About this column
rev·e·la·tion {rev-uh-ley-shuhn}
1. something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized
2. the act or process of disclosing something previously secret or obscure, especially something true
— from Dictionary.com
The really neat thing about revelations is that they’re highly personal and idiosyncratic, yet their impact can be widespread and universe-altering.
Photo by s-a-m courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.
What you know for sure is surely someone else’s revelation. In other words, the stuff you take for granted is the stuff that someone else — possibly your right person — is dying to know. Possibly even losing sleep over. Or at least slightly bummed that she can’t figure out.
What this means is, every day we take for granted the stuff we understand that could change someone else’s life.
I was reminded of this while being interviewed last night for my friend David Crandall’s Heroic Destiny podcast. As David and I got to chatting {and laughing, as you’ll hear} about what we know about online business, internet marketing, social media, and other bloggers who influence and blow us away, I had moments of seeping doubt. Doubt that whispered in my ear saying, What do you know? These other bloggers are going to cringe hearing you say their name on air. Haven’t people heard this same advice everywhere?
And once we were finished recording, I told David how I was feeling. And he made a good point, one that I’ve known before but temporarily had forgotten:
We eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff. The stuff that’s obvious to us isn’t obvious to people just starting out.
And that is so, so true.
We all eat, sleep, and breathe something. Flea marketing. Raising triplets. Building websites. Training athletes. Sustainable urban farming. Helping people grieve. We all are experts in our micro niche {even if we haven’t self-identified what that micro niche is yet}.
So share what you know for sure — about doing business, about your creative life, about finding your entrepreneurial way, about connecting with your right people. You never know whose revelation you’ll be delivering.
Now, in the comments, I’d like to hear about the gem of insight you’ve been taking for granted that just might be someone else’s revelation. Don’t be shy. Remember, somebody needs you right now.
Click here to listen to my interview with David Crandall.
Was your interest piqued by David’s and my conversation about nichification in business and the importance of finding your right people? I’d love to give you my free 10-part e-course on Creating a Truly Irresistible Niche. All you have to do is sign up in the righthand sidebar of my site {you’ll have to click through the title of this post if you’re viewing it in a reader or in your email Inbox}. While you’re at it, you’ll also get a free subscription to Inklings, my weekly-ish e-newsletter.
Hello, you.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
First I must say its awesome to know “that somebody” that blogs lives close to me. Anyhow what flipping David said to you made me think…Wow that is so true
Being that I’ve been blogging for only six month very seriously, that thought about “Do people really want to listen to me or do I really know what I’m talking about here?”
Here’s a little insight that probably bloggers I think can really consider. If you care about one reader care about all of them. You see this specially on the big blogs, the A-listers, you’ll see that they’ll only comment back on the other A-listers comments. Gary Vaynerchuk said the best marketing strategy is “Care”
First I must say its awesome to know “that somebody” that blogs lives close to me. Anyhow what flipping David said to you made me think…Wow that is so true
Being that I’ve been blogging for only six month very seriously, that thought about “Do people really want to listen to me or do I really know what I’m talking about here?”
Here’s a little insight that probably bloggers I think can really consider. If you care about one reader care about all of them. You see this specially on the big blogs, the A-listers, you’ll see that they’ll only comment back on the other A-listers comments. Gary Vaynerchuk said the best marketing strategy is “Care”
Hey, Wilson —
Welcome to my site! :)
Flipping David. He asks really good questions. And yes, what he said to me was exactly right: we all know something — something we take for granted — that other people need and want to know. So we shouldn’t hold back from sharing whatever it is we take for granted. As I said in the interview, I am continually astounded by the generosity of people in the online biz/internet marketing/personal dev blogging niche. Crazy generous. I honestly never knew people were this good until I started a business online. Interesting, huh?
Your advice to bloggers is right on, from my POV. I didn’t used to think so, but I heard someone say that not responding to a blog comment is kind of like ignoring someone when they come up and say something to you in person. You probably wouldn’t think of straight up ignoring a nice, encouraging, thankful comment or compliment offline so why would you do so online?
Glad you’re here, Wilson.
— Abby
Hey, Wilson —
Welcome to my site! :)
Flipping David. He asks really good questions. And yes, what he said to me was exactly right: we all know something — something we take for granted — that other people need and want to know. So we shouldn’t hold back from sharing whatever it is we take for granted. As I said in the interview, I am continually astounded by the generosity of people in the online biz/internet marketing/personal dev blogging niche. Crazy generous. I honestly never knew people were this good until I started a business online. Interesting, huh?
