Business blogging like raising kids?
Really?
YES!
A little warning…reading this may put you off business blogging and kids for life!
Many people turn to business blogging by running a small business online following a stint in the corporate world, particularly if they have children.
This means that in addition to running your business, you also have, if you are one of these people, a wealth of other experiences that are related to the parenting process, which may not be acceptable at PriceWaterhouseCoopers on your resume, but truly support the blogging process in tangible ways.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently, as I have the luxury of working from home running my income blogging business, as a parent. My kids are now grown up, but have seen me plod off to the office for a number of years, and now see me taking conference calls in my t-shirt and shorts.
Although it can be hard to imagine, I’m finding out more and more that running a successful blogging business online shares a number of processes with the practice of raising children.
Here’s why…
You get the flush of pride when your ‘baby’ is born
The launch of your first business blog is a fantastic moment.
Just like when your baby was born, you can’t stop looking at it, showing it off, taking screen shots and telling everyone you know all about it. You love the way it functions, the way people admire it, and the way it keeps you occupied day and night.
The moment your child is born is the proudest of your life, and the moment your blog launches is the best moment of your business.
You’re off!
It’s official!
You are the parent of a new blog! You have high hopes, aspirations and also that overwhelming feeling that you are completely out of your depth.
Sound familiar?
Blogs and kids can both be annoying
Let’s face it, no matter how much you dote on your offspring, there are times when they can render you speechless with rage.
Similarly, your blog will give you those moments.
When you get a vile comment from someone, you feel just as you did when your child declared that they hated you. When you don’t get enough visitors to your site, it’s the equivalent of your children coming home and telling you they flunked a test.
Your blog has the capacity to stick a knife between your shoulder blades and twist until it hurts, because you care about it succeeding so much. And you all know, as parents, just how that can feel!
Blogging is hard work, in ways you never expected
When you have your blog up and running, it has the power to constantly surprise you.
The parts of blog ownership that you imagined would be easy (such as writing) can cause problems, whereas the elements which you thought would cause issues (finding things to say, getting visitors) can be surprisingly straightforward.
Just as with raising kids, there is no one manual that covers all the basics in way that pre-empts everything you need to know, and there will always be an ounce of groping in the dark when it comes to both parenting, and running your online business.
You rarely get to take time off…even on holiday
Those of you who imagine that your child will cease to be a burden by the time it hits sixteen years old had better think again. Once your baby is born, you never ever get time off again.
Running your blog can be similar, in that even while you are away you feel compelled to check in constantly and check progress, see how it is doing, communicate with it and add to it.
Blogging is like being a parent, as you are constantly on alert waiting for things to happen, checking up on it and making sure all is well…even on the beach, in a rainforest or over a bank holiday!
The pleasure comes in the small things
Finally, there is one other area where blogging is like parenting. It is a constant source of gratification, pleasure and a sense of pride. When your hit rate goes up, or you are invited to guest blog, or you start to make money, it can remind you of the beautiful parts of parenting – the first walk, the first words, the first time your child spends a night away from home.
Blog ownership is frustrating, irritating, time-consuming and at times impossible. It is also one of the most gratifying things you will ever do, as a small business owner.
What are your views? How’s your business blogging going?
Please share them in the comments below.
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I do not have any kids but what you say makes great sense. I do feel that in many ways my blog is my kid, I am nursing it and taking care of it. It is getting a little older so I am giving it some leeway now too…
all in all your analogy is a good one and proves pretty true for many I would think
Steve,
I like what you say…”It is getting a little older so I am giving it some leeway now too…”
Nice!
That’s a hard step to do with your kids.
I remember the first time my daughter posted a letter in the local post box.
The post box was 50 yards from our house and just out of sight (around a corner).
I watched her skip along the road to the post box. She went out of sight…just around the corner to post the letter.
I counted the seconds. My heart was pumping. Would she return? I counted to ten. She should have appeared back by now. She didn’t. I got to 15…still not re-appeared. PANIC!
She reappeared! PHEW!
She said she struggled to reach the letterbox opening!
Andrew
Kids can be awesome at times and you just can’t put up with them some of the time also..but just like your blog..you love them and keep working on making an happy family mix with an little blogging.
“TrafficColeman “Signing Off”
Exactly…sometimes you love them and sometimes you can’t bear to see them!
But deep down no matter what happens…you love them both!
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Great comparison. I don’t have children but can imagine the snarky, nasty comment being similar to a child declaring their hate for you. Down the road it’s not biggie but in the moment it can really hurt.
Thanks for sharing the wonderful analogy 🙂
Ryan
Ryan,
My children have ‘hated’ me several times over the years. As a parent you have to expect those situations to arise.
You need a thick skin…like you do when someone writes a personal comment!
Andrew
Love the analogy Andrew. Although I don’t have children of my own I enjoy watching my niece and nephew grow up and have delivered lots of babies when I worked as a midwife.
I feel like I am just feeling the birth pangs at the moment as my blog starts to generate more traffic, more comments and hopefully soon customers as I get my sourced products up. Thanks for sharing.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia
I didn’t know you were a mid-wife.
