(I got this idea from Ana at Debt Free Revolution. It was an answer to a writer’s block post on Entrecard.)
You may have heard the same thing about Kindergarten, but blogging can teach you many things also. Here is how Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I learned from Kindergarten”1 applies to bloggers and things I’ve learned while blogging:
- Share everything.
As bloggers, this is something we should do. Seriously. Stumble, Digg, etc. Those are ways of sharing the great posts you come across on other blogs, right? Or even sharing your own post if it’s something you truly believe in. - Play fair.
There are tons of sites out there that do “black hat” stuff. Well, guess what? Your readers aren’t as stupid as you may believe they are anymore. Most people are becoming cynics. In a way, that’s bad. But in another way it’s also good because people do research and think before they fall for scams nowadays. - Don’t hit people.
Another term for this could be “Don’t flame people.” Don’t go to other blogs and start yelling at people. That’s just wrong. - Put things back where you found them.
Be organized in your blogging life. Make a schedule so you don’t feel overworked. Keep your notes all in one place. Do whatever it takes so you’re not stressing out over what to do next. To-do lists are your friends. - Clean up your own mess.
I don’t think this one really needs a description, but basically, own up to your mistakes. - Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Ever found your blog post reprinted elsewhere without any kind of credit to you? That’s where it fits. If you use someone else’s material, ask first and give them credit. Normally it’s better to just put a link. That’ll make them happy and might gain you a loyal reader. - Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
This one relates to a few above, but if you do make a mistake or flame someone, tell them you’re sorry and, here’s the kicker, mean it. - Wash your hands before you eat.
That also goes for washing your brain before you make a post. Think first. If you’re mad, clear your head and think first. - Flush.
If it’s a bad post but took you a long time to create it, don’t be scared to scrap it. - Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
It’s good to do something for yourself every once in a while. Take a break from blogging if you need to. Or as I’ve learned in dieting, treat yourself when you’ve followed your diet. It actually does shock the body into causing you to lose even more weight. Sounds silly, but it’s true. - Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
This one is fine just like it is. - Take a nap every afternoon.
This goes along with the milk and cookies. Take a break. Enjoy life. Then blog about it. - When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Make friends with other bloggers. It’ll benefit both of you. - Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
There’s wonder found everywhere in the blogging world too. It’s easy to stumble upon jewels and see new things happening every day. Ever made a post that got huge traffic but you couldn’t recreate it on purpose? - Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
So do blogs and ideas for posts. Sometimes there’s just an end to things. - And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
READ too.
- The quotes from Robert Fulghum’s book are Copyrighted © Robert Fulghum and reprinted with permission. [«]
Related Posts:
- Don’t Hit People
- What Blogging Does for Me
- The Daily Read - 01/19/2008
- The Daily Read - Blog About Your Blog
- The Daily Read - 01/05/2008
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
By Debt Free Revolution on Mar 13, 2008 |
Glad to be of help
I have a list saved on Notepad from last month when I had to ask my fellow bloggers for help when *I* had blogger’s block. Just passing it along and “paying it forward.”
Debt Free Revolution’s last blog post..The Aftermath of Yesterday’s Problems
By Patricia sawyer on Mar 13, 2008 |
wow Bloggers block. that’s just what I need now to go with writers block. lol.. have a great day!
Patsy
By StanHayes on Mar 13, 2008 |
So this is what the writer’s block post became? Very nice indeed. See what a little hurdle can do for ya?
StanHayes’s last blog post..Larry King’s Fantasy Baseball News & Views
By Chris Carter on Mar 13, 2008 |
Very interesting post. I totally agree with you, you get what you give!!! Make the world a better place one blog at a time.
Chris Carter’s last blog post..I Am a Quitter and You Can Be Too!
By Saphrym on Mar 13, 2008 |
@Ana - Thanks again!
@Patsy - Hey! That was short! Where’s my cool insight from Patsy comment?
