On 17 years of blogging

Art work by Tarek Chemaly

So it hit me immediately, as I used to be brushing my enamel. Two days in the past, marked my seventeenth yr of running a blog. Certainly, January 11 2007 was my first blogpost. So, 3,362 (this one included) blogposts later, and being virtually the one man left on the town (all different bloggers departed to higher lands), why this weblog stays is a mixture of being cussed, nonetheless eager to say issues, nonetheless having an opinion (or 2, or 3,361 – this publish excluded), and imagine it or not – folks nonetheless studying me (the final half is probably the most mystifying of all, and albeit, no, my grandmother doesn’t learn it – each handed away lengthy earlier than I began writing).

Actually, there was no main plan or something. Not that I got down to say “Oh immediately I’m beginning a weblog that may final (insert X variety of years)”. It simply occurred. And sure, I’m conscious – I used to be laughed at, ignored, after which finally by the point I began being on the map all different bloggers had left city (some actually, thoughts you). I feel what set me other than the get go was that I got here from a journalistic background. I knew speak to an viewers. I knew specific opinions, but in addition I had a thick pores and skin sufficient to deal with pushback from company PR machines (my report stays 23 hate mails from one company in in the future). Additionally, when companies realized I can’t be purchased with a free plate of hummus they gave up (curiously, I is perhaps the one individual to have mentioned “no” to an occasion when the Prime Minister was attending, when it was orchestrated by an area company). 

I additionally admit, this weblog provides me management. I haven’t got to confer with an editor to dilute issues, or have anybody change my opinion as a result of they’re operating an advert within the publication, or surprise if a detailed friendship was going to whither due to what I wrote. 

Simply to be clear, my profession might have been approach totally different – not simply in communication – I’ve dabbled in lots of different sectors, and I’ve heard the expression “give it 10-15 years and you will be the following (insert title of knowledgeable in subject)”. The issue? The issue is that I by no means wished to be the following so-and-so, I wished to grow to be the “first Tarek Chemaly”.

On this very stormy chilly day, I look again at 17 years there may be each a surreal but in addition enjoyable aspect in what occurred. Nonetheless, with no roadmap in entrance of me – not that there was one earlier than – I’m because the expression goes “flying by the seat of my pants”. Each with loads of expertise, but with none in any respect.