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.