Why Did I Start a Blog?
My first blog! Why in the world did I do that?
Honestly, it starts from wondering if I should act on a daydream that’s been lingering in the back of my head since September 1999. Fresh out of high school, in my first semester of college.
I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree from Towson University. But my first semester didn’t start there. What I’m about to tell you is information I haven’t volunteered to anyone that doesn’t already know. I started my first semester at Frederick Community College. Not by choice. I was there because I didn’t get accepted to the 1 (as in singular) college I applied to. Ok, let me take that back. I got “accepted” to Towson, but it was a conditional acceptance. Meaning I could start classes at Towson under the condition that I first attend a Community College, take non-credit reading and comprehension for dummies courses and prove that I was smart enough for a 4-year college. Obviously, the acceptance letter didn’t say that, but that’s exactly how I took it in my head.
Three of my closest girlfriends and I had big post high school plans - all apply to just 1 college and secure our position in going to the same college, being roommates and never be apart! Welp, guess what – everyone got a full acceptance letter in the mail, except me.
So there I was watching my best friends prepare, go off to college and live out the dream we created together….without me. That. Sh!t. F#cked. Me. Up. You know one of those significant experiences that hit hard at your core and shape your personality, behaviors and sense of self.
So they go off and I’m stuck at home with some serious FOMO. I’m sitting on my bed feeling sorry for myself as I re-read the same sentence for the 10th time because, classic Alyssa, my brain was bored and thinking about something else not even paying attention to the words my eyes were reading (oh, the conditional acceptance letter makes total sense now). [SQUIRREL!] Back to it…what was I thinking about while “reading” a sentence about how not to be too dumb for a 4-year college?...
I was envisioning myself giving a speech to a small group of people about that exact moment. I was talking about how dumb and inadequate I felt, how much it impacted me and….how I persevered.
Yes. Persevered. I don’t know how. I don’t know where my path took me to get there, or even who I was speaking to for that matter. I remember it so vividly though, I was standing up there talking to whoever saying - “hey, I know how you feel and it’s real sh!ty. I promise this doesn’t define you. Take my experience and know you have the ability to do great things if you can harness that power. One day you’ll look back at this moment and be proud of yourself for not letting this hold you back” - As if I had achieved something significant and had the clout to talk about my life journey.
I don’t know if that vision was me magically jumping into my future, a premonition, or simply me giving myself a really good pep talk. For whatever reason, of all the things I’ve done in the past 24 years, that moment, that vision of me speaking to a group of people about persevering - it has stuck with me as if it was real or something I wasn’t supposed to forget about. I mean when I think back to that daydream, even today, a sense of power rushes through my entire body.
Fast forward. In January 2020, my best friend and I opened a boutique fitness studio - LifeCYCLE Fitness Studio. If you couldn’t tell by the name, it’s an indoor cycling studio (shameless plug - we also offer strength based, HIIT and recovery classes). Before we opened, I didn’t realize the power that our Podium (where the instructor teaches from) would send through my soul. It wasn’t about being in the spotlight, because I do NOT like being the center of attention. It was the lights being low and me being able to safely speak from my heart behind closed doors to people with the drive and hunger to work hard. That is when I realized how much motivating people fired me up, how much helping people filled heart and how much my soul sang when I made even a small positive difference in someone’s life with my words and energy.
Did I just fulfill my daydream from 21 years ago? No, my journey can’t stop here because I’m not done. I had to think about my next steps towards my bigger vision. How can I expand my reach in motivating and helping people see what they’re capable of and what they deserve? How can I build financial freedom for my daughters? How can I open doors for more opportunities? How can I create more visibility and support for the LifeCYCLE Community and Mission?
A podcast? Eh. Maybe. How about a blog? Hmm…I like creative writing. After two months of research, I finally said F it and decided to jump in and see what happens. A website and a list of ideas later…here I am.
Page 1 of Chapter whatever in my life.
Here are 5 reasons to start a blog:
Gives you a creative outlet
If you are creative and enjoy writing, then a blog is the perfect outlet for you. The beauty of a blog is that it’s truly limitless. You can write about whatever YOU want. Whatever interests you, what you love, what you’re knowledgeable about and whatever you’re passionate about.
No matter what you decide to write about, there will be someone in this world that is interested in what you have to say.
Make a difference in someones life with your blog
If you have a passion for inspiring and motivating people, then a blog may be for you. If you like helping people, then a blog may be for you. A blog can give you an outlet to truly make a difference.
Whatever niche you focus on, a blog gives you the reach and ability to change someone’s life. Image if your words inspired people to change their life for the better. Helped them create something meaningful. Helped them grow and succeed. Helped them heal from trauma. That is such a powerful and satisfying feeling which will make you want to do it again and again and again.
Open your door for more opportunities
Your blog resides on the world wide web, making it accessible to every single person with access to the internet. That’s a whole lotta people.
Starting a blog exposes you to a huge network of people giving you the opportunity to meet new people and reach people outside your network. This opens your door for more opportunites and potential. For example: sponsorships, partnerships, media opportunities, book deals, etc.
Build additional revenue streams
Yes, you can earn money with your words. And yes, it’s possible to actually earn a lot of money through your blog. Advertising, affiliate links, sponsorships to give you a few examples.
However, just because it’s possible, doesn’t mean its easy. It can take a few years to gain a following and ranking high enough to obtain visitors. You need people reading your content on a regular in order to monetize it.
So, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s hard work. It takes time, passion, drive and consistency to make it a super profitable endeavour. Most blogs start as a side hustle. Some blogs stay as a side hustle. While others, can become so profitable that they turn into your main hustle.
Personal growth
I know it sounds super hippy-ish and out there, but I believe a blog can truly transform your life. But hear me out.
The biggest part of a blog is creating content, over and over again. In the process you’ll explore you own passions and interests. When you dive in to write in detail about them you’ll start to see where your interests lie and what you are truly passionate about. This will shape you.
While creating content, often times you’ll be forced to reflect on your own life and experiences. You will have to reach inside your own life journey at times and write about your challenges, successes and lessons learned. This gives you insight into your own life and helps you process your own moments
