The passion to blog.

Been visiting a lot of new blogs lately. Many have had no entries since 2007. Waaaaaaay back in 2007.

The reason why is pretty simple: blogging is a pain in the butt. It takes discipline and focus and consistency and effort.

Most people just want to sell stuff.

I still think blogging is a great tool to help you organize and share your thoughts. For most people, blogs don't sell squat, however. As a result, it really it doesn't hold their interest.

Many of the blogs I've visited look like they we created by firms like ours (Rizen). That rarely seems to work. And when it does you can't even tell marketing people were involved.

The lesson for me is that you should blog because...

a) you are arrogant enough to think everyone should be able to read your thoughts.
b) you are generous enough to share your life's learning with others.
c) you are reflective enough that you want contemplate the things you've learned -- in writing.
d) you are compulsive enough that you simply need another thing to do.err
e) you are talkative enough that people ask you to shut up. So you write.
f) you are desperate for feedback on your thoughts, ideas. musings.
g) you are so obsessed that you need yet another outlet to share your ideas.
h) you are so passionate that you need yet another outlet to sell your ideas.

...the list goes on. I'm really just trying to point out that "selling stuff" is not on the list. So if that's why you're starting to blog. Don't. Chances are, the hassle won't pay off.