Ah, what a week and weekend!  For those die-hard Adversity University fans, you already know this gratitude post is VERY LATE.  Three…….okay, four days if you include Monday!

A week ago, the server that hosts this blog experienced four brief shutdowns.  FOUR.  But to their credit, they got it back up and running quickly.  Without realizing it until just now, that’s definitely something I’m grateful for.  Having a server that’s quick, responsive and attentive - I like and appreciate that.

Even if they experienced four “shutdowns” in one week (way too many, in my opinion), they still came out ahead because of their customer service.  But if the server keeps bombing like that, I may have no choice but to move elsewhere.  We’ll see what happens - let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

In my last gratitude post, I made it all about YOU, asking for feedback on how and why you became a subscriber to Adversity University and whether there was anything I could do to improve your experience here.

That’s cause for gratitude #2.  I am EXTREMELY GRATEFUL for the outpouring of responses from the community!

Here’s a sampling of what I learned from YOU:

• You are enjoying the weekly interview series, meeting new bloggers whom you might not have otherwise known about.  Michael Werner once told me how he liked the way I responded to the answers as if I were doing a real, live show.  That’s actually what I’m imagining when posting the interviews - the whole shebang:  a special studio with live cameras, hot lights and a very enthusiastic audience!

• The weekly gratitude posts are inspiring many of you, serving as a reminder to focus on the good in your life.

• Tom Stine said, “I enjoy most of the posts where I learn something about you specifically as it relates to the theme of the blog……”

• A handful of you want to know more about my inspirational speaking and life coaching experiences.  I’m assuming that either you’re interested in knowing how I became a speaker/life coach and/or you want to hire me for one of those things and/or you are looking for some “case studies.” (Feel free to clarify in the comments below)

• Debbie, a new subscriber said, “I read a couple “other posts you might like” and they drew me in.  Fifth grade (I love teachers), confessions, fear, power of viz (visualization)………”

• Corinne Edwards apparently likes how I promote other bloggers here……..

• Ryan was impressed with one of the videos on the “About” page.  He also mentioned how he most remembers posts where I share my personal struggles and other life experiences.

• Sharmaine Hobbs said she found the writing to be inspiring and refreshing, motivating her to step up her own game.

• Some found me through guest posts I’ve done elsewhere, my comments on other people’s blogs and their linkbacks to Adversity University.

• Some of you (like Nita) met me at a speaking engagement and became a steadfast supporter afterward.

• George Krueger says my child-like curiosity comes through the interviews…….

• I’ve received an email or two from people who said they were missing the video postings and how they want them back.

• Debra Estep feels as if the whole world shrinks down in size when visiting Adversity University…….

What all of this tells me:

• Storytelling is much better than cut and dry rhetoric.  By and large, many of you have been drawn in through the power of my stories versus quickie 1-2-3 posts (i.e. “10 Steps to Success”).

• Like Slade suggested, you come come out of hiding and respond enthusiastically when I ask you to.  I see how important it is for me NOT to write everything there is to be said about a subject because then you’d have nothing to respond to!   That’s probably why Deb Estep feels the world shrinks down to size when she’s here since there are so many of you commenting after a post.

• It’s okay for a blogger to write stories about his/her own life experiences, especially if it relates to the theme of the blog, as Tom Stine said last week.  There’s a saying in the blogosphere that it’s “not about the blogger,” but about the readers.  In other words, “don’t get overly personal.”  For example, Brian Clark at Copyblogger and Darren Rouse at Problogger both rarely write stories about their own lives, preferring instead to write exclusively about blogging for profit.  But I noticed when Brian wrote about a life-changing accident he had, it generated a huge outpouring from his community.  Why?  Because readers truly want to connect with their favorite blogger(s) on a more emotional level.   Verdict?  Inspirational stories are the way to go, especially if they’re compelling.

• Sid Savara said, “I enjoy the way your blog is personal and doesn’t come across as cold.”  What does that mean?  Again, it is totally appropriate to write about your own personal experiences to engage, inspire and motivate your readers.  Eventually people come to see you as an expert because you personally experienced and then wrote about them - not someone else.  The readers are here because they’re looking for inspiration, tips, ideas and motivation.  Yes, that means you!

• Commenting on other people’s blogs, writing occasional guest posts are how some of you discovered me.  It’s a great reminder for me to continue doing that as a way of attracting new people to Adversity University.

• You’ve come to expect at least two posts a week - the interview series and the gratitude posts.   Everything else comes “whenever.”  That takes the pressure off me - I don’t have to write every single day - besides, I wouldn’t want to do that because then you’d have no time to come up for air.  I personally don’t care for blogs that are on information overload.

• A handful of you, like Bob, feel as if I’m writing directly to you.  My take away from that is it pays to write from the heart, with authenticity.  Someone who reads it will be touched somewhere along the line.   The lesson for me?  Don’t worry about being “original” and just keep going.  Write from the heart and everything else will fall into place.

• As I mentioned, some of you have been missing my videos.  Truth be told, it’s been on my mind to return to that format.  However, since I’m very aware of the need to be accessible, it means I have to subtitle them so NO ONE IS LEFT OUT.  However, subtitling takes a HUGE amount of time for such a short video.  To give you an idea, it takes me over an hour just to subtitle a simple 3 to 5 minute video!  I’m not kidding!   So rather than putting a video up without subtitles (which would be the easiest thing in the world),  I’d rather not put up any.   However, that might change as soon as I get a new camcorder.  Maybe I’ll put one up “every once in a while.”    What do you think?

Well, there you have it - I’ve certainly learned a thing or two from you  - I’m grateful you cared enough to generate such a great response.  Thank you ladies and gentlemen.  Now, don’t forget we have Part II with Sharmaine Hobbs on Wednesday.  Until then, enjoy the beginning of your week!

Food for thought:  Did you want to add anything you forgot to say last week?  How about telling me what you’re grateful for?

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