@Stan - As I said in the forum, when I have a topic, I go nuts. I just needed a quick jog. You guys did awesome. And don’t worry, I’m probably going to use your idea too.
@Chris - Amen brother.
By Beth on Mar 13, 2008 |
Ok you didn’t list picking your nose and flicking it across the room. Can I still do that or is it now illegal?
Beth’s last blog post..CCtoMany.com: The Answer To Managing Mailing Lists?
By Saphrym on Mar 13, 2008 |
@Beth - It’s quite legal unless it ends up in my hair. Wait. Nevermind. I don’t have any.
By Deimos Tel`Arin on Mar 13, 2008 |
@Saphrym:
Nice write up there yo!
So when are you gonna write up a gaming related article aye?
Deimos Tel`Arin’s last blog post..Brand New Nokia N81 8GB For Sale - Collect at Shop in Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
By Drew on Mar 14, 2008 |
Very good post Saph. I do like the All I need to Know I learned in Kindergarten. Very nice. Plus your insight is probably why you are high traffic blogger. Keep it up man.
Drew’s last blog post..Thorns? PAD #1070
By Pat King on Mar 14, 2008 |
Heyy…..great read saph. So much for that writers block eh mate?
By Saphrym on Mar 14, 2008 |
@Deimos - Maybe soon. I’ve been playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
@Drew - Glad you liked it.
@Pat - Thanks and yeah. Just needed a topic.
By Nicole on Mar 14, 2008 |
Yepp, everyone should print this out and hang it on their walls.
Thanks for some reminders :)!
By Patricia sawyer on Mar 14, 2008 |
Yea, I did write short huh? Did you ever have a day that for no reason what so ever; or none that made itself plain to you; you felt like jumping off of the crazy wild ride called life? I don’t mean like falling dead but just digging into a dark hole somewhere and waiting out the days till it all came together again? Did you ever see yourself leaning way out there looking for a safe place to land if you did decide to jump? Well yesterday was like that for me.. Just a bad day. I don’t have those often because I won’t let them in.But every once in a great while they sneak in with some one else. People talk to me a lot and sometimes.. like yesterday. I get to feeling so sorry for every body that well I wonder what are we going to do.. people have no jobs.. those that do still can’t pull both ends together. Young people see no use in life any more. They have to struggle too much. The elderly struggle just to eat and buy meds. And do we see it getting better? We pray it does. we hope it does. But many say it will get worse not better.. I just hang on. And every now and again I have a black day. Thankfully they only last a day.. I’d be dangerous if they lasted longer than that! Shoot I’d be dangerous if I had any sense! But today is a beautiful day..
and I did learn all I needed to know way back then to in first grade when I learned to read Run spot run; and write my name From Miss Dumbarre. Then In third I learned from Miss Creech how to count money. I’m thinking that’s all I really need to know.. read and write your name and count your husbands money.. I’m ready for the world! But is the world ready for me?
Patsy
By Saphrym on Mar 14, 2008 |
@Patsy - Now THAT’s the Patsy I’ve gotten to know. I’m glad today is much better for you.
By HotMomma on Mar 14, 2008 |
Nice post! Thanks for sharing this one.
HotMomma’s last blog post..Prospective Cyber Millionaire’s Mishaps
By Joy on Mar 14, 2008 |
Great stuff you have here.
“Share everything”. –> Love this one. After all, isn’t that what the Internet is for?
Joy’s last blog post..How We Take Food Photos II: That Nifty Gray Card For White Balance
By Marie on Mar 14, 2008 |
Great points of advice Saphrym - thanks.
By following these items people can present themselves and their blogs in a more professional manner
Marie’s last blog post..Innovation through consumerism
By krrey_boo17 on Mar 15, 2008 |
that sure was inspiring Saphrym. You’ve got some really good points with this post. I really have learned some of those, and not just from blogging perse but also in real life.
krrey_boo17’s last blog post..Fighting Fatigue