“Mr. Chartrad! Mr. Chartrand! Wait…!”
“James, how do you do it? Are you sure you don’t have a legion of clones working for you?”
“Is it true that you’ve already single-handedly taken over the Blogosphere with a few well-placed and seemingly innocent guest posts?”
“Admit it, Chartrand, you write subliminal messages your content, don’t you?”
I do my best to shove James in the direction of the limo. The paparazzi jostle for position. Somewhere in the midst of the flashing bulbs and forest of microphones, I swear I hear James mutter.
“My life is chaos.”
The Fame Game
Not too long ago, James and I led a quiet life, planning our big dreams but generally just keeping on. We had our writing, a few graphics jobs here and there, and everything was on an even keel.
It all exploded seemingly overnight, just like an old west boomtown. Hey, I’m not complaining; I’m just amazed and dazed at how surreal this sudden popularity feels.
I had a small taste of my own chaos recently. I had guest posts to write, interviews to answer, jobs to finish and more jobs coming in that needed attention. I had a new blog fresh off the launch pad to maintain and we had other plotted projects in development.
At one point, I sat back and looked at what James was doing – or had been doing all along.
He had twice as many things on his plate than I did. Here’s a man with regular contributions to Copyblogger and Small Fuel. He’s guesting on blogs like Freelance Folder, Remarkablogger, and more. He comments just about everywhere in the blogosphere, comments here on our own blog regularly, and still finds time to write for clients, come up with new blog posts, work on our novel, network Twitter, answer emails and take care of management.
I’m not the only one asking James, “How do you do it?”
How Do You Get Your 15 Minutes?
Sometimes achieving fame is easy. It reminds me of one mommy blogger’s experience with fame. Innocently, a woman wrote up an amusing eBay description to try and sell some Pokeman cards her kids had thrown into the shopping cart at the grocery store. The eBay auction was a huge hit and Dawn was famous – practically overnight.
Before she knew it, Dawn’s blog had shot into the spotlight, she had the media calling for interviews, book deals offered to her and a slew of agents yammering for a manuscript.
In her case, Dawn was in the right place at the right time. Her fame was accidental, you could say.
Our fame is a little different. Most of the time, you have to work for your fifteen minutes in the spotlight. We put in long hours of hard work to be recognized. We had to change our approach and re-brand ourselves.
We knew we’d hit a winning combination when our blog soared to the top of the charts.
No One Ever Said It Was Easy
If you think being a professional blogger is easy, boy, do I have news for you. This is no cushy job by any means. Once you’ve gotten your blog off the ground, you still have to maintain momentum.
Sudden growth in any industry has a domino effect of consequences to deal with. Most companies plan for growth, but many aren’t prepared for unexpected takeoffs. James’ business consultant had pointed out a while back that we should brace ourselves and get ready.
We thought we were – but a vacation sure would be nice right about now.
“We could cut the posting frequency down to a few times a week,” James suggested uncertainly.
I shook my head and rescued the phone chord from a slow death by kitty. “We could, but people expect daily now.”
Would our readers leave if we took a break? Probably not, but when you’ve got a good thing going, you can’t become complacent. Such is the dilemma. Grab it while you have it because you don’t know how long it will last.
James and I both knew the same thing. This wasn’t the time to stop to catch our breath. We were caught in the hurricane and had to weather the storm.
“I’m rich, Bee-atch!” - Dave Chappelle
We’ve all heard the stories of overnight successes burning out. It’s just too much to handle. How many times have you heard celebrities say they can’t take the fame anymore? But people don’t understand that. Celebrities have everything they want. Life should be good.
All too often, it isn’t.
A bunch of other problems comes with fame. Sure, you have money and the whole world knows your name, but do you have any time to enjoy that money? Can you trust people to like you for who you are or is everyone just trying to leverage your fame for their benefit?
And just who are all those people following me anyway?
The biggest problem with instant fame is that your time is no longer your own. You belong to the world now. If you believe you have to work hard to get yourself noticed, wait. Try keeping your adoring fans happy and stay productive once you have been noticed.
