483 versus 500

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The other day I decided to count the number of blogs I’ve written over the years and the current count is 483*. What was interesting about this exercise is my first thought wasn’t that this is a respectable body of work or to simply reflect how far I have come, but rather“500 blogs would be a more satisfying number”.

As I reflect on the journey to get to 483, I can still remember early on in my blogging efforts being questioned (in a rather aggressive way) why I would write blogs instead of doing other things to drive my business interests forward. Answers such as proving domain expertise, developing content for my social channels, improving my writing skills, and attempting something I had never done before were met with skepticism. Still I kept blogging. One person, who worked for a UK Newspaper said my writing style was, “comfortable; like falling into soft pillows”. And still I kept blogging.

500 blogs now hangs in the air. Why is 483 not good enough? It’s 96.6 % of 500, and on a test that would be impressive by anyone’s standards. Is it because of some misguided sensibility for even numbers or that 500 seems more powerful in some way? I think it simple reflects a desire to progress.

prog·ress

noun /ˈpräɡrəs/ forward or onward movement toward a destination

verb /prəˈɡres/move forward or onward in space or time.

As a noun or a verb, it speaks to forward or onward movement and with it, the opportunity to develop the discipline, actions, and character for growth. The underlying golden rule of any progress is you need a goal; something to move you toward. And for the pessimists in the group, yes goals are also involved to regress, but most people who are stagnating tend not to realize the goal they have set for themselves. Progress is growth, and a growth journey is where the joy and fulfillment are found; even when the goal is a challenge. Stagnation not so much.

Ultimately the idea of 500 blogs was a result of an innate desire I have to progress; to keep moving the bar, to keep growing — to keep the journey going! And if you are saying to yourself, “500 blogs is really more of an objective”, you would be correct. In the end though, like a goal, it’s just another tool for moving forward.

Progress is everything and maybe really the only thing for a successful journey. And to that end, I have an objective to bench press 200 lbs by the end of the year — if I’m having a good day and my shoulder isn’t bothering me, I think I have a shot. No matter what… PROGRESS!

iamgpe

*the 483 does not include anything I have written for others.