I can see the blog posts now…
“How lavender eases birth pain!”
“Lavender…the best birth control system around”
Well perhaps not the last one!
Andrew
Hey Andrew,
Actually i have just commented in Ileane’s blog a few days ago, because her post is similar like yours.
I guess that’s great analogy except, it is easy to make a blog, and not easy to give a birth to a kid LOL
But the growing part is almost similar, except, my kids are more loved than my blog.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Kimi
…and it’s not easy to make a kid…nice though!
Andrew
i really agree with every single point , it’s all about time and being in the “blogs world” is not that easy or simple , you will have to wait and get more experience to know about everything , i loved the comparison , all of them and that make sense !!!!! good luck and well done about this !:) hope you son wont flunk the test !!!! hah
Thanks, Rahul.
When writing the post…the similarities of blogging and children kept coming and coming.
Andrew
Excellent article my friend, although you may have some issues to work through… 😉
Dennis
I have loads of issues I have to work through!
Andrew
Blogging is a lot like raising a child. It takes a lot of time and effort and tons of nurturing. Despite some of the frustrations and growing pains that you go through, at the end of the day you still love them!
Richard
Yep – you do love them…just not everyday!
Andrew
Haha great post, all though I will say that kids can be way more annoying then any blog. Man, it’s like an art form sometimes, haha.
John,
And with kids…no-one tells you the right way to deal with them. But then I suppose there is no right or wrong way…just what you feel is right. (and that’s wrong in the kid’s mind).
Andrew
P.S. Sorry about all the rights and wrongs!
I will add another right to it. your right! A book would be so nice.
Though I am not a parent yet, i don’t know how similar it is between raising kids and blogging, but i do agree with you that blogging sometimes can be a big pain and lots of frustration. Andrew, I hope one day i can achieve the kind of success that you have.
Thanks, David.
Nice kind words you have sahred.
Andrew
Good post, Tristan Higbee wrote a guest post here: http://basicblogtips.com/treat-your-blog-like-your-baby.html
Raising a business blog like you raise your kid will actually lead to success, because you pamper your baby giving him almost what he want despite the trouble and annoyance he brings atimes.
If someone is actually dedicated to his blog just like his kid then with patience and tolerance you will ripe the fruit just like when a baby grows and supports you.
Thanks for the post.
Biodun
Exactly – love, pampering (although not too much – don’t want to spoil them!) makes things all well in the end.
Andrew
Kids and a blog can be the same but there are some very stringent differences like your blog can always drop in traffic and readers, I don’t really know with what that equivalents.
The part about growing, yeah it’s similar you can associate a lot of the achievements of your blog with those of your children. And although I don’t have children I like your analogy.
Alex
I was going to write about kids and love but I don’t think losing some blog traffic equates to a drop in love for your kids!
Andrew
Hey Andrew. Great comparison. I have kids and I can see how it is the same. I found your blog on kikolani.com so I guess you can say guest blog posts do pay off. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Darren for coming across. Really appreciate you commenting as well.
Andrew
Both blogging and kids needs to be taken care of. They need to be updated from time to time.
Great metaphor. Just like you I paid my dues in corporate America and decided I was ready to work from home in my pajamas. I finally put my English degree to use and started doing freelance writing and most recently started a blog to help others with their blogs.
Josh,
That’s great and how is it going so far?
Andrew
Hi Andrew, this is so true. When our business is still infant, we can’t take our eyes off on them and watch them always waiting till they grow. And when they grow and time comes that we need to pass them over to other people, it’s totally aching.
Vic,
I have my original blog I just cannot let go of!
Andrew
I totally agree that Business Blogging is like raising kids because you have to make time, effort and money. You have to keep an eye also if the endeavor you’re into is in the right path. Determining its ups and downs is like with kids also. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
Andrew
Indeed, Business blogging is similar to raising kids. But I wonder what is that main factor why it is associated with raising a kid? On my point of view, its the start, growing and nurturing. Raising a kid exerts a lot of your passion and patience same thing with your business. Though, it stumble and fall you must never give up because they say that patience is a bitter fruit that has a sweet fruit. 🙂
Patience…another key skill for success!
Andrew
I really appreciate your thinking.You have related the growth of kid to the progress of a blog in a natural manner. I think there is no difficulty to manage a blog if you have power of strong determination and consistency in your work.
Nawaz,
I think a lot of people struggle with the technical side of running a blog…that’s not easy for many.
Andrew
Great analogy. I also think it’s akin to raising a baby. At first it seems exciting, but then later on you realize it’s actually HARD work, and yes it can even be irritating at times.
Just like raising a baby, you will also share a mixed moment of happiness, success and frustration and disappointment when starting this kind of business. No matter what, just hold on for the price at the end was something truly worth keeping.
Andy
I agree – the end result can be worth waiting for.
Andrew
It’s exactly the same as “You want your kids to grow healthy and well” to “You also want your blogs to grow and become your business”.IMHO =)
Hi Andrew, I must say that this is a very good quality post! I love your analogy on raising kids and blogging.