Be Careful What You Wish For
“Did you ever think it would be like this?” I glanced back over my shoulder, watching the throng of photographers left behind in the glow of taillights. For the moment, I was grateful.
James laughed. He didn’t want or expect the spotlight to go away any time soon.
“Yeah,” he grinned. His expression said it all. “And it’s only going to get better.”
How do you cope once you have achieved success? That varies from person to person.
For example, James thrives on it. The crazier things become, the more it fuels his system. He might be proclaiming chaos, but I know him. He’d rather have the chaos than the quiet.
Then you have me, the opposite end of the spectrum. Too much too soon makes me want to head for a fallout shelter. I might attempt bravery for a short while, but it doesn’t last. I have to retreat and recharge for another round. It’s the only way I can keep the situation in perspective.
After all, I am the Voice of Reason.
If you happen to find yourself growing popular quickly, in the usual fast pace of the Internet, keep your head. Stay focused, keep your ego in check and stay away from the rose-colored glasses. It’s too easy to believe you’re better than you are when you’re always surrounded by fans telling you that you’re great.
You’re not invincible. You’re not above the law. You are replaceable. Sorry for the downer, but it’s true. If I didn’t point that out, I’d be violating the Code of Ethics for the Voice of Reason. To stay on top of the game, you have to stay on top of your game first.
“So how do you do it?” I asked James with a smile in my voice.
He sounded puzzled when he answered. “Damned if I know.” Then I heard the grin. “I just do.”
This was amusing and confusing. Did James just write an article as if he were Harry writing about James? Or is it Harry who just posted under James’ name?
Made me wonder though, how would I handle overnight success? I think I’d love it, but it would force me to make choices. I’m juggling a lot of balls at the moment, and if one of them would suddenly explode in size and weight, I’d have to let go of at least one other I guess.
But it is a luxury problem, dudes
Lodewijk van den Broek’s last blog post..Birth of a Blogger
I’ve got a similarly “good?” problem. I’m about to rename my blog and move it elsewhere … and *now* is when my RSS count decides to start shooting up. Hope I don’t lose too many upon the switch!
Oh, the humanity!
Dave Navarro’s last blog post..The Forehead-Slapppingly Easy Way To Squash Time Management Stress
The hard part is knowing you just can’t do the same things in the same way, anymore, and you have to be okay with that. Like, I can’t email every new commenter and I now get a lot of email that should never be replied to at all. I don’t comment on every trackback post.
But grows-by-itself feed count and the doors that open up for you, that is what I love.
You guys deserve everything you get.
Wait… that didn’t sound quite right…
Congrats, both of you!
Remarkablogger’s last blog post..Overheard in the Blogosphere 18
@ Lode – Harry’s work, not mine. Post author switched, and thanks for catching that.
You also caught the point of the post – it certainly isn’t to complain about success, but how would you handle it if you got what you wished for? Would it be what you imagined? Would you cope? Would you have to change?
@ Dave – Take a deep breath. Warn them. And switch
@ Michael – No, I think the hard part is knowing that I can’t do the same things in the same way anymore, but having to figure out what things have to change now. I love it, though, just like you said – and thank you
We worked very hard (and are still working hard.) Not done yet!
Hooray for the Voice of Reason!. You are Vor the quiet roar. Heehee. (Hey cut me some slack, it’s poetry month on my blog).
Harry, your posts are so down to earth. You definitely bring reason to the blogosphere. I so appreciate that. I love reading your posts after a long, stressful day because they’re always comforting. Thanks for that.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Improve Your Writing: Read a Lot
Harry,
You mentioned that James floated the idea of cutting “the posting frequency down to a few times a week,” but that you guys have built your readers’ expectations for daily posts up to this point.
I don’t think it matters anymore, really. You guys have built yourselves up and should be able to lean back a bit without any negative consequences. Posting three or four times a week might actually be a good idea–both for freeing up more time and energy as well as allowing each post to penetrate the blogosphere a little more deeply than your posts are able to right now, with each post being replaced within 24 hours.
