5 years ago I made a decision to try blogging again. It was to be my third attempt at writing online on a regular basis. I can still remember it clearly sitting in the Atlanta office at the time. All I was looking for was an outlet to ensure I could clear my head at the end of the day.
My first real post was the very next day talking about CRE Integration. Surprisingly enough this is still the topic I deal with the most on any given day. Talk about a buzzword: Integration. I could mean anything to anyone. Yet it is the Holy Grail of the CRE space. Everyone wants it. I have to say, I wouldn’t be ashamed to post this same post again tomorrow.
Reading through my original posts at the time I kept things simple. Posts were shorter, thoughts were more condensed. I hadn’t yet gotten to the point where I could readily expand on an idea with ease. There was a struggle to get out deeper thoughts. Reading through those first two paragraph posts (I found a pattern that worked for me quick) the thoughts are right. There is not anything there that I take issue with. By simply still being here 5 years in the future it is proof that I found something that worked and discovered a process that let me really carry through on the concept.
I am now at just over 1,000 posts (200 per year on average which is a hell of a hit rate if I do say so myself). Site volume is low at only 10k views and 4,902 visitors but I do have a significant number of people that read via other means. Primarily I have a large number of email subscribers which I have no visibility to participation. There are a large number of people that send me notes via email or LinkedIn though so a silent following seems to have formed. However surprise is still the most common reaction from coworkers and colleagues when they find out I have a blog – and that I’ve had it for years. Advertising has not been something I have put any effort into at all.
At this point I do need to give a shout out to Duke Long and the recognition he has given here. I can honestly say that he is likely the only external marketing I have received but it is well appreciated. If you are in any way associated with CRE and don’t read his blog start now. It isn’t your typical writing and it isn’t your typical insights. You may even get offended at some of it but all of it will make you think.
Hopefully I’m adding value to a lot of people I don’t know but even if I’m not this blog is one of my proudest achievements. I regularly look back at some of the ideas that started here and became something real and it puts a quick smile on my face.