Celebrate Archives - INSPIRING MAX

Tell us about a time things came this close to working out… but didn’t. What happened next? Would you like the chance to try again, or are you happy with how things eventually worked out?

Inspiring Max was born on Mother’s day—12th May 2014. I knew nothing about blogging but thought I would give it a go anyway. As a self-hosted blog, I soon realised I had a lot to learn about how I was different to other WordPress.com sites. It was a very slow process. I was frustrated. In July, after completing Blogging 101 I had—34 views, 13 visitors and only 1 follower. So I stopped blogging and prioritised other things.

In late August I was off work sick for a week. I had nothing to do so I popped back to my site. To my surprise I had a few followers, several more views and an Inspiring Blogger Award. I was humbled and excited. Suddenly I got it. Blogging is a long-term journey—a commitment not only to yourself, but also every one who reads you blog. We all grow together and allow each other to reach our own individual goals. By the end of December 2014, my goal was 100 followers. I ended the year with 110 followers and now I have 335. It may have been a slow start but Inspiring Max is on the move.

Somewhere around September I learnt not to focus on the followers but the views. If people were regularly viewing more than one page of my work I was happy. This usually meant they would come back again. The more I connect with my blogging community—the more they connect with me. I view 3 new blogs a day that I interact with. As a result, I am excited to have been viewed by people in 105 countries—many of whom I didn’t know existed. I love the coloured in world map of where Inspiring Max has been.

My advice to bloggers is make sure you have great content and keep going. When you are discouraged visit new blogs. Connect with your community at every opportunity and overtime—your community will connect with you. Blogging is a rewarding experience that has allowed me to grow in ways I would have never imagined possible before. Thank you for sharing my journey. I look forward to our future together. To celebrate I offer you a virtual glass champagne instead of a cigar.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/but-no-cigar/

Today is a day of celebration. Pop the champagne—I have 3 things to celebrate:

My 100th post—yeah! and most have been put up since late August. These are exciting times. This week I also achieved my 3,000th view—2,000 of which were in October—more than double my views for September.

Today, is my mother’s birthday. The irony is I didn’t plan it this way, it just happened. The funny thing is that I started Inspiring Max in May on Mother’s Day as a present to myself. Back then I knew nothing about blogging—but I went for it anyway. Now, although I still call myself a new blogger I understand a little more than the basics and my voice, views and following are growing. Inspiring Max has direction and is meeting the goals I set.

My third celebration is that I will be self publishing my book next year with Balboa Press. This was my preferred option and is the self publishing arm of Hay House. My ultimate dream publisher. My feelings at present are a weird mix of scary and excitement knowing—my book that I have worked on lovingly for 5 years will soon be available for anyone who has an interest or need for it. Although, this may not be the final cover, here is my latest option for the cover of Inspiring Hope. What do you think?