Here’s a look back at some of my favorite moments. memories and people who made a difference for me in 2009 .
One year ago today, I sat, much like I am now – legs tucked up under me, late night, eyes closing, headache setting in.
I had a little website – ExtraordinaryMommy.com. When I first started it, it wasn’t a blog – it was merely a site. I wanted moms to remember that extraordinary something sitting in their soul, even on their most challenging days. So I created the site. It took months for me to understand that static content is not interesting enough to keep people coming back.
So, about 18 months ago, I began to learn about blogging. But I was overcome by questions – how do I inspire people to come back? Is the content of the site interesting? What should I write about?
I didn’t know the answers. Exactly 12 months ago, I was searching for guidance online. About this time of year, I get antsy…I start hunting for avenues to improve.
It was during this very process that something small happened. I was scouring the wide world web – looking for ‘goals’ and ‘resolutions’ to set me on the correct path towards engaging with people online. I was following a bread-crumb trail of tips. I couldn’t retrace it if you paid me.
With one last click, I landed at Jessica Smith’s site. I didn’t know Jessica – but in a particular post, she was talking about resolutions she had made the previous year (yes December 2007). She said one that had made a difference for her – committing to Twitter. I thought, “Twitter? I’ve heard of it…but what is it?”
And then, as I continued to read Jessica’s post, and the success she experienced in 2008….I snapped to attention and thought – “OK, this seems like a good start – tackling Twitter it is. It seems easy enough. It isn’t a scary, impossible, lofty goal. It is just Twitter.”
(I was able to share this story of my ‘beginning’ with Jessica last this year at the TypeAMom Conference)
I truly had no idea how Twitter worked or how it would change so many things in my world. I called a friend who could provide a little guidance. And I hit the ground tweeting. The Domino Effect has been tremendous.
It was through Twitter that I learned about Blissdom last February. And it was at Blissdom that I met dozens of amazing people who have helped to shaped this past year for me.
I set the personal goal of speaking at this very conference in 2010. (Goal accomplished – Yippee!)
Blissdom was the thread that connected me to my co-host on Why Moms Matter on Blog Talk Radio – Josh Unfried of MomFaves. And that was simply the beginning.
I learned about the launch of MomTV via Twitter. I have had The Spin Cycle on MomTV since they kicked off.
Since then…there have been conferences: BlogHer, TypeAMom, Blog World Expo and the 140 Conference in Los Angeles.
By far, one of the biggest thrills of my year was covering the 140 Conference at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles for DeVries PR….it was the opportunity to get back to my reporting and video roots – and I’m grateful to Stephanie Smirnov for having faith in me.
And I can trace that very experience back to both Twitter and Blissdom.
I am grateful for the new friends I have made.
I am thrilled by how much I have learned and excited about the opportunities I have been given.
I continue to be inspired by the amazing things so many of these women (and men) have accomplished and all they continue to do on a daily basis.
Thank you for welcoming me into this Social Media Community, for embracing by quirks, and for supporting my desire to engage with you via video.
I am truly excited about the future.
Leave a Reply