{"id":324,"date":"2012-07-03T08:33:19","date_gmt":"2012-07-03T08:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breathe-pod.org.uk\/blog\/?p=324"},"modified":"2021-06-09T08:37:15","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T08:37:15","slug":"i-had-a-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breathe-pod.org.uk\/blog\/index.php\/2012\/07\/03\/i-had-a-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"I Had a Dream \u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Through the nervous 90\u2019s, and on 99 not out \u2026 then the opportunity arrived \u2026 a slower ball \u2026 driven back past the bowler for a single \u2026 a maiden test century \u2026 and then, sadly, I woke up \u2026 Why was I dreaming about that very English game of cricket?  Ah yes, I went to sleep last night thinking about what to write in my one hundredth blog post. I quickly discounted \u2013 with a shiver at the thought \u2013 that this was an indication that I should explain the rules of cricket and how it is played<\/a>. No, it was because this journey of writing a blog has been like a cricket innings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the outset I thought that it would be tricky \u2013 a bit like facing the new ball. As each idea to write about comes to mind, they are a bit like balls being bowled \u2013 some can be used and \u2018posted\u2019 to the outfield, whilst others should be left well alone. Sometimes there might be a dozen in a row to be left alone, at other times 2 or 3 good ones come along at once. And the weather conditions \u2013 or my outlook \u2013 can impact on the effectiveness of the posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in the same way as when a cricketer makes a century, and the TV coverage reviews their 100 runs, I will review my experience of 100 blog posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I set out, I had very little understanding of blogs and websites. I didn\u2019t know whether to write a blog, but I was given one piece of crucial advice which made the decision for me. I was told that websites will rise up search rankings if their content is constantly being updated, and that a blog was one way of doing this. The other primary way was for me to update my own website, but my ineptitude in this area left me with just the one option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also read parts (I say \u2018parts\u2019 because I don\u2019t think I can claim to have read a full book in at least 20 years) of the book \u201cNaked Conversations<\/a>\u201d from which I really warmed to the idea of building on-line rapport with potential customers \u2013 by demonstrating where my expertise lies and helping others understand what makes me tick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those were my two reasons \u2013 ranking and rapport \u2013 which were countered with a large dollop of trepidation. What would I write about? Did I actually know anything of any value to others? Where would I find the time? Was I really comfortable opening myself up, warts and all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as with many things we concern ourselves with in life, none of these issues materialised. And more importantly, there have been benefits, huge benefits. It has been personally fulfilling, a tremendously positive and enjoyable experience and has generated a small amount of client driven business from people I would never have otherwise met. So what have been my main learning points?<\/p>\n\n\n\n