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Stand Up to Live Before You Sit Down to Blog

Posted By Guest Blogger 4th of September 2011 Miscellaneous Blog Tips 0 Comments

This guest post is by Peter G. James Sinclair of MotivationalMemo.com.

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”—Henry David Thoreau

I often reflect on the lifetime of experiences that I’ve tasted since landing on planet Earth to find myself in the arms of my mother.

Those experiences have in fact been the fuel that has ignited the written word that flows from my pen to the page, and from there, through the agency of my Motivational Memo blog into the hearts of men and women from 155 nations to date.

For unless I have lived it, there is no way that I have any authority to write it.

My response, whenever facing a particular challenge in my life has always been, “Well, at least it’s given me another story that I can write about.”

To be an expert, not an ex-spurt

When I write I never want to be the guy who is an “ex”’ or a “has-been” who is going to usher forth a “spurt.” Not an endearing picture is it?

If I’m going to write anything, or in fact do anything in my life, I want to position and prepare myself to become a guru, a leader, or an expert in that chosen field.

How does this come about?

I first sit at the feet of the experts who have gone before me and become their student. I become whom I associate with.

At first I may be as raw as the next guy, but in time, through continued study and practice I will find my voice and then begin to be recognized as an authority in my own right.

And if I have anything to “spurt” I trust that it brings life and refreshment to those who choose to partake of what I’ve learned.

To live, to write

We all have a story to tell and the blog medium is a wonderful place to express this. So go live first, and then return, even the same day if you wish, and recount what you have learned.

  • Speak about it and put it in audio format.
  • Communicate it through the use of video.
  • Share the written word with me, for we then become richer from the lessons you teach, the principles applied, and the experiences gained.

Write of your experiences, not of the experiences of others. Sure, use their experiences or their wisdom as your stepping stone, but then spring forth fearlessly with your own fresh voice and interpretation.

I don’t want to just hear the musty voices from ages past—as good as they are. I want to hear your spin. I want to ponder on your yarn. For herein lies the new insight and the sparkling discovery that adds value to our lives as we partake of this wondrous feast.

Long live your wonderful “communicated” life

So allow me to shout loud and clear, “Long live your wonderful life!”

May your life be recorded in a flourish of words—deposited into your unique blog—that in years to come will provide the springboard for yet another virgin writer to grasp hold of and spring forth on their own adventure of intellectual and spiritual discovery.

Share with us one recent experience that you have had, and are just bursting to share with the world through your blog.

Peter G. James Sinclair is in the “heart to heart” resuscitation business and inspires, motivates and equips others to be all that they’ve been created to become. Receive your free copy of his latest eBook Personal Success Blueprint at http://www.motivationalmemo.com and add him on Twitter @PeterGJSinclair today!

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Comments
  1. “I first sit at the feet of the experts who have gone before me and become their student. I become whom I associate with.”

    Lovely words to live and write by, Peter. Experience is the best teacher, and humility is the Teacher’s Aide.

    One experience I’m sharing on the blog is the importance of knowing what a “learner” is in the realm of psychotherapy via a post targeted to newbie therapists and grad school students. I believe in sharing the mistakes I”ve made in the therapy room so that others may not repeat them.

    Am I an expert? Far from it, but I’ve committed myself to the title of a Lifelong Learner.

    Great Thoreau quote:).

    • Thank you Linda. Sounds like you are definitely ‘expert’ material because you are teaching reality – and when you teach from real life experience it adds immense power to what you teach.

  2. The first thing came to mind while i was reading this post is that as i go through life i am always learning. And i remember my first job experience working at a seasoning factory and always had disputes with my supervisor always in my skin for some reason, i never like it and the moment i gave in and started to be more obedient and got more proactive the tables turned work got easier and we became good friends. Even though i dont work there anymore we still keep in touch every now and then.

  3. Short but powerful, and I totally approve of this message, in the sea of blogs that try to teach, when many of them need to stop blogging and LEARN about their topic first.

  4. You are so right on this! Kudos!

  5. This reminded me of a little thing called Gonzo journalism. It’s not exactly covering the story, but throwing yourself into the story to get it covered– objective? Hell no, but what is these days.
    Nice post, Peter. Experience beats everything anytime, so I’m all for going through something before trying to write about it. Cheers.

  6. Amen! An editorial calendar should include “living” days.

  7. Good point, though I guess there can also be value in collecting, gathering and summarizing information that others have produced. However, that kind of information might be more suitable for a dictionary than for a blog …

    • Thanks Lucas. The power is to learn to weave your own story in with others. Part of the whole experience process involves ‘collecting, gathering and summarising’ as you write – but then it is the application of that that makes it so much more interesting for all concerned while empowering you as the learner-become- teacher.

  8. I am inspired! your writing is tremendous.

  9. I always set my cup not full. I always see to it that it has enough space to pour some liquid in :) Everyday I learned from the experts and then get back to where I came from and fonder wonderful ideas to make my life better :) Life is about learning, it is a fact :)

  10. First of all, this title is great. Secondly, the way you presented the information was absolutely amazing. You can’t really write about anything you haven’t experienced. And it is best to be a life-long student. Excellent article!

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