The Blog That Never Was
This is the story of the blog that never was. It is the true story of how three friends in the midst of a bad economy developed a plan to take control of their destiny by creating a dad blog.
Our story begins in during the spring of 2009. It is a beautiful day in Los Angeles featuring endless blue skies and beautiful women on rollerblades. Our three heroes are seated around a table at an outdoor cafe talking about their lives and wondering how they got to be where they are at.
You see all three are fathers, college educated and homeowners. Each of them got a job straight out of college and has been working steadily ever since, or at least until recently.
Not unlike millions of others a rough economy has impacted all of them. Two out of the three are technically under employed. The third owns his own business but is going through rough times.
They aren’t willing to just let things happen so they seek to take control of life by coming up with ideas for a side venture that they can all work on. They figure that their combination of skills, experience and motivation should be enough to help them build a vehicle that will provide supplemental income and maybe in time become something more.
Numerous ideas are thrown around and bandied about and they come up with the idea to create a group dad blog. They don’t have any misconceptions that it will take time and work to build it but that doesn’t frighten them. Hard work is part of any worthwhile endeavor.
Over the next few weeks they meet again and develop an outline and plan for what the blog should be. Special attention is given to the content because they know that it will be critical. Eventually they finish the plan and begin to set the wheels in motion to get things started.
And then life gets in the way.
Two out of the three men find themselves in the middle of getting divorced and though they swear they will help build the blog it doesn’t happen. The third man is disappointed but he understands. It is a monster mess, divorce and they have their hands full. Between trying to determine custody, who gets what and their other responsibilities the dad blog they planned on building never does happen.
It has become the blog that was and another symbol of why group projects can be so difficult.
Constantin Gabor November 11, 2011 at 6:31 am
Team work is over rated. No comitee is able to build something remarkable.
Do it alone. Start. Make it work and then build a team.
People will follow only if you do the hardest part. You have to show the world your idea works and they’ll join you.
But don’t start with team. It rarely works (especially for uncertain ventures such as business)
Jack November 11, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Group projects are always challenging especially when there are no guarantees of financial rewards.
You are right about the benefits of showing people that your idea works. Do that and people will come.
Jennifer November 6, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Ah… I was going to say that life got in the way, but then I realized, of course, that life happens regardless. I do think “dad blogs” are the next big thing though. Good luck.
Jack November 6, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Hi Jennifer,
Life indeed happens regardless of what we are doing or what is happening in our lives. Sometimes it really makes us look small and insignificant.
Betsy Cross November 5, 2011 at 4:35 am
Life has a funny way of doing that, throwing boulders up, doesn’t it, Jack?
I’m laughing because, although I’m grateful for the past 25 years of my life and my beautiful children, I feel like there’s a person who’ll pop up someday and say, “Remember me?” You know…the me of that other life.
Interesting how we all deal with change and hope.
Jack November 5, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Life does throw up boulders and obstacles but I suppose the eternal question is in regard to how we deal with them.
Steve Roy November 4, 2011 at 3:18 pm
I’m still waiting for the rest of the story…..
Jack November 4, 2011 at 4:10 pm
All in good time.
Bruce Sallan ( November 4, 2011 at 11:01 am
I wish it could be a team effort but I tend to believe you are the master of your destiny…and being on a team just is too darn tough!
Jack November 4, 2011 at 2:47 pm
It is hard to get commitment from all the different players.
Janet Callaway November 4, 2011 at 10:25 am
Alas, Jack, such a group project sounds good, however, implementation usually does not keep pace.
Jack November 4, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Janet, I can’t argue that. Too many chefs spoil the soup.
By Word of Mouth Musings November 4, 2011 at 10:00 am
More proof that if you want something done – do it yourself 😉
Jack November 4, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I am typically not a fan of group projects but this was supposed to be different.