My new blog

I’m setting up a new blog. It will be very different than this one in many respects.

This blog (whatever and everything) I have had for 4 and a half years. I created it as a digital journal. I became affraid of having people read my paper journals, i wanted a place to vent and talk about anything, unrestricted. It started as a public blog, read and frequented by many of my friends. When they started commenting too much and prying too much in to the details of my greatest secrets I decided to “shut it down” by changing the address and not informing them. Since then (I can’t recall the date) this blog has been public but at the same time anonymous. All the original content is still here.

My new blog will be much more refined than this one. It’s purpose will be to bring value to other people. I want it to be able to communicate my ideas clearly and succintly. This will require more careful attention to topic, structure, and spelling & grammar for each post. I want each article/post to impart a piece of wisdom to the readers. I want it to generate interest. I want it to become a viral phenomenon. I have high hopes for it. I have a lot to offer the world and until this moment I wasn’t sure of how to best do it.

Last night was a typical night – disgruntled about my current employment situation which brought me back to the familiar question that I have been asking myself for as long as I can remember: What is the purpose of life? Or to quote PJ Harvey, “Is that all there is?” A google search lead to an article on another blog that spelled it out for me in black and white. I guess you could say it was a life-changing moment; my outlook on my career, my approach to life has changed in a mere 24 hours. After reading that article I instantly found I was eager for life. Previously dreary and depressed, idolless and uninspired, hopeful but hopeless I woke this morning smiling for the first time in months. today was a breeze at work for I knew it would not be the end of me.

On my way to work this morning I took some notes on my iPhone about potential articles that people might be interested in reading about. This is an example of how I would like to try approaching the creation of topics to cover. While my wisodm and experience is great for such a young lad, I would be better off to (atleast for the first while) generate content worthy of being read. How many people would want to read an article on “How to find true love”, “How to get a job you love”, “How to write an effective cover letter and resume”, “How to communicate effectively”. I might as well quote Steve Pavlina himself who has inspired me on this journey:

“Think about the effect you want your writing to have on people. Since I write about personal growth, I want my writing to change people for the better. I want to expand people’s thinking, to raise their consciousness, and to help them eliminate fear from their lives. If my writing doesn’t change people’s thinking, actions, or awareness, then my value isn’t being transferred well enough.”

Here’s the rest of the notes I took on my iPhone during the ten minute drive to work (I do not recommend or advocate doing this). Most are ideas for articles or potential titles:

• Learn to Play Guitar
• How to Get a Job That You Love
• How to Write an Effective Resume
• How to Write an Effective Cover Letter
• How to Save [for Retirement]
• Budgeting 101
• How to Become a Creative Person
• How to Make Excellent Coffee
• How to Not be a Douchebag
• Dating Tips
• Finding True Love
• Building Intimacy
• How to Date
• Tantra 101
• Multi-Orgasms for Men
• How to Make Her Orgasm
• Secrets to Mindblowing Sex
• How to Buy a Car
• How to Import a Car to Canada
• Moving to and Starting-Up in Los Angeles
• Roadtrip Guide
• How to Make Friends for Life
• Essay Writing
• How to Ace a Test
• Studying for a Test
• How to Organize Your Life
• How to have Sex Like a Porn Star!
• Songwriting 101
• Setting up a Home Studio
• How to Swim
• How to be a Superb Boyfriend
• How to Get In Shape and Stay That Way

Not only do I have personal experience with all the above articles, most I am very good at, which is to say my personal experience has proven that I am effective at whatever the objective is. As you can see, most of the articles I brainstormed this morning are in the realm of Personal Development notably social, sexual, physical and financial but I could see the scope of the articles ranging across these categories as well as emotional, spiritual and moral topics.

In terms of commitment, I hereby commit to spending no less that 30 minutes daily working on this project for the next year. I will revisit this commitment in three months time to evaluate it. I will put no upward limit on my time commitment.

I am excited to have a purpose to write. I am excited to share my experience with others, and hopefully add value to their lives. I am excited at the possibility of creating an income from nothing more than what I love to do – writing.

I am excited to embark on this journey. The best part is that I know I can do it. No convincing is needed. I have maintained a blog for a long time. I am simply deciding to create a new blog with a different purpose in mind, which will require some additional considerations as far as marketability and profitability go.

I have some technical specs to work out with my new blog –

1. Picking a domain name. I am thinking about www.alexkiner.com. I feel that a name adds credibility to a blog and using my name would be expecially appropriate since I will be sharing my personal experiences. I think domains such as www.changeyourlife.com seem impersonal, scammy and ostentatious.
2. Registering my domain name. Still need to source a good domain registrar. Should be one of my only business expenses – probably >$15.00
3. Finding a suitable delivery method. Do i go with Blogger? MoveableType? It’s been a while since I’ve been up on my blogging technology. I’d like to spend about an hour researching different blogs that I frequent to find out what they use and what method will support advertising, donations, customizable templates, etc.
4. Write out a simple business plan. – I mainly want to explicate the purpose and values.
5. Add my first article. I would say this is it and this step is already done!
6. Research more about advertising and affiliate marketing.
7. And of course, write more articles.

While Steve Pavlina mentions not having generated any income in his first 4 months of operationing his blog, The quality of his early articles are also not that high. I am thankful for the level of transparency he presents across his entire publication. It is invaluable in seeing what worked for him and how I can build a business model on his, while improving areas that I see could be improved.

There is something so satisfying about writing a blog post- a sample of my life, as I have just done – and looking back at it, feeling gratified in having created something that has orignal content, meaning, and inherant value.