Lessons from blogging for 2,400 days
Everything big started smaller than you think.
I published my first blog on this site in August 2018, not long after this photo was taken.
Today marks number 315. About one a week across 2,400 days.
No job, company or professional pursuit has taken more of my time.
Over a quarter-million words published not for Business Insider, Opening Bell Daily or another publication, but right here in my own modest corner of the web.
The thing is, without this blog, the door to writing for global news outlets wouldn’t have opened.
When you start any project, it is almost always a good thing that the path forward is unpredictable. If I knew at 22 I was embarking on a seven-year writing streak, I probably would not have done it.
I imagine that’s how most ambitious ideas come to be. They start very small and only became very big because the people behind them decide never to stop.
I write and edit each word myself, as carefully as I can, with the goal of saying something useful and interesting each time I publish.
Some readers might say I don’t always hit that bar; I wouldn’t argue with them. Still, I work hard to put my best work forward every time I sit to write.
What surprises me is that more people don’t do this. Not only does a blog extend your reach and network, but it forces you to think and communicate — and therefore clarify what you do and do not believe in.
Again, nothing has opened more doors for me than this blog. It’s how I secured my spot in graduate school and earned my first job.
It’s free to start and free to never stop. No downside, no gatekeeper.
Even more exciting, a blog is somewhere you can pick yourself, instead of waiting for someone else to call on you. There’s a certain freedom that comes with not seeking permission.
If you’ve ever thought of starting a blog, follow through. You’ll be surprised where it takes you.
The optimist in me wants to believe this is just the start of many millions more words. I like a daydream as much as anyone. And while there’s utility in aiming for home runs, it can distract from a steady cadence.
So for our purposes, I’ll focus on making this one single page as good as I can manage.
It’s a privilege to write to you. Thank you for reading.
Phil Rosen
Co-founder & Editor-in-Chief of Opening Bell Daily