This question and answer from Darren Rowse and Tim Ferriss has stuck with me for about a year now–I think all bloggers need to remind themselves of the principle laid out here:
“Darren – Many of the bloggers that I interact with have anything but a 4 hour work week – how can we make ourselves more productive in the day to day of blogging?
Tim – Just remember: you don’t HAVE TO do anything. Set the rules of the game so that you can win and have a life at the same time. If you set the expectation that you’ll post 12 times a day, it’s going to overwhelm you. Focus on quality over quantity and the critical few vs. the trivial many. How do you do that? You first define precisely what you want yourself and others to get out of the blog — why are you doing it, and what are you doing it for? It is vain to do with more what can be done with less (that’s quoting William of Occam, originator of “Occam’s Razorâ€), so if you can get your readers to where they need to be with one post a day, or one post per week, establish that as your rule.”
The entire interview is highly recommended reading. Check it out at:
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/04/26/tim-ferris-the-4-hour-work-week-an-interview/
I’m just suggesting that you guys may be in a position now to set new reader expectations for your posting frequency that could be a benefit all around.
Similar to the readers who won’t update their feeds or email subscriptions once you move to a new domain, the readers who will get really huffy if you lessen your posting frequency probably aren’t worth hanging onto anyway.
Anybody with any sense understands that even highly successful business bloggers deserve lives too.
Okay, I’m done.
Jesse Hines’s last blog post..The New Writing Economy: Typos Are Okay?
@Dave: congrats on exploding subscribers. Moving your blog and feed can lead to a loss of subscribers. Besides James’ tips, also be sure to redirect the old feed(s) to the new location.
If you want I can help you set it up. I actually recovered some lost subscribers last month, that were still reading my old (like 9 month old!) feed from Typepad. You know how to contact me, buddy
@James and Harry: Your interaction is really special, it feels like a good cop / bad cop kind of thing, but very different. Love the VoR thing by the way. I imagine that as a deep thundering voice, crossing the plains of the US all the way to Canada, rumbling “Act normal, you fool!”
Lodewijk van den Broek’s last blog post..Birth of a Blogger
How does James do it? Jet fuel coffee.
Well, you guys have a great partnership going and that seems to work for you. I’m nowhere close to this level of popularity, but if I get there I’ll just do it, I guess. Kind of like increased responsibility at work. When you start out, you couldn’t handle it, but you grow with it.
(@ Dave: don’t worry, I’ll follow you brother!)
@ Jesse: this was a very good point you made about what Tim Ferris (aka Tyler Durden) said – set the expectation, and go from there. That’s something I haven’t done with mine yet (hey, another learning experience) but I’ll be doing that shortly.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
Brett,
Tim Ferriss and Tyler Durden–they’re both two of my heroes. Pretty unconventional heroes, too.
Actually, at least from a literary standpoint, they’re probably better defined as “antiheroes.” I’ve long been drawn to the antihero; I wrote my senior thesis on them.
Jesse Hines’s last blog post..The New Writing Economy: Typos Are Okay?
Jesse,
You’re preaching to the converted here, I admire both of those characters myself very much. They do what works, and have a clear vision.
(Okay, one of them blows up buildings but let’s just forget about that for a minute
)
I’d be interested to read your senior thesis, I’m certain it was interesting.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
Harry, this post truly resonated with me. I have been exploring the impact of “fan frenzy” from the perspective of those who worship the famous. We are often called to dream big and work hard to attain those dreams, but few discuss what happens when you get what you imagined. I heard Rosie O’Donnell say recently that if she were talking to her 20 year old self about fame she’d say “You’ll get everything you want and it won’t feel anything like you think.” You are the VOR Harry so thank you for an honest look at the other side.
Karen
Karen,
Very good point, we often dream of success or fame & fortune, and as Rosie says, it might not be what you expected.
By the same token, I would also say that if it does become too much to handle, we have to power to let it go. To focus on the important things.
I have very little sympathy for celebrities who complain that they are stressed and life is too busy. You chose that life, you can choose a different path. Some of them do…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
Brett,
Whether or not it was interesting, is not for me to say. I did get a good grade on it, though.
