Posts Tagged ‘blogher’

(If this blog song doesn’t crack you up, I don’t know what will

Why do I blog?  Because my heart cries out for a voice.  Before the days of blogs, I wrote copiously in my journal.  Should your blog be like your personal journal?  Heavens no, if it is written for a business-based audience.  Yes, if you are an identity blogger, and maybe if it is your hobby.

Lately, I’ve been writing about distinctly personal matters: self-esteem, spirituality/religion, and things I’d never say in public, or to a group of people I don’t know.  So then, why do I share these things with you?  Because you are my readers.  My audience is primarily comprised of job seekers from the HireFriday Community I founded in February.  HR & Recruting professionals read my blog.  There’s so much controversy about how much information is too much information.

That’s a judgement call.  I say write within the parameters of the interests of your readers, be true to your professional brand.  My brand is HireFriday.  That brand is also Margo Rose the human being, and HRMargo the HR/OD/Recruitment professional.  I can’t separate my audiences.  I could have a different blog for each audience.  However, I choose not to do that.  Rather, I write about what’s on my mind.  I write primarily–editorial opinion pieces about things going on in my industry, and things that are of interest to my HireFriday job seekers (all of whom I love dearly). I strongly encourage the job seekers in the HireFriday Community to blog about their expertise, their strengths, and to use it as a portfolio piece. It’s a great way to be found. It’s a great way for job seekers to establish professional credibility. If I were looking for a job, I’d blog only about professional topics (which I did). Blogging & Social Media channels helped me land my job this year. I have struck out on my own again, and I have more personal freedom to write about what I really want.

Jessica Miller Merrill articulated the following image.  The Mullet.  She said, think of broadcasting your social media message like the style of the mullet, short up front (personal) long in the back (professional).  I love that model because it is accurate, sound advice.  However, my mullet wears bangs, as I tend to share more of my real self, opinions, philosophy up front.  I still share the bulk of my blog for my professional audience.  I also know that my brand is quite personal.  It’s also an acquired taste, it’s not for everyone.

I read a few hundred blog posts a day (I used to teach a speed reading course, so I am blessed to be able to read at lightening speed).  Reading blogs is the best way to learn how to blog.  I was inspired to by by Jory Des Jardins.  She is an identity blogger.  I love the BlogHER website and community she created.  I was again inspired when I attended HRevolution in 2009.  That is where I really learned how to be a blogger.  I made zillions of mistakes.  I still do.  It’s all about falling down, getting back up, falling down, and getting back up again.  That’s how I learn.  I learn most by reading other people’s blogs, attending conferences where people discuss blogging, and following blog chats on twitter.

Blogging is my joy.  I won’t make a living as a blogger, but I will have a place where I can sound off about things that matter most.  My birthday is around the corner, Tuesday, September 21.  I feel so blessed to be a baby boomer who embraces technology.  Blogging is a form of therapy for me.  It is also one of my greatest joys.  My blog is almost 1 year old.  What a miracle.

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Margo Rose Crazy Controversy Sells

Every now and then I wonder why shocktalkradio, shocking blogposts, and controversy sells. I spend hours researching and writing about my guests for my benign blogtalkradio show, Compassionate HR. those blog posts are rarely retweeted. As soon as I write a shock talk post, everyone retweets, and links back to it. Strange. My google analytics spike when I write something slightly mean spirited, and controversial. It’s ironic because I am the Compassionate HR blogtalkradio Host. I am a servant, steward leader. I spend 99% of my time helping others grow, and get HiredFriday.

Yet, my kick-butt posts are read furiously. Why? Is it because people don’t expect it? I really don’t know, but I find it frustrating because I spend no time researching controversial posts. I spend hours researching the meaty posts chocked full of tools and tips you can use.

I grow weary of this sad fact. Particularly when I hear those crazy posts are texted, emailed, and passed on like hot cakes on a yum-yum griddle. People love racy stories. It’s why shocking stories, and bad news is reported voraciously on network news. One day, I hope to present my findings about HireFriday, and Compassionate HR. Let me track back to the denotative definition of the word, Compassion. It means acknowledging suffering, and having a desire to express empathy, and a quest to alleviate suffering. It also expresses the power of equanimity.

Compassion doesn’t sell on my blog. Should I re-think my methodology? I am in the process of developing my new HireFriday website. It promises to be chock full of treats, and tools, and career related gems you can use. It will not be the least bit controversial. Albeit, my job search methodology is a bit unconventional, it is powerful. I have learned so much about career development through my Master’s Degree training, my experience as an outplacement facilitator with an international outplacement firm, and through my own painful career transition back into human resources after my 4 year stint in the Pet Industry.

Pain is a powerful motivator. Pain has been my greatest teacher. Compassion, and empathy are my teachers too. I am a spiritual woman. While my behavior falls short of my goal sometimes, I realize that like my Mother, my personality is an acquired taste. It’s not for everyone. My quirky personality is the result, in part, to the fact that I am in the midst of menopause. My hormones rage at times. I get hot flashes, and post shocking posts reflect that fact. I refuse to take estrogen, because I don’t want to suffer health related risks. My physician suggests that estrogen replacement should be a resort.

So, I will continue to be moody, and get angry and just plain stupid stuff that I never bother me when I am serene. As I grow, learn, and strive to become the woman I want to be, it is my hope to first do no harm. When I do so, I must make restitution immediately.

I now leave you with today’s theme song. It is one of my favorite songs by Aretha Franklin. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

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