Your advice to bloggers is right on, from my POV. I didn’t used to think so, but I heard someone say that not responding to a blog comment is kind of like ignoring someone when they come up and say something to you in person. You probably wouldn’t think of straight up ignoring a nice, encouraging, thankful comment or compliment offline so why would you do so online?
Glad you’re here, Wilson.
— Abby
Who on earth is this flipping David? He sounds like an absolute nutcase! :)
It’s so funny to me to see people that, in my head, have it all together and are rocking out their part of the world…and then they say THEY deal with doubts too. Ah, the human condition. So reassuring. Ha ha ha!
I have a piece of paper taped up next to my computer that I hand wrote this statement on: YOU KNOW THINGS OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW! I continue to find that this is so true. Things that are second nature to me, that I don’t even have to think about, are things that other people are desperately wanting to know how to do.
Both of you (Abby and Wilson) are doing things that I want to know how to do and I’m watching you. It blesses me to no end that I might say something to inspire you guys. I was just thinking on the way in to work this morning that the group of people I interact with online continues to restore my faith in humanity. LOL
Who on earth is this flipping David? He sounds like an absolute nutcase! :)
It’s so funny to me to see people that, in my head, have it all together and are rocking out their part of the world…and then they say THEY deal with doubts too. Ah, the human condition. So reassuring. Ha ha ha!
I have a piece of paper taped up next to my computer that I hand wrote this statement on: YOU KNOW THINGS OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW! I continue to find that this is so true. Things that are second nature to me, that I don’t even have to think about, are things that other people are desperately wanting to know how to do.
Both of you (Abby and Wilson) are doing things that I want to know how to do and I’m watching you. It blesses me to no end that I might say something to inspire you guys. I was just thinking on the way in to work this morning that the group of people I interact with online continues to restore my faith in humanity. LOL
David —
I feel the same way about you! And also about the restoring faith in humanity. I’ve yet to come across a *successful* blogger or online biz person who acts as if s/he is “entitled” to attention and financial rewards.
I think what we’re talking about here in the comments is so reassuring to people who’d like to work from home {or live/work location independently} but don’t have the faith that they are WHATEVER enough to be able to make money from an online service or product-based biz. If the desire is there and the willingness to learn and absorb and self-assess and be generous, I’m pretty darn sure that almost anyone can do this. It’s so nice that we all have each other to help each other figure it out as we go along!
— Abby
David —
I feel the same way about you! And also about the restoring faith in humanity. I’ve yet to come across a *successful* blogger or online biz person who acts as if s/he is “entitled” to attention and financial rewards.
I think what we’re talking about here in the comments is so reassuring to people who’d like to work from home {or live/work location independently} but don’t have the faith that they are WHATEVER enough to be able to make money from an online service or product-based biz. If the desire is there and the willingness to learn and absorb and self-assess and be generous, I’m pretty darn sure that almost anyone can do this. It’s so nice that we all have each other to help each other figure it out as we go along!
— Abby
Hi Abby–I think everyone has stuff that they do really good and stuff they can’t do at all. For example my boyfriend could replumb your house in a few days but ask him to fix your lawnmower and he will not have a clue. LOL
It is the same thing with our blogs. I am learning about blogging from people like you, David, Annabel, Copyblogger and others. I never knew this community existed until you closed the shop and started your new business. Thanks. People are great in the blogging world. I enjoy all the information and interaction, it is positive and fulfilling. And proves that this is a wonderful world full of great people.
Hi Abby–I think everyone has stuff that they do really good and stuff they can’t do at all. For example my boyfriend could replumb your house in a few days but ask him to fix your lawnmower and he will not have a clue. LOL
It is the same thing with our blogs. I am learning about blogging from people like you, David, Annabel, Copyblogger and others. I never knew this community existed until you closed the shop and started your new business. Thanks. People are great in the blogging world. I enjoy all the information and interaction, it is positive and fulfilling. And proves that this is a wonderful world full of great people.
Hey, Annette —
I never knew this community existed until I closed my shop, either. The thing that impresses me the most is how absolutely *generous* & supportive everybody is. Glad you’re feeling the love, too. :)
— Abby
Hey, Annette —
I never knew this community existed until I closed my shop, either. The thing that impresses me the most is how absolutely *generous* & supportive everybody is. Glad you’re feeling the love, too. :)
— Abby
Here’s what I know for sure:
Everyone has a voice that’s aching to be heard. In my case (or in my work) it’s a voice that wants to express itself visually. The listening is easy. But every now and then I take for granted that the language I speak is one in which not everyone is fluent.
In any business, in any market, in any micro-niche, I know the impact of the most simple of words, “I hear you and I’m listening”, has the power to transform the experience.