I contrasted King Saul in the Old Testament (as a great, powerful antihero) with Dostoevsky’s Underground Man in the Notes from Underground (as an everyman, powerless antihero).
I had fun doing it. I’ve still got it lying around.
Brett, you’re so right. Many celebrities are “fame whores.” We are made to believe that these poor celebrities have no privacy when many of them seek out the spotlight and court the attention. While it is true that those who lie low are often invaded too, they’re not seeking it out on a daily basis. It’s easy to tell the attention cravers by browsing the pages of a magazine. I’d love to read your thesis too.
Jesse,
Well, it sounds interesting to me. Those are the kinds of things we should keep, for later in life. Things that help define us. I still have my old senior thesis too (but it probably wouldn’t be as interesting to this group…)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
I’ve been at this for a long, long time. I’ve seen many a flash come and go.. yesterday’s hero, today’s zero.. and on it goes.
It takes work to stay on top. Not everyone has the gumption to put in the effort, so they fade away.
Sometimes I feel like I can guess which ones will burn out – I look at their posts and think “Hmm.. I give her six months, tops”..
It’s a jungle and things get eaten
Tony Lawrence’s last blog post..Linux Fanboy? Mac Fanboy? by Anthony Lawrence
@ Tony: you’re right on target there. Hard work is required to get there, and to stay there. PS liked your latest post, I left a comment finally…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
Harry,
I appreciate what MwP’s do. I know it’s hard. I could never do what you guys do, I realized that when I started my own blog. It takes tons of time bouncing around the Net.
You could maybe take the weekends off?
I’m like you. I need time to recharge or I droop.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Why Good Writing Matters – Case Study, ?Stuff White People Like?
Of course blogs like this that have a business purpose behind them are much more likely to stay in the pool. It’s the non-business tied blogs that aren’t making any money in spite of their fame that tend to give up after they run out of steam.
Tony Lawrence’s last blog post..Linux Fanboy? Mac Fanboy? by Anthony Lawrence
Harry, I really enjoyed this post and it gives a person a lot to think about.
When I hit the highest point of popularity (locally) in my Real Estate career, I actually had to make adjustments that were very uncomfortable for me. Being known by name only in my local community and everyone wanting to talk about houses, houses, houses, at every party or the local swimming hole got old.Quick.
I found that I NEED, as in MUST HAVE TO STAY SANE, large periods of down time away from human contact, not something the average realtor, or especially a top producer gets to have. I am hoping, that in the blogging world, even fame comes with the safety of a computer screen guarding your privacy. DO you see that to be true? ( I hope…)
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Before the Play is Done
I think that I would be lost if I weren’t daily beating my brains out with the sheer chaos that is my schedule. I know that I piss and moan, but in reality, I get bored if things are too easy. Once I’m finished with school, I’m probably going to jump into the fire and write like crazy.
If I were to have fame overnight, I don’t think that it would phase me at all. I would just adapt as always and carry on. Oh, and do my best to remember that I LIKE chaos
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
Wendi,
Except when I stalk him, Harry’s perfectly safe.
Except when he has the lighter, James is perfectly safe.
Harry,
Oh, to have such problems. (Of course!)
Didn’t I say you were What’s Hot Now?
I would like to add a nice relevant counterpoint, detailing the advantages of toiling at your blog in relative obscurity. I’ll have to get back to you on that, because I can’t think of any. I think I’ve still got some time, though, so after another couple of months maybe I’ll come up with something.
I did an interview today where the interviewee (local business owner) said she knew my name already. I didn’t have the heart (or the nerve) to point her to my Google Yourself post, which may be how she thinks she knows me. Ahem. But then again, maybe she really does. The pond is small here, and I may have worked with someone she knows. As a blogger, though? I doubt it.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Tax Tips
James and Harry you attract such good company here! Wendi, loved your post it was powerful.
Kelly, three cheers for the tortoise!
I think this post shows the exact reason why everyone says, “if you want to be successful, you should do what you love to do – even if money wasn’t involved.”
