Discover “What Is Your Why” In Blogging
What is your WHY?
What is the reason you are blogging? Don’t be too quick to answer this question. What is the REAL reason that you are blogging? Really think about it!!
Knowing “what is your why” will help you to achieve your blogging success. This is what will make you a success over your fellow blogger.
Today was a little different for me as I had to spend the day in hospital for day surgery. Whilst I was in recovery, I decided to take a read of the awesome ebook by Ryan Biddulph at Blogging From Paradise.
There were so many reasons why this ebook was a great read, and you will have to read it yourself to find out. However, ONE of the things that really struck a cord with me, was having an understanding of WHAT IS YOUR WHY for blogging.
Why knowing your “what is your why” is important as a blogger
Knowing your WHY can really make the difference between whether you will succeed or not. There were many times whilst reading the ebook that I was nodding and saying “yes” to myself, because it really is true how this can affect all the outcomes of your blog.
We can talk about learning how to publish posts, knowing how to do SEO, writing great headlines, joining learn how to blog programs until we are blue in the face, but unless you REALLY know WHY you are blogging, what is the point?!
Whilst I was sat there reading the book, I looked around to see what everyone else was doing. Some were watching the tv to pass the time, others flipping through magazines and others literally staring into space.
Part of the ‘why’ you are blogging has to be connected with a passion. It has to be the reason that you will stay up late, make sacrifices, read a blogging ebook whilst recovering from surgery!
My ‘why’ for blogging is so strong that it meant I took this ebook into hospital with me and made the conscious effort to read it, when i could easily have just sat back, relaxed, and watched some mindless tv like everyone else in the room.
That’s just not me.
I saw this as an opportunity where I had complete uninterrupted time away from my computer where I could focus and reflect. It was perfect. I actually enjoyed my hospital visit today!!
Take the time to define what is your why!
One thing you will learn about Ryan, is that his “why” is very much defined. He knows exactly what he is doing, why he is doing it and how he is going to achieve it.
Here is a little snippet from Ryan’s ebook about defining your why:
Know why you want to blog professionally. Guess what? It has nothing to do with money. Absolutely, positively, zero, zilch, nothing to do with money. The FREEDOM is the money, that’s what you’re after. You want to be free from work, from having to work from a boss, from having to spend your time somewhere for some set time each week.
It’s SO true isn’t it. Many bloggers will say that they are blogging to build an online income, but this just isn’t going to cut it. Wanting more money will not necessarily drive you.
What will the money mean?
What will it enable you to do?
Why do you want the money?
Defining the bigger picture will not only help you determine your why for yourself, but it will also determine the why for your blog.
Let me introduce you to my WHY
She’s almost 3 years old, cheeky personality, loves dancing and singing (at every given possibility) and has a huge heart.
Ok, I know I’m biased but she’s adorable isn’t she! My daughter is my WHY.
She is the reason that I took up blogging and she is the reason that I will make this my full time career. I am 100% committed to that.
Breaking down my why is simple.
I want to be a stay at home mum, to enjoy everything that life has to offer with my beautiful family. I don’t want to miss any of it. I absolutely hate having to give up the time with my daughter to go and undertake a job that I don’t even particularly enjoy.
That is why when I get home from work (or finish the busy day with my daughter), do the evening routine, that I start blogging. I don’t watch tv….I blog.
The biggest drive for me is to earn an income doing what I love AND being able to spend time with those that mean the most to me.
Am I passionate about this? Absolutely I am!
I am a pretty driven person at the best of times, but having the WHY in the front of my mind each and every day, gives me the motivation, the energy and the will power to keep going.
I am not yet at the point of giving up my day job to be the full time stay at home mum that I want to be, but I know it’s not far off and that is incredibly exciting. It makes the late nights, the lack of social outings outings with mates in the evenings and all the hard work worth it.
So that’s my why for my internet marketing, but what is my why for THIS blog?
The “WHY” behind Blogging Tips 101
I have currently have two blogs and my target audience and my ‘why’ for each is very different.
This blog is about me being an every day mother, who actually wants to be a stay at home mum. How often today do you see stay at home mums? We are a dying breed!