Here’s what I know for sure:
Everyone has a voice that’s aching to be heard. In my case (or in my work) it’s a voice that wants to express itself visually. The listening is easy. But every now and then I take for granted that the language I speak is one in which not everyone is fluent.
In any business, in any market, in any micro-niche, I know the impact of the most simple of words, “I hear you and I’m listening”, has the power to transform the experience.
Hi, Erica —
We each get so rooted in our “language” — be it visual, linguistic, techie, what have you — that I think our perceptions of what “most” of our clients understand about what we do gets further and further away from the actuality. In a way, that’s refreshing because it continuously prompts us to get back to the basics and to learn how to teach and communicate in the purest, most elemental way.
I love how you share your visual language through your blog. Quite lovely.
— Abby
Hi, Erica —
We each get so rooted in our “language” — be it visual, linguistic, techie, what have you — that I think our perceptions of what “most” of our clients understand about what we do gets further and further away from the actuality. In a way, that’s refreshing because it continuously prompts us to get back to the basics and to learn how to teach and communicate in the purest, most elemental way.
I love how you share your visual language through your blog. Quite lovely.
— Abby
Hi Abby…
Last week I signed up to get your updates & I am so excited :)…I have a small occasional shop & read everything I can on shopkeeping, because I started up w/out ANY experience ..just a dream & I love it.{well most of it :)..the bookkeeping part…is NOT my thing:)} Anyhoo…I read the first post & am hooked, it just clicked & I am reading & rereading it all :).Thank you…
p.s. I was in your shop 1 time & ordered online a few…it was lovely:)
I still have your business card up on my inspiration board because thats just what it was…pure inspiration :)
Blessings…
Hi Abby…
Last week I signed up to get your updates & I am so excited :)…I have a small occasional shop & read everything I can on shopkeeping, because I started up w/out ANY experience ..just a dream & I love it.{well most of it :)..the bookkeeping part…is NOT my thing:)} Anyhoo…I read the first post & am hooked, it just clicked & I am reading & rereading it all :).Thank you…
p.s. I was in your shop 1 time & ordered online a few…it was lovely:)
I still have your business card up on my inspiration board because thats just what it was…pure inspiration :)
Blessings…
Hi, Amber! —
Thanks for leaving a comment and letting me know you’re here! {And for the testimonial on my e-course. Lots more good stuff coming your way. :)}
Wondering if you’ve discovered the Elizabeth House Shop Talk blog? The URL is a little funny, but here it is: http://formattingtest.blogspot.com/
Would love to hear more about your occasional shop and how you make that work. I think that is a very “now” retail concept trend.
Glad you’re here and I look forward to connecting with you more!
— Abby
Hi, Amber! —
Thanks for leaving a comment and letting me know you’re here! {And for the testimonial on my e-course. Lots more good stuff coming your way. :)}
Wondering if you’ve discovered the Elizabeth House Shop Talk blog? The URL is a little funny, but here it is: http://formattingtest.blogspot.com/
Would love to hear more about your occasional shop and how you make that work. I think that is a very “now” retail concept trend.
Glad you’re here and I look forward to connecting with you more!
— Abby
Yes–I have {do} read Elizabeth Maxsons writings!They are a great source of info too, & she has so sweetly answered some of my “newshopgirl” questions :).
It is so great esp. to me as a newbie to have all this support & encouragement in todays poor economy! Again thank you!
& you can read more about my shop @ damaskdesigns.blogspot.com, if you are inclined to do so. The occasional shop is a great way for me to get my feet wet & to build my customer base {& see if it is even feasible,financially & w/ my young family:) } before I open a full time store front!.& so far it is seems to be going well!
Yes–I have {do} read Elizabeth Maxsons writings!They are a great source of info too, & she has so sweetly answered some of my “newshopgirl” questions :).
It is so great esp. to me as a newbie to have all this support & encouragement in todays poor economy! Again thank you!
& you can read more about my shop @ damaskdesigns.blogspot.com, if you are inclined to do so. The occasional shop is a great way for me to get my feet wet & to build my customer base {& see if it is even feasible,financially & w/ my young family:) } before I open a full time store front!.& so far it is seems to be going well!
So smart to dip your toe into the waters first, Amber. This is the most challenging economy EVER — with the probable exception of the Great Depression — for indie retailers.
I’m excited to explore your blog. At first glance, I see you and I are both in love with these { }. :)
— Abby
So smart to dip your toe into the waters first, Amber. This is the most challenging economy EVER — with the probable exception of the Great Depression — for indie retailers.
I’m excited to explore your blog. At first glance, I see you and I are both in love with these { }. :)
— Abby