A blogathon update

For this group of speakers listed below, the Blogathon has officially ended. If you're visiting me today and would like to check out what the group as a whole as been up to, then the final list of participants is here along with blog addresses. We're all from the Greater Phoenix area. We all signed up to agree to try blogging once a day for the month of July.

While we may not have hit that number exactly (31), all of us gained a greater understanding of what the blogging experience and blogging world is all about. We learned new skills, such as how to Stumble--even if we all aren't doing it yet (including me). We saw benefits we didn't know exisited (We could be asked to contribute to a book. We could find new places to publish our posts. We could explore information we never knew existed.) And we've grown as friends, which I like to think is the better part of the whole experience.

As for me, personally, I gained insight into what works and what might not. I think that'll be an on-going lesson. And I've continued to see the benefit of regular posting and finding new blogs that touch on my themes: travel and self-help. There's a larger world out there that I intend to exlpore further as I move my two blogs forward.

I hope you'll continue to visit mine and my friends' blogs. If we have something to say that really resonates with you, I hope you'll post a comment and let us know how to find you. Together, we can build a stronger community of people who want to help others. I know that's the key component of all the members on this team listed below. We're coaches, motivational speakers, business developers, team leaders, healthy living advisors, designers, authors, movers, shakers and so much more.

Even if you just happened to "stumble upon" my blog today, take a look at the list below. There might be something here that interests you. If so, let us know:

Jackie Dishner
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/
http://www.thephoenixtraveler.com/

Susan Ratliff
http://www.blingmybooth.com/

Andrea Beaulieu
http://www.conspiracyoflove.net/

Mimi Meredith
http://blog.thegoodnessgrows.com/

Suzy Graven
http://articles.secretsofthesavvywoman.com/

Beth Terry
http://www.corporatecowgirl.com/

Vickie Mullins
http://www.mullinscreative.blogspot.com/

Michelle May
http://blogs.eastvalleytribune.com/consumed/

Arlene Rosenberg
http://www.leadingachievers.com/

Stanley Bronstein
http://stanleybronstein.com/

Stephanie Angelo
http://hressential.com/wordpress

Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/

Barbara McNichol
http://www.nonfictioneditor.wordpress.com/

Suzanne Holman
http://www.lessonsforyourmilliondollarlife.com/

Jean McFarland
http://bulliesamongus.blogspot.com/

Bonnie Mattick
www.YourBusinessDetective.com

I made it!

I was mistaken. Yesterday, I thought I had two more days left in the blogathon. Today, I was told it's May 31. Somewhere, I lost a day, at least in my head. No biggie. I still made it. I posted 31 days in a row, one post a day for the month of May. I did it! It's worth celebrating.

If you've hit a milestone in your life today, or are about to, definitely plan on celebrating your success--even if it's for something that might seem inconsequential. In my book, every achievement is an achievement, no matter its size or implication.

So maybe you're asking, "What's the big deal about blogging once a day for an entire month?" To me, like many things in my life, it's symbolic. It means I can set aside time for something I'm passionate about, even if I'm not paid for it. To me, it shows me I can commit to something from start to finish. And it's a good example of how motivation works: you sign up for a contest, for example; you know that other people are participating and watching your progress; now you have accountability. When you have accountability, you want to perform well. If you're competitive, you probably want to perform really well. Maybe you'd post twice or three times a day. Once was good enough for me. I believe I said in the beginning of the blogathon that it would be a great example of what teamwork can accomplish; it is, indeed, that to me.

I think I'll go visit the blogs of my friends who also participated in the contest.

No need to celebrate alone.

All my best,
Jackie