“This is how you do it: You sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy and that hard.” – fiction writer Neil Gaiman
You’re reading my hectoblog. That’s means #100 in case you slept through the metric system lessons in school. A solid hundo. The Benjamin of blogs. My blogging century club.
Beginning with my very first blog in January of 2013 I’ve shared 80,827 words (and counting…) Some of you - like my Grandma Dorothy - may have read every one of them. For that, I sincerely thank you.
One hundred times I’ve closed a blog with a short lesson learned under the heading, “What’s The Risk?” Did I have 100 thoughts worthy enough to write about? No, but I believe there have been a few.
The most viral blog I’ve penned is about the 10 Qualities of a Great Teammate. It’s been viewed over 19,000 times. And it’s a fitting one to mention since May of 2017 marks twenty years with the best teammate I’ve ever known. Give it a read if you want to know who.
Blogging, and writing in general, has taught me much about taking time to think and reflect. A quote from Ferris Bueller helped make the point in one blog. Yet my favorite reminder of "living in the now" came from a week of Spring Break with my family and a scene from Along Came Polly.
Besides movies, music is another one of my great loves. Blogging has given me a chance to share some favorite tunes and what they mean to me. Feel free to add to my list!
Writing has also helped me memorialize the experience someone should expect at Gibson while championing the virtues of a shared vision at our company and in our communities. It’s all in the archives now!
Perhaps the most meaningful thing blogging has given me is the opportunity to thank some amazing people for the impact they’ve had on my career and in my life. I’ve even come to terms with my dad insisting I have a full time job the summer between sixth and seventh grades.
All of that, in turn, has prompted a lot of reflection on the role I’m playing in developing those around me. It's something I take very seriously.
What’s The Risk?
I’m convinced everyone has at least "one good blog” in them. We all have rich stories and unique experiences, lessons learned and prices paid.
The risk is keeping it to ourselves, thinking we don’t have something of value to give those around us. Or maybe it’s missing out on the therapeutic value of putting your feelings into words and releasing them for all to see. You never know what your 813 words (my average) might inspire in someone else:
Great story, Tim! With 3 young sons, I'm always looking for life lessons that instill moral values. This will be tonight's bedtime story!
I know I am better off having shared all 81,348 words with you over the past few years. Thanks for humoring me and “listening in."
