The idea of running a blog or online publication has always been daunting for me. Maybe it’s the idea that I have to be online all the time, track numbers, and keep myself interesting in everything I write that scares me. I’m not particularly a good writer or a person with a lot of interesting stories to share, quite honestly I’m pretty ordinary. The only thing I’ve been very good at is “starting”. Sometimes it’s a bit blurry the border between sheer stupidity and courage for me. Entrepreneurs can definitely relate to that feeling. You know the one that you know is financially crippling and you’ll likely be berated for a while for, but deep down you know it’s a good idea? Yea, that one. I’ve started several organizations while in college and countless startup ideas left and right. So why does the idea of starting a publication really scares me? Because this time I don’t have anyone to support me or the idea.
I’ve had this idea for some time now but unfortunately have showed it aside to better focus on my career and future. Recently I struck a conversation with a complete stranger on Facebook and nonchalantly brought up the idea of a publication to her. A part of me pretty much expected some form of discouragement or just complete lack of interests. Strangely enough, this complete stranger actually encouraged me to do it. She didn’t exactly light fire on my ass or inspire the rocky in me, actually it was very subtle encouragement, but that was enough for me to get started.
24 hours later, here we are…a complete website, with domain, and a first post. Chances are this post in particular won’t see the light of day (it really shouldn’t, I hardly gave a shit about grammar in this post), but I am compelled to write my first as my unrefined self instead of pretending I’m more eloquent than I really am.
This website will grow and one day (6 months) have 100K visitors a month. If you’re reading this post now, chances are you’re me or a spam bot. If you’re actually a person, congratulations on witnessing the birth of something potentially great.
Lainey
May 20, 2016 at 2:50 am
June Thanks for writing in – all of what you say makes sense to me. I still have a deeper question, however, which is "when do networks make sense and when do organizations make sense?" In other words, what are each of these &qute;soructurts" best at? For everyone who has written in here or email or twitter: Since so many of the examples I've been sent about networks making change have been temporal, my next obvious question is "when and why and how do networks transition to organizations, what kinds of organizations, and what are keys to success there?"Lucy