Picture this.

It was a bitter cold Friday night in Chicago, just over a year ago. I didn’t feel like getting slapped in the face with a rather wicked wind chill so it was a Hot Pocket night for me.

I spent the entire weekend indoors building my blog.

There wasn’t any particular impetus to my blogging beginning, other than I love the alchemy of moving my thoughts to the page. And as much as I love to read, both on and offline, I knew there were plenty of people just like me.

As with any new blogger, my first handful of readers consisted of my mom, dad and their lovely friends at church to whom they forwarded my blog posts. My dad, with all of his pride, even laminated a few and printed them for his friends.

I persevered. An avid learner and eager doer, I studied the successes of those who came before me, inhaled as much information as I possibly could, and did everything I was supposed to do with a smile on my face. I poured through e-books, networked with both new and experienced bloggers alike, and committed to the tireless ethic it takes to make it as a blogger.

Then – I reached out to a few authors, bloggers and favorite artists. And asked to interview them. And they said yes. To my little old blog.

Though I didn’t know it at the time, I was initiating a major change in my life.

Guess what? No one is born a blogger.

Do I have it all figured out? Nope. That’s the good news.

After recently reading Nathan Hangen and Mike Cliffe Jones’s new e-book, Beyond Blogging, I now realize I still have plenty to learn.

What’s cool is that it’s different from many e-books you’ll find online – and I have most of them. The book’s beauty lies not in the how to so much as in the from where?

Though Beyond Blogging does come with a workbook packed with practical exercises to help you apply all you learned in the e-book’s 204 pages, its unique value is harbored in the intimate case studies with a handful of bloggers. These bloggers have not only built six-figure income businesses through their online efforts, many of them are on their way to seven-figure blogging empires.

I was familiar with a few of these stories going in. Anyone who regularly blogs for profit is surely familiar with Darren Rowse, Brian Clark and Chris Brogan.

But Beyond Blogging also profiles the remarkable viral successes of people such as Jonathan Fields and Chris Guillebeau, who I’ve also followed for months. There were also a few case studies I didn’t know before reading the e-book; each one was unique, colorful, fascinating and inspiring.

Beyond Blogging does a brilliant job of highlighting the assorted steps each person took on their way to success, while allowing the reader to draw neat parallels between them and their own lives.

My ‘from where’ and next stops.

Beyond Blogging opened my eyes to what I can do here with you, but it also showed me that I’m on the right track to take it to the next level, get a bit more creative with my own goals and add more value for readers.

Here’s a glimpse into my medium-sized baby steps – and the marvelous people helping me get there.

1. Self-education. I’m continuing to work with Charlie Gilkey as my fabulous creative coach, and am loving Chris and Pam’s $100 Business Forum course as well, which started February 1st. I am stunned by the innovation of those in the class and my mind maps are all over the house. Everyone teaches me something.

2. Poetic license. My first poem, as some of you know from awhile back, was called “Ode to Cupcakes.” It is not good.

Last year, I interviewed the brilliant Sage Cohen and am now taking her amazing class, “Poetry for the People.” I’ve been inspired to write and think differently with every prompt. I promise to share one soon but you can’t laugh.

3. Stepping out. In a few weeks, I’ll be moderating a panel in NYC, “Differentiated Content In The Blogosphere and How To Capture It.” Can’t wait to tell you what I learn.

Challenge equals growth – so this is a good thing.

So that’s my story as of today. I still have so much to learn – any blogger will tell you that it’s a learning adventure.

Blogging isn’t easy. Everyone has their own motivation, voice and approach. It takes balance, perseverance and flexibility. But it’s not uncharted territory – there are a few roads to follow, paved by the A-listers who have come before.

Hard work? For sure. But worth it. I’ve never been happier. I love you for being here. I love the site’s wonderful contributors and the friends I’ve made along the way.

Thought about blogging? Beyond Blogging offers an inspiring compass and a detailed map. We all have to start somewhere. It’s up to you to start your expedition. Even if it’s not cold where you live.

Calling all new or experienced bloggers: What are doing to take it to the next level? Let’s learn together.

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P.S. Read more about Nathan, Mike CJ and Beyond Blogging here. You won’t be disappointed. Disclosure, of course and as always: The Journal of Cultural Conversation is a very satisfied Beyond Blogging affiliate partner.

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