This post is inspired by The Art and Craft of Blogging Challenge, Seth Godin’s post Exhaustive lists as a reliable tool and of course Simon Sinek’s Start with Why which I am re-reading now.
Does making a list of each and every reason to start this blog present a real challenge to me? Is this (already) a part of reflecting? My attempt to answer is the list below.
[The order in this list is random and does not reflect the importance of this or that idea to me]
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get to know more like-minded souls in my professional field
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have a feel for/define social media to myself (Note: I have started using my Facebook and Twitter accounts at about the same time as this blog) -
find my own professional niche
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discover my own writing voice, or style
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practice my skills of writing in English
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challenge myself professionally
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keep my mind active and alert between my training trips and other projects…
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… and remember the experience and reflect on it during those intensive courses I run several times a year
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find new collaborative projects and participate in them (can be as simple as co-writing with someone in my field!)
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re-connect with amazing people I have already been fortunate to work with (we often lose touch after a project is over, and e-mails do not seem to be a meaningful tool in everyday busy lives)
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share my own experience in teaching, training and working in academic management…
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… looks like the above means ‘self promote myself?’ hm, is this the meaning of being honest then?
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learn how to balance personal and professional in myself (or… learn how the others can(not) do that!)
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increase the level of depth and width in my reflective skills
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bring a variety of new lenses into my own reflective practices
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share my passion for the ELT field in general and for reflection using the Experiential Learning Cycle in particular
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find solutions to the challenges I face both during the projects and between them
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help others find solutions
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help others find new questions
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articulate my own beliefs in teaching and learning
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re-examine and re-consider my beliefs (and reflect ‘in-depth’? Wait, I think I’ve seen this reason above!)
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be/stay connected to the great learning and reflecting teaching community (and hopefully become a part of it)
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find new reasons for blogging, redefine it, and continue writing in 2015!
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categorize the reasons above and come up with a meaningful order in this list …
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… by perhaps creating a new post? Too early to say that! 🙂
Are there any reasons for blogging that are the same for you? What else motivates you to write and share?
Wednesday Seminars 
This is the second time I see Simon Sinek’s name today and the title of his book. Hmmm? Is it perhaps a sign? 🙂 You have surely inspired me my dear. Thank you for sharing! I won’t read it too carefully again because I might need to steal some! I love the way you highlighted all the action verbs. Very SMART. 😉 Keep on rocking’ the blog!
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Thank you for reading and finding a sign Josette! I think I am learning as I go, and I realized that making that list was helpful to simply see the reasons why I am writing. I think I will be looking at those verbs a lot during this year. I actually found your ‘Post a Week’ badge motivating (and thinking of getting one too!) More in the comments on ThrowingBackTokens…
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Hi Zhenya,
It took me a while to check out your blog even though I’ve had it on my list ever since the mention in Mike Griffin’s post. I’ve had a browse and really enjoy your writing!
I’m impressed with the sheer number of reasons for blogging you’ve identified. All seem very valid. For me, I guess it would be #1, 11, 14, 15, 17-20, and 22. Re #12: I see (self)-promotion as much more aggressive than blogging, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking?
An important reason, for me, which I’m not sure is on the list, is that I simply enjoy writing. 🙂
I look forward to more of your posts.
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Hello Vedrana
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, leaving your supportive and thoughtful comment and following me. It is wonderful to know that we share so many similar reasons for writing!
I smiled when I saw one more reason I forgot, but you mentioned: enjoying writing is definitely one of the reasons I started. I guess it would be a very hard task if I did not like it!
I like how you posed a question about defining self-promotion and thought that perhaps it is a more ‘aggressive’ process than blogging. I think I agree (and will think of a different word to describe my reason in 12 – perhaps ‘ develop my professional portfolio’, or something like that? Will keep thinking!)
One more thing to thank you for is the reminder to get back to Mike’s post and visit the blogs recommended! I have enjoyed reading yours, was surprised to find out why Octopus, and really understand what it means when a school becomes a central part of your life. Very similar to my own story, and the name of my blog 🙂
So happy to be connected with you!
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