Have you heard the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’? Well, I think the same theory can apply to our blogs.
So many amazing aspects of my own blogging are actually things that I can attribute to the fact that I am working with others. As bloggers, the majority of our working time can be quite solitary. There are no days in the office and lunches with friends. No chatting with colleagues over a cup of tea. Instead we trade this social side of our working lives, for the flexibility to work from home, be our own bosses and have a fluid schedule, that enables us to drop the kids off at school or nursery and be able to collect them at the end of the day too. These wonderful benefits of our working lives can mean we are often burning the midnight oil alone.
As bloggers we asked the universe to make our dreams come true. To enable us to create a life where our passion is also our job, but it can feel like the universe gave with one hand, while taking the social aspects of our working life with the other.
However, it doesn’t have to be like that. Blogging can be collaborative, not only that, but it could be one of the best things you can do with your blog. I recently answered a question in an interview, which asked what had been my favourite collaboration so far on my blog. I thought through all the brands I had worked with, and there were some wonderful brands and projects, but when I thought of the times I had collaborated with other bloggers and realised these were my favourite projects.
There’s something hugely energising and powerful in the power of we. I recently organised a productivity blogging challenge and watching everyone support each other; becoming each others cheer-leaders was amazing. People felt more powerful and positive regarding their own life because they were part of something; part of a team all striving for a common goal.
I have been part of Team Honk, dancing for 6 hour non-stop in Wembley Stadium to raise money for Comic Relief. Together with Amy, I spearheaded the Save Syrian Children campaign, which mobilised a group of bloggers and together we raised over 8k in 3 days for Save The Children/Syrian Refugees. I have seen bloggers unite and raise money for all sorts of charities, do amazing work, head campaigns and make real difference in the world in which we live.
Besides the huge good that can be done externally, the power of we can also be felt more personally. You become more motivated and driven when you’re part of a ‘we‘. I have a blog which I write with Katy and it’s lovely to have this joint project. I also run two linkys with Amy and we have a fabulous Instagram community together (#LittleFierceOnes), which has now lead to us producing merchandise. I recently wrote about our hashtag, that how that over dinner we had an idea from which this huge community has grown. That is attributed to the power of we. These things, I know I wouldn’t have accomplished on my own, but the power of we made me stronger and more successful.
In a couple of days, I will stand beside nine other bloggers, all as finalists in the outstanding contribution category of the MAD blog awards. I will not be concerned with thoughts of who’s going to win, but rather I will stand there proud of what bloggers can do, especially when we work together.
So if you have an idea, a burning desire to do something, to change your blog, to change the lives of others, hell to change the world! Go out there and find your people. Find the people who share the same desires as you, find your we and nothing will be impossible.
Comments 8
This got me all emotional. You are so right, together we can do great things. I am loving the positivity being part of the challenge group- definitely strength in being part of a team. xxx
I’m so pleased to be part of the challenge group, it’s so inspiring! I completely agree that together we can achieve amazing things and I feel lucky to have met a few other bloggers recently. Thank you again for hosting the course, we’re all getting so much out of it xx
OMG I love this so much and you know I agree 100 %. It’s been a whole year since Save Syria’s Children-unbelievable what we all achieved by grouping together, there is no way we would have achieved that on our own. I feel exactly the same about everything else too and I’m honoured that I am part of your ‘WE’ Mwah! xxxx
I love this! I have such admiration for you Aby and I am so grateful for the course you’ve put together for us! I am all about positivity even in the darkest of situations and this is such an empowering message. xxx
This is a terrific post Aby, so positive and full of the true spirit and community of blogging. Very often bloggers get a bad rep with some of the in-fighting and hyper-competitiveness that seems to plague this field from certain angles. But in truth there is so much more in terms of ‘we’ than ‘us versus them’ in blogging, so long as you’re looking in the right places!
The absolute joy of creativity is actually in collaboration – even when you’re creating something alone it doesn’t really come to life until somebody else becomes part of it, whether that’s as audience/reader, or as an influence somewhere on its journey into fruition. I’m constantly amazed by what bloggers can achieve together and I also feel enriched and empowered by the connections I’ve made. More power to the we 🙂 Thanks for posting x
Such a brilliant post Aby! And so spot on. As bloggers we are always stronger together, like most other areas in life I guess. Plus let’s face it, we’re the only ones who really ‘get’ each other and what it’s like to be a blogger too! Really needed to read this post today. Thank you X
I love this Aby. I am completely with you and the ‘we’ of blogging can be massive and so very, very rewarding. Mich x
I love this, it’s one of my blogging aims this year to work together with other bloggers more. I’ve got a collaboration in the pipeline, but just sharing, commenting and being more generous is so positive for everyone.