In “How to be Smart in a World of Dumb Bloggers” Jon Morrow's advice for becoming a smart blogger includes
- Replacing your friends
- Becoming a Know-it-all
- and Doing less.
I agree with each of those points and here is why:
Smart rubs off on others
When you hang out with smart, inspiring people, your own life and aspirations improve. They become a motivator and an agent of positive change in your life. If your friends are dumber than you or a negative influence, it's time to expand your circle of friends.
Temporary vs. eternal
When you trade the momentary joy of entertainment for the long-lasting joy of education, you are choosing the gold in life. I can't tell you how many movies I have skipped in the last 4 years to read blog posts and books instead. Books like these that challenge my thinking, educate me on some new process or tool, or encourage me to be a better person and leader.
Less is more
To do less, you must first evaluate all you are doing, qualify what is important, and have the courage to take the steps necessary to cut out those things that may be good, but are not the best thing to help you reach your current goals. And as Jon says, sometimes you do just need more time to think, so that your actions become awesome instead of mediocre.
In the end he says being a smart blogger is all about you. Your choices, your time, your work, your faithfulness, because success in blogging is a process, not an overnight occurrence. And it is also not all about you. Your legacy and lasting impact on the world ultimately lies in how your serve and impact others.
I encourage you to read his entire post here, but ONLY if you're ready for a kick in the pants. His posts usually are that motivating.
