Bryce, go public. I used to be very guarded about disclosing my ideas and vulnerabilities online (particularly on LinkedIn). When I started posting about my experiences, mistakes, and learnings in reinventing my career, I feared that people would judge me. But what happened was precisely the opposite. I began receiving messages from people I hadn't talked to in 20+ years and from complete strangers telling me how much they related. From this, I learned several things:
1) What seems painfully obvious to you, is a novelty to many.
2) There are thousands to millions of people out there dealing with some situation or conundrum you've solved for yourself. And knowing that they are not alone means the world to them.
3) It's a good thing to turn off people -- probably 99% will not care for or disagree with your content. But the 1% who do care will become raving fans of your work because you relate to them as no other writer does. They are your tribe. Write for them only!
Keep writing fearlessly. Good ideas are worth sharing.
Roberto, Thank you -- for your simple declaration, for sharing your experience, and your learnings.
I would be curious to hear more about why you used to be guarded particularly on LinkedIn - was it because of the implicit proximity to your professional reputation and economic livelihood or something else?
I appreciate your three learnings and encouragement to "keep writing fearlessly."
Good ideas are definitely worth sharing.
I should also note that -- while I may still wrestle with what to share and what not to share -- I did flip the switch back to public a few days after I made it private. Thank you, again.
Hi Bryce -- to answer your question: yes, what you mentioned. The LinkedIn ethos is very much about professional decorum because that's the main tool to network for jobs and sales. The majority of users are cautious about what content they "like" for fear of it showing up in their feeds and being associated to it.
Thank you, Sue! I am planning to and your encouragement means more than you might appreciate. Thank you. Your most recent post really resonated with me.
That's a tough one for sure. If you write honestly and openly, then you risk someone you know being hurt or offended or judgmental. But if you go private then that reduces the traffic to your blog. I guess there are pros and cons for either option. I like Alexandra's suggestion; that might be the way to go. P.S. I just started on Substack this month and it's scary as heck. My fear is that someone will read my posts and that someone won't read my posts.
Thanks for weighing in, Cara. I'm curious: what were your goals as you started your Substack and what makes you say it's scary as heck? That someone will read what you write?
My goal was to just start writing about things that pop into my head. Putting it in public is scary because I’m an introvert and shy away from attention. I also like the whole premise of Substack; community, learning new ideas from others, collaborating. The Substack is a way for me to step outside my box, my comfort zone. That in itself is scary; I have always had to force myself to try new things, go to places I’m not familiar with, meet new people. Just responding to your post was a leap outside my box. I’m more comfortable with strangers reading my thoughts but not so comfortable with people who know me reading my thoughts. I tend to show people who know me just what’s on the surface; the generic me. I’m still figuring that part out because it makes no sense to my logical brain.
I can appreciate how it feels scary to put it in public. I have wrestled with this off and in since I first published something online.
I am so glad you leaped out of your comfort zone and responded to my post. It has sparked this conversation and caused me to go back and read (or reread) all of your Substack. And I must say: you are bringing it. It's real, honest and vulnerable. It gives me a deeper understanding of what you've said here so thank you.
To your final point, you're right - it doesn't logically make sense but I can relate. Why is it that sometimes it's harder to be fully authentic with those who know us - is it because of scripting? If you figure this out, I would love to hear.
Wow - reading all of my Substack was very generous of you and I truly appreciate all of your comments and encouragement. This is one of the things I look forward to as I continue posting on Substack; a back and forth of ideas, encouraging others in their ideas, accepting encouragement from others. This was a good experience so I think I will continue to respond to other's posts. Thank you.
I think it depends on the purpose of the blog to you. On the one hand, as author you get to decide what you want to write and share, so going public allows others to more readily access your curated thoughts. If however you're looking to be more vulnerable and, if you will, 'uncurated' with your thoughts, then staying private for now is also a strategy that has advantages; you get to explore your thoughts and get some feedback in a more curated environment.