James and Harry couldn’t “just do it” for an extended period of time if they weren’t doing what they really wanted to do in life. They’d burn out and probably lose most, if not all of their momentum very quickly.
The thing I’d like to add to the post is the necessity of “keeping up with service.”
One of the biggest downfalls of companies that grow too quickly is they get so enthralled in making money that their back-end work suffers. They don’t want to say “no” to new business but they don’t have the manpower and time to maintain what they have.
This often times happens in telemarketing companies who focus so much on new sales and making money that they forget about quality service of current customers.
All it takes is a few dozen customers, or in social media just one major customer with lots of online influence, to complain about your services and how you don’t live up to what you say.
As far as posting frequency, personally I wouldn’t mind at all if you guys took something like Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays off. I know you did a poll on your old website asking people the frequency they’d rather you have, what were those results?
I wish you guys all the luck in the world (even though I don’t believe in luck – yes, that’s my Star Wars quote of the day)
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Best Rule To Follow: Keep It Simple
Karen,
thank you,
that is very nice of you.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Before the Play is Done
@Karen – Careful what you say, James and Harry will think they have a harem.
@Kelly – You found your calling: Designer Comedian.
@Wendi – Aren’t you also an actress? You are always on stage.
@John – “I wish you guys all the luck in the world (even though I don’t believe in luck – yes, that’s my Star Wars quote of the day)” WTH is that in Star Wars? Please enlighten me. Thanks.
You people are great. That’s why I love this blog. You can meet so many groovy people. Thanks for becoming famous Harry and James.
Look, they aren’t even here! We are doing it all by ourselves!
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Why Good Writing Matters – Case Study, ?Stuff White People Like?
Ellen,
I do my best. I blame my Irish ancestors, fairly or not.
& They have groupies, not a harem. That way the gentlemen can adore them, too.
If they leave me alone too long, all the jokes I’ve been dying to get out while they’ve been all serious will wind up right here. I don’t think they’ll risk that.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Tax Tips
Ellen,
I’ve been in Community Theater since I was 15..long..long time …I do get on stage some times still but I am most often directing these days. In addition to our community theater group, my Husband and I are running a drama group at our church where we put on six scenes and one full length production a year.
You could say being *on stage* comes naturally. can’t help it.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Before the Play is Done
@Ellen – Star Wars A New Hope.
When Luke and OB1 were on the Millennium Falcon and Luke was using the light saber with the helmet on to block laser shots. Han Solo said Luke was lucky and OB1 said, “In my experience there is no such thing as luck.”
I couldn’t agree more. We make our own luck.
Also, I think this comment section stays so lively even when James and Harry are absent because 1) we know these guys are good guys and genuinely want to help us all succeed and 2) their posts are thought provoking. Bonus: we all seem to care about each other as well.
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Best Rule To Follow: Keep It Simple
I know famous people? Cooooool.
Amy’s last blog post..The Best Laid Plans
@John – Thanks for that. I don’t remember, but I will look it up.
@Wendi – Directing is better than acting? Probably. Then you can do it all.
@Kelly – Irish ancestors make us…do our taxes? I leave mine to my tax person.
@Amy – UR famous. We luv U.
E
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Why Good Writing Matters – Case Study, ?Stuff White People Like?
Ellen,
… make us… funny. Or at least, attempt to be funny. I do keep friends in stitches on occasion.
I’d say historically, taxes is pretty low on the list.
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Tax Tips
Boy what a timely post. And I particularly love this sentiment: “If you happen to find yourself growing popular quickly, in the usual fast pace of the Internet, keep your head. Stay focused”
In the last six months, my SEO writing business and other writing ventures (ebooks) have experienced exponential growth.
I seem to be combination of both you and James. At times, I feel like ” The crazier things become, the more it fuels his system.”
And at other times, I want to “head for a fallout shelter.”
Congrats on your win in John’s blog contest, and cotinued success.
Yuwanda
The Freelance Writer’s Blog’s last blog post..Why a Recession is a Great Time to Start a Freelance Writing Career
Kelly,
See? You are going to keep me up all night with the Irish taxes and drinking. I give one to my tax woman, and the other, a toast…
Hey…pssst *lets steal the blog and run away with it! We will stuff it under a toad stool, and James and Harry will never know!*
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Why Good Writing Matters – Case Study, ?Stuff White People Like?
