As it’s Christmas Eve, I thought I would share a different kind of post with you today.
It’s a list, containing 5 of the motivators that help me write and develop this blog. These are not things I usually write about, so I hope you find this interesting and maybe learn a little more about me too. So, here they are in no particular order!
My son
OK, I know I said in no particular order, but that’s excluding this one :) I am always aware that although my son is only 5 years old right now, one day he will be a man and (hopefully) read some of what I write here. I want him to be proud of what he sees, which inspires me to try even harder to make the blog as good as I can.
Pure enjoyment
Blogging is enjoyable. I love writing this blog and meeting people through it. I receive emails every day from readers, some extremely touching, where an idea I have shared with them has helped them achieve an important breakthrough. I have also been sent handwritten notes, books and gifts from readers all over the world. Something else that has happened, is that I have been able to connect with people, who I have admired for years, because of the blog.
Earlier this year I connected with Nile Rodgers (from Chic); whose music has been an inspiration to me for 30 years! We are now in fairly regular contact, following a post I wrote here.
Green tea
I always start the day with a strong coffee, then drink green tea throughout the day. Most green tea tastes awful but Mao Feng green tea from Tea Pigs tastes wonderful. I don’t know if they ship outside the UK and that’s not an affiliate link. There are all kinds of health claims associated with drinking green tea, and I have no idea which are true and which are not. However, since adopting green tea as my main drink, I feel better. When I feel better, I write better too. That said, I drink this blend purely for the taste.
Music
I almost always have music on whilst I write. According to iTunes, here are the top 25 tracks I’m listening to right now. It’s a very odd combination but an accurate picture of what I hear when I’m blogging:
- Good times – Chic
- Let’s start the dance – Hamilton Bohannon
- My philosophy – KRS 1
- Clear – Cybotron
- Love has come around – Donald Byrd
- I shoulda loved ya – Narada Michael Walden
- Stomp – Brothers Johnson
- Numbers – Kraftwerk
- Reach out – George Duke
- Metal guru – Trex
- Pretty vacant – Sex Pistols
- September – Earth Wind and Fire
- Money in my pocket – Dennis Brown
- Shake your body down to the ground – The Jacksons
- Stir it up – Bob Marley
- Nightrider – ELO
- Le Freak – Chic
- Absolute – Scritti Politti
- Shine – Motorhead
- Bambaataa’s theme – Africa Bambaataa
- The same old scene – Roxy music
- Biomechanik – Anthony Rother
- Love’s theme – Barry White
- Absolute beginners – The Jam
- My forbidden lover – Chic
Improvement
As a naturally competitive person, I am inspired to constantly try and find ways to improve the blog. I would like to help three times as many people in 2011 as I did in 2010. Increasing my readership by 300% is going to take a lot of work, but the challenge is extremely motivating, as are the rewards. As is so often the case, the more I give, the more I receive. I am also constantly looking to improve as a writer. One of the best ways to improve as a writer is to write, so expect a lot more from me over the coming year!
Obviously, there are many other motivators behind this blog. I just wanted to give you a little insight into some of the less obvious stuff, which keeps me moving the blog forward.
To those of you who celebrate Christmas, I would like to a very Merry Christmas!