Bryce, go public. I used to be very guarded about disclosing my ideas and vulnerabilities online (particularly on LinkedIn). When I started posting about my experiences, mistakes, and learnings in reinventing my career, I feared that people would judge me. But what happened was precisely the opposite. I began receiving messages from people I hadn't talked to in 20+ years and from complete strangers telling me how much they related. From this, I learned several things:
1) What seems painfully obvious to you, is a novelty to many.
2) There are thousands to millions of people out there dealing with some situation or conundrum you've solved for yourself. And knowing that they are not alone means the world to them.
3) It's a good thing to turn off people -- probably 99% will not care for or disagree with your content. But the 1% who do care will become raving fans of your work because you relate to them as no other writer does. They are your tribe. Write for them only!
Keep writing fearlessly. Good ideas are worth sharing.
Roberto, Thank you -- for your simple declaration, for sharing your experience, and your learnings.
I would be curious to hear more about why you used to be guarded particularly on LinkedIn - was it because of the implicit proximity to your professional reputation and economic livelihood or something else?
I appreciate your three learnings and encouragement to "keep writing fearlessly."
Good ideas are definitely worth sharing.
I should also note that -- while I may still wrestle with what to share and what not to share -- I did flip the switch back to public a few days after I made it private. Thank you, again.
Hi Bryce -- to answer your question: yes, what you mentioned. The LinkedIn ethos is very much about professional decorum because that's the main tool to network for jobs and sales. The majority of users are cautious about what content they "like" for fear of it showing up in their feeds and being associated to it.
I hope you keep writing, Bryce!
Thank you, Sue! I am planning to and your encouragement means more than you might appreciate. Thank you. Your most recent post really resonated with me.
That's a tough one for sure. If you write honestly and openly, then you risk someone you know being hurt or offended or judgmental. But if you go private then that reduces the traffic to your blog. I guess there are pros and cons for either option. I like Alexandra's suggestion; that might be the way to go. P.S. I just started on Substack this month and it's scary as heck. My fear is that someone will read my posts and that someone won't read my posts.
Thanks for weighing in, Cara. I'm curious: what were your goals as you started your Substack and what makes you say it's scary as heck? That someone will read what you write?
My goal was to just start writing about things that pop into my head. Putting it in public is scary because I’m an introvert and shy away from attention. I also like the whole premise of Substack; community, learning new ideas from others, collaborating. The Substack is a way for me to step outside my box, my comfort zone. That in itself is scary; I have always had to force myself to try new things, go to places I’m not familiar with, meet new people. Just responding to your post was a leap outside my box. I’m more comfortable with strangers reading my thoughts but not so comfortable with people who know me reading my thoughts. I tend to show people who know me just what’s on the surface; the generic me. I’m still figuring that part out because it makes no sense to my logical brain.
I can appreciate how it feels scary to put it in public. I have wrestled with this off and in since I first published something online.
I am so glad you leaped out of your comfort zone and responded to my post. It has sparked this conversation and caused me to go back and read (or reread) all of your Substack. And I must say: you are bringing it. It's real, honest and vulnerable. It gives me a deeper understanding of what you've said here so thank you.
To your final point, you're right - it doesn't logically make sense but I can relate. Why is it that sometimes it's harder to be fully authentic with those who know us - is it because of scripting? If you figure this out, I would love to hear.
Wow - reading all of my Substack was very generous of you and I truly appreciate all of your comments and encouragement. This is one of the things I look forward to as I continue posting on Substack; a back and forth of ideas, encouraging others in their ideas, accepting encouragement from others. This was a good experience so I think I will continue to respond to other's posts. Thank you.
I think it depends on the purpose of the blog to you. On the one hand, as author you get to decide what you want to write and share, so going public allows others to more readily access your curated thoughts. If however you're looking to be more vulnerable and, if you will, 'uncurated' with your thoughts, then staying private for now is also a strategy that has advantages; you get to explore your thoughts and get some feedback in a more curated environment.
Fair point.