When I was a kid, the mothers that went to work were the odd one’s out, but now it’s done a complete turn around. Yes some mothers want to return to work, but for many it is purely a financial decision. In today’s society it is just too hard to live on one income.
There are so many mummy blogs on the internet and many of these mums are doing it as a way of being that stay at home mum. The thing is, how many of these mummy blogs are actually going to be able to earn enough income to be that stay at home mum they desire to be.
This is where THIS BLOG comes in. This is the WHY for my blog.
I want to create a blog that is easy to understand, gives great tips and HELPS other mums do exactly what I am doing.
Regardless of the niche that those mums choose to blog about, the basic principles of blogging are the same, and it is those principles that I can help with on this site.
I can offer a training program wit Learn How To Blog that will help people to learn what they need to learn in order to make their blog a success. However I can also provide the heart and passion that comes from being a stay at home mum who blogs for business. The heart is the passion for why I took up blogging and it is something that other mums can relate to.
Still not convinced that knowing your why is important?
Check out this video by Simon Sinek which will give you food for thought. Let me know what you think of it below!
Now it’s your turn:
What is your why for blogging?
Do you have one or do you need to give this some thought?
I would love to hear what drives you, so please share below.
Related Posts :
Written by Catherine Holt
Catherine Holt is the founder of Blogging Tips 101. She has been an internet marketer since 2012. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google and Pinterest.
Catherine,
I love this and I’m glad to know there are other people out there like me! We have so much in common. I’m glad you got a chance to read Ryan’s book, I haven’t had time to do it myself although I wrote a review on amazon anyway =)
Sorry you were in the hospital! I hope it wasn’t something serious! Glad to hear you’re doing okay. Your daughter is beautiful btw! Have a great night!
Thanks Brittany. Yes I think we are definitely on the same page
If you can find a couple of hours free time I would definitely recommend reading the book. You sound like me…bought it but then it sat looking at me for a few weeks. I’m glad I got the chance to read it even if not under the best circumstances.
Thanks for the compliment on my daughter too. I think she’s pretty special, but I’m her mum, so I am biased….lol
Hi Catherine
This was a great read. I loved learning more about your story and what drives you. Your daughter is adorable by the way! Ryan’s book is great and he really does drive that point home. Without a strong ‘why’ we won’t do what it takes. It can take a bit to override our negative programming and without a strong driver it will win out and we will not succeed, and most likely, blame this failure on anything but ourselves.
Making money a main driver to create a successful blog or any other work at home venture is treading dangerous water because while there is nothing wrong with wanting increased financial abundance, making it the sole focus will sabotage your efforts. For many people, it can take awhile to make a steady income and in the meantime you need something else motivating you.
Great read!
Awww…thanks Kelli. She is a bit of a diva…she sometimes sits next to me on her computer, so we can work together…lol
Having the why in place really does drive you. I think this is a huge problem for many bloggers as when the going gets tough (which it always does), there is never any driving force that makes them push through. Instead it is easier to give up and walk away. If your why is bigger than the obstacle you are facing, you become committed to pushing through.
Whilst my aim is to make enough money to stay at home full time, the ‘money’ itself is not enough to focus on. Picturing ‘money’ or my daugther’s face have very different emotional responses and my daughter will win every time. The money alone is not enough to push you.
I really appreciate your comment here Kelli. Thanks
Hi Catherine,
First off, Kelli and I wanted to tell you, your daughter is so cute!
Second, thanks SO much for mentioning my eBook. I’m so happy and grateful that you read it while in the hospital….everything is ok, right?
You’re well on your way. I know of few people who’d read an eBook about successful blogging at the hospital and I’ve seen your endless networking on Triberr, in the comments fields of authority blogs all over the place, and on social networks….as you said it’s a matter of time, and you’re getting there quickly.
Your WHY is overpowering so you’re set. Being home with your daughter inspires you to push yourself, to grow your blog, and since you have that feeling firmly buried into your mind and being, you’re set.
I always wanted to be free more than I feared being uncomfortable, or feared failing. I also saw this quality in world-renowned folks. Just read a piece on Tony Robbins. He explained how when he was a 20 year old sales person, he would park his piece of crap car 5 blocks away, so the doctors and successes he was selling to, who drove Mercedes and other luxury cars, wouldn’t see his car and dismiss him.
