Why I Live Blog

This site has gotten a fair amount of notice lately. It’s mostly due to my live blogging at conferences such as Confab, LavaCon, and Congility. I’m thrilled! I love that I’m creating something valuable for others, and of course I’m happy to be promoted… but I’m always a bit disconcerted when someone thanks me for covering the conference.

Some of it might be impostor syndrome, but I also often feel that the thanks is undeserved.

My Live Blogging Intention

You see, I didn’t start live blogging to help people. I didn’t even start live blogging to gain popularity on my site. I started live blogging after sitting through an entire conference without taking notes. The next day? I couldn’t remember a single thing from the talks that had so inspired me in the moment.

I’m not an auditory learner.

I read – constantly – and frequently I memorize sentences that strike me. When I flip through well-loved books I can find a paragraph, because I have a mental memory of where on the page it sits. My parents, both educators, were horrified when I showed a complete disinterest in classroom lectures. They even tried bribery! They gave me an audio tape of Star Wars, my favorite film, sure this would entice me. I fell asleep within five minutes.

By the time I left college I considered it a done deal. I am not, and never will be, someone who can listen and learn. I am a visual learner, and that’s ok. But then I attended my first conference, and realized I needed to write down every word I heard, to remember any of it.

Imposter Syndrome? Get Over It.

I’m not alone in worrying more if my intentions are more important than outcomes. I hear people say “I can’t give a gift that was bought on sale!” or “I’m not really good at my job – it just comes easily to me because I like it.” In these situations, our intentions don’t matter.

• A gift your friend will love is the right gift, regardless of what it costs.
• A job done well is something to be proud of, even (especially!) if you love it.
• Conference notes are valuable to others, regardless of why I take them.

So let’s all practice together: say thank you, smile graciously, and keep doing things well – for any reason.