5 of the secrets behind Jim’s Marketing Blog

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:

1. Good times – Chic
2. Let’s start the dance – Hamilton Bohannon
3. My philosophy – KRS 1
4. Clear – Cybotron
5. Love has come around – Donald Byrd
6. I shoulda loved ya – Narada Michael Walden
7. Stomp – Brothers Johnson
8. Numbers – Kraftwerk
9. Reach out – George Duke
10. Metal guru – Trex
11. Pretty vacant – Sex Pistols
12. September – Earth Wind and Fire
13. Money in my pocket – Dennis Brown
14. Shake your body down to the ground – The Jacksons
15. Stir it up – Bob Marley
16. Nightrider – ELO
17. Le Freak – Chic
18. Absolute – Scritti Politti
19. Shine – Motorhead
20. Bambaataa’s theme – Africa Bambaataa
21. The same old scene – Roxy music
22. Biomechanik – Anthony Rother
23. Love’s theme – Barry White
24. Absolute beginners – The Jam
25. 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!