He had minestrone soup acne (his words), wore fake gold chains because that’s what he could afford, and wore a 2 piece suit bought from a thrift shop. This guy broke sales records, and when his IPO went public, the man’s net worth soared to about $300 million.
Wow. He wanted to be free, and he wanted to free other people from their limiting beliefs, and he did what it took, to get there.
Thanks Catherine, I so appreciate you
Tweeting through Triberr.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan, and yes everything is ok. A minor glitch, but getting sorted now
Your why certainly needs to be all empowering and consuming. It needs to be that thing you think of first thing when you wake and last thing when you go to bed. Having a half focused why is going to produce half focused results.
Your example of Tony Robbins is gold. He knew his why SO much that he let nothing stop him. No insecurities and no limitations. It was his drive to succeed that got him where he wanted to be.
When my first goal is accomplished we will then have to let our daughter experience the world, and hook up with this awesome Pro blogger we know…wherever he happens to be blogging from Paradise at the time!!
More than happy to promote your ebook too….it’s a great thought provoking read!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment here Ryan…much appreciated
[…] Knowing what is your why for blogging will separate you from your fellow bloggers. Having a passion, a drive and a WHY is essential for success. […]
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for this reminder. Like you, my family is my main motivation. When I started blogging and working online several years ago I didn’t have any kids and my motivation was mostly about being able to make more money and have flexibility. My daughter is almost two years old now, and having a kid definitely changes things! Providing for her and for my wife is what motivates me the most now.
It’s easy to tell that you are truly committed to reaching your goals and I know it will happen for you.
It’s amazing how little people can inspire you so much isn’t it Marc. Your right, they certainly do change your perspective on everything.
You certainly display a lot of motivation too and that shows with your online success.
Great to see you here Mac, have an awesome week ahead!
Hi Catherine,
First off… your daughter is adorable. Absolutely adorable.
Secondly, this is an awesome post. It’s also a bit eerie! When you read my new post (“Why blogs fail (and why yours could be next”), which was written before I read this wonderful post of yours, you’ll see what I mean. It’s as if this post is answering the questions I pose in my post. And you don’t just answer, you answer AND THEN SOME!
Awesome work. I’ll be sharing it shortly.
Hope you’re having a great week, Catherine!
Awww..thanks Kevin
Oh, now you have me intrigued….I’m off to read your post now! Maybe I should post my post in your comments section….lol (joke!!).
Thanks for sharing and heading over to you now
Hi Catherine
First of all give my lot of love to little 3 year cutie.:-)
Ebook of Ryan is sending ripples in blogosphere. Everywhere I find its mention which shows it really is a wonderful book with quite new blend of expression. While reading it you feel as if you are sitting in an island.
After reading a few paragraph of your post I was shocked. Not because I found a new revelation. I just thought why I never thought in that way to know the WHY factor of my blogging. Why do I stop at the apparent objectives of my blogging.
You are absolutely right. Money is not currency note. Money is the thing which makes you happy. Economists rightly define money is not an end itself but a mean to achieve a higher end.
We struggle day and night not just to eat three times meal, live in a home and put on beautiful dresses. There are several higher order needs which we need to fulfill. They may be love, care, fame, self actualization, authority or anything else. But one point is clear money is not the sole purpose of our work life. That is why it is widely said if you blog just for money you will never make it.
Thanks a lot for sharing a post on a topic that is not so common and people rarely think about it. After reading this post I am sure everybody will try to know the real WHY factor of his financial pursuits.
Thanks Mi.
It’s true that money makes life a lot easier, there is no denying that. But if intentions are solely on gaining more money, then you will fall at the hurdles. Wanting more money is not defined enough to keep your motivation and your direction high. There needs to be some higher purpose. If you have something that drives you with every waking moment, your subconscious mind is also going to start listening and start to make that a reality. It might not necessarily happen tomorrow, but it will happen.
It’s great that you have taken something away from this post, and I would be interested to hear what you discover about your “WHY” when you really start to analyze it.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts…very much appreciated
Hi Catherine,
Great post. First off, sorry to hear that you were in the hospital. Hope that the recovery went smoothly.
