Having someone to look up to is usually how we get to the point where we get good at what we like to do. In life, it’s very true in many different scenarios. In blogging, it is is especially true.
The fact of the matter is that there is so much more to blogging than what appears. There is more thought to consider, and more difficult approaches needed to be taken to solve problems. There is no easy way out of something on your blog, and if you can find one, you’re probably approaching the problem from the wrong angle!
With all of these things we have to deal with on our blog, and how scarce a good solution can actually be, what is there to turn to? If the blogger is inexperienced, where the hell are they supposed to go? If the blogger has more experience, then they might be better off in actually coming up with a solution. However, one thing I believe that can help anyone on anything is having a role model to base their actions off of.
I think every blogger out there needs a role model, or someone to look up to. If not for help on solving problems, but for other things. Things that I want to go over briefly in this post today.
Having a Role Model Helps With Motivation
Very obvious I think, but very important. When you look up to someone, you look up to them for the traits they have. You respect them pretty much, and you want to be a bit more like them. Makes sense right?
There are quite a few different aspects of motivation you can get from having a blogging role model.
- The Success
- The Reputation
- The Features
- The Authority
- The Will
In most cases, your role model will be someone who has seen success through their blog. I cannot tell you your interpretation of “success” because I know your definition will be different from mine. Whatever role model we do choose to look up to, I believe will be the definition, or have the definition of what it is to be successful.
Maybe what you’re after is a little publicity here. No shame in that, I’d bet that anyone’s role model has some kind of reputation, and that is just another reason why we would want to look up to someone with rep.
Maybe your role model has something on their blog you’d like. I know my role model has a newsletter on their blog. A newsletter is something I’d like to have here.
Someone who says something, and people listen. It’s what an informative blog should supposed to be like, and maybe your role model has achieved that. That’s something everyone wants for their blog without a doubt.
I would be, going back to point #1, success, that you want the will your role model has used to get where they are today. People who have been blogging for years are definitely people to look up to, and how do you think they achieved blogging for all of that time? Will power!
So there is this one person who you have pretty much declared your “source of inspiration.” The person who has a lot of things you want. It can even turn out that what you want can’t be achieved by yourself. What does that kind of sound like? Wanting something you can’t have?
Jealousy
What a crazy emotion jealousy is! It’s one of those emotions that can either make you or break you, but too often I find that it will do you more harm than it actually helps!
I’ll admit it, I get jealous at times. I think my jealousy of another blogger actually gave me the idea for this post now that I think about it. But take that as a prime example of how jealousy helps you. I get jealous of someone, so I write a post talking about it. See how it kind of balances itself out?
The best of what jealousy brings out in you
- As I have said above, jealousy makes me feel like I just need to work harder, so I do what I can to become better.
- You may be jealous at first, but there are times where you come out of that jealous stage and move into a more logical approach to something and just like that you have something to set you apart from that person you want to become so bad.
The Bad Side
- You want that success, but it’s not something you can just get. You might get annoyed seeing how successful someone became, and you might not understand the work they put into it. Not understanding that will not help you become a better blogger.
- Do you think your mind would be as clear if you spent all that time trying to be like the other blogger instead of becoming the blogger you want to be? Spending all of your time copying from other bloggers instead of creating new innovations is a terrible form of jealousy and I hope it hasn’t hit you!
Who Motivates You?
After reading this post, have you put thought into having a role model for yourself? Do you see how it can be beneficial to have someone to look up to?
Photo by Hamed Saber
18 Discussions
You bring up some great points in this article, Alex. I haven’t determined my role model yet but there are plenty of people I look up to. However I can see the benefits of singling out one role model. Let me guess, is Mr. Rowse your role model?
Nick Tart’s last blog post..Show What You Truly Feel With Video
No, I don’t idolize Darren Rowse. Sure, he runs a great blog, but he is by no means my role model. That would be very cliche of me anyways. :p
I actually don’t have a role model now that I think about it. I mean, I respect a lot of people, but role models. Coming from the guy who just wrote a post about how you have to have a role model, haha!
Idon’t have any role models in MMO blogging, mainly because I’ve seen people do this and they normally end up copying their role model’s blog.
Dean Saliba’s last blog post..Follow Me On Twitter
A very valid point Dean! It’s a very debatable topic it would seem.
Having role model is something bloggers must do. It motivates us a lot in what we do. I personally admire Darren Rowse and Yaro Starack.
Harish | Blogging Kid’s last blog post..32 Things To Do For Bloggers
Yaro is a great guy and I have mad respect for him. I don’t see Darren as a role model for me, as I said above, but I do respect him.
You are now my role model Alex
I believe inspiration for excelling in blogging can be derived from multiple sources and having a role model is just one of them !
Jeet’s last blog post..Manual Directory Submission
Haha, thanks Jeet. Appreciate it.
I love what you said here “I believe inspiration for excelling in blogging can be derived from multiple sources.” That’s like a really cool quote there.
I totally agree with you after reading the post. Since I just started I never even took this into consideration. I guess it is time to choose a role model.
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I don’t think you can just choose a role model, it’s something that you will just find out on your own, you get what I’m saying?
First of all hats off to you for making and keeping such awesome rhythm of posting. Each post of yours are unique and have some fruitful meaningful.
Definitely you should have a role model and I do believe that every kind of profession have role model which gave you first inspiration to go towards that direction.
With the help of this you can get ideas and you will be also able to explore your thoughts more and more.
Appreciate it, I do my best here. I really do.
You’re right, there is always the “top person” in any field who can provide to be a source of inspiration for those around them. I never thought about it like that before, thanks for sharing!
I prefer a mentor over a role model any day. Mentors purposely guide, where as 9 times outa 10 your role model doesn’t even know you exist.
If your mentor is any good, he/she will automatically become your role model over time.
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Great counter argument man, I mean how many people do Darren Rowse or even John Chow really know who idolize them?
Believe it or not mentor always make your path smooth and easy to go. They already faced those problems which you will have to face and hence journey to you will be comfortable.
For a business man like me … I always admire Warren Buffet and his simple business policy.
Taking inspiration from your mentor and applying it your own situation is the biggest benefit of a role model.
Who exactly is Warren Buffet?
One of the richest people in the world! According to Forbes, in the Top 10 – but that was some time ago when I checked. He was No.1 for a period of time, if my memory serves me right
Anyways, going back to your post – blogging role models…hmm I wouldn’t say I have any, but ShoeMoney and ProBlogger have both had an definite impact on my blogging “career” so to speak.
Role models are good in some ways, but you shouldn’t let them get in the way of becoming your own unique blogger. We all have something new we can give to blogging that our role model did not have.
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