
- Becoming Wabi-Sabi – Part 1
- Becoming Wabi-Sabi – Part 2
- Becoming Wabi-Sabi – Part 3
- Becoming Wabi-Sabi – Part 4
- Becoming Wabi-Sabi – Part 5
So, have you worked on your “list” yet? Let me know!
[This is part of the Developing Great Blog Content Series. Check out the other posts!]
Inspiring. Need to dive in to this If I want my blog to get to where I want it to be…
Thanks for sharing John.
Great stuff Jen!
she killed it. i’m so impressed.
Thanks, Adam.
We’re on a road trip right now and it’s not the most effective environment in which to go through this process as thoroughly as I’d like.
But I’ve been thinking.
What Jen’s process brought up in my mind is the “you can do this” affirmation that’s implicit in all her messaging.
And THAT is a real value in my own thinking. “You can do this.” My blog is about the Christian life. Specifically, “You can live your life in such a way that others will be attracted to the Christ in you.” Christianity isn’t a society of elites. Or a highly-trained Black Ops team. It’s just ordinary people empowered by the God of the Universe to live and reach out.
That truth–”You can do this”–breathes life in YOUR blog, too, John. With the right tools, with encouragement, with feedback, with friends, We can do this. We can be bloggers. We can make a difference in this world.
This is real power.
Wow, Charles. You can do it too – even on a road trip.
Great thoughts, thanks for sharing!
This is some dedication if you ask me..she really got herself in order..
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
Thank you. My motivation and John’s suggestions ended up in the right place at the right time.
This was awesome!
Great work, Jen…and inspiring work! Thanks for your willingness to share!
Thanks for stopping by to see me, Lacey!
Jen, amazing detail!! I’m impressed. Sometimes we don’t realize our abilities because they become second nature. Only when others point out the special skills we have then we become aware of them. Just like when you struggling with your expertise list. Glad you got an outside opinion!
Domestic engineering…..that’s a great way to put it.
(If i’m thinking the right thing)
Thanks Benny. That’s exactly what I was thinking – about our abilities becoming second nature.
Yep, domestic engineering is the management of dirty dishes, dirty diapers, dirty clothes, dirty kids, pretty much getting and keeping things clean.
Jen, I noticed that your permalinks are numbers. Any reason for this? I bet you would get some nice SEO for your posts if it was optimized.
Just curious!
http://tentblogger.com/permalinks/ < ~~~~~~
Now in my Evernote.
They’re numbers because when I first set it up, that was the shortest available permalink. Other than that, no good reason.
I never remembered to change it while I was in there – just like I forgot to change the comments/replies to nested. (John reminded me earlier today.)
Better add it to my new To Do list. Thanks for mentioning it!
You’re welcome. That was the first thing I noticed but just wanted to make sure you knew about it.
Change it and I’m sure you’ll get some nice Google searches to your blog.
i really like that one too! “domestic engineering”… neato!
jen, I’m impressed. so much prep, so much detail… love it.
this post definitely got me thinking about some ideas to implement on my own. i appreciate the inspiration!
Thanks, Dustin. I’m glad you got some good out of it.
Incredible intentionality. So heart-felt. I’m a fan.
Thanks, Dustin. I’ve been around Christianity long enough to be sick and tired of people being fake with me, especially as a pastor’s wife.
So, just a general life goal of mine is to be as much like me as I can all the time. I’m glad you could sense my heart-felt-ed-ness (???) Thanks for noticing!
Jen, thank you so much for letting us see everything you did following this series. I knew I had a lot to do, but couldn’t get started on it yet. I was so happy to see what you did because it will make it so much easier for me.
And to encourage you about the chickens – they are really big right now. I know your experiences will help a lot of others who are just starting with them! One of my daughters has even “chicken-sat” for friends when they were out of town. She liked it better than cat or dog sitting because of the eggs.
John, thanks so much for this series. There is so much here, and I haven’t even had a chance to absorb it all yet.
I’m glad to help, Marcy. I know once I got started it just started to snowball and I had to write to keep up with my thinking!
With the chickens, I’m hoping to help people like me who were just looking for information and how other people have done it. Sharing experiences is such a valuable thing!
Need to get my Blog Promise going. Definitely Inspirational. I enjoy seeing what other people are doing. Thanks John and Jen.
Here is something along those lines that I think is cool to do as well
http://www.problogger.net/?s=How+to+Use+a+Manifesto+to+Spread+your+Blog’s+Message
Hope it was OK to post a link.
Thanks, Greg, glad to help.
Jen, Love that you guys are in full time ministry!!
i know, right?!
Once again, John, you invite us to think deeper about blogging and our influence. Appreciate Jen’s openness to sharing her practical example and experience of what you’ve recently posted. Well done.
she did a great job… very thankful about her willingness to share!
I was surprised to be asked, I was just trying to say thanks to John, for all the idea starters.
Dear John and Jen,
I have been praying about starting a blog about traveling with small children, and this is really encouraging (along with your entire blog, John!) My husband and I are missionaries serving in Athens, Greece but we have been all over, taking our two young daughters along for the ride. Even before I met my husband he traveled all over the world. I am definitely going to sit down and do this myself. This is such a blessing to me, thanks for sharing! God bless!
this is awesome!
make sure you get a gravatar! http://tentblogger.com/gravatar/
ok.. testing gravatar
What a great idea Kristin! That sounds like something you are both passionate about and an expert in. Go for it! I bet if you write out your lists, your categories will show up in there somewhere.
Your blog idea seems like a winner. My wife and I served in Russia for six years. Our son was nine when we first flew into Khabarovsk, Russia, and he received an international-in-scope education through our trips back and forth. I know from our experiences you have a lot to share that should prove both interesting and entertaining.