The following is an article I started in 2006. I’ve been cleaning out old files recently and came across this. I am leaving it as is but would like to share some thoughts at the end on how I feel that blogging as a business has turned the tables around.
“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” Albert Einstein
From the book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen R. Covey suggests that our mindset of how we become successful has changed since WWI.
Before WWI we used the Character Ethic to become successful or as our view of success. Those traits included things such as integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty and the Golden Rule.
After WWI our idea of success or what we needed to become successful shifted to the Personality Ethic. Success became a function of personality, public image, attitudes, behaviors, skills, techniques and a positive mental attitude. Covey also suggests that those traits are deceptive and manipulative because it encourages people to use ‘techniques’ to get others to like them, like faking the interest of another person’s hobbies and interests to get what you want out of them.
It would seem that to be successful in this mindset one would have to pretend to be interested in other people instead of being genuinely interested in them. This does indicate that to be successful you should be deceptive in your motives.
I feel that this ‘shift’ not only affected the business world but our personal lives as well and how we raise our children.
This book was written in 1989. I wonder if some of us aren’t trying to do a shift back to the character ethic. I think the world would be a more caring place if more people did follow the character ethic instead of the personality ethic.
Those were my thoughts in 2006. I still have some of those thoughts as far as how traditional businesses are run–the state of the economy and recent bail-outs could be an indication of this, along with poor business habits. That is, if the economy really is in trouble and businesses really had to be bailed out–we’ll never know the truth behind that. But my point here is that what I see in blogging, especially as a business model, has returned to the character ethic model. This is a people business and it remains focused on the people. I’m not talking about those websites and blogs that have been thrown up to make a quick buck. Sites like BloggingTips.com, and others like Storyfix.com, MenWithPens.com, Copyblogger.com and Problogger.com; all of these sites not only cater to people but rely on them.
Now with social networking becoming more popular (Twitter and Facebook) it’s easy to see the people behind these websites as real people. Maybe they haven’t taken corporate America or any other corporate nation by storm, but as far as running a business-these guys have gotten back to the basics of what makes a good business great–catering to the people.
The second point I’d like to make is to new bloggers. If this is the business model you’ve chosen, take note of how well the blogs mentioned above cater to people.
And last, I’d like your opinion. What trends have you seen changing or the differences in traditional business versus online business?
Do you think blogging shows the human side of what a business should be?
Any other thoughts or comments? Feel free to share them.
Image courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/demonbaby/2087832545/
If you look back at history, any time character ethic fades away so does prosperity.
I think the real power in the sites mentioned, as well as many others, is in their legitimate desire to teach others how to be better at what they do.
The currency you get from an actual genuine interest in helping your audience will always pay so much more than any quick buck. And that kind of currency is recession proof.
Great post!
Blogging certainly does have more of a human side on its face than traditional business models. Bloggers have to make decisions – explicitly or implicitly – how open to be about themselves, their families, and their non-biz interests. An explicit example is Darren Rowse. In one of his problogger pieces he mentions discussing with his wife how much to reveal/share of their home life. I have had similar conversations with my own family concerning what I reveal/share on my site. Every blogger decides how open or revealing about themselves they intend to be.
There seems to be two extremes. People who use their real names, mention they have kids in school, what they had for dinner, etc, all as part of their blog – which may not even have a topic about family, kids, dinners.
The blogging audience seems to expect more openness. With more openness comes the requirement for character. Most people who use their real names and mention their children would be reluctant to scam people. (Some may disagree with that)
At the other extreme are those who refuse to use their real names and even shift their IP addresses. Pen names allow one to have an alternate personality which does not require character or integrity. It is easier to scam when you don’t have to worry about people finding you.
Not everyone using a pen name is a scammer, but the need/desire for privacy may make others wonder about their reliability and other character issues. And whistleblowers may need the protection of anonymity from a hostile employer or government.
Another character issue in the blog world is the question of what is moral? If it is legal is it moral? If it is easy to find on the net, then is it okay? There is a lot of discussion about paying for plug-ins and themes and should developers be paid, should writers be paid? I recently found some of my essays stolen and used on other sites.
Some of my students say since they can find porn on the internet then it is okay and fine to watch it. They never really have an answer when I ask what if someone got their sister or daughter drunk and filmed and distributed it. When they say they steal music or code, they say it’s okay, because its available. They don’t feel the same when I ask what if they lose their work or income to someone doing that to them.
The internet has become a great test case for character and legal positivism. Anecdotally, it appears there are two extremes. It will be fascinating to see how it further develops (and for some folks that would be Darren’s Third Tribe). Semper Pax, Dr. Z
i am newbie in blogging world. Many post about blogging i had read it. I know the point that describe by the writer after read it, but your post is very difficult to understand by me what the point that you want to the reader know.
Great topic and question.
I view the world from a yin/yang perspective. Yes, I can sense the human being behind many blogs, but I also get blind sided by the multi level marketing scams by many as well. If I walk into a shoe store, I am capable of walking around, looking for signs, most likely finding my way directly to the 'women's sports shoes', and within a couple of minutes I'm holding a sample of what I'm interested in. With some blogs you are teased and taunted and led and misled and click here, and now if you want the rest of the story subscribe here and then you click on the video and then they play this game of 'the video might crash middway through my brilliant sales pitch'…and you've yet to the item/get a glimpse of the hero you came to meet.
There's also the enormous issue of writing from the heart vs writing because all you think about is making money.
I've been reading blogging tips diligently for over a year. I read every single word you write because you write with passion, and don't use fading fad cliches or technical lingo. You explain and link to so many informative sights. You give give give. You stand out with creative and original content. You are blogging royalty in my books. Thank you Patti!
Real people, real motives — what a concept!