@Ellen: Yes we will.
Damn. Thwarted at the toad stool.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Why Good Writing Matters – Case Study, ?Stuff White People Like?
Brett,
Have you been passing the Quebec liquor to Ellen? Toad stools, tax women, and running away with Famous People’s blogs?
Ellen,
Give me a swig. I’ll run away with Harry, and you can have the blog. He’s been so darling lately.
I promised Amy I’d have a drink for her, so she can get her groove back vicariously.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Tax Tips
Kelly…spring is in the air and so is Harry. Do I smell…a little spring / fling in the air? Harry? Are you hiding under a toadstool? Probably under a casino bench.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Why Good Writing Matters – Case Study, ?Stuff White People Like?
LOL Harry under a toadstool. With his bike.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Tax Tips
I hope to need this post one day. When I am famous, and I think, gods, wasn’t it nice when it was all quiet in comment land on my blog? But now I know how it’s done. That’s pretty cool. One day I will attempt to lay aside time to execute this . . .
Tei’s last blog post..Being Bored Makes You Broke
Kelly,
Quebec liquor, what’s that?
(*hides Quebec liquor he’s been trying to pass to Ellen*)
Actually, I had the nicest beer tonight, a Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, so dark you could hold it up to a light and not see through it. It was like dessert in a pint glass.
Two of those and I’d be asleep under a toadstool…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
@ Brett – OK, now you’re making me thirsty…
Remarkablogger’s last blog post..Jazz Blogging – It’s the Notes You Don’t Play
Aaargh, Brett, I haven’t had one of those in years but I still remember it! It could almost make me forget how much I adore Guinness!
If you find yourself under the toadstool, look for Harry. Ellen says he’s in the air and under the toadstool, which I guess means she’s Through the Looking Glass ‘cuz where else can so much be going on?
Later…
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Tax Tips
@ Remarkablogger – I figured I’d get a beer-lover like you with that one. Oh, I could use another, believe me, it was sooooooo good…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
And I should have hit refresh on the comments, as I knew I would also have gotten you with that one, Kelly…
If I see Harry under the toadstool, I’ll say hello for you…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
@Tei – You crazy blog jumping person! You are famous.
@Remarkablogger – What a cool name. I am stuck with my stupid one.
@Brett – I don’t live in Canada, but in MI we get your kick ass brew! I am a Labatt’s fan.
@Kelly – What can I say to a toadstool loving Irish woman? Hey! Soon all the good stools will be out and we can take pictures of them! Has anyone seen any?
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Why Good Writing Matters – Case Study, ?Stuff White People Like?
@ Ellen: I’m hooked on quite a few US beers as well… my own small part for the trade agreements!
Brett Legree’s last blog post..on being grounded.
@ Ellen and Brett – Labatt’s is huge in Vermont. I can’t stand it, but whatever. Best stout around here is Wolaver’s Organic Oatmeal Stout. But tonight I’m hanging out with my Belgian girl, Stella.
Remarkablogger’s last blog post..Jazz Blogging – It’s the Notes You Don’t Play
Chocolate and beer combined is the best thing ever to happen to my life. I live in a land of chocolate stouts. Willy Wonka should have made his river out of that stuff.
Tei’s last blog post..Being Bored Makes You Broke
Harry,
This is my first time here and this was the perfect first post to read. I’ve been teetering with quite a few blogs. Everyone asks me how I do it and I just simply answer, “I love what I do!”
You seem to have passion for what you do which emanates from your writing. When you love what you do I don’t think it really matters how much time you spend doing it – as long as you have balance in your life. I think people who really care about you wouldn’t mind if you took a few days off!
All the Best!
Maria Palma’s last blog post..The Secret Is Out: Problogger the Book
You know, yesterday someone said, “Hey, James, we’re taking care of your blog without you!” I sat there thinking, “WTF are they talking about…?” And it was a nice, quiet day… no email notifications… hm… no one likes the post, I guess, no comments…
So this morning I toddle over and I’m like, “Jesus cripes. Where the HELL did all these comments come from?”