In terms of my why, it’s pretty much the concept of being independent. Being able to not worry about finances. Being able to do things that I want to do on my own terms. Being able to provide a wonderful life for my family. I don’t have any children right now, but I think it’s safe to say that when you have kids, your “why” really changes and you become laser focused on that.
Perfect example is you and your daughter. She is your why and the reason you continue to do what you do.
Great stuff here and great post. Hope you and your family have an awesome weekend.
- Andrew
Thanks Andrew.
It sounds like you have given a lot of thought to your why, and your right…it can change. Also when you have accomplished the first why, you need a new one to focus on otherwise you have nothing to drive you. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of our own inner drive!
Hi Catherine,
Simon’s book is fantastic and I’m looking forward to reading Ryan’s!
Why? That’s the real question isn’t it? It’s not when, how, or what. It’s “why?”
My why took nearly nine years to come to me. It’s to help businesses owners and entrepreneurs learn to stop thinking like employees and giving themselves jobs in their own companies. I want them to connect more meaningfully and purposefully with their business so that they can run their business and it not run them.
Do I build websites? Yes. But I do it as a means to meet business owners who I know I can help make a real difference in their world.
Great post Catherine. I really enjoy reading your blog articles. I know you one day soon will achieve your why!!!
I hope you have a great weekend!
~ Don Purdum
You have a very clear ‘why’ Don and that’s awesome. A lot of people will say “its to make more money”, but that is not concrete enough to motivate you. It needs to be something bigger and more consuming than that.
The fact that it took you 9 years to establish your why, also shows that you have put significant thought into it and it’s something that you are incredibly passionate about. Knowing your why not be initially obvious, and sometimes we do actually have to step back and really think about it.
I wish you every success with your why Don
I really enjoyed reading your thought provoking post as well as all the comments. Thanks for sharing your very real story too. I am still learning how to blog and enjoying the creativity involved. I eventually want to earn online income from sharing my passion for renovating houses so that I am free to travel wherever I fancy!
Thanks for the positive feedback Julie, it’s great to hear that this post inspired you. if you havn’t connected to Ryan Biddulph’s blog (which I referenced in the post), I’d recommend you do so. His why is teaching people how to blog from paradise!! You are both on the same path’s!
It’s great that you have something that really drives you to succeed….good luck with your endeavors
Hi Catherine,
This post has brought such an amazing turn to my mind to let it work for finding the rel reason for what I am blogging?
Aha! I got it.:) I always had.
I always try to learn more about blogging, WordPress, SEO and much more about making money. As you have mentioned above that you are working for your daughter. By the way she is so cute.:)
I loved the way you have given your “WHY”. Most of bloggers don’t have proper idea as why they are blogging? Though it’s not a new thing to listen as I was also a beginner once and din’t know anything but still now I now that blogging is what interests me. I love to write. I am here for my family.
For all of us family has the major role in our life and we try hard to provide them comfort and I am also trying to do the same. Hopefully will get succeed.
Thanks for this post.
Such a motivational one.:)
Have a wonderful weekend.:)
~Ravi
Thanks for your lovely words Ravi.
That’s great that that you are blogging for your family. It’s amazing how motivating family can be! It certainly points you in the right direction and gives you a huge drive. Good luck with all your adventures
Thanks Catherine. Just downloaded Ryan’s book – can’t wait to start reading it!
That’s fantastic Julie….enjoy the read. Would love to know your thoughts on it too
Hello Catherine,
Thanks you so much for sharing such a wonderful article and also I will say thanks to mention the ebook by Ryan Biddulph. We should know why we want to do blogging before start a blog. When I start a blog, my focus was to learn wordpress, hosting etc. But day by day it becomes my passion…
Thanks Moumita.
It is definitely a good idea to know why you want to start blogging before starting a blog. However, this post was trying to get everyone to think a bit deeper about their overall “WHY”. It’s the why that keeps you up all night to reach your targets, the why that means you will give up social engagements, and the why that drives you above everything else.
Having a passion for a subject is great, but there has to be an over riding desire and drive…something that is pushing you forward every single day and that keeps you coming back for more. When you work out that why, your blogging will greatly improve.
It’s great to hear that blogging has become your passion
[…] Catherine Holt on August 28, 2014 11:57 am […]
[…] friend, Catherine Holt, recently shared what her why was in a blog post she wrote a little while […]