Photo by Tomás Rotger

So I’ve been thinking about what the heck I want to do with this blog. Really I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to do with this blog and I have found myself questioning why I started it in the first place?  Was it for me to talk about topics that interested me? Was it to share my expertise through writing impactful, intellectual articles on all things marketing? Was it for me to become the next “hot-shot blogger”? Why the heck did I start this thing?

Funny enough, I know a few people who have been asking themselves the same question about their own blogs, Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, and LinkedIn profiles.  It seems that whenever something is new and or innovative and it starts to hit mainstream, so many of us jump on the bandwagon without looking back, then find ourselves questioning why we did it to begin with and should we be doing it differently.

Now typically, this happens with those that aren’t considered “tech savvy” or understanding how these systems work and therefore have no real basis for how they should begin. My story may be slightly different.  I’ve been blogging on and off over the years, but nothing consistent enough to qualify myself as some sort of “guru” (which I HATE that word, but that’s another matter.)  I’ve also been in and around the technology industry my whole professional career – 10+ years – and was always in some type of marketing position.  So I’m typically what you’d call an “early adopter” and to pretty much everyone I know, I’m the “techie guy.” So, you would think that I know what I’m getting myself into and how to do it, right?

But here’s the thing: Just because you know about something (such as blogging) and how it should be utilized by others doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to apply it in your own situation.

Knowing How to Start but Forgetting Why We Do It

It seems that when we dive into something new in our professional lives and/or businesses, such as blogging, we all start with certain assumptions and a basic level of understanding.  We form goals and establish performance criteria for determining how we’re doing. I mean, this is business, right? I’m doing this for a reason, aren’t I? I want to make connections, build an audience, then make some money. So, don’t I need processes to provie how I’m doing?

Then I think to myself, “What the crap am I doing? Am I trying to measure my existence?”  This blog is not suppose to be about me and yet it is suppose to be from me! I’m not trying to be a Seth Godin (awesome marketer, read all his books) or now a Chris Brogan or Julien Smith (now very famous bloggers and social media experts who authored a great book, “Trust Agents!” Read it!) I’m Brian Hamlett. I’m my own person and rather than try to spew all my knowledge about marketing and technology and try to project myself as some expert you need to be engaging (which I’m always learning so I could never claim myself as some sort of “master of all,”) why don’t I share my real thoughts about the things I care about, whether they involve areas of my professional life or not?

Hitting the Reset Button

So, it’s time for a reset of my digital life. Interestingly, the “real me” that I should be reflecting here already exists on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.  There I engage in just about any conversation or discussion that interests me and I never try to talk like I’m some “expert” in anything.  Why? I don’t really have anything to prove there! I just like to share about my love of business ownership, technology, marketing, the outdoors, this, that and everything else in my life.  It allows me to truly represent myself, my opinions, my thoughts, my perceptions, everything that makes me who I am. That’s why we engage in social media, right?  To connect and get to know one another?  The “real us”?  So why would I only project the “marketing professional” side of me?

So it’s time to get personal! I have plenty to talk about and I absolutely LOVE discussions! So let’s connect. Let’s chat. And I’ll start sharing with you the “real me”!

Have You Hit the Reset Button?

So have you determined that you needed to hit the reset button on your digital existence?

Have you ever hit the reset button on just your whole life?

I’ve been the owner of my business, mPower Consulting, for over three years now.  During that time, I’ve probably redesigned the corporate web site three times.  I’ve launched social media initiatives including a profile and page on Facebook, a corporate Twitter account, and numerous discussions and posts from my profile via LinkedIn.  I’ve pushed and drove and worked my tail off to get mPower Consulting out in front of the eyes of my target audience.  Then something interesting happened, and it took us being in this new “social media world” to make me realize it.  My business only covers 50% of my true passions in my professional life.  When I see something on Facebook or Twitter that I personally want to comment on, I couldn’t, for fear of mixing my business with my “business.”

So, it’s that time.  Time to launch out on my own!  Ahhh! The release and comfort of being able to reply with whatever I actually want to say to any comment, post, status update, or tweet that I see!  So digital world! Here I come! Guns blazing… well, not yet… but soon!  Of course, I’ll still bite my tongue where necessary… besides, you could all easily find out I own mPower Consulting and convert your negative feelings for my responses to the quality of my business!

Now isn’t that an interesting topic? I think I’ll go write a post on that!  Talk to you all soon!

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