*sets fire to WordPress as vengeance*
I love that you guys all got the point of this post – we aren’t bragging and we aren’t complaining. (Okay, we whine now and then, but hey. So do you.) I genuinely love what I do. Every minute. Harry… well, I drag him along
In everything we live through, there are lessons for others:
1 – Plan for growth.
2 – Plan for more growth than you expected and sooner than you expected
3 – Get backup plans in case you need help.
4 – Listen to John. He’s right. You can maintain the business, but you still need to handle the back-end jazz, too. (John, thank you for your patience.)
5 – Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Thanks for holding the fort together for us while we walked around oblivious to the party in our backyard, guys. Now *that’s* what I call community.
James,
Here for you, buddy. If we can’t have sensible discussions which devolve into examinations of local liquor here, where can we do it?
Wait, so how come you didn’t know we were yakking away without you? Were you *gasps* AWAY from the screen? Or was there a malfunction?
Need caffeine, didn’t understand that one.
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Beware of Rant!
@ Kelly – In a dual-author situation, WordPress only sends notifications of comments to the blog post author in question. The other guy (in this case, moi) has to come and actively leave a comment and subscribe to comments to get the ones that come after. No subscription, no comments.
And since I’m the one who seems to write more between the two of us, I automatically assume that I’ll get all comments for every day and forget that when it’s Harry’s post, I won’t
Didn’t even think of that. The silence was deafening, but funny yesterday. Harry was happy to let the river run free. Maybe, if he’s lucky, Harry was running free for part of the day.
Kelly’s last blog post..Beware of Rant!
@ Harry and James – There are multi-author WordPress plugins, you guys might want to look into them. I don’t know if they’d help with comment notification, exactly, but you might discover other features you’d like.
Remarkablogger’s last blog post..Jazz Blogging – It’s the Notes You Don’t Play
Harry and James:
Did my interview with you guys have anything to do with your sudden popularity? Hahaha, just kidding. But REALLY!
Seriously, I enjoyed this post becuase every blogger secretly dreams of becoming an Internet phenonoma but are they prepared to deal with it when it actually happens? We all sit back and scoff at popular bloggers who rarely respond to emails or comments saying, “I have no problem responding to every single comment.”: Then when the blog becomes popular, suddenly they have to eat their words, what now? How to keep up?
Thanks for the interesting write up. The photo reminds me of a great book I just finished reading called, “The Celebrity Experience” by Donna Cutting. It’s about providing fabulous red carpet customer service. I loved it and highly recommend the book.
Stephen Hopson’s last blog post..End of the Week Gratitude Theme #23
Stephen,
I loved your interviews with the Men. The groupies were here already, but I’ll bet there were a lot of new folks who found their way here through you. Can’t preach to the choir all the time and keep growing. James obviously knows this, he’s everywhere.
Ooh, new book, on one of my favorite topics. My achilles heel. Must call Jeff Bezos immediately. Hello, Jeff…
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Beware of Rant!
Hi Harry – I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve spent hoping I’ll get more work, only to wish I had less work once I got it.
I don’t know if anyone knows the answer to this, but I wonder if some of these Probloggers get recognised on the streets where they live? I know not everyone has their pics on their blogs, but some do.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..The Dangers Of The E-Myth
*Monika approaches the blog looking for mind food when suddenly she is glared by overhead lights and shouting* *the click click click of cameras is all around her and she wonders WTF is going on here. Then she realizes it’s James and Harry waving from the throngs of people*
Hey boys, I’m here yuuhuuu….. *she turns away as one of those pestering paparazzi’s shoves a microphone under her nose and heads back to the quiet of her home. While retreating she shakes her head in disbelief*
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..A Few Hickups
@ Hypnosis – You’re kidding me… right?
Hi Harry your advice will help me as my new blog has taken off. I should then continue writing on my blog.
@Mariya: Congrats! And by all means, do continue