Okay last week, apparently I wrote a terrible blog! Terrible in the way it was written and for many people offensive. And while I tried to dig myself out of a hole, it didn’t seem to help.
Nevertheless, as ProBlogger says in his 8 Steps to Highly Effective Blogging I achieved #4: “Don’t write to please: You blog to drive a message. You don’t write to please the world. You know that no matter what you write, there will always be people who will disagree with what you say. As Timothy Ferris puts it: “Ten percent of people will find a way to take anything personally. Expect it.” If you stand for something, you will have haters.”
I had no idea what a stir I would create on line but also within myself. I became quite agitated and stressed.
My stress induced mental state was not that that I had been controversial, nor in many people’s minds sexist or a traditionalist, nor was it that I had been criticised—you expect that when you are a blogger for a busy site like Dynamic Business. It was how personal the attacks were—again you have to expect this feedback but it rattled me.
And here is where I went wrong: I checked the blog entry at 6pm, just before bath time for my 18-month-old and then dinner with my wife. Wasn’t that a pleasant dinner. Then I returned after dinner to see if I could reword what I meant with a rebuttal. Before finally checking again before bed at 10pm – notice I said bed not sleep!
Add these checks to the constant Twitter stream and conversation I was having with Debra Templar, as she ripped into my view point.
I have no idea what time it was when I finally went to sleep but I tossed and turned. I tried to think of a damage control strategy. Should I re-blog again? Should I quit? What has this done to my brand? And even more questions!
Is it any surprise that I didn’t have a good night’s sleep?
And there ladies and gentleman is the lesson of the week – when you leave work you leave work! Even if you are working from home. Otherwise you have a sleep less night!
Seriously, whether you are expecting or not expecting an email, a text, an IM or even a Tweet I suggest you don’t check. I can guarantee that if you do check, there will be something that will stimulate your mind – in either a positive or negative manner. And that will affect your relationships and your sleep – both of which are vital to your well being.
So readers – rip in to this blog and tell me what you think. I don’t care and I am not going to read it until tomorrow morning, when I am fresh and ready to tackle the day!
