My purpose would require me to ask these questions: 1) am *I* personally gaining enough out of it? 2) are other people gaining much from of it? 3) am I making as big of a difference as I could by focusing my attention here?

As for what I think of your blog, I think it has potential, especially since you are asking for feedback. I read StevePavlina.com, though, and have yet to find anything of comparable quality. Steve’s content is not only original, but very comprehensive. He writes long, comprehensive posts packed with good information – he’s read over 500 PD books and it shows. He has enough knowledge and experience to put together loads of information in an effective way I haven’t seen anyone else do. For that reason, there is no other blog I follow regularly.

I have only read a handful of your articles, and what you say is basically accurate, but I agree it’s not all that original. There are a few lines here and there that really hit the spot, and that’s one reason I feel you have potential. I can’t say I’ll be back here, though. I am not sure why I am still reading because this blog hasn’t done anything amazing for me. I think it has to do with your style of writing and the fact that I basically agree with the things you have to say.

I write a political blog, but it’s very low key. atm I am still trying to learn tons so maybe one day I’ll be able to write a lot of posts worth reading. I think even my best posts on the blog have mostly been so-so by the standards I am trying to live up to. I have to say there are a TON of awesome political blogs, so I don’t know why most of the PD ones are so-so. Maybe because politics is studied in academia, but PD is not (most of the political bloggers I follow are college students, graduates, authors, etc.). And also because PD is just so, you know, personal. And metaphysical. And not newsworthy.

Anyway, I mean, I am sort of in the same boat with you. I also had a spiritual blog, which no longer exists, but I definitely didn’t know enough to write many good posts. My blogs, frankly, are mostly for my own personal growth… I wouldn’t see it as a good thing if I had a ton of readers already.

Thanks for your very extensive reply here :) Writing what I’ m passionate about actually proved to be a small problem. It’s very hard for me to put my finger on what I’m passionate about. Nothing really stands out because I’m excited about so many things. Blogging, personal development, minimalism, lifestyle design, martial arts, reading, writing, simplicity, you name it…. but the core of it all is the way I think about them. And that’s exactly what the new tagline of my blog is about:

Thoughts from a Zen mind living in a Western World. The Western world, and in particular the digital world that is taking it by storm is all about those topics mentioned above. I’m just here to try and tell you how I look at them. And by now it’s clear to me that my way of thinking is at times very different from what others are thinking (or at least writing about) So yeah, I’m unique in that perspective. Let’s see how long it takes before people take notice. And actually, if they never show up I’ll still be happy. I have a small tribe of regular readers on this blog and the interaction is getting better every week. I’m blessed to have you all here.

Thanks!

Write about what you love, and don’t worry what the others think.. Don’t worry about pageviews. If you are passionate about what you write, THAT is what is important!

I love your blog! You write about a variety of subjects all centered around a basic theme. Your posts always give me something to think about.

Do I read every post? Yes. Do I follow every tip you post? No. Do I think this is an important blog? Yes, yes, yes.

We need this blog. Lives are so complicated the world over now… We are constantly told to buy this, be that… This blog is like a haven.

There are a lot of minimalism blogs, basically people saying I did this or that and the kid spit up and I laughed–mine included. Yours is clean, simple and contains a lot of refreshing information. The post on the Ferrari, the one about Steve Jobs–I’ll not bore you with a reiteration of what you have written, but I think I’ve read them all at least twice, not including what I’ve FBed and Twittered…

Please don’t change and go all commercial. You are special just as you are!

~Annie
P.S. I updated the links on my blog for you. Thank you for your kind note.

Measuring success by looking at hits or subscriber numbers is the easiest graphical way of determining if a blog is being received well “by the public”. I’ve already had a lot of benefits from my blogging and will dedicate a blogpost to that very soon. (Called “Reasons not to blog” or something along those lines) I don’t intend to make a lot of money through this blog, save the few affiliate links in the sidebar to cover the costs of hosting. Earning money online is not my reason for blogging, there are far better ways to do that which I’m investigating.

As long as what I’m writing is seen as adding value to the lives of others I’m happy.

On the other hand there is always that craving for bigger/better/faster that we all suffer from at times. I think I’ll have to stop caring about that and just pick a specific tack and nail the hell out of it. I’m currently rethinking my motives and what it is exactly that I want to be doing with this blog. I’m all over the place with my topics as you might have noticed and am indeed a bit overqualified and to friendly. It’s time for bolder strategies, getting down to what really does matter to me. The thing that drives me.

All things considered, it’s going to be a bumpy ride, but fun and worthwhile. I’ll find my nail yet.

(And thanks for that great quote!)

Don’t aim at success–the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long run–in the long run, I say–success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think of it.

Best of luck,
Regan

Take a specific tack and nail the hell out of it.

A tagline is a good thing to have, but not necessary, what is necessary is having a vision and core direction which makes you pursue it.

It doesn’t have to be huge or big, it can be small and specific, but it has to be you.

I surfed over to your blog via a tweet from Corbett Barr “RT @ChristiaanH: Being useful as a blogger, how can you tell? http://su.pr/1pYS6E the new blogpost at Mind the Beginner”

The blogs I read regularly are the ones I am pulled in by their story:

- ProBlogger: is taking me through the journey of ‘how to be a successful blogger.
- Art of Non Conformity: One man’s journey through location independent entrepreneurship
- Man vs Debt: We watch one man’s with his family journey out of debt while living abroad.

Just to name three.

I am not even interest in finance and I read man vs debt, because of his story.

Your blogs tagline: Lifestyle Design and Personal Development with a Zen twist

Leaves me asking what skin you have in the game? What is your story?

I just soft launched my blog 3 or so weeks ago, with a plan to hard launch it a week or so from now.

My tagline I think, I hope invites people to join me on a journey, to read my story: The blog of paul macpherson’s experiments in a location independent life style; where the thoughts of an aspiring entrepreneur, author, writer, blogger and capitalist adventurer meet the world.

Another prime (or should I say better) example is from the Art of Non Conformity: Welcome to the Art of Non-Conformity site, a home for unconventional people doing remarkable things.

The tagline says a story… a story I when I first read it I want to be part of, it’s very engaging.

Back to you tagline: Design and Personal Development with a Zen twist

It sounds like a lecture from a university course guide.

As for you content… I suggest you read this post (Why You’re Too Qualified and Respectful to Produce Great Content — http://www.copyblogger.com/qualified-and-respectful/) from copyblogger.

From what I read of our blog you have insight, but no edge.

I think you have great potential, and I am by no means trying to say you have a bad blog. You are PR2 and have a readership that is growing. I think with an edgier writing style and an authentic ‘call to action’ you could have a great blog.

Cheers,
Paul

Something I really have to think about and do some serious self-reflection.

And that might be why you’re having the same kinds of problems. Why you’re blog posts are good, well written, this is a lot of the same information found on dozens of other more successful lifestyle design sites.

What is lacking, is your uniqueness. So either lifestyle design isn’t what your really passionate about, or you just aren’t putting enough of you behind the message.

I just finished the book Crush It! and it’s really making me rethink my strategy and personal brand.

So my question here is, what is your personal brand? Because when I came to your site, I can’t really tell.