I've been keeping up on this thread. I have to say its one of the best forum discussions I've seen in a long time.
This is something I've struggled with and I still seem to be adapting and figuring this out as I go a long.
When I first started working on my blog (cancel that..my "internet presence") and 30DC I went under a pen name ("Andrew Patrick"). Like most people I wanted everyone to like me, so I ended up catering to what I thought people wanted to hear/read (as far as my videos and blog posts went).
I found myself making video after video...only to eventually delete them. Yes I got subscribers, comments, emails etc but...I wasn't really being myself at all and I'm sure people could see through that.
My mentality was in the numbers. The more people I could appeal to the more "followers" and subscribers I would have. This might be true but I've changed my approach. I'm having a lot more fun and getting better results.
It took me awhile to realize what I'm about to say but..
Sometime within the past 2-3 months I got the revelation that everyone isn't going to like me. lol. And thats 100% ok with me now.
It wouldn't be fair for me to think otherwise...because lets face it...we all have different "values" and opinions in life and we all have certain people we just don't like.
I'm a "family friendly" type of person. I don't cuss much, unless I'm really really mad....don't drink that much at all...and I consider myself a "spiritual" person.
If I end up attracting people like me, great...if ppl like me who are totally opposite awesome! It doesn't matter anymore because I'm finally being myself.
One thing I will say. I don't talk about politics or really really sensitive issues online...unless its something I'm really passionate about.
A good video I found recently: "
The Dreaded Google Paper Trail" by Diane Hochman
Yeah...after I watched that I started thinking more long-term. Do I want to put a video out there that can be found 30-50 years from now?
I dunno...I'm still learning. Getting better at this day by day.
- Scott