The Art of the Blog, Part 1

Seth Godin is stalking me. Or maybe I'm stalking him. Actually, I think a good proportion of those in creative and techy industries are stalking him. In my case, several factors combined to bring him to my attention.

First, Amanda [Julia waves] sent me links to his pithy blog. Then Mike [Julia waves again] recommended his work. And, having his name in my subconscious, I came across him online and, well, there's inspiration for the cynical right there.

The main reason I remembered his name was due to its similarity to reedy-voiced tousle-haired tenor, Josh Groban, most famous for the scarf-waving anthem "You Raise Me Up", which is also inspirational, but not for the cynical, at least not for those who are irritated by its shameless similarity to "Danny Boy" and those with a low tolerance for songs with a single verse and 327 repetitions of the chorus. ("Get me the screwdriver, Mavis, the CD is stuck again.") And, while I'm on the subject, how can you raise me up to more than I can be? I'd like to see you try. You can raise me up to more than I should, in a fair and just world, be, or to more than I would be if I wasn't so short, but more than I can be? Never.

Anyway, to Seth. He is effortlessly wise, and extraordinarily prolific. Not only has he written more accessible, quirkily named books about marketing, culture and personal development than should by rights be physically possible, but he also manages to produce a perfectly honed diamond every day in his blog. His concise, perfectly targeted, posts are everything a blog should be (at least, a marketing blog. Bex's Reasons To Be Cheefuller is everything a personal blog should be). Perhaps what he says isn't new - what is? - but the way he says it, with the authority of a clear, confident and accessible communicator, is why his name comes up wherever a little inspiration is in order.

Although a rousing rendition of "You Raise Me Up" will do the trick under certain circumstances too.