Read This Post Or The Rabbit Dies

Some years ago someone asked me for advice on how to make sure readers never tired of reading our blogs.

I told them the best way to make that happen was to try to write entertaining, educational and informative posts every single time.

“But Jack, what happens if you can’t always be entertaining, educational and informative?”

“Become the Godfather of blogging and make them an offer they can’t refuse. ‘Read this post or the rabbit dies’ will become your new mantra.”

They told me they thought that was ridiculous and I said they were probably correct but pointed out a lot of ideas get passed over because people think they are ridiculous.

If that quote doesn’t describe blogging and social media than nothing does.

Why?

Because the one constant in this crazy world is that the posts, videos, tweets, pins and status updates you expect to do well don’t and the ones that shouldn’t do.

Oftentimes there is no rhyme or reason to it.

Doesn’t mean you don’t have the moments where those things perform as expected but there are lots of times they don’t.

And I cannot help but wonder how many times we kill our creativity by overthinking what we want to do.

My guess is that most of us didn’t do that as kids. We didn’t spend time wondering or worrying about whether our idea was good or silly.

We didn’t wonder or worry about what people would think. We just said and did.

About Audioblogging

I used to do a lot more audioblogging than I have done recently.

Ask me why I haven’t done as much as I used to and I’ll probably tell you it is a combination of not thinking about, lack of time and a desire to create a better product.

But the root of it all, the real reason I haven’t done as much is I have been too concerned with whether people liked it.

Been too concerned about whether it has been entertaining, educational and informative.

Paralysis of analysis tripped me up.

Some days the words come easy and some days they don’t.

Some days I look at the work I have done here and wonder if I have produced anything of real value.

When those moments come it is rare for me to look at other writers and wish that I could do what they do.

I compete with myself.

The bar is always based upon what I have done, not upon others.

I set my own limits and restrictions. The hard part is recognizing when I have done it and working upon removing them.

Read This Post Or The Rabbit Dies

There is a part of me that loves the goofy stuff.  A part that would like to explore creating a silly picture/idea along the read this post or the rabbit dies line.

I wouldn’t really do it but there is a part of me that wonders how many people would take it seriously.

Would they picket and protest the blog?

Would I get to test out the theory of there being no such thing as bad publicity?

I don’t know and I doubt I’ll ever find out, but I am ok with that.

The main thrust of this isn’t about whether I would really whack a rabbit but about pushing for creativity.

Pushing for an open mind that explores ideas the same ways I did when I was a kid.

What happens when we remove restrictions and limitations?

What happens when we allow ourselves to think and act without those fears?

How do we make the impossible possible?

That is where I am focusing my energy today.

Got to run for now, back later.