Success Is Not A Number

The last post I published was my 100th post. I did not realise this until I actually published the post – and when I pressed that button I almost had a heart attack because I hadn’t actually meant to publish it at all. I’d meant to hit the preview button. I still felt that the post was a jumbled collection of thoughts that was littered with typos, it was far too long; plus I hadn’t actually decided if I even wanted to publish it.

That’s never happened to me before – the accidental publishing – and I found it quite ironic that just as WordPress sends me a notification that I’ve published 100 posts I’m scrambling to delete that 100th post, or at least block it so I have a chance to actually tidy it up.

I decided that these things happen for a reason (and it was definitely an interesting learning experience for me!), so I decided to leave it published – once I’d checked the spelling and straightened it out a bit.

But it got me thinking about creating milestones and targets for ourselves, and how they don’t always serve us.

Let me explain.

When I first started blogging, I had targets. Well, I thought they were targets. I wanted to reach 100 followers in the first three months. After that, I decided I wanted to reach a new  x number in the next x months. But then I began thinking – is that actually something I can actually decide?

I have no way to control who comes to my blog, and likes what they read and decides to sign up. The only thing that I have control over is my writing. I can control what I write about, how I write and how often I publish posts.

I can’t make people follow me, so why was I setting myself targets for followers? I also realised that I love it when every single new person follows the blog, because it feels great to know that I’ve connected with a previous stranger. I love making friends here! As I write this post, I have 497 followers. I’m getting really close to 500, but the number doesn’t matter.

I want readers who like what I write about, who want to engage with me, and feel inspired as a result of reading what I have to say. That is what success feels like to me; the numbers aren’t important. Of course I love getting more readers, and being able to interact with a wider audience, but the 500th reader will be no more exciting than the 498th, and 499th, or the 501st.

The same applies for post numbers. When I started blogging, I decided to commit to writing 3 posts a week. I was unemployed at the time and I felt this was useful to provide structure, keep my mind occupied and give me a creative outlet. Once I got a job I managed to keep this up for a time, but during the month when my parents came to stay I found it too hard.

The way I saw it, I had two options – either keep up the target and write shorter, less thought out posts; or reduce the number, but keep up the quality.

It was an easy decision. I want people to enjoy what I have to say. I don’t want to be writing posts telling my readers that I don’t have time to write posts. Or telling people that I’m having such a great time that I don’t have time to tell them about it.

People are busy, they have inboxes that get bombarded with all kinds of information (and often far too much) and the least I can do is have enough respect for my readers to only write when I have something worth saying. There is no point in publishing posts just for the sake of numbers.

So now I don’t have number targets.

Instead I focus on what I do have control over – which is the content. If I have lots to say, then I will publish three posts a week, maybe more. If I don’t have anything to say… then I don’t publish empty space. I wait until I have the time and content to actually write something worth reading. Which is why my 100th post wasn’t any more significant than the others.

So I thought it was fitting that I made a mess of my 100th post. It was as if the universe was testing me, saying well you said it didn’t matter – so let’s shake things up and see if it does matter!

And no, it didn’t.

But imagine if I had attached some kind of meaning to it? I would have been disappointed, or angry, or upset – over something that was actually quite trivial and insignificant.

We can’t measure our success by plucking numbers out of the air. By doing so we create unrealistic expectations of ourselves, and then we feel bad when things don’t pan out the way we’d hoped they might. Success is about doing the best that we can with the time we have and the knowledge we have. It’s about making connections. How many isn’t important, what matters is how good they are.

9 replies
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      Thanks! It’s interesting I think, all these preconceived ideas you have about blogging before you begin, and how different it is in real life. I find myself prioritising reading other people’s posts in the reader above writing my own things if I’ve been away for a while. I love hearing what everyone else has got to say! : )

      Reply
  1. Anne Lene
    Anne Lene says:

    Starting my blog I only had thoughts on that I would post regularly, I never gave any though about any goals for followers or comments, my purpose is just hopefully to connect with other people. And hopefully someone will like what I write.

    I did however registered that I had received my 100th comment a couple of days ago, I thought that was kinda cool. But today I have to admit I got a little giddy when I noticed my 50th follower sign up :-) I suppose, even not having any goals other than meeting new people, the first 50, 100, 500,1000 followers/comments/posts…will still probably register and, as we me, put a smile on our faces :)

    Reply
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      Oh sure, it’s still exciting! I think without targets it makes it all the more enjoyable. If you had a goal for 60, for example, when the 50th signed up you might be tempted to think – if only 10 more would sign up/why won’t 10 more sign up, and it detracts for the exciting fact that you’ve just connected with a new reader, which is the best and most important part!

      Reply
  2. Lois Field
    Lois Field says:

    When I started blogging it was with the intent to make money from it so I wanted to get followers as fast as possible, yet I knew nothing about blogging. I went 3 months without anyone even noticing I was there. :-) That was a good thing in hindsight because it allowed me to just write for me. I heard when you start you have to blog every day, so I did, but I soon became burned out and decided to stop posting on the weekends. This feels better and I return on Monday fresh.

    Congrats on your 100th post and nearly 500 followers, shows you have accomplished exactly what you set out to. Good content. :-)

    Reply
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      Writing every day would be exhausting! I’m glad you gave that up – I love all your posts so you need to stay fighting fit and not burn out in order to keep inspiring me! : )

      It’s really interesting that once we start blogging and start to understand how it all works our priorities change. Now if I’m short of time to write I’ll head to the reader to read what everyone else is up to instead of rushing something – and I love it! I never knew sitting at a desk by myself and writing and reading would be so… sociable!

      Reply
      • Lois Field
        Lois Field says:

        I had heard of blogging, of course, but couldn’t imagine why anyone would blog. :-) But like you I now love the blogging community and find so much wonderful writing and information available from them.

        Reply
          • Lois Field
            Lois Field says:

            Well, I have a book that has been in the works for a while now and thought I would blog then introduce the book and hope having my name out there would help with sales. The funny thing is that my blog has nothing to do with the subject of the book. :-) So basically, no I didn’t have a plan. I was told to blog and get affiliate links up and running as well so that was another plan. Researching which blog platform I would use I saw most people liked WordPress so that’s what I went with. What I didn’t realize is WP doesn’t allow any advertising. So yes, I shot myself in the foot. :-) But I grew to love blogging.

            Reply

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