Learning to Blog Again

Oh boy! It's been many months since I last posted on The Walkabout. In fact, only two months shy of a complete year of absence.

But not to worry. A lot has happened while I've been away (the above photo points - if you excuse the pun - to one such thing). Much that is beyond the scope of this site.
What is important, however, is my return to blogging on The Walkabout.

You see, I have in recent times focused all my attention on the small farm that I reside on. I also have been writing some books and on occasion, doing some design work. And lots of research writing. And endless reading.
It is mainly due to time constraints that I opted to go on indefinite hiatus on all my blogs, even the newest and most exciting Lasting Impressions marketing blog.
But more on this one later.

So why have I decided to blog again, given that I still have serious time constraints? Why keep on writing posts on a blog I have several times in the past considered deleting and moving on?

The simple answer is that this blog is not my own. In other words, doing away with The Walkabout would be like giving up something that does not belong to me alone. To better understand the thinking behind this, take a look at Wilglory Tanjong's response [PDF] to Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History episode 9 (Generous Orthodoxy).
Much as I do not agree with her entirely, I do concur on the parallel that The Walkabout is very much a joint effort, because this journey of insight, inspiration and self discovery cannot be possible without interacting with other people, and reading, listening or watching stuff written by others.

Speaking of interacting with others, I have recently been on chat with and even met on March 18, a person who got to read a good number of the posts on here. The question I always get to answer is "Why aren't you writing anymore?"
There are many answers to this, one of which is many a time getting discouraged by the fact that I often fall short of living a life consistent with many of the things I write on the blog. Not that this blog is a the-way-to-live-right-manual, but this is something I call living the life of a signpost and will address that in a post later this week or some time else soon.

It is true I am a man with many faults and character flaws. We all are. My only redeeming grace would be that I can, like the man in the arena, enjoy the journey as well and not just the destination. And in any case, it is mostly never too late to set things right. After all, we are always in repair. Not together, but getting there.
It is for this reason too, that I felt I need to keep writing. There are stories that need telling, life experiences that need to be shared and insights we need to learn from.

So all in all, I shall try to do at least a post every week.
And to accommodate this, and in line with some recent changes at Complit Communications, it has become necessary to retire the Complit Design site, do regular posting on Lasting Impressions and prepare for a Connect Magazine return to publishing in coming months.

Over at Lasting Impressions, this week's post is: From Remarkably Bland to Remarkable Brand.



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I was watching Kurt Angle's induction to the WWE Hall of Fame just last week. After his speech, begins his celebration by singing his favorite songs. And looking back, I recalled Adam "Edge" Copeland's induction back in 2012. 'Walk' by Foo Fighters was his song. It is one of my top favorites. And today, no song can better describe this return to blogging.

And here is some trivia: On Edge's first ever match, Edge tragically ended the career of Jose Estrada. Edge's debut was Jose's Closing Time. So yes, some beginnings come from other beginning's ends.
It is now time for me to learn to blog again. I have waited long enough... so where else do I begin than right here, and right now?

How many People Read my Blog?

Let's love ourselves then we can't fail
To make a better situation
Tomorrow, our seeds will grow
All we need is dedication

- Lauryn Hill.

Just how many people read this blog?
I honestly do not know. And more important, I am not bothered.
I'll tell you why.

A little over a month ago, my friend JMN clicked through to The Walkabout after connecting with me on Facebook. She took hours to read a large number of posts, all of which, she later confided, were worth her while. She even bookmarked this site.

She then asked me if this blog was listed on BAKE or the Kenyan Bloggers Facebook page and Twitter list. "No, it's not," I replied.
She happens to be strongly persuaded that such content should be actively shared and seriously promoted, thanks to its timeless and edifying nature. That this is something everyone needs to read... That my blog should be winning awards!

True, and very right for a reader to think that way. But a writer shouldn't.
Let me explain.


Blogging 'then' and 'now'

You see, I started blogging back in 2006, on WordPress.com. At the time, there was the KBW and Afrigator blog aggregators. Guys actively read blogs, shared links and at the time, Intense Debate meant literally that. Comment Luv was for real. Bloggers wrote often.

Then Facebook and Twitter happened.

I personally experienced a major slump in the number of blogs that were now regularly updated. With so much information coming in on the FB Newsfeed and Twitter TL, our attention spans were severely diminished.

Upon joining the aforementioned social networks, I too started posting less.
Then something much worse happened to web traffic to my blogs. No, the hits or page views or unique visits - whatever you wish to call it - did not reduce.

The real problem was increased bounce rate (a visitor leaving so soon after kanding on a site), which means that less time was now being spent on the site.
Not that the quality of the posts was wanting. In any case, it keeps getting better. It so happened that people no longer read the entire post. They are either perpetually distracted or invariably in a hurry.

You can now see what prompted my firm decision to reconsider my audience.


Blogging is Personal

I therefore started writing for just one person. I stopped obsessing with hits and Google Adsense cheques. I dispensed with the comments. I stopped looking at the backlinks, trackbacks and my Alexa ranking. To this day, I still have Analytics installed on the blog but all I take a look at, and very rarely, is the bounce rate and time spent on the site. Not by many people, but by my intended audience.

All that matters to me now is engagement.

So what or who is my intended audience?


I now write for just one person. You.
You who reads a post in its entirety and ponders it. You may not share it and won't even be able to comment. But you actually take the time to read it all. Most likely, you go ahead and read a suggested/related post. That done, you now look forward to the next post, hoping that it will be soon. 

The single person may even be myself (yeah, I read my own posts a lot, especially past posts).

When I write for one person, I feel like I am having a one-on-one sitdown with you. In this way, the so desirable situation that Alanis Morissette sings about in Utopia is almost realized.

Each day is a new beginning.
Another chance to learn more about ourselves,
And to care more about others.

In sum, that is why I am not hoping to win a blogging award. Because this blog should win your heart instead. I'm not seeking popularity or media mentions. I'd rather The Walkabout earns the attention and trust of just one reader, not fleeting eyeballs and hits. It is for similar reasons that I removed the comments plugin, for I prefer that what you read here prompts you to have a meeting with yourself, a la Macy Gray's "there is a conversation I need to have with me, a moment with myself."

That is why, I do not care that many, many people may not read The Walkabout. Just one engaged reader is enough. Just you.

So go on, and read. The Walkabout is a journey of insight, inspiration and self discovery.
If a single post inspires you, if another post offers some insight, and if that same or other post helps you learn something about yourself or others, then my mission is accomplished.

That, and no more. And it is everything.



* * *

There is this lady who has a voice like no other. But that is not the important thing. It is her words - they have meaning, they make a difference and do add value. Her music is such a joy to listen to. Here is Lauryn Hill in Everything is Everything.

Adding Value to Information

NOTE: This post has been cross-posted on Pete on Books.

Today's post is largely an update, in readiness for some of the far-reaching changes in my writing that will take place in the fourth quarter of this year, with effect from October 01, 2013.
In essence, the changes are for the long term, which makes what you'll read next an expression of intent.

Learning and Sharing

Since 2009, The Walkabout has been a place where we learn, share and grow together. We have focused on insight, inspiration and self discovery. The posts on the blog have been tremendously useful to me, and to many others as well.

In short, we have been sharing valuable information.

Stated Objectives

With growth comes change.
Beginning next week, my writing, and indeed the business model that is now predicated on it, is all about adding value to information.

This I'll do through book authoring, blogging and publishing. Ultimately, I'll embrace more media viz: radio and television.

This renewed focus will be instrumental in the release of 'The Walkabout' book that has been inspired by the posts and the topical discussions that have ensued in the comments. All going well, the book will be out just before the end of 2013.

Ideas: Policy, Not Politics

Additionally, this next phase will involve the setting up of the Policy and Ideas blog.
Here, candid, topical discourse on issues that really matter and add value will be carried out. The solutions and ideas generated will eventually lead into action, since only action begets results.

So much for this update, let us meet again next week on The Walkabout, Pete on Books and the Policy and Ideas blogs.

The Walkabout Continues :-)

Howdy good people!

Well, it's been quite a while since I last wrote anything online. You see, a few days before April 01, 2011, I decided to re-purpose my entire ComplitCommunications.com web site. This called for much needed time to read, research, train and rejuvenate in readiness for a major comeback in creative writing and communication design.

To this end, I stopped posting on The Walkabout, Complit Design, Green Initiatives in Kenya and the Connect eMagazine blogs. Furthermore, I gracefully exited Facebook, Twitter and online chat. It was no longer necessary to recklessly share my stuff online.

That done, I suddenly realized just how awesome it was to finally have my life back, with minimal distractions and lots of time to read, plan my writing, communication design projects and other pertinent life issues. I started feeling like Blake Richman.

It was while voraciously reading that I came across Laurie's blog. This adventurous writer has in nearly all the posts I read, given me the nudge I needed to get back to writing. It finally dawned on me that I need to continuously write. I do have a lot to share, and it's only by writing that I can best add value both in my life and those of others.

This then, is my initial 'comeback' effort. The other aforementioned Complit blogs and the larger Complit Communications web site will be rolled out at the appointed time in July 2011.
In the meantime, I continue to write as I learn and share on this walkabout - a journey of insight, inspiration and self discovery. Posting will be more frequent than before, very concise, timely and highly relevant. I'll also regularly keep you posted on the books that I am currently writing and the online magazine that my team and I  will launch soon.

Finally, I am further persuaded to continue writing every time I look at Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. This is one book I very strongly recommend to anyone who wants needs to write. In this book, King tells his life story and has some priceless advice for any writer worth his salt.

So to all you out there who love a good read online, it just got better. Stand by for some cool posts, hopefully every day and some interaction on your blog(s